Shloka 31

वालिवधः — Vālī’s Fall and Dharma-Accusation

Kiṣkindhā Sarga 17

Devanagari script

नयश्च विनयश्चोभौ निग्रहानुग्रहावपि।।राजवृत्तिरसङ्कीर्णा न नृपाः कामवृत्तयः।

Transliteration

nayaś ca vinayaś cobhau nigrahānugrahāv api | rājavṛttir asaṅkīrṇā na nṛpāḥ kāmavṛttayaḥ || 4.17.31 ||

Translation

治道与谦恭，以及克制与恩泽，各有其应当之处。君王之行不可紊乱混杂；君王不可唯随欲念冲动而行。

Word by Word

• नयः: policy, prudence
• नयः: Karta (कर्ता) / enumerated item
• Type: Noun
• Root: नय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

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

• विनयः: humility, discipline
• विनयः: Karta (कर्ता) / enumerated item
• Type: Noun
• Root: विनय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

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

• उभौ: both
• उभौ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: विशेषण/सर्वनाम-प्राय; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन; ‘both’ (refers to नय, विनय)

• निग्रहानुग्रहौ: restraint and favor
• निग्रहानुग्रहौ: Karta (कर्ता) / appositional pair
• Type: Noun
• Root: निग्रह (प्रातिपदिक) + अनुग्रह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्वसमास; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन; ‘निग्रहः च अनुग्रहः च’

• अपि: also
• अपि: Nipata (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle: also/even)

• राजवृत्तिः: kingly conduct
• राजवृत्तिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राज (प्रातिपदिक) + वृत्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: राज्ञः वृत्तिः); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• असङ्कीर्णा: unmixed, distinct
• असङ्कीर्णा: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: असङ्कीर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: विशेषण; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘not mixed/confused’ (agreeing with राजवृत्तिः)

• न: not
• न: Pratishedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय (negation)

• नृपाः: kings
• नृपाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• कामवृत्तयः: ruled by desire, impulsive
• कामवृत्तयः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: काम (प्रातिपदिक) + वृत्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (कर्मधारय-प्राय: कामे वृत्तिः यस्य/ये); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; विशेषण (of नृपाः)

Context

'Fulfilling your own desire is important for you. You are wrathful and unstable with royal course of conduct. Your business is with your bow and arrows.

Characters & Entities

• Vāli
• Rāma

FAQs

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

Self-governance as governance: a king must not be ruled by kāma (impulse/desire); rājadharma requires ordered judgment.

What is the narrative situation?

Vāli articulates a theory of kingship, implying that Rāma’s action appears impulsive rather than principled.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Discipline and discernment—knowing when to show favor, when to restrain, and how to keep royal conduct coherent.