Shloka 4.25.3

वालिनः और्ध्वदैहिकम् — Vali’s Funeral Rites and the Consolation of the Bereaved

Devanagari script

लोकवृत्तमनुष्ठेयं कृतं वो बाष्पमोक्षणम्।न कालादुत्तरं किञ्चित्कर्म शक्यमुपासितुम्4.25.3।।

Transliteration

lokavṛttam anuṣṭheyaṁ kṛtaṁ vo bāṣpamokṣaṇam |

na kālād uttaraṁ kiñcit karma śakyam upāsitum || 4.25.3 ||

Translation

“Follow what is proper according to the world’s established way; you have shed tears enough. Once the right time has passed, no act—however small—can be carried out as it should.”

Context

'You have to go the worldly way. You have shed tears enough. Time is passing. You cannot perform the funeral after the lapse of appropriate time.

Characters & Entities

• lokavṛtta (worldly custom)
• bāṣpamokṣaṇa (weeping)
• kāla (proper time)
• karma (rite/duty)

FAQs

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

Dharma requires acting at the proper time: grief is natural, but duty—especially ritual duty—must be performed within the appropriate temporal and social framework.

What is the narrative situation?

Amid mourning for Vāli, the leader urges the mourners to move from lamentation to timely performance of the required rites.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Practical wisdom and restraint: guiding others from emotional excess toward disciplined action aligned with custom and timing.