Shloka 27

वालिवधः — Vālī’s Fall and Dharma-Accusation

Kiṣkindhā Sarga 17

Devanagari script

राम राजकुले जातो धर्मवानिति विश्रुतः।।।।अभव्यो भव्यरूपेण किमर्थं परिधावसि।

Transliteration

rāma rājakule jāto dharmavān iti viśrutaḥ | abhavyo bhavyarūpeṇa kimarthaṃ paridhāvasi || 4.17.27 ||

Translation

罗摩，你出身王族，以持法著称；为何以贤善之貌奔走，却行不相称的不肖之举？

Word by Word

• धर्मम्: dharma, righteousness
• धर्मम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अर्थम्: wealth, polity
• अर्थम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• कामम्: desire, pleasure
• कामम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• समयम्: propriety, convention, proper time
• समयम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• अपि: also
• अपि: Nipata (निपात/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्भावना/समुच्चय-अव्यय (also/even)

• लौकिकम्: worldly
• लौकिकम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लौकिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘लौकिकं (समयम्)’ इति विशेषण

• अविज्ञाय: without knowing
• अविज्ञाय: Hetu (हेतु/Cause)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अव-ज्ञा (धातु) + ल्यप् (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वा/ल्यपन्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive), ‘न ज्ञात्वा/without knowing’

• कथम्: how
• कथम्: Prashna (प्रश्न)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कथम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्न-अव्यय (interrogative adverb)

• बाल्यात्: out of childishness/immaturity
• बाल्यात्: Hetu (हेतु/Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाल्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (Ablative/5th), एकवचन; कारणार्थे ‘बाल्यात्’ = ‘बाल्यहेतोः/through childishness’

• माम्: me
• माम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• इह: here
• इह: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative sense)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of place)

• अद्य: today/now
• अद्य: Kala (काल/Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अद्य (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• विगर्हसे: you censure/blame
• विगर्हसे: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-गर्ह् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

Context

'Conciliation, generosity, forbearance, righteousness, truthfulness, steadfastness in valour and punishing offenders are the hallmarks of rulers.

Characters & Entities

• Vāli
• Rāma

FAQs

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

Moral authenticity: noble identity and public reputation must be validated by righteous action.

What is the narrative situation?

Vāli directly addresses Rāma, challenging the mismatch between Rāma’s fame for dharma and the manner of Vāli’s killing.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Upholding maryādā (proper bounds): a ruler must embody the standards he represents.