Shloka 3

वालिवधः

The Slaying of Vali

Devanagari script

अधर्षितानां शूराणां समरेष्वनिवर्तिनाम्।धर्षणामर्षणं भीरु मरणादतिरिच्यते4.16.3।।

Transliteration

adharṣitānāṃ śūrāṇāṃ samareṣv anivartinām |

dharṣaṇāmarṣaṇaṃ bhīru maraṇād atiricyate || 4.16.3 ||

Translation

ఓ భీరువా! యుద్ధంలో ఎప్పుడూ వెనుదిరగని, అజేయులైన శూరవీరులకు అవమానాన్ని సహించడం మరణానికన్నా కూడా ఘోరమైనది.

Word by Word

• अधर्षितानाम्: of the unassailed/invincible
• अधर्षितानाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-धर्षित (प्रातिपदिक; धर्ष् धातु + क्त, with negation अ-)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; विशेषण शूराणाम्

• शूराणाम्: of heroes
• शूराणाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• समरेषु: in battles
• समरेषु: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• अनिवर्तिनाम्: of those who do not turn back
• अनिवर्तिनाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-निवर्तिन् (प्रातिपदिक; √वृत्/वर्त् with नि + negation अ-)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण शूराणाम्

• धर्षणामर्षणम्: enduring insult (and) not bearing it (i.e., endurance of affront)
• धर्षणामर्षणम्: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्षण-अमर्षण (प्रातिपदिक; धर्षण + अमर्षण)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; द्वन्द्व (copulative)

• भीरु: O timid one
• भीरु: सम्बोधन (Vocative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• मरणात्: than death
• मरणात्: अपादान (Apādāna/Comparison source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (5th/Ablative), एकवचन

• अतिरिच्यते: is worse/exceeds
• अतिरिच्यते: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अति-रिच् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; भावे/कर्मणि प्रयोग (is exceeded)

Context

The monkeys, wanderers in the forest, both with blood stains fiercely clashed pointing at each other, roaring with dreadful sounds like two clouds.

Characters & Entities

• battle (samara)

FAQs

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

The dharma emphasized is honor-bound steadfastness: for a warrior committed to protecting order, accepting disgrace without response is treated as a moral death—because it undermines courage, responsibility, and truthfulness to one’s vow.

What is the narrative situation?

A warrior justifies returning to combat (or refusing to withdraw) by stating that humiliation is unbearable for those who live by battle-duty.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Courage and resolve—refusal to retreat or live with dishonor.