Shloka 4

वाली–रामसंवादः

Rama’s Justification to Vali on Rājadharma

Devanagari script

धर्ममर्थं च कामं च समयं चापि लौकिकम्।अविज्ञाय कथं बाल्यान्मामिहाद्य विगर्हसे।।

Transliteration

dharmam arthaṃ ca kāmaṃ ca samayaṃ cāpi laukikam | avijñāya kathaṃ bālyān mām ihādya vigarhase ||

Translation

धर्ममर्थं च कामं च समयं चापि लौकिकम्। अविज्ञाय कथं बाल्यान्मामिहाद्य विगर्हसे॥

Word by Word

• आर्येण: by the noble
• आर्येण: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; ‘मान्धात्रा’ इति विशेषण

• मम: my
• मम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• मान्धात्रा: by Māndhātṛ
• मान्धात्रा: Karana (करण/Agent-instrument in passive sense)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मान्धातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• व्यसनम्: calamity, affliction
• व्यसनम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यसन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• घोरम्: terrible
• घोरम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घोर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘व्यसनम्’ इति विशेषण

• ईप्सितम्: brought about/inflicted
• ईप्सितम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ईप्स् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle) ‘desired/inflicted (as sought)’, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘व्यसनम्’ इति विशेषण

• श्रमणेन: by an ascetic (śramaṇa)
• श्रमणेन: Karana (करण/Agent-instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रमण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• कृते: when (it was) done
• कृते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative condition)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle) ‘done’, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; ‘पापे’ इति विशेषण (locative absolute-like)

• पापे: in (the matter of) sin
• पापे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• यथा: just as
• यथा: Upamana (उपमान/Comparison marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमान/प्रकार-अव्यय (as/just as)

• पापम्: sin
• पापम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• कृतम्: committed
• कृतम्: Kriya-artha (क्रियार्थ/Predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle) ‘done/committed’, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; अत्र ‘पापम्’ इति सह कर्मणि-भावः

• त्वया: by you
• त्वया: Karana (करण/Agent in passive construction)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, तृतीया, एकवचन

Context

'Without correct knowledge of dharma, artha, kama and worldly ways, how do you reproach me bitterly now in total ignorance?

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Vālī
• dharma
• artha
• kāma

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

Ethical judgment requires knowledge of dharma and also of practical social norms; blame without understanding is portrayed as immature and unreliable.

What is the narrative situation?

After Vālī accuses Rāma of wrongdoing for shooting from concealment, Rāma begins a dharma-based rebuttal, challenging Vālī’s competence to judge.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s commitment to reasoned dharma-discourse—insisting that moral critique must be grounded in knowledge rather than anger.