Vali's Reproach

Shloka 1 (kishkindha.17.1)

ततः शरेणाभिहतो रामेण रणकर्कशः । पपात सहसा वाली निकृत्त इव पादपः ॥ 17.1 ॥

tataḥ śareṇābhihato rāmeṇa raṇakarkaśaḥ | papāta sahasā vālī nikṛtta iva pādapaḥ || 17.1 ||

Then, struck by Rama's arrow, Vali, that scourge of the battlefield, suddenly fell like a felled tree.

Shloka 2 (kishkindha.17.2)

स भूमौ न्यस्तसर्वाङ्गस्तप्तकाञ्चनभूषणः । अपतद् देवराजस्य मुक्तरश्मिरिव ध्वजः ॥ 17.2 ॥

sa bhūmau nyastasarvāṅgastaptakāñcanabhūṣaṇaḥ | apatad devarājasya muktaraśmiriva dhvajaḥ || 17.2 ||

With all his limbs sinking to the ground, he who was adorned with molten-gold ornaments fell like the banner of the king of gods when its ropes are let loose.

Shloka 3 (kishkindha.17.3)

अस्मिन् निपतिते भूमौ हर्यृक्षाणां गणेश्वरे । नष्टचन्द्रमिव व्योम न व्यराजत मेदिनी ॥ 17.3 ॥

asmin nipatite bhūmau haryṛkṣāṇāṃ gaṇeśvare | naṣṭacandramiva vyoma na vyarājata medinī || 17.3 ||

When that lord of the hosts of monkeys and bears fell to the ground, the earth lost its splendour, like the sky when the moon has vanished.

Shloka 4 (kishkindha.17.4)

भूमौ निपतितस्यापि तस्य देहं महात्मनः । न श्रीर्जहाति न प्राणा न तेजो न पराक्रमः ॥ 17.4 ॥

bhūmau nipatitasyāpi tasya dehaṃ mahātmanaḥ | na śrīrjahāti na prāṇā na tejo na parākramaḥ || 17.4 ||

Yet even fallen to the ground, that great-souled one's body was abandoned neither by its splendour, nor its life, nor its radiance, nor its valour.

Shloka 5 (kishkindha.17.5)

शक्रदत्ता वरा माला काञ्चनी रत्नभूषिता । दधार हरिमुख्यस्य प्राणांस्तेजः श्रियं च सा ॥ 17.5 ॥

śakradattā varā mālā kāñcanī ratnabhūṣitā | dadhāra harimukhyasya prāṇāṃstejaḥ śriyaṃ ca sā || 17.5 ||

That splendid golden garland studded with gems, given by Indra, still sustained the life, radiance, and splendour of that foremost of monkeys.

Shloka 6 (kishkindha.17.6)

स तया मालया वीरो हैमया हरियूथपः । संध्यानुगतपर्यन्तः पयोधर इवाभवत् ॥ 17.6 ॥

sa tayā mālayā vīro haimayā hariyūthapaḥ | saṃdhyānugataparyantaḥ payodhara ivābhavat || 17.6 ||

With that golden garland about him, that heroic chief of the monkey-troops looked like a raincloud rimmed all around with the colours of twilight.

Shloka 7 (kishkindha.17.7)

तस्य माला च देहश्च मर्मघाती च यः शरः । त्रिधेव रचिता लक्ष्मीः पतितस्यापि शोभते ॥ 17.7 ॥

tasya mālā ca dehaśca marmaghātī ca yaḥ śaraḥ | tridheva racitā lakṣmīḥ patitasyāpi śobhate || 17.7 ||

Even fallen, his splendour still shone, as though fashioned into three separate glories: his garland, his body, and the vital-piercing arrow lodged within it.

Shloka 8 (kishkindha.17.8)

तदस्त्रं तस्य वीरस्य स्वर्गमार्गप्रभावनम् । रामबाणासनक्षिप्तमावहत् परमां गतिम् ॥ 17.8 ॥

tadastraṃ tasya vīrasya svargamārgaprabhāvanam | rāmabāṇāsanakṣiptamāvahat paramāṃ gatim || 17.8 ||

That arrow, loosed from Rama's bowstring, opened for that hero the pathway to heaven and bore him to the highest state.

