Shloka 13

वाली–रामसंवादः

Rama’s Justification to Vali on Rājadharma

Devanagari script

ज्येष्ठो भ्राता पिता चैव यश्च विद्यां प्रयच्छति।त्रयस्ते पितरो ज्ञेया धर्म्ये च पथि वर्तिनः4.18.13।।

Transliteration

jyeṣṭho bhrātā pitā caiva yaś ca vidyāṁ prayacchati | trayas te pitaro jñeyā dharmye ca pathi vartinaḥ ||

Translation

长兄、父亲，以及赐予学问之师——此三者当知为父；对他们应循正法之道而行。

Word by Word

• jyeṣṭhaḥ: elder
• jyeṣṭhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jyeṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; used substantively with bhrātā

• bhrātā: brother
• bhrātā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhrātṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• pitā: father
• pitā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pitṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

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

• eva: indeed
• eva: Avadhāraṇa (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle (निपात)

• yaḥ: who
• yaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक सर्वनाम)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; relative pronoun

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

• vidyām: knowledge
• vidyām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vidyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• prayacchati: gives/bestows
• prayacchati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra + yam (धातु √yam)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra, Parasmaipada; Prathama-puruṣa, Ekavacana

• trayaḥ: three
• trayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tri (प्रातिपदिक संख्या)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural; numeral used substantively

• te: your
• te: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक सर्वनाम)
• Form: Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular; enclitic 'of you/your'

• pitaraḥ: fathers
• pitaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pitṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• jñeyāḥ: should be regarded (as)
• jñeyāḥ: Vidhi (विधि/आदेश)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jñā (धातु √jñā) + jñeya (कृदन्त, तव्य)
• Form: Gerundive (तव्य/यत्), Masculine, Nominative, Plural; 'to be known/should be regarded'

• dharmye: righteous
• dharmye: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dharmya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Locative, Singular; agrees with pathi

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

• pathi: on the path
• pathi: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pathin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• vartinaḥ: conducting themselves
• vartinaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vṛt (धातु √vṛt) + vartin (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Present participial adjective (णिनि/इन्-प्रत्यय), Masculine, Nominative, Plural; 'conducting/abiding'

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Vali

FAQs

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

Dharma requires reverence and restraint toward those who function as ‘fathers’: father, elder brother, and teacher; they are owed protection and moral deference.

What is the narrative situation?

Rama lays out a dharma-based social rule to establish why Vali’s conduct toward Sugriva (the younger brother) and related relations is blameworthy.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Respect for authority and moral hierarchy—recognizing the ethical status of elder, parent, and teacher.