Shloka 50

वालिनः और्ध्वदैहिकम्

Vali’s Funeral Rites and the Consolation of the Bereaved

Devanagari script

संस्कृत्य वालिनं ते तु विधिपूर्वं प्लवङ्गमाः।आजग्मुरुदकं कर्तुं नदीं शुभजलां शिवाम्4.25.50।।

Transliteration

saṁskṛtya vālinam te tu vidhipūrvaṁ plavaṅgamāḥ |

ājagmur udakaṁ kartuṁ nadīṁ śubhajalāṁ śivām || 4.25.50 ||

Translation

Après avoir accompli selon la règle les rites pour Vāli, les singes allèrent vers une rivière de bon augure, aux eaux pures et bienfaisantes, afin d’y faire l’offrande d’eau.

Word by Word

• saṃskṛtya: having performed the funeral rites
• saṃskṛtya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: √kṛ (धातु; सम्-उपसर्ग)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा/ल्यप् form: कृत्वा-समासे) from saṃ-√kṛ; 'having performed the rites/cremated'

• vālinam: Vāli
• vālinam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vālin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• te: they
• te: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• tu: but, then
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Adversative/contrast particle (तु-निपात)

• vidhi-pūrvam: as per ritual procedure
• vidhi-pūrvam: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vidhi-pūrva (समास; प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyayībhāva (अव्ययीभाव) compound: vidhi (rite) + pūrva (preceded by) meaning 'according to prescribed rite'; used adverbially

• plavaṅgamāḥ: monkeys
• plavaṅgamāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: plavaṅgama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• ājagmuḥ: went, reached
• ājagmuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √gam (धातु; ā-उपसर्ग)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन); Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• udakam: water (libation)
• udakam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: udaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• kartum: to do, to offer
• kartum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Infinitive (तुमुन्)

• nadīm: river
• nadīm: Karma (कर्म; गत्यर्थे)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nadī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• śubha-jalām: with pure water
• śubha-jalām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śubha-jala (समास; प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya (कर्मधारय) compound: śubha (pure/auspicious) + jala (water); Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन) qualifying 'nadīm'

• śivām: auspicious
• śivām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śivā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन) qualifying 'nadīm'

Context

The monkeys set Vali's body to be consumed by fire as per tradition and proceeded to an auspicious river of pure water in order to offer oblation (to the departed soul).

Characters & Entities

• Vāli
• nadī (river)
• udaka (water-offering)

FAQs

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

Dharma as continuity of sacred duty: rites are completed step-by-step—cremation followed by udaka (water oblation)—honoring both tradition and the departed.

What is the narrative situation?

After cremation rites for Vāli, the vānaras proceed to a river to perform water offerings.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Collective responsibility—funeral obligations are carried out together, not left to one individual alone.