Shloka 9 (kishkindha.17.9)

तं तथा पतितं संख्ये गतार्चिषमिवानलम् । ययातिमिव पुण्यान्ते देवलोकादिह च्युतम् ॥ 17.9 ॥

taṃ tathā patitaṃ saṃkhye gatārciṣamivānalam | yayātimiva puṇyānte devalokādiha cyutam || 17.9 ||

Thus fallen in battle, like a fire whose flame had died, like Yayati fallen from the world of the gods once his merit was spent —

Shloka 10 (kishkindha.17.10)

आदित्यमिव कालेन युगान्ते भुवि पातितम् । महेन्द्रमिव दुर्धर्षमुपेन्द्रमिव दुःसहम् ॥ 17.10 ॥

ādityamiva kālena yugānte bhuvi pātitam | mahendramiva durdharṣamupendramiva duḥsaham || 17.10 ||

like the sun itself flung down to earth by Time at the end of an age, unassailable as great Indra, unbearable in might as Upendra —

Shloka 11 (kishkindha.17.11)

महेन्द्रपुत्रं पतितं वालिनं हेममालिनम् । व्यूढोरस्कं महाबाहुं दीप्तास्यं हरिलोचनम् ॥ 17.11 ॥

mahendraputraṃ patitaṃ vālinaṃ hemamālinam | vyūḍhoraskaṃ mahābāhuṃ dīptāsyaṃ harilocanam || 17.11 ||

such was fallen Vali, son of great Indra, wearing his golden garland, broad of chest, mighty of arm, his face aglow, his eyes tawny —

Shloka 12 (kishkindha.17.12)

लक्ष्मणानुचरो रामो ददर्शोपससर्प च । तं तथा पतितं वीरं गतार्चिषमिवानलम् ॥ 17.12 ॥

lakṣmaṇānucaro rāmo dadarśopasasarpa ca | taṃ tathā patitaṃ vīraṃ gatārciṣamivānalam || 17.12 ||

Rama, with Lakshmana following him, beheld and drew near — that hero fallen so, like a fire whose flame had gone out.

Shloka 13 (kishkindha.17.13)

बहुमान्य च तं वीरं वीक्षमाणं शनैरिव । उपयातौ महावीर्यौ भ्रातरौ रामलक्ष्मणौ ॥ 17.13 ॥

bahumānya ca taṃ vīraṃ vīkṣamāṇaṃ śanairiva | upayātau mahāvīryau bhrātarau rāmalakṣmaṇau || 17.13 ||

Honouring that hero who now gazed but feebly, the two mighty brothers, Rama and Lakshmana, came close to him.

Shloka 14 (kishkindha.17.14)

तं दृष्ट्वा राघवं वाली लक्ष्मणं च महाबलम् । अब्रवीत् परुषं वाक्यं प्रश्रितं धर्मसंहितम् ॥ 17.14 ॥

taṃ dṛṣṭvā rāghavaṃ vālī lakṣmaṇaṃ ca mahābalam | abravīt paruṣaṃ vākyaṃ praśritaṃ dharmasaṃhitam || 17.14 ||

Seeing Raghava and the mighty Lakshmana before him, Vali spoke words that were sharp, yet withal courteous and grounded in righteousness:

Shloka 15 (kishkindha.17.15)

स भूमावल्पतेजोऽसुर्निहतो नष्टचेतनः । अर्थसंहितया वाचा गर्वितं रणगर्वितम् ॥ 17.15 ॥

sa bhūmāvalpatejo'surnihato naṣṭacetanaḥ | arthasaṃhitayā vācā garvitaṃ raṇagarvitam || 17.15 ||

He, lying on the ground, his strength and breath nearly spent, his senses failing, spoke with meaningful words to Rama, who stood proud of his victory in that fight:

Shloka 16 (kishkindha.17.16)

त्वं नराधिपतेः पुत्रः प्रथितः प्रियदर्शनः । पराङ्मुखवधं कृत्वा कोऽत्र प्राप्तस्त्वया गुणः । यदहं युद्धसंरब्धस्त्वत्कृते निधनं गतः ॥ 17.16 ॥

tvaṃ narādhipateḥ putraḥ prathitaḥ priyadarśanaḥ | parāṅmukhavadhaṃ kṛtvā ko'tra prāptastvayā guṇaḥ | yadahaṃ yuddhasaṃrabdhastvatkṛte nidhanaṃ gataḥ || 17.16 ||

"You are famed as a king's son, pleasing to look upon — yet what merit have you gained here by killing one whose back was turned, since it is because of you that I, in the very heat of battle, have met my death?

