Shloka 14

वालि–मायावी–बिलप्रवेशः

Vali’s Pursuit of Mayavi and the Cave Episode

Devanagari script

मया त्वेतद्वचश्श्रुत्वा याचितस्स परन्तपः।शापयित्वा तु मां पद्भ्यां प्रविवेश बिलं महत्4.9.14।।

Transliteration

mayā tv etad vacaḥ śrutvā yācitaḥ sa parantapaḥ | śāpayitvā tu māṃ padbhyāṃ praviveśa bilaṃ mahat ||

Translation

他听了我的话，我便恳求于他；然而那位焚灭仇敌者令我在他足下起誓，随后进入那巨大的洞窟。

Word by Word

• mayā: by me
• mayā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Instrumental, Singular

• tu: but/indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle

• etat: this
• etat: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Demonstrative pronoun used adjectivally; Neuter, Accusative, Singular; qualifies vacaḥ

• vacaḥ: speech/words
• vacaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (vacaḥ); object of śrutvā

• śrutvā: having heard
• śrutvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: √śru (धातु)
• Form: Gerund (क्त्वा)

• yācitaḥ: was requested
• yācitaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yācita (कृदन्त; √yāc (धातु))
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative, Singular; predicate of saḥ: 'was requested/begged'

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• parantapaḥ: scorcher of enemies
• parantapaḥ: Apposition (समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: para + tapa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Compound तत्पुरुष: 'parān tapayati' (scorcher of foes); Masculine, Nominative, Singular; epithet of saḥ

• śāpayitvā: having made (me) swear
• śāpayitvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: √śap (धातु) (causative śāpayati)
• Form: Causative gerund (णिच् + क्त्वा): 'having made (me) swear'

• tu: then/indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle

• mām: me
• mām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Accusative, Singular

• padbhyām: with (his) feet / at (his) feet
• padbhyām: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (often treated as n.), Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Dual (द्विवचन); 'with (his) feet' (idiom: at his feet)

• praviveśa: entered
• praviveśa: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √viś (धातु) with pra-
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person, Singular, Parasmaipada

• bilam: cave
• bilam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bila (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• mahat: great
• mahat: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular; qualifies bilam

Context

'On hearing him, I begged the scorcher of enemies (Vali) that I would follow him, but he made me swear on his feet and entered the cave.

Characters & Entities

• Sugrīva
• Vālī
• Rāma
• Cave (bila)

FAQs

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

Dharma is linked to satya (truth) through the binding force of an oath; once made to swear, Sugrīva is morally constrained to obey, showing how vows govern conduct.

What is the narrative situation?

Sugrīva recounts that he wanted to accompany Vālī, but Vālī compelled him to swear and then entered the cave alone.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Śapatha-niṣṭhā (commitment to an oath) and obedience to a superior’s command—even when personally anxious.