Shloka 32

वाली–रामसंवादः

Rama’s Justification to Vali on Rājadharma

Devanagari script

राजभिर्धृतदण्डास्तु कृत्वा पापानि मानवाः।निर्मलास्स्वर्गमायान्ति सन्तस्सुकृतिनो यथा।।

Transliteration

rājabhir dhṛtadaṇḍās tu kṛtvā pāpāni mānavāḥ | nirmalās svargam āyānti santaḥ sukṛtino yathā ||

Translation

人若作恶，而由君王依法施罚，便得涤净，得至天界，如同行善积德的贤者一般。

Word by Word

• आर्येण: by the noble
• आर्येण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: विशेषण, पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; मान्धात्रा इति विशेषण

• मम: my
• मम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• मान्धात्रा: by Mandhata
• मान्धात्रा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मान्धातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• व्यसनम्: affliction/punishment
• व्यसनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यसन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; अत्र कर्मरूपे (affliction/punishment)

• घोरम्: terrible
• घोरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घोर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: विशेषण, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; व्यसनम् इति विशेषण

• ईप्सितम्: inflicted/aimed at
• ईप्सितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ईप्स् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (desired/inflicted—contextual), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; व्यसनम् इति विशेषण

• श्रमणेन: by the ascetic (Śramaṇa)
• श्रमणेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रमण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• कृते: when (it was) done
• कृते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण; सति-सप्तमी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (done), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; पापे इति विशेषण (when sin was done)

• पापे: in/when (there was) sin
• पापे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; सति-सप्तमी (in the case of sin)

• यथा: just as
• यथा: Upamana (उपमान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमान/प्रकारवाचक (as/just as)

• पापम्: sin
• पापम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• कृतम्: committed
• कृतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (done/committed), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; पापम् इति विशेषण

• त्वया: by you
• त्वया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, तृतीया, एकवचन

Context

'Men who have perpetrated sins should be subjected to punishment by kings so that they become stainless and attain heaven like pious men who have performed good deeds.

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Vali
• kings (rājāḥ)
• svarga (heaven)

FAQs

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

Punishment (daṇḍa) is portrayed as a dharmic instrument: it purifies wrongdoing and restores moral order, benefiting even the offender.

What is the narrative situation?

Rama continues his argument that a ruler’s corrective force is legitimate and spiritually meaningful, countering Vali’s complaint about being slain.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rajadharma—responsible governance that upholds truth and order through measured punishment.