वालिवधः — Vālī’s Fall and Dharma-Accusation
Kiṣkindhā Sarga 17
शठो नैकृतिकः क्षुद्रो मिथ्याप्रश्रितमानसः।कथं दशरथेन त्वं जातः पापो महात्मना।।
śaṭho naikṛtikaḥ kṣudro mithyāpraśritamānasaḥ | kathaṃ daśarathena tvaṃ jātaḥ pāpo mahātmanā ||
Ngươi là kẻ xảo trá, bất chính, hèn mọn, lòng che đậy bằng sự khiêm nhường giả dối. Sao ngươi—kẻ tội lỗi—lại có thể sinh từ Đại hồn Đa-xa-ra-tha?
'You are treacherous, dishonest, mean, guised with false humility and a sinner to the core. How were you born to that high-souled Dasaratha?
Vāli frames deception and pretended humility as adharma, implying that true righteousness must align inner intent with outward conduct (satya and integrity).
After being struck by Rāma’s arrow from concealment during the Vāli–Sugrīva duel, the wounded Vāli rebukes Rāma, questioning his moral legitimacy.
The verse emphasizes the virtue of sincerity (truthfulness of mind and speech), by condemning hypocrisy and deceit.