Shloka 13
वालिवधः — Vālī’s Fall and Dharma-Accusation
Kiṣkindhā Sarga 17
तं दृष्ट्वा राघवं वाली लक्ष्मणं च महाबलम्।अब्रवीत्प्रश्रितं वाक्यं परुषं धर्मसंहितम्।।त्वं नराधिपतेः पुत्रः प्रथितः प्रियदर्शनःकुलीनस्सत्त्वसम्पन्न स्तेजस्वी चरितव्रतः।।।।पराङ्मुखवधं कृत्वा कोऽत्र प्राप्तस्त्वया गुणः।यदहं युद्धसंरब्धश्शरेणोरसि ताडित:।।
taṃ dṛṣṭvā rāghavaṃ vālī lakṣmaṇaṃ ca mahābalam |
abravīt praśritaṃ vākyaṃ paruṣaṃ dharmasaṃhitam ||
tvaṃ narādhipateḥ putraḥ prathitaḥ priyadarśanaḥ |
kulīnaḥ sattvasaṃpannaḥ tejasvī caritavrataḥ ||
parāṅmukhavadhaṃ kṛtvā ko ’tra prāptas tvayā guṇaḥ |
yad ahaṃ yuddhasaṃrabdhaḥ śareṇorasi tāḍitaḥ ||
Nang makita ni Vālī si Rāghava at ang makapangyarihang si Lakṣmaṇa, nagsalita siya nang mapagpakumbaba ngunit mabagsik, na nakaugat sa dharma: “Ikaw ay anak ng hari—kilalá, kaaya-ayang pagmasdan, marangal ang angkan, puspos ng kabutihang-loob, maningning sa lakas, at tapat sa wastong asal. Anong kabutihang natamo mo rito sa pagpatay sa hindi nakaharap sa iyo, gayong ako, abala sa labanan, ay tinamaan ng palaso sa dibdib?”
On seeing powerful Rama and Lakshmana approaching,Vali spoke with pride and rigteousness to Rama, 'You are a prince, born of a noble family, son of a renowned king. You are famous, brilliant, handsome and follower of good practices.Having hit me when I was engaged otherwise in an encounter what merit have you gained?'
FAQs
It raises the dharmic scrutiny of warfare: whether striking an opponent who is not directly facing the attacker can be justified as righteous action.
Mortally wounded, Vālī confronts Rāma and challenges the morality of Rāma’s hidden shot, initiating a formal dharma-argument.
Vālī emphasizes Rāma’s royal virtues and vows, using them as the standard against which Rāma’s act must be judged—highlighting the ideal of consistency between reputation and conduct.