Shloka 17 (kishkindha.17.17)

कुलीनः सत्त्वसम्पन्नस्तेजस्वी चरितव्रतः । रामः करुणवेदी च प्रजानां च हिते रतः ॥ 17.17 ॥

kulīnaḥ sattvasampannastejasvī caritavrataḥ | rāmaḥ karuṇavedī ca prajānāṃ ca hite rataḥ || 17.17 ||

"They say Rama is nobly born, endowed with strength, resplendent, faithful to his vows, mindful of compassion, and devoted to the welfare of his people;

Shloka 18 (kishkindha.17.18)

सानुक्रोशो महोत्साहः समयज्ञो दृढव्रतः । इत्येतत् सर्वभूतानि कथयन्ति यशो भुवि ॥ 17.18 ॥

sānukrośo mahotsāhaḥ samayajño dṛḍhavrataḥ | ityetat sarvabhūtāni kathayanti yaśo bhuvi || 17.18 ||

sympathetic, greatly enterprising, knowing the right moment for action, firm in resolve — such is the renown that all beings on this earth speak of you.

Shloka 19 (kishkindha.17.19)

दमः शमः क्षमा धर्मो धृतिः सत्यं पराक्रमः । पार्थिवानां गुणा राजन् दण्डश्चाप्यपकारिषु ॥ 17.19 ॥

damaḥ śamaḥ kṣamā dharmo dhṛtiḥ satyaṃ parākramaḥ | pārthivānāṃ guṇā rājan daṇḍaścāpyapakāriṣu || 17.19 ||

"Self-control, calmness, forbearance, righteousness, steadfastness, truth, valour, and even the punishing of wrongdoers, O king — these are the virtues expected of kings.

Shloka 20 (kishkindha.17.20)

तान् गुणान् सम्प्रधार्याहमग्र्यं चाभिजनं तव । तारया प्रतिषिद्धः सन् सुग्रीवेण समागतः ॥ 17.20 ॥

tān guṇān sampradhāryāhamagryaṃ cābhijanaṃ tava | tārayā pratiṣiddhaḥ san sugrīveṇa samāgataḥ || 17.20 ||

"Judging by those virtues and by your noble lineage, I engaged in combat with Sugriva even though Tara had forbidden it.

Shloka 21 (kishkindha.17.21)

न मामन्येन संरब्धं प्रमत्तं वेद्धुमर्हसि । इति मे बुद्धिरुत्पन्ना बभूवादर्शने तव ॥ 17.21 ॥

na māmanyena saṃrabdhaṃ pramattaṃ veddhumarhasi | iti me buddhirutpannā babhūvādarśane tava || 17.21 ||

"'He would not think it right to strike me while I am engaged and unguarded with another' — such was my thought, since you were nowhere to be seen.

Shloka 22 (kishkindha.17.22)

स त्वां विनिहतात्मानं धर्मध्वजमधार्मिकम् । जाने पापसमाचारं तृणैः कूपमिवावृतम् ॥ 17.22 ॥

sa tvāṃ vinihatātmānaṃ dharmadhvajamadhārmikam | jāne pāpasamācāraṃ tṛṇaiḥ kūpamivāvṛtam || 17.22 ||

"I did not know you to be one whose very soul is slain, an unrighteous man flying the flag of righteousness, evil in conduct, like a well concealed under a covering of grass.

Shloka 23 (kishkindha.17.23)

सतां वेषधरं पापं प्रच्छन्नमिव पावकम् । नाहं त्वामभिजानामि धर्मच्छद्माभिसंवृतम् ॥ 17.23 ॥

satāṃ veṣadharaṃ pāpaṃ pracchannamiva pāvakam | nāhaṃ tvāmabhijānāmi dharmacchadmābhisaṃvṛtam || 17.23 ||

"I did not know you, a sinner wearing the garb of the virtuous, concealed like fire covered with ash, cloaked entirely in the pretence of righteousness.

