Shloka 33

वालिवधः

The Slaying of Vali

Devanagari script

ततो धनुषि सन्धाय शरमाशीविषोपमम्।पुरयामास तच्चापं कालचक्रमिवान्तकः4.16.33।।

Transliteration

tato dhanuṣi sandhāya śaram āśīviṣopamam |

purayāmāsa tac cāpaṃ kālacakram ivāntakaḥ || 4.16.33 ||

Translation

Bấy giờ, Ngài đặt lên cung một mũi tên tựa rắn độc; rồi kéo căng cây cung ấy trọn vẹn—như Thần Chết vận chuyển bánh xe thời gian.

Word by Word

• tasya: of him/of his
• tasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम); Masculine/Neuter, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• jyā-tala-ghoṣeṇa: by the twang of the bowstring
• jyā-tala-ghoṣeṇa: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jyā (प्रातिपदिक) + tala (प्रातिपदिक) + ghoṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) ‘jyāyāḥ talasya ghoṣaḥ’; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• trastāḥ: terrified
• trastāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: trasta (कृदन्त, √tras/त्रस् ‘to tremble’)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त); Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• patra-ratha-īśvarāḥ: birds (lords of leaf-chariots i.e., winged ones)
• patra-ratha-īśvarāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: patra (प्रातिपदिक) + ratha (प्रातिपदिक) + īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) ‘patraiḥ rathaḥ (pakṣaḥ) yeṣām’; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• pradudruvuḥ: ran away
• pradudruvuḥ: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√dru (द्रु ‘to run’)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• mṛgāḥ: deer/animals
• mṛgāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mṛga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• eva: indeed
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle (अवधारण)

• yuga-antaḥ: the end of an age (cataclysm)
• yuga-antaḥ: Upamana (उपमान/Standard of comparison)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yuga (प्रातिपदिक) + anta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) ‘yugasya antaḥ’; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन) used in comparison

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

• mohitāḥ: bewildered/panic-stricken
• mohitāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mohita (कृदन्त, √muh/मुह् ‘to be bewildered’)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त); Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

Context

As Rama shot the mighty arrow, it went like a blazing lightning with a thunderous sound and pierced into the chest of Vali.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Bow
• Arrow
• Antaka (Death)

FAQs

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

Dharma is linked with consequence: when adharma matures, the response becomes unavoidable—portrayed through the imagery of Death and time’s wheel.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma nocks and draws his arrow, preparing to shoot Vāli.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Determination and controlled power (śakti under discipline) in executing a chosen course of action.