Shloka 22

वालिनः और्ध्वदैहिकम्

Vali’s Funeral Rites and the Consolation of the Bereaved

Devanagari script

दिव्यां भद्रासनयुतां शिबिकां स्यन्दनोपमाम्।पक्षिकर्मभिराचित्रां द्रुमकर्मविभूषिताम्4.25.22।।आचितां चित्रपत्तीभि स्सुनिविष्टां समन्ततः।विमानमिव सिद्धानां जालवातायनान्विताम्4.25.23।।सुनियुक्तां विशालां च सुकृतां विश्वकर्मणा।दारुपर्वतकोपेतां चारुकर्मपरिष्कृताम्4.25.24।।वराभरणहारैश्च चित्रमाल्योपशोभिताम्।गुहागहनसञ्छन्नां रक्तचन्दनभूषिताम्4.25.25।।पुष्पौघैस्समभिच्छन्नां पद्ममालाभिरेव च।तरुणादित्यवर्णाभिर्भ्राजमानाभिरावृताम्4.25.26।।

Transliteration

divyāṃ bhadrāsanayutāṃ śibikāṃ syandanopamām | pakṣikarmabhir ācitrāṃ drumakarmavibhūṣitām || 4.25.22 ||

ācitāṃ citrapattībhiḥ suniviṣṭāṃ samantataḥ | vimānam iva siddhānāṃ jālavātāyanānvitām || 4.25.23 ||

suniyuktāṃ viśālāṃ ca sukṛtāṃ viśvakarmaṇā | dāruparvatakopetāṃ cārukarmapariṣkṛtām || 4.25.24 ||

varābharaṇahāraiś ca citramālyopaśobhitām | guhāgahanasañchannāṃ raktacandanabhūṣitām || 4.25.25 ||

Translation

Man brachte eine wunderbare Sänfte herbei — mit einem glückverheißenden Sitz versehen und einem Wagen gleich — mit Vogelmotiven geschnitzt und mit Baumornamenten geschmückt. Ringsum von bunten Tafeln bedeckt, glich sie dem Vimāna der Siddhas, versehen mit vergitterten Fenstern. Weit und wohlgefügt, als wäre sie von Viśvakarmā gefertigt, war sie mit Schnitzwerk wie hölzerne Berge und mit feiner Zier vollendet. Sie glänzte von erlesenen Kleinoden und Halsketten sowie prächtigen Girlanden; sie besaß schmückende Vertiefungen wie Grotten und Dickichte und war mit rotem Sandel eingerieben.

Word by Word

दिव्याम्marvellous

भद्रासनयुताम्having an excellent seat

शिबिकाम्palanquin

स्यन्दनोपमाम्like a chariot

पक्षिकर्मभिःwith bird-designs

आचित्राम्decorated/painted

द्रुमकर्मविभूषिताम्adorned with tree-designs

आचिताम्covered

चित्रपत्तीभिःwith colourful panels

सुनिविष्टाम्well-set

समन्ततःon all sides

विमानम्an aerial car

इवlike

सिद्धानाम्of the Siddhas

जालवातायनान्विताम्having latticed windows

सुनियुक्ताम्well-fitted

विशालाम्large

चand

सुकृताम्well-made

विश्वकर्मणाby Viśvakarman

दारुपर्वतकोपेताम्adorned with wooden mountain-forms

चारुकर्मपरिष्कृताम्beautifully embellished

वराभरणहारैःwith excellent ornaments and garlands

चand

चित्रमाल्योपशोभिताम्beautified with colourful garlands

गुहागहनसञ्छन्नाम्covered with cave-like recesses

रक्तचन्दनभूषिताम्adorned with red sandal

पुष्पौघैःwith heaps of flowers

समभिच्छन्नाम्completely covered

पद्ममालाभिःwith lotus garlands

एवindeed/just

चand

तरुणादित्यवर्णाभिःof rising-sun colour

भ्राजमानाभिःby shining (ones)

आवृताम्covered

Context

A swift-moving, marvellous palanquin designed by Viswakarma was brought. Covered with colourful pictures of birds and trees on every side it looking like an aerial chariot fit for saints. Fitted with a splendid seat grilled windows, artificially made small caverns and grottos of wood was embellished with carvings of mountains, choice ornaments and garlands. With red sandal paste, red scented flowers and red lotus garlands, it resembled the rising Sun.

Characters & Entities

Śibikā (palanquin)

Viśvakarmā

Siddhas (as comparison)

FAQs

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

Dharma includes honoring the dead with dignity: the careful, beautiful preparation of the palanquin reflects respect for proper rites (antyeṣṭi) and social order.

What is the narrative situation?

A richly crafted palanquin is brought out as part of the preparations to carry Vāli’s body for the final rites.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Reverence and propriety (maryādā): the community ensures that even amid conflict, funeral duties are performed with honor.