Shloka 24 (kishkindha.17.24)

विषये वा पुरे वा ते यदा पापं करोम्यहम् । न च त्वामवजानेऽहं कस्मात् तं हंस्यकिल्बिषम् ॥ 17.24 ॥

viṣaye vā pure vā te yadā pāpaṃ karomyaham | na ca tvāmavajāne'haṃ kasmāt taṃ haṃsyakilbiṣam || 17.24 ||

"When have I ever done wrong in your realm or your city? Nor have I ever slighted you — why then have you struck down one who is guiltless?

Shloka 25 (kishkindha.17.25)

फलमूलाशनं नित्यं वानरं वनगोचरम् । मामिहाप्रतियुध्यन्तमन्येन च समागतम् ॥ 17.25 ॥

phalamūlāśanaṃ nityaṃ vānaraṃ vanagocaram | māmihāpratiyudhyantamanyena ca samāgatam || 17.25 ||

"I am but a vanara, ever living on fruit and roots, ranging the forest — and here, engaged with another, I was not even opposing you.

Shloka 26 (kishkindha.17.26)

त्वं नराधिपतेः पुत्रः प्रतीतः प्रियदर्शनः । लिङ्गमप्यस्ति ते राजन् दृश्यते धर्मसंहितम् ॥ 17.26 ॥

tvaṃ narādhipateḥ putraḥ pratītaḥ priyadarśanaḥ | liṅgamapyasti te rājan dṛśyate dharmasaṃhitam || 17.26 ||

"You are known as a king's son, pleasant to behold, O king, and the very marks of righteousness seem visible upon you.

Shloka 27 (kishkindha.17.27)

कः क्षत्रियकुले जातः श्रुतवान् नष्टसंशयः । धर्मलिङ्गप्रतिच्छन्नः क्रूरं कर्म समाचरेत् ॥ 17.27 ॥

kaḥ kṣatriyakule jātaḥ śrutavān naṣṭasaṃśayaḥ | dharmaliṅgapraticchannaḥ krūraṃ karma samācaret || 17.27 ||

"What man born in a Kshatriya line, learned and free of doubt, cloaked in the marks of righteousness, would ever commit such a cruel act?

Shloka 28 (kishkindha.17.28)

त्वं राघवकुले जातो धर्मवानिति विश्रुतः । अभव्यो भव्यरूपेण किमर्थं परिधावसे ॥ 17.28 ॥

tvaṃ rāghavakule jāto dharmavāniti viśrutaḥ | abhavyo bhavyarūpeṇa kimarthaṃ paridhāvase || 17.28 ||

"Born in the line of Raghu, renowned as righteous — why then do you, unrighteous within, go about wearing the appearance of righteousness?

Shloka 29 (kishkindha.17.29)

साम दानं क्षमा धर्मः सत्यं धृतिपराक्रमौ । पार्थिवानां गुणा राजन् दण्डश्चाप्यपकारिषु ॥ 17.29 ॥

sāma dānaṃ kṣamā dharmaḥ satyaṃ dhṛtiparākramau | pārthivānāṃ guṇā rājan daṇḍaścāpyapakāriṣu || 17.29 ||

"Conciliation, generosity, forbearance, righteousness, truth, steadfastness and valour, O king, and punishment for wrongdoers too — these are the virtues of kings.

Shloka 30 (kishkindha.17.30)

वयं वनचरा राम मृगा मूलफलाशिनः । एषा प्रकृतिरस्माकं पुरुषस्त्वं नरेश्वर ॥ 17.30 ॥

vayaṃ vanacarā rāma mṛgā mūlaphalāśinaḥ | eṣā prakṛtirasmākaṃ puruṣastvaṃ nareśvara || 17.30 ||

"We, Rama, are but forest-dwelling creatures living on roots and fruit — such is our nature; but you are a man, a king among men.

Shloka 31 (kishkindha.17.31)

भूमिर्हिरण्यं रूपं च विग्रहे कारणानि च । तत्र कस्ते वने लोभो मदीयेषु फलेषु वा ॥ 17.31 ॥

bhūmirhiraṇyaṃ rūpaṃ ca vigrahe kāraṇāni ca | tatra kaste vane lobho madīyeṣu phaleṣu vā || 17.31 ||

"Land, gold, and beauty are the causes for which men make war — what greed, then, could you have in my forest or in my fruits?

