Shloka 21

वालिवधः

The Slaying of Vali

Devanagari script

एवमुक्तस्तु सुग्रीवः क्रुद्धो वालिनमब्रवीत्।तवैव चा हरन्प्राणान्मुष्टिः पततु मूर्धनि4.16.21।।

Transliteration

evam uktas tu sugrīvaḥ kruddho vālinam abravīt |

tavaiva cā haran prāṇān muṣṭiḥ patatu mūrdhani || 4.16.21 ||

Translation

ครั้นถูกกล่าวดังนั้น สุครีพก็เดือดดาล ตรัสตอบวาลีว่า “ขอให้กำปั้นของเราฟาดลงบนศีรษะเจ้า และพรากลมหายใจของเจ้าไปเถิด!”

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (adverb of manner)

• उक्तः: addressed
• उक्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उक्त (कृदन्त; √वच् धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘having been spoken to/addressed’ (passive sense)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात; विरोध/अन्वय (but/indeed)

• सुग्रीवः: Sugriva
• सुग्रीवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुग्रीव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• क्रुद्धः: angry
• क्रुद्धः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्रुद्ध (कृदन्त; √क्रुध् धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• वालिनम्: Vali
• वालिनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वालिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अब्रवीत्: said
• अब्रवीत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लङ्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• तव: your
• तव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• एव: indeed
• एव: Emphasis (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात; अवधारण

• च: and
• च: Connector (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय (conjunction)

• हरन्: taking away
• हरन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √हृ (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमान कृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘taking away’ (qualifying मुष्टिः)

• प्राणान्: life-breaths
• प्राणान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• मुष्टिः: fist
• मुष्टिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुष्टि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• पततु: let it fall/strike
• पततु: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √पत् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• मूर्धनि: on (your) head
• मूर्धनि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूर्धन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

Context

This infuriated Sugriva who, looking at Vali, said 'This fist of mine will draw your life out, hitting your forehead'.

Characters & Entities

• Sugrīva
• Vāli

FAQs

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

Retaliation escalates harm; Dharma prefers measured justice and truth-seeking over vengeance-driven speech and action.

What is the narrative situation?

Sugrīva responds to Vāli’s threat with an equally lethal counter-threat, intensifying the clash.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Courage mixed with wrath; the verse foregrounds the peril of reactive anger.