Ramayana — Kishkindha Kanda, Sarga 25, Shloka 49

वालिनः और्ध्वदैहिकम्

Vali’s Funeral Rites and the Consolation of the Bereaved

Devanagari script

ततोऽग्निं विधिवद्दत्त्वा सोऽपसव्यं चकार ह।पितरं दीर्घमध्वानं प्रस्थितं व्याकुलेन्द्रियः4.25.49।।

Transliteration

tato 'gniṁ vidhivad dattvā so 'pasavyaṁ cakāra ha |

pitaraṁ dīrgham adhvānaṁ prasthitaṁ vyākulendriyaḥ || 4.25.49 ||

Translation

Then, having offered the fire in the prescribed manner, he circumambulated (the pyre) keeping it to his left, his senses distressed, as to a father who had departed on a long journey.

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (अनन्तरवाचक-अव्यय)

• agnim: fire
• agnim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: agni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• vidhivat: according to rite
• vidhivat: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vidhivat (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (विधिवत्-अव्यय) meaning 'according to rule/rite'

• dattvā: having given/offered
• dattvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: √dā (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा)

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

• apasavyam: counterclockwise circumambulation (leftward)
• apasavyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: apasavya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); used adverbially as object of 'cakāra'

• cakāra: did, performed
• cakāra: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• ha: indeed (narrative)
• ha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ha (अव्यय)
• Form: Narrative particle (ह-निपात)

• pitaram: father
• pitaram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pitṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• dīrgham: long
• dīrgham: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dīrgha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन) qualifying 'adhvānam'

• adhvānam: journey, path
• adhvānam: Karma (कर्म; गत्यर्थे)
• Type: Noun
• Root: adhvan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• prasthitam: departed, set out
• prasthitam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prasthita (कृदन्त; √sthā धातु, प्र-उपसर्ग)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त) used adjectivally; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन) qualifying 'pitaram'

• vyākula-indriyaḥ: with disturbed senses
• vyākula-indriyaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vyākula-indriya (समास; प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) compound: vyākula (agitated) + indriya (senses); Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन) qualifying 'saḥ'

Context

Overwhelmed with sorrow, he offered fire to the father who had set out on a long journey (to heaven). As per tradition he went round the pyre ante-clock wise.

Characters & Entities

• Aṅgada (implied)
• Vāli (as father)
• agni (fire)
• citā (pyre)

FAQs

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

Ritual dharma: performing prescribed rites carefully honors the dead and stabilizes the living through orderly tradition.

What is the narrative situation?

Aṅgada completes key cremation actions: offering fire and circumambulating the pyre in the customary manner.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Reverence and discipline—maintaining correct conduct even when the mind is shaken by loss.