Shloka 1

वालिनः और्ध्वदैहिकम्

Vali’s Funeral Rites and the Consolation of the Bereaved

Devanagari script

सुग्रीवं चैव तारां च साङ्गदं सहलक्ष्मणः।समानशोकः काकुत्स्थ स्सान्त्वयन्निदमब्रवीत्।।4.25.1।।

Transliteration

sugrīvaṃ caiva tārāṃ ca sāṅgadaṃ saha-lakṣmaṇaḥ |

samāna-śokaḥ kākutsthaḥ sāntvayann idam abravīt || 4.25.1 ||

Translation

พระรามผู้สืบวงศ์กากุตสถะ เสด็จพร้อมพระลักษมณ์ และทรงมีความโศกเดียวกัน ได้ทรงปลอบประโลมสุครีวา ตารา และอังคทะ แล้วตรัสถ้อยคำดังนี้

Word by Word

• sugrīvam: Sugriva
• sugrīvam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sugrīva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (Masculine/पुंलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā vibhakti (Accusative/द्वितीया), Ekavacana (Singular/एकवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya-avyaya (Conjunction/समुच्चय-अव्यय)

• eva: indeed/also
• eva: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Avadhāraṇa-avyaya (Emphatic particle/अवधारण)

• tārām: Tara
• tārām: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tārā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (Feminine/स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā vibhakti (Accusative/द्वितीया), Ekavacana (Singular/एकवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya-avyaya (Conjunction/समुच्चय-अव्यय)

• sa-aṅgadam: (with) Angada
• sa-aṅgadam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aṅgada (प्रातिपदिक) + sa (सह/स) (उपसर्ग/अव्यय-पूर्वपद)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa-samāsa (तत्पुरुष, Sahārtha/सहार्थ: 'with'), Puṃliṅga (Masculine/पुंलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā vibhakti (Accusative/द्वितीया), Ekavacana (Singular/एकवचन)

• saha-lakṣmaṇaḥ: accompanied by Lakshmana
• saha-lakṣmaṇaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: lakṣmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + saha (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyayībhāva-samāsa (अव्ययीभाव: saha + X = 'along with X'); Puṃliṅga (Masculine/पुंलिङ्ग), Prathamā vibhakti (Nominative/प्रथमा), Ekavacana (Singular/एकवचन)

• samāna-śokaḥ: equally sorrowful
• samāna-śokaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: samāna (प्रातिपदिक) + śoka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya-samāsa (कर्मधारय: 'equal-sorrowed'); Puṃliṅga (Masculine/पुंलिङ्ग), Prathamā vibhakti (Nominative/प्रथमा), Ekavacana (Singular/एकवचन)

• kākutsthaḥ: Kakutstha (Rama)
• kākutsthaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kākutstha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (Masculine/पुंलिङ्ग), Prathamā vibhakti (Nominative/प्रथमा), Ekavacana (Singular/एकवचन)

• sāntvayan: consoling
• sāntvayan: Karta (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sāntvaya (धातु: सान्त्वय्/सान्त्वयति) (धातु)
• Form: Vartamāna-kṛdanta (Present participle/वर्तमान कृदन्त), Parasmaipada, Puṃliṅga (Masculine/पुंलिङ्ग), Prathamā vibhakti (Nominative/प्रथमा), Ekavacana (Singular/एकवचन); from causative/denominative sense 'to console'

• idam: this (speech/these words)
• idam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma (Pronoun/सर्वनाम), Napuṃsakaliṅga (Neuter/नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā vibhakti (Accusative/द्वितीया), Ekavacana (Singular/एकवचन)

• abravīt: said/spoke
• abravīt: Kriyā (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: brū (धातु)
• Form: Laṅ-lakāra (Imperfect/Past/लङ्), Parasmaipada, Prathama-puruṣa (3rd person/प्रथमपुरुष), Ekavacana (Singular/एकवचन)

Context

Rama and Lakshmana were equally sad. Rama, scion of the Kakutstha race, consoled Sugriva, Tara as well as Angada in the following words:

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa
• Sugrīva
• Tārā
• Aṅgada

FAQs

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

Dharma here is compassionate leadership: even in victory or crisis, a righteous leader acknowledges shared grief and offers steady consolation rather than harsh command.

What is the narrative situation?

After Vāli’s fall, the mourners—Sugrīva, Tārā, and Aṅgada—are overwhelmed; Rāma, with Lakṣmaṇa, begins to console them.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s karuṇā (compassion) and steadiness: he shares sorrow yet remains capable of guiding others.