Introduction
Lady Tara is entered here. She is the granddaughter of Brihaspati, the Jupiter and wife of Vali and she is one of the exemplary females in this epic. She is entered only thrice in the vast of this epic, presently here, next at the fall of Vali and later to pacify the ire of Lakshmana. But her personality for analytical intelligence does not exit from the minds of readers. Here she advises Vali not to confront Sugreeva, as long as Rama stands guard to him. Further she says after a logical discourse and reasons, why not Sugreeva be made the Prince Regent of Kishkindha, even at this juncture, where she foresees a calamity to Vali. But Vali, maddened in his intellect by his brawny might slights her far fetching advice.
Verse 1
अथ तस्य निनादम् तम् सुग्रीवस्य महात्मनः |
शुश्राव अन्तःपुर गतो वाली भ्रातुर् अमर्षणः || ४-१५-१
Then the illiberal Vali has clearly heard that outcry of his plain-spoken brother Sugreeva from his palace chambers. [4-15-1]
1. tataH = then; mahaatmanaH bhraatuH tasya sugriivasya = great-souled [plain-spoken] one, brother’s, his, Sugreeva’s; tam ninaadam = that, outcry; antaHpura gataH = to palace chambers, one who is in; amarSaNaH = illiberal one; vaalii shushraava = Vali, clearly heard.
Verse 2
श्रुत्वा तु तस्य निनदम् सर्वभूत प्रकंपनम् |
मदः च एकपदे नष्टः क्रोधः च आपादितो महान् || ४-१५-२
On hearing Sugreeva’s outcry that is shuddering all beings Vali’s insolence is diminished as high furore superimposed on it. [4-15-2]
2. tasya = his [Sugreeva’s]; sarva bhuuta pra kampanam = all, beings, highly, shuddering; ninadam shrutvaa = outcry, on hearing; eka pade = in a trice; madaH ca naSTaH = [Vali’s,] insolence, is diminished; mahaan krodhaH aapaaditaH ca = high, furore, superimposed, also.
Verse 3
ततो रोष परीत अंगो वाली स कनक प्रभः |
उपरक्त इव आदित्यः सद्यो निष्प्रभताम् गतः || ४-१५-३
Then, embitterment overspreading on all his limbs Vali with golden-hue is immediately rendered non-luminous like the eclipsed sun. [4-15-3]
3. tataH = then; roSa pariita angaH = embitterment, overspreading, on limbs; saH vaalii = he, that Vali; kanaka prabhaH = one in golden, hue; uparakta aadityaH iva = eclipsed / after sunset, sun, like; sadyaH niS prabhataam gataH = immediately, without, luminosity, went into [rendered as.]
Verse 4
वाली दंष्ट्रा करालः तु क्रोधाद् दीप्त अग्नि लोचनः |
भाति