Shloka 35

वालिवधः

The Slaying of Vali

Devanagari script

मुक्तस्तु वज्रनिर्घोष: प्रदीप्ताशनिसन्निभः।राघवेण महाबाणो वालिवक्षसि पातितः4.16.35।।

Transliteration

muktas tu vajranirghoṣaḥ pradīptāśanisannibhaḥ |

rāghaveṇa mahābāṇo vālivakṣasi pātitaḥ || 4.16.35 ||

Translation

由罗伽婆放出的那支大箭，轰鸣如金刚杵，炽烈如闪电，直贯入婆梨的胸膛。

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Temporal)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• tena: by that (arrow/act)
• tena: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम); Neuter/Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• mahā-tejāḥ: of great power/splendor
• mahā-tejāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + tejas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya (कर्मधारय); Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); qualifies kapīśvaraḥ

• vīya-utsiktaḥ: puffed up with strength
• vīya-utsiktaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vīrya (प्रातिपदिक) + utsikta (कृदन्त, ud-√sic/सिच् ‘to be puffed up’)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) ‘vīryeṇa utsiktaḥ’; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• kapīśvaraḥ: king of monkeys
• kapīśvaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kapi (प्रातिपदिक) + īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) ‘kapīnām īśvaraḥ’; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• vegena: with force/speed
• vegena: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vega (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• abhihataḥ: struck
• abhihataḥ: Kriya (क्रिया/Result state)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: abhi-√han (हन् ‘to strike’)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त); Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); agrees with vālī

• vālī: Vāli
• vālī: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vālin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• nipapāta: fell down
• nipapāta: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni-√pat (पत्)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• mahī-tale: on the ground
• mahī-tale: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahī (प्रातिपदिक) + tala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) ‘mahīyāḥ tale’; Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

Context

Vali fell lustreless on the ground. He was thrown down unconscious like the banner (hoisted in honour) of Indra on the fullmoon day of Aswayuja month.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma (Rāghava)
• Vāli
• Arrow (mahābāṇa)
• Vajra
• Lightning (āśani)

FAQs

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

Dharma is depicted as decisive action against a wrongdoer; the verse frames the act with cosmic, judicial imagery of thunder and lightning.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma releases the arrow that hits Vāli in the chest, turning the battle’s outcome.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Power joined to purpose—Rāma’s capacity to act effectively when he has resolved upon a course.