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Kishkindha Kaanda - Sarga 17
In this Sarga, Vāli, who falls down shot by Rāma, finds fault with himself for not heeding the warning of Tārā, trusting that Rāma would not cross the line of Dharma.
He jeers at Rāma for not having any virtue that is expected of a king such as discipline, self-control, forbearance, righteousness, steadfastness, truthfulness and valor, for masquerading as a pious man while committing sinful acts and for not being a son worthy of his father Daṡaratha.
He questions Rāma as to why he shot him while he was not engaged in direct combat with him but was engaged in a duel with someone else.
He asks why Rāma shot him even though he had committed no offence against him or his realm, dwelling in Vana sustaining on roots and fruits, with no possession of possible contention between them, and when even his flesh, skin, hair and bones are forbidden for men of noble birth.
Vāli taunts Rāma saying that, if only he had come to him for help first instead of going to Sugreeva, he could have captured Rāvaṇa alive in a fight, put him on a leash and dragged him to Rāma in a matter of one day.
4.17.1 ததஸ்ஸரேணாபிஹதோ
ராமேண ரணகர்கஸ: ।
பபாத ஸஹஸா வாலீ
நிக்ருத்த இவ பாதப: ॥
tataṡṡarēṇābhihatō
rāmēṇa raṇakarkaṡaḥ ।
papāta sahasā vālī
nikṛtta iva pādapaḥ ॥
Struck down by that arrow of Rāma,
Vāli, a tough fighter, fell instantly
like a tree that was cut down.
4.17.2 ஸ பூமௌ ந்யஸ்தஸர்வாங்க:
தப்தகாஞ்சநபூஷண: ।
அபதத்தேவராஜஸ்ய
முக்தரஸ்மிரிவ த்வஜ: ॥
sa bhūmau nyastasarvāṅgaḥ
taptakāñcanabhūṣaṇaḥ ।
apataddēvarājasya
muktaraṡmiriva dhvajaḥ ॥
He fell, all his limbs,
adorned with ornaments of gold purified in fire,
touching the ground like
the flagstaff of the king of the Dēvas
when the cords (that kept it in place) were untied.
4.17.3 தஸ்மிந்நிபதிதே பூமௌ
வாநராணாம் கணேஸ்வரே ।
நஷ்டசந்த்ரமிவ வ்யோம
ந வ்யராஜத பூதலம் ॥
tasminnipatitē bhūmau
vānarāṇāṃ gaṇēṡvarē ।
naṣṭacandramiva vyōma
na vyarājata bhūtalam ॥
With the lord of Vānara bands
lying stretched on the ground,
the luster of the earth dimmed,
like that of the sky without the moon.
4.17.4 பூமௌ நிபதிதஸ்யாபி
தஸ்ய தேஹம் மஹாத்மந: ।
ந ஸ்ரீர்ஜஹாதி ந ப்ராணா
ந தேஜோ ந பராக்ரம: ॥
bhūmau nipatitasyāpi
tasya dēhaṃ mahātmanaḥ ।
na ṡrīrjahāti na prāṇā
na tējō na parākramaḥ ॥
Though his body had fallen on the ground,
the glory of that Mahātma did not depart,
neither did his life, power or prowess.
4.17.5 ஸக்ரதத்தா வரா மாலா
காஞ்சநீ ரத்நபூஷிதா ।
ததார ஹரிமுக்யஸ்ய
ப்ராணாம்ஸ்தேஜ: ஸ்ரியம் ச ஸா ॥
ṡakradattā varā mālā
kāñcanī ratnabhūṣitā ।
dadhāra harimukhyasya
prāṇāṃstējaḥ ṡriyaṃ ca sā ॥
The special chain of gold studded with gems,
given by Ṡakra, sustained
the life of that chief of Vānaras
as well as his power and splendor.
4.17.6 ஸ தயா மாலயா வீரோ
ஹேமயா ஹரியூதப: ।
ஸந்த்யாநுகதபர்யந்த:
பயோதர இவாபவத் ॥
sa tayā mālayā vīrō
hēmayā hariyūthapaḥ ।
sandhyānugataparyantaḥ
payōdhara ivābhavat ॥
Wearing that golden chain,
the captain of the Vānara bands
looked like a rain-cloud whose
edges were lit up by the evening sun.
