Shloka 29

वालिवधः

The Slaying of Vali

Devanagari script

वृक्षैः स्सशाखै स्सशिखैर्वज्रकोटिनिभैर्नखैः4.16.28।।मुष्टिभिर्जानुभिः पद्भिर्बाहुभिश्च पुनः पुनः।तयोर्युद्धमभूद्घोरं वृत्रवासवयोरिव4.16.29।।

Transliteration

vṛkṣaiḥ saśākhaiḥ saśikhair vajrakoṭinibhair nakhaiḥ || 4.16.28 ||

muṣṭibhir jānubhiḥ padbhir bāhubhiś ca punaḥ punaḥ |

tayor yuddham abhūd ghoraṃ vṛtravāsavayor iva || 4.16.29 ||

Translation

Hết lần này đến lần khác, họ đánh nhau bằng những thân cây còn cành ngọn; bằng móng vuốt cứng như mũi kim cang; rồi bằng nắm đấm, đầu gối, bàn chân và cánh tay. Trận chiến của hai người trở nên kinh hoàng, như cuộc giao tranh giữa Vṛtra và Vāsava (Đế Thích).

Word by Word

• tau: those two
• tau: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम); Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Dual (द्विवचन)

• śoṇita-aktau: smeared with blood
• śoṇita-aktau: Karta (कर्ता/Subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śoṇita (प्रातिपदिक) + akta (कृदन्त, √añj/अञ्ज् ‘to smear’)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) ‘śoṇitena aktau’; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Dual (द्विवचन)

• yudhyetām: they two fought
• yudhyetām: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √yudh (युध्)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्) / narrative past; 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Dual (द्विवचन), Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद)

• vānarau: two monkeys
• vānarau: Karta (कर्ता/Subject-apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vānara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Dual (द्विवचन)

• vana-cāriṇau: forest-roaming
• vana-cāriṇau: Karta (कर्ता/Subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vana (प्रातिपदिक) + cārin (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त-आधार ‘one who moves’)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) ‘vane cāriṇau’; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Dual (द्विवचन)

• meghau: two clouds
• meghau: Upamana (उपमान/Standard of comparison)
• Type: Noun
• Root: megha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Dual (द्विवचन)

• iva: like
• iva: Upama (उपमा/Comparison)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Comparative particle (उपमावाचक अव्यय)

• mahā-śabdaiḥ: with loud sounds
• mahā-śabdaiḥ: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + śabda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya (कर्मधारय) ‘mahān śabdaḥ’; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• tarjamānau: threatening/roaring at
• tarjamānau: Karta (कर्ता/Agent-participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √tarj (तर्ज् ‘to threaten’) (शानच्/वर्तमान कृदन्त)
• Form: Present active participle (वर्तमान कृदन्त, शानच्); Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Dual (द्विवचन)

• parasparam: each other
• parasparam: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: paraspara (प्रातिपदिक used adverbially)
• Form: Reciprocal adverb (परस्परम्—अव्ययीभाववत् प्रयोग)

Context

Both like Vritra and Indra fought, hitting each other again and again with trees full of branches and tops, with their hard nails akin to thunderbolts and with their fists, knees, feet, etc.

Characters & Entities

• Sugrīva
• Vālin
• trees
• vajra (thunderbolt)
• Vṛtra
• Vāsava (Indra)

FAQs

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

The verse frames the duel within the epic’s moral universe: violence is shown as grave and consequential, and therefore must be governed by rightful purpose and restraint—otherwise it becomes ‘ghora’ (terrifying) and destructive.

What is the narrative situation?

The fight escalates into close-quarters brutality; both use natural weapons (trees) and bodily strikes repeatedly.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Indomitable fighting spirit; also the epic’s emphasis that such power must be directed by dharma.