Shloka 26

वालिवधः — Vālī’s Fall and Dharma-Accusation

Kiṣkindhā Sarga 17

Devanagari script

कः क्षत्रियकुले जात्शृतवान्नष्टसंशयः।धर्मलिङ्गप्रतिच्छन्न क्रूरं कर्म समाचरेत्।।

Transliteration

kaḥ kṣatriyakule jātaḥ śrutavān naṣṭasaṃśayaḥ | dharmaliṅga-praticchannaḥ krūraṃ karma samācaret || 4.17.26 ||

Translation

کون ہے جو کشتریہ کُلے میں پیدا ہو، شاستروں کا جاننے والا اور شک سے پاک ہو، پھر بھی دھرم کی ظاہری علامتوں کی اوٹ لے کر ایسا سنگدل کرم کرے؟

Word by Word

• tvam: you
• tvam: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: सर्वनाम, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• narādhipateḥ: of the king (lord of men)
• narādhipateḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara (प्रातिपदिक) + adhipati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (Tatpurusha: 'नराणाम् अधिपतिः'), पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• putraḥ: son
• putraḥ: Karta (कर्ता; predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: putra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• pratītaḥ: well-known; renowned
• pratītaḥ: Karta (कर्ता; predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prati + i (धातु) + ta (कृत्)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण tvam

• priyadarśanaḥ: pleasing in appearance
• priyadarśanaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: priya (प्रातिपदिक) + darśana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास (Bahuvrihi: 'प्रियं दर्शनं यस्य'), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण tvam

• liṅgam: sign; mark
• liṅgam: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: liṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• api: even; also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle: even/also)

• asti: is
• asti: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• te: of you; your
• te: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: सर्वनाम, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• rājan: O king
• rājan: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय

• dṛśyate: is seen; appears
• dṛśyate: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive)

• dharmasaṃhitam: consistent with dharma; righteous
• dharmasaṃhitam: Karta (कर्ता; complement of dṛśyate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃhita (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (Tatpurusha: 'धर्मेण संहितम्/युक्तम्'), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण liṅgam

Context

'You are born in a royal family. You are well-known. You are proficient in dharma. Yet you are unworthy of your race and robe.

Characters & Entities

• Vāli
• Rāma
• kṣatriya (warrior class)

FAQs

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

Integrity: dharma is not a costume; cruelty cannot be justified by merely appearing righteous.

What is the narrative situation?

Vāli accuses Rāma of acting contrary to kṣatriya standards while still bearing the outward authority of a righteous prince.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Consistency between learning/status and action—true righteousness must match behavior.