Shloka 53

वालिवधः — Vālī’s Fall and Dharma-Accusation

Kiṣkindhā Sarga 17

Devanagari script

इत्येवमुक्त्वा परिशुष्कवक्त्रःशराभिघाताद्व्यथितो महात्मा।समीक्ष्य रामं रविसन्निकाशंतूष्णीं बभूवामरराजसूनुः।।

Transliteration

ityevam uktvā pariśuṣkavaktraḥ śarābhighātād vyathito mahātmā | samīkṣya rāmaṃ ravisannikāśaṃ tūṣṇīṃ babhūvāmara-rāja-sūnuḥ ||

Translation

ఇలా చెప్పి, నోరు ఎండిపోయి, బాణాఘాతవేదనతో బాధపడుతున్న ఆ మహాత్ముడు—అమరరాజుడు (ఇంద్రుడు) కుమారుడు వాలి—సూర్యసమాన తేజస్సుగల రాముని తిలకించి మౌనమయ్యాడు।

Word by Word

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Quotative particle (इति-निपात)

• uktaḥ: having been spoken to
• uktaḥ: Kriya (क्रिया/State)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √vac (वच् धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Past passive participle, Masculine, Nominative, Singular; 'having been addressed/spoken to'

• praśritam: courteous
• praśritam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: praśrita (प्रातिपदिक; √śri/śray?)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; qualifies 'vākyaṃ' (courteous/soft)

• vākyam: speech/words
• vākyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vākya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• dharma-artha-sahitam: accompanied by dharma and artha
• dharma-artha-sahitam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक) + sahita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Compound = dharmārthena sahitam; Neuter, Accusative, Singular; qualifies 'vākyaṃ'

• hitam: beneficial/well-meant
• hitam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hita (प्रातिपदिक; √dhā+kta in sense 'placed/beneficial')
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular; qualifies 'vākyaṃ'

• paruṣam: harsh
• paruṣam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: paruṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular; qualifies 'vākyaṃ'

• vālinā: by Vāli
• vālinā: Kartr̥ (कर्ता/Agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vālin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• rāmaḥ: Rāma
• rāmaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• nihatena: struck/afflicted
• nihatena: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √han (हन् धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Past passive participle used adjectivally, Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; qualifies 'vicetasā' (mind struck/confounded)

• vicetasā: with a confused mind
• vicetasā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi-cetas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; 'with a bewildered mind'

Context

Vali, son of Indra, felt severe pain as his body was pierced and his mouth got parched (speaking for long) and gradually became silent, gazing at Rama intently who was glowing like the Sun-god.ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē kiṣkindhākāṇḍē saptadaśassargaḥ৷৷Thus ends the seventeenth sarga of Kishkindakanda of the first epic, the Holy Ramayana, composed by sage Valmiki.

Characters & Entities

• Vālin
• Rāma
• Indra
• śara (arrow)
• ravi (sun)

FAQs

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

The verse underscores the solemnity of death and the moral weight of conflict: speech ends, consequences remain, and the scene invites reflection on righteous action before silence (death) arrives.

What is the narrative situation?

After confronting Rāma, Vālin—pierced by the arrow—fixes his gaze on Rāma and becomes silent as his strength fails.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Gravitas and composure at life’s end: Vālin’s final gaze and silence convey dignity amid suffering.