Shloka 18

वालिनः और्ध्वदैहिकम्

Vali’s Funeral Rites and the Consolation of the Bereaved

Devanagari script

सज्जीभवन्तु प्लवगाश्शिबिकावाहनोचिताः।समर्था बलिनश्चैव निर्हरिष्यन्ति वालिनम्।।4.25.18।।

Transliteration

sajjībhavantu plavagāḥ śibikā-vāhana-ucitāḥ |

samarthā balinaś caiva nirhariṣyanti vālinam || 4.25.18 ||

Translation

शिबिकावाहनोचिताः समर्था बलिनश्च प्लवगाः सज्जीभवन्तु। ते वालिनं निर्हरिष्यन्ति॥

Word by Word

• सज्जीभवन्तु: let (them) get ready
• सज्जीभवन्तु: Kriya (क्रिया/command)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सज्जी-भू (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद (let them become ready)

• प्लवगाः: monkeys
• प्लवगाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्लवग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• शिबिका-वाहन-उचिताः: fit to carry the litter
• शिबिका-वाहन-उचिताः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिबिका (प्रातिपदिक) + वाहन (प्रातिपदिक) + उचित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-श्रृंखला (śibikāyāḥ vāhanaṃ, tasmin ucitāḥ = fit for carrying the litter)

• समर्थाः: capable
• समर्थाः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषण

• बलिनः: strong
• बलिनः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बलिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषण

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक (and)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक निपात (only/indeed)

• निर्हरिष्यन्ति: will carry out
• निर्हरिष्यन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: निर्-हृ (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• वालिनम्: Vali
• वालिनम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वालिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

Context

'Let those who are strong and capable among the monkeys be ready to carry the dead body of Vali on a litter'.

Characters & Entities

• Vānaras (plavagāḥ)
• Vāli

FAQs

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

Dharma is upheld through coordinated community action: honoring the dead is not private alone, but a shared social obligation performed with discipline.

What is the narrative situation?

Lakṣmaṇa organizes the attendants to transport Vāli’s body for the final rites.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Strength guided by duty: physical power is valued when used in service of righteous and respectful action.