Shloka 32 (kishkindha.17.32)

नयश्च विनयश्चोभौ निग्रहानुग्रहावपि । राजवृत्तिरसंकीर्णा न नृपाः कामवृत्तयः ॥ 17.32 ॥

nayaśca vinayaścobhau nigrahānugrahāvapi | rājavṛttirasaṃkīrṇā na nṛpāḥ kāmavṛttayaḥ || 17.32 ||

"Policy and humility, punishment and favour — a king's conduct keeps these unmixed, for kings do not act on mere whim.

Shloka 33 (kishkindha.17.33)

त्वं तु कामप्रधानश्च कोपनश्चानवस्थितः । राजवृत्तेषु संकीर्णः शरासनपरायणः ॥ 17.33 ॥

tvaṃ tu kāmapradhānaśca kopanaścānavasthitaḥ | rājavṛtteṣu saṃkīrṇaḥ śarāsanaparāyaṇaḥ || 17.33 ||

"But you are ruled by desire, quick to anger, unsteady, one who confuses the duties of kingship, ever intent on the bow.

Shloka 34 (kishkindha.17.34)

न तेऽस्त्यपचितिर्धर्मे नार्थे बुद्धिरवस्थिता । इन्द्रियैः कामवृत्तः सन् कृष्यसे मनुजेश्वर ॥ 17.34 ॥

na te'styapacitirdharme nārthe buddhiravasthitā | indriyaiḥ kāmavṛttaḥ san kṛṣyase manujeśvara || 17.34 ||

"You have no reverence for righteousness, nor is your mind fixed on true gain, O lord of men; ruled by desire, you are dragged about by your senses.

Shloka 35 (kishkindha.17.35)

हत्वा बाणेन काकुत्स्थ मामिहानपराधिनम् । किं वक्ष्यसि सतां मध्ये कर्म कृत्वा जुगुप्सितम् ॥ 17.35 ॥

hatvā bāṇena kākutstha māmihānaparādhinam | kiṃ vakṣyasi satāṃ madhye karma kṛtvā jugupsitam || 17.35 ||

"Having killed me, guiltless as I am, with your arrow, O Kakutstha, what will you say among the righteous, having done so detestable a deed?

Shloka 36 (kishkindha.17.36)

राजहा ब्रह्महा गोघ्नश्चोरः प्राणिवधे रतः । नास्तिकः परिवेत्ता च सर्वे निरयगामिनः ॥ 17.36 ॥

rājahā brahmahā goghnaścoraḥ prāṇivadhe rataḥ | nāstikaḥ parivettā ca sarve nirayagāminaḥ || 17.36 ||

"A slayer of a king, a slayer of a Brahmin, a killer of a cow, a thief, one addicted to killing living beings, an unbeliever, and one who marries before his elder brother — all these go to hell.

Shloka 37 (kishkindha.17.37)

सूचकश्च कदर्यश्च मित्रघ्नो गुरुतल्पगः । लोकं पापात्मनामेते गच्छन्ते नात्र संशयः ॥ 17.37 ॥

sūcakaśca kadaryaśca mitraghno gurutalpagaḥ | lokaṃ pāpātmanāmete gacchante nātra saṃśayaḥ || 17.37 ||

"A tale-bearer, a miser, a betrayer of friends, one who defiles his teacher's bed — these too go, without doubt, to the world of the sinful.

Shloka 38 (kishkindha.17.38)

अधार्यं चर्म मे सद्भी रोमाण्यस्थि च वर्जितम् । अभक्ष्याणि च मांसानि त्वद्विधैर्धर्मचारिभिः ॥ 17.38 ॥

adhāryaṃ carma me sadbhī romāṇyasthi ca varjitam | abhakṣyāṇi ca māṃsāni tvadvidhairdharmacāribhiḥ || 17.38 ||

"Good men will not wear my hide, nor use my hair or bone, and men of your kind, who walk the path of righteousness, may not eat my flesh.

Shloka 39 (kishkindha.17.39)

पञ्च पञ्चनखा भक्ष्या ब्रह्मक्षत्रेण राघव । शल्यकः श्वाविधो गोधा शशः कूर्मश्च पञ्चमः ॥ 17.39 ॥

pañca pañcanakhā bhakṣyā brahmakṣatreṇa rāghava | śalyakaḥ śvāvidho godhā śaśaḥ kūrmaśca pañcamaḥ || 17.39 ||

"Only five five-clawed creatures are fit for Brahmins and Kshatriyas to eat, O Raghava: the porcupine, the hedgehog, the iguana, the hare, and fifth, the tortoise.

