Shloka 12

वाली–रामसंवादः

Rama’s Justification to Vali on Rājadharma

Devanagari script

त्वं तु संक्लिष्टधर्मा च कर्मणा च विगर्हितः।कामतन्त्रप्रधानश्च न स्थितो राजवर्त्मनि।।

Transliteration

tvaṁ tu saṅkliṣṭa-dharmā ca karmaṇā ca vigarhitaḥ | kāma-tantra-pradhānaś ca na sthito rāja-vartmani ||

Translation

Còn ngươi thì Dharma đã bị vẩn đục, hành vi lại đáng chê trách; bị dục vọng làm chủ, ngươi chẳng trụ vững trên vương đạo của chính hạnh.

Word by Word

• tvam: you
• tvam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (प्रातिपदिक सर्वनाम)
• Form: Nominative, Singular; 2nd person pronoun

• tu: but/indeed
• tu: Sambandha/Emphasis (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात) expressing contrast/emphasis

• saṅkliṣṭa-dharmā: one with corrupted dharma
• saṅkliṣṭa-dharmā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: saṅkliṣṭa (कृदन्त, √kliś, क्त) + dharma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; बहुव्रीहि 'whose dharma is tainted/afflicted'

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• karmaṇā: by (your) actions
• karmaṇā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: karman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; instrumental of means/cause

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• vigarhitaḥ: censured
• vigarhitaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi + garh (धातु √garh) + vigarhita (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त); Masculine, Nominative, Singular; 'censured/blamed'

• kāma-tantra-pradhānaḥ: one who makes pleasure the main principle
• kāma-tantra-pradhānaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kāma (प्रातिपदिक) + tantra (प्रातिपदिक) + pradhāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; multi-member तत्पुरुष: 'kāma-tantra' = system of pleasure; 'pradhāna' = having as chief; i.e., pleasure-driven

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध)

• sthitaḥ: standing/abiding
• sthitaḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sthā (धातु √sthā) + sthita (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त) used predicatively; Masculine, Nominative, Singular; with na = 'not established'

• rāja-vartmani: on the royal path (proper kingly conduct)
• rāja-vartmani: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक) + vartman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; तत्पुरुष 'rājñāṃ vartma' = royal path/right conduct of kings

Context

'You have violated dharma. You stand condemned for your actions. Passion is your priority. You have strayed from the right path of kings.

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Vali

FAQs

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

A ruler must not be governed by kāma (desire); kingship demands adherence to rāja-dharma—publicly accountable, disciplined, and morally ordered conduct.

What is the narrative situation?

After Vali criticizes Rama for shooting from concealment, Rama begins explaining that Vali’s own misconduct and deviation from kingly dharma warrant punishment.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rama’s commitment to moral reasoning and rāja-dharma—he frames the dispute in terms of ethical standards rather than personal hostility.