4.17.7 தஸ்ய மாலா ச தேஹஸ்ச
மர்மகாதீ ச யஸ்ஸர: ।
த்ரிதேவ ரசிதா லக்ஷ்மீ:
பதிதஸ்யாபி ஸோபதே ॥
tasya mālā ca dēhaṡca
marmaghātī ca yaṡṡaraḥ ।
tridhēva racitā lakṣmīḥ
patitasyāpi ṡōbhatē ॥
Though he was fallen,
the garland, his body, and the arrow
that had struck at his vitals,
conferred on him a three-fold splendor.
4.17.8 ததஸ்த்ரம் தஸ்ய வீரஸ்ய
ஸ்வர்கமார்கப்ரபாவநம் ।
ராமபாணாஸநக்ஷிப்தம்
ஆவஹத்பரமாம் கதிம் ॥
tadastraṃ tasya vīrasya
svargamārgaprabhāvanam ।
rāmabāṇāsanakṣiptam
āvahatparamāṃ gatim ॥
The arrow shot from Rama’s bow,
a passage to heaven, became the passport
to the highest of the worlds for that Veera.
4.17.9-12a தம் ததா பதிதம் ஸங்க்யே
கதார்சிஷமிவாநலம் ।
யயாதிமிவ புண்யாந்தே
தேவலோகாதிஹச்யுதம் ।
ஆதித்யமிவ காலேந
யுகாந்தே புவி பாதிதம் ।
மஹேந்த்ரமிவ துர்தர்ஷம்ம்
உபேந்த்ரமிவ துஸ்ஸஹம் ।
மஹேந்த்ரபுத்ரம் பதிதம்
வாலிநம் ஹேமமாலிநம் ।
ஸிம்ஹோரஸ்கம் மஹாபாஹும்
தீப்தாஸ்யம் ஹரிலோசநம் ।
லக்ஷ்மணாநுகதோ ராமோ
ததர்ஸோபஸஸர்ப ச ॥
taṃ tadā patitaṃ saṅkhyē
gatārciṣamivānalam ।
yayātimiva puṇyāntē
dēvalōkādihacyutam ।
ādityamiva kālēna
yugāntē bhuvi pātitam ।
mahēndramiva durdharṣaṃm
upēndramiva dussaham ।
mahēndraputraṃ patitam
vālinaṃ hēmamālinam ।
siṃhōraskaṃ mahābāhum
dīptāsyaṃ harilōcanam ।
lakṣmaṇānugatō rāmō
dadarṡōpasasarpa ca ॥
Rāma, accompanied by Lakshmaṇa then went close
and saw Vāli, the son of the great Indra,
of mighty arm, lion’s chest, leonine looks,
effulgent face, wearing a golden chain,
unassailable like Mahēndra, unbearable like Upēndra,
who was like fire with its flames subsided,
fallen in that fight like Yayāti
who fell from heaven after exhausting his Puṇya
and like the sun fallen on the earth
at the end of the Yuga.
4.17.12b-13a பஹுமாந்ய ச தம் வீரம்
வீக்ஷமாணம் ஸநைரிவ ।
உபயாதௌ மஹாவீர்யௌ
ப்ராதரௌ ராமலக்ஷ்மணௌ ॥
bahumānya ca taṃ vīraṃ
vīkṣamāṇaṃ ṡanairiva ।
upayātau mahāvīryau
bhrātarau rāmalakṣmaṇau ॥
The two brothers of great valor, Rāma and Lakshmaṇa
approached that Veera who cast
his feeble eyes at them, with due respect.