Shloka 40 (kishkindha.17.40)

चर्म चास्थि च मे राम न स्पृशन्ति मनीषिणः । अभक्ष्याणि च मांसानि सोऽहं पञ्चनखो हतः ॥ 17.40 ॥

carma cāsthi ca me rāma na spṛśanti manīṣiṇaḥ | abhakṣyāṇi ca māṃsāni so'haṃ pañcanakho hataḥ || 17.40 ||

"Wise men, Rama, do not even touch my hide or my bone, nor is my flesh to be eaten — yet I, a five-clawed creature, have been slain by you.

Shloka 41 (kishkindha.17.41)

तारया वाक्यमुक्तोऽहं सत्यं सर्वज्ञया हितम् । तदतिक्रम्य मोहेन कालस्य वशमागतः ॥ 17.41 ॥

tārayā vākyamukto'haṃ satyaṃ sarvajñayā hitam | tadatikramya mohena kālasya vaśamāgataḥ || 17.41 ||

"Tara, all-knowing, spoke to me true and beneficial words — but disregarding them through my own delusion, I have fallen under the sway of time.

Shloka 42 (kishkindha.17.42)

त्वया नाथेन काकुत्स्थ न सनाथा वसुंधरा । प्रमदा शीलसम्पूर्णा पत्येव च विधर्मणा ॥ 17.42 ॥

tvayā nāthena kākutstha na sanāthā vasuṃdharā | pramadā śīlasampūrṇā patyeva ca vidharmaṇā || 17.42 ||

"With you as her protector, Kakutstha, the earth has no true protector at all — like a woman of perfect virtue bound to a husband devoid of righteousness.

Shloka 43 (kishkindha.17.43)

शठो नैकृतिकः क्षुद्रो मिथ्याप्रश्रितमानसः । कथं दशरथेन त्वं जातः पापो महात्मना ॥ 17.43 ॥

śaṭho naikṛtikaḥ kṣudro mithyāpraśritamānasaḥ | kathaṃ daśarathena tvaṃ jātaḥ pāpo mahātmanā || 17.43 ||

"Deceitful, treacherous, base, falsely mild of mind, and sinful — how were you born to the great-souled Dasharatha?

Shloka 44 (kishkindha.17.44)

छिन्नचारित्र्यकक्ष्येण सतां धर्मातिवर्तिना । त्यक्तधर्माङ्कुशेनाहं निहतो रामहस्तिना ॥ 17.44 ॥

chinnacāritryakakṣyeṇa satāṃ dharmātivartinā | tyaktadharmāṅkuśenāhaṃ nihato rāmahastinā || 17.44 ||

"I have been slain by an elephant named Rama, who has snapped the girdle-rope of good conduct, trampled over the practices of the righteous, and cast away the goad of dharma.

Shloka 45 (kishkindha.17.45)

अशुभं चाप्ययुक्तं च सतां चैव विगर्हितम् । वक्ष्यसे चेदृशं कृत्वा सद्भिः सह समागतः ॥ 17.45 ॥

aśubhaṃ cāpyayuktaṃ ca satāṃ caiva vigarhitam | vakṣyase cedṛśaṃ kṛtvā sadbhiḥ saha samāgataḥ || 17.45 ||

"Having done a deed so inauspicious, so unjustified, and condemned by the righteous, what will you say when you come to meet good men?

Shloka 46 (kishkindha.17.46)

उदासीनेषु योऽस्मासु विक्रमोऽयं प्रकाशितः । अपकारिषु ते राम नैवं पश्यामि विक्रमम् ॥ 17.46 ॥

udāsīneṣu yo'smāsu vikramo'yaṃ prakāśitaḥ | apakāriṣu te rāma naivaṃ paśyāmi vikramam || 17.46 ||

"This valour that you have shown against us, who bore you no ill will — I do not see the like of it shown against those who have actually wronged you, Rama.

Shloka 47 (kishkindha.17.47)

दृश्यमानस्तु युध्येथा मया युधि नृपात्मज । अद्य वैवस्वतं देवं पश्येस्त्वं निहतो मया ॥ 17.47 ॥

dṛśyamānastu yudhyethā mayā yudhi nṛpātmaja | adya vaivasvataṃ devaṃ paśyestvaṃ nihato mayā || 17.47 ||

"Had you fought me openly, face to face, O prince, you would today have seen the god Vaivasvata, slain by my hand.

