Shloka 29

वालिनः और्ध्वदैहिकम्

Vali’s Funeral Rites and the Consolation of the Bereaved

Devanagari script

आज्ञापयत्तदा राजा सुग्रीव प्लवगेश्वरः।और्ध्वदैहिकमार्यस्य क्रियतामनुरूपतः।।4.25.29।।

Transliteration

ājñāpayat tadā rājā sugrīvaḥ plavageśvaraḥ |

aurdhvadehikam āryasya kriyatām anurūpataḥ || 4.25.29 ||

Translation

عندئذٍ أمر الملك سُغريفا، سيدُ القِرَدة: «لْتُؤدَّ الطقوسُ الجنائزية لهذا الشريف على الوجه اللائق به».

Word by Word

• ājñāpayat: commanded/ordered
• ājñāpayat: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√jñā (धातु) + ṇic (प्रत्यय)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (अनद्यतनभूत), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद (Imperfect, 3rd singular)

• tadā: then
• tadā: Kālādhi karaṇa (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• rājā: the king
• rājā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• sugrīvaḥ: Sugrīva
• sugrīvaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sugrīva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• plavageśvaraḥ: lord of monkeys
• plavageśvaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: plavaga-īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (plavaga + īśvara)

• aurdhvadaihikam: funeral/post-death rites
• aurdhvadaihikam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ūrdhva-deha (प्रातिपदिक) + aṇ (तद्धित)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (ūrdhva + deha) तद्धितान्त (aurdhvadaihika = relating to post-death rites)

• āryasya: of the noble one
• āryasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ārya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन (Genitive, Singular)

• kriyatām: let (it) be performed
• kriyatām: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive imperative) (Let it be done)

• anurūpataḥ: appropriately
• anurūpataḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: anurūpa (प्रातिपदिक) + tas (तद्धित)
• Form: तसिल्/तस्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (adverb: suitably, in accordance)

Context

King Sugriva, lord of the monkeys, said, 'Let the funeral rites of my noble sire be performed in a fitting manner'.

Characters & Entities

• Sugrīva
• Vāli (implied as ‘ārya’ here)
• Vānara hosts

FAQs

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

Dharma as kingly responsibility: ensuring timely and appropriate last rites, maintaining social and ritual order even amid personal grief.

What is the narrative situation?

Sugriva directs the community to carry out Vāli’s funeral rites properly after Vāli’s death.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Leadership with propriety (maryādā): Sugriva acts decisively to uphold ritual duty and public decorum.