4.17.13b-15a தம் த்ருஷ்ட்வா ராகவம் வாலீ
லக்ஷ்மணம் ச மஹாபலம் ।
அப்ரவீத்ப்ரஸ்ரிதம் வாக்யம்
பருஷம் தர்மஸம்ஹிதம் ।
ஸ பூமாவல்பதேஜோஸு:
நிஹதோ நஷ்ட சேதந: ।
அர்த ஸஹிதயா வாசா
கர்விதம் ரணகர்விதம் ॥
taṃ dṛṣṭvā rāghavaṃ vālī
lakṣmaṇaṃ ca mahābalam ।
abravītpraṡritaṃ vākyam
paruṣaṃ dharmasaṃhitam ।
sa bhūmāvalpatējōsuḥ
nihatō naṣṭa cētanaḥ ।
artha sahitayā vācā
garvitaṃ raṇagarvitam ॥
Seeing Rāghava and the mighty strong Lakshmaṇa,
who were triumphant having won the fight,
Vāli, who was fallen on the ground
with his vigor lost, but with a little strength remaining
said these harsh but reasonable words
in a prideful yet humble manner:
4.17.15b-16a பராங்முகவதம் க்ருத்வா
கோऽத்ர ப்ராப்தஸ்த்வயா குண: ।
யதஹம் யுத்தஸம்ரப்த
த்வத்க்ருதே நிதநம் கத: ॥
parāṅmukhavadhaṃ kṛtvā
kō'tra prāptastvayā guṇaḥ ।
yadahaṃ yuddhasaṃrabdha
tvatkṛtē nidhanam gataḥ ॥
What merit have you gained by making me,
who was distracted and absorbed in a fight,
reach the end of my life! Vāli accuses Rāma of killing him, the innocent one, with no justification whatsoever. Vāli intersperses his argument with attacks on Rāma’s character, hurling insults at him.
1) He says that he came to fight with Sugreeva in spite of Tārā’s warning, trusting that Rāma would act only in accordance with Dharma and had no reason to hurt him.
2) He jeers at Rāma saying that Rāma lacks virtues that are expected of a king and is fickle-minded with no control over his senses.
3) He remarks that Rāma masquerades as a man of Dharma while he is not one.
4) He says that Rāma is not a son worthy of Daṡaratha.
5) He find faults with Rāma for shooting him while he was facing away, engaged in a duel with Sugreeva.
6) He asserts his innocence saying that, living in the Vana, he has committed no offence against the realm or the city of Rāma.
7) He observes that there is not even a contention over land or any kind of valuables or possessions between him and Rāma.
8) He also says that Rāma should not have killed him for the sake of his skin, bones, flesh or hair, as they are not fit for the use of any good man.
9) He hurls insult at Rāma saying that, had Rāma fought with him face to face, he would have been dead by now.
10) Finally, he says that if only Rāma had sought his help first before going to Sugreeva, he would have fetched Seetā and Rāvaṇa to Rāma in a matter of a day.
4.17.16b-18a குலீந: ஸத்த்வஸம்பந்ந:
தேஜஸ்வீ சரிதவ்ரத: ।
ராம: கருணவேதீ ச
ப்ரஜாநாம் ச ஹிதே ரத: ।
ஸாநுக்ரோஸோ மஹோத்ஸாஹ:
ஸமயஜ்ஞோ த்ருடவ்ரத: ।
இதி தே ஸர்வபூதாநி
கதயந்தி யஸோ புவி ॥
kulīnaḥ sattvasaṃpannaḥ
tējasvī caritavrataḥ ।
rāmaḥ karuṇavēdī ca
prajānāṃ ca hitē rataḥ ।
sānukrōṡō mahōtsāhaḥ
samayajñō dṛḍhavrataḥ ।
iti tē sarvabhūtāni
kathayanti yaṡō bhuvi ॥
You are renowned on earth and everyone says that
Rāma is high born, radiant, ever-enthusiastic,
kind-hearted, empathetic to everyone,
constantly involved in doing good to people,
endowed with great strength,
has undertaken severe observances with firm resolve,
with an acute sense of timing.
4.17.18b-19a தமஸ்ஸம: க்ஷமா தர்மோ
த்ருதிஸ்ஸத்யம் பராக்ரம: ।
பார்திவாநாம் குணா ராஜந்
தண்டஸ்சாப்யபராதிஷு ॥
damaṡṡamaḥ kṣamā dharmō
dhṛtissatyaṃ parākramaḥ ।
pārthivānāṃ guṇā rājan
daṇḍaṡcāpyaparādhiṣu ॥
Discipline, self-control, forbearance,
righteousness, steadfastness, truthfulness and valor
are the virtues prized in a ruler, O King,
and so is punishment of offenders.
4.17.19b-20a தாந்குணாந்ஸம்ப்ரதார்யாஹம்
அக்ர்யம் சாபிஜநம் தவ ।
தாரயா ப்ரதிஷித்தோऽபி
ஸுக்ரீவேண ஸமாகத: ॥
tānguṇānsampradhāryāham
agryaṃ cābhijanaṃ tava ।
tārayā pratiṣiddhō'pi
sugrīvēṇa samāgataḥ ॥
Expecting those virtues and
counting on your noble birth,
I joined Sugreeva (in duel),
even though Tārā tried to stop me.
4.17.20b-21a ந மாமந்யேந ஸம்ரப்தம்
ப்ரமத்தம் யோத்து மர்ஹஸி ।
இதி மே புத்திருத்பந்நா
பபூவாதர்ஸநே தவ ॥
na māmanyēna saṃrabdham
pramattaṃ yōddhu marhasi ।
iti mē buddhirutpannā
babhūvādarṡanē tava ॥
Not seeing you, I made an assumption that
you would not attack me, as I was
absorbed, engaged with another one.
4.17.21b-22a ந த்வாம் விநிஹதாத்மாநம்
தர்மத்வஜமதார்மிகம் ।
ஜாநே பாபஸமாசாரம்
த்ருணை: கூபமிவாவ்ருதம் ॥
na tvāṃ vinihatātmānam
dharmadhvajamadhārmikam ।
jānē pāpasamācāram
tṛṇaiḥ kūpamivāvṛtam ॥
I did not know then that you are a lost soul,
given to sinful behavior and Adharma,
while holding a flag of Dharma,
and like a well which is covered with grass.
4.17.22b-23a ஸதாம் வேஷதரம் பாபம்
ப்ரச்சந்நமிவ பாவகம் ।
நாஹம் த்வாமபிஜாநாமி
தர்மச்சத்மாபிஸம்வ்ருதம் ॥
satāṃ vēṣadharaṃ pāpam
pracchannamiva pāvakam ।
nāhaṃ tvāmabhijānāmi
dharmacchadmābhisaṃvṛtam ॥
I did not recognize that you are
a sinful soul in the guise of a saint,
a fire hidden (covered under ash),
taking shelter under the cover of Dharma.
4.17.23b-25a விஷயே வா புரே வா தே
யதா பாபம் கரோம்யஹம் ।
ந ச த்வாமவஜாநே ச
கஸ்மாத்த்வம் ஹம்ஸ்யகில்பிஷம் ।
பலமூலாஸநம் நித்யம்
வாநரம் வநகோசரம் ।
மாமிஹாப்ரதியுத்யந்தம்
அந்யேந ச ஸமாகதம் ॥
viṣayē vā purē vā tē
yadā pāpaṃ karōmyaham ।
na ca tvāmavajānē ca
kasmāttvaṃ haṃsyakilbiṣam ।
phalamūlāṡanaṃ nityam
vānaraṃ vanagōcaram ।
māmihāpratiyudhyantam
anyēna ca samāgatam ॥
When I have done no harm in your realm or city
nor put any slight upon you,
nor engaged in direct combat with you,
nor committed any sin,
why should you kill me,
a Vānara dwelling in the Vana
living on fruits and roots,
while I was engaged with another?
4.17.25b-26a த்வம் நராதிபதே: புத்ர:
ப்ரதீத: ப்ரியதர்ஸந: ।
லிங்கமப்யஸ்தி தே ராஜந்
த்ருஸ்யதே தர்மஸம்ஹிதம் ॥
tvaṃ narādhipatēḥ putraḥ
pratītaḥ priyadarṡanaḥ ।
liṅgamapyasti tē rājan
dṛṡyatē dharmasaṃhitam ॥
You are the son of the ruler of people
with pleasing looks and far reaching fame!
And, O King, all the marks of alignment
with Dharma can be seen on your person!
4.17.26b-27a க: க்ஷத்ரியகுலே ஜாத:
ஸ்ருதவாந்நஷ்டஸம்ஸய: ।
தர்மலிங்கப்ரதிச்சந்ந
க்ரூரம் கர்ம ஸமாசரேத் ॥
kaḥ kṣatriyakulē jātaḥ
ṡrutavānnaṣṭasaṃṡayaḥ ।
dharmaliṅgapraticchanna
krūraṃ karma samācarēt ॥
How could anyone born of Kshatriya lineage,
learned in scriptures,
has found answers to basic questions of life,
and is adorned with the marks of Dharma
do such cruel deeds?
To be continued