Shloka 48 (kishkindha.17.48)

त्वयादृश्येन तु रणे निहतोऽहं दुरासदः । प्रसुप्तः पन्नगेनैव नरः पापवशं गतः ॥ 17.48 ॥

tvayādṛśyena tu raṇe nihato'haṃ durāsadaḥ | prasuptaḥ pannagenaiva naraḥ pāpavaśaṃ gataḥ || 17.48 ||

"But I, though unassailable, have been slain by you unseen in battle, as a sleeping man falls victim to sin when bitten by a snake.

Shloka 49 (kishkindha.17.49)

सुग्रीवप्रियकामेन यदहं निहतस्त्वया । मामेव यदि पूर्वं त्वमेतदर्थमचोदयः । मैथिलीमहमेकाह्ना तव चानीतवान् भवेः ॥ 17.49 ॥

sugrīvapriyakāmena yadahaṃ nihatastvayā | māmeva yadi pūrvaṃ tvametadarthamacodayaḥ | maithilīmahamekāhnā tava cānītavān bhaveḥ || 17.49 ||

"If, wishing to please Sugriva, you have killed me — had you instead first asked this very task of me, I myself would have brought Maithili back to you in a single day.

Shloka 50 (kishkindha.17.50)

राक्षसं च दुरात्मानं तव भार्यापहारिणम् । कण्ठे बद्ध्वा प्रदद्यां तेऽनिहतं रावणं रणे ॥ 17.50 ॥

rākṣasaṃ ca durātmānaṃ tava bhāryāpahāriṇam | kaṇṭhe baddhvā pradadyāṃ te'nihataṃ rāvaṇaṃ raṇe || 17.50 ||

"That evil-minded demon who stole your wife — I would have bound him by the neck and delivered him to you alive, without even killing him in battle.

Shloka 51 (kishkindha.17.51)

न्यस्तां सागरतोये वा पाताले वापि मैथिलीम् । आनयेयं तवादेशाच्छ्वेतामश्वतरीमिव ॥ 17.51 ॥

nyastāṃ sāgaratoye vā pātāle vāpi maithilīm | ānayeyaṃ tavādeśācchvetāmaśvatarīmiva || 17.51 ||

"Even if Maithili were hidden in the depths of the ocean or in the netherworld itself, I would have brought her back at your command, as easily as leading a white mule.

Shloka 52 (kishkindha.17.52)

युक्तं यत्प्राप्नुयाद् राज्यं सुग्रीवः स्वर्गते मयि । अयुक्तं यदधर्मेण त्वयाहं निहतो रणे ॥ 17.52 ॥

yuktaṃ yatprāpnuyād rājyaṃ sugrīvaḥ svargate mayi | ayuktaṃ yadadharmeṇa tvayāhaṃ nihato raṇe || 17.52 ||

"It is fitting that Sugriva should gain the kingdom once I have gone to heaven — but it is not fitting that you should have killed me unjustly in battle.

Shloka 53 (kishkindha.17.53)

काममेवंविधो लोकः कालेन विनियुज्यते । क्षमं चेद्भवता प्राप्तमुत्तरं साधु चिन्त्यताम् ॥ 17.53 ॥

kāmamevaṃvidho lokaḥ kālena viniyujyate | kṣamaṃ cedbhavatā prāptamuttaraṃ sādhu cintyatām || 17.53 ||

"Admittedly the world proceeds thus, governed by time — yet if there be a fitting answer that occurs to you, consider it well." So Vali spoke to Rama.

Shloka 54 (kishkindha.17.54)

इत्येवमुक्त्वा परिशुष्कवक्त्रः शराभिघाताद् व्यथितो महात्मा । समीक्ष्य रामं रविसंनिकाशं तूष्णीं बभौ वानरराजसूनुः ॥ 17.54 ॥

ityevamuktvā pariśuṣkavaktraḥ śarābhighātād vyathito mahātmā | samīkṣya rāmaṃ ravisaṃnikāśaṃ tūṣṇīṃ babhau vānararājasūnuḥ || 17.54 ||

Having said this, his mouth utterly parched, that great-souled son of a vanara king, tormented by the wound of the arrow, gazed intently at Rama, radiant as the sun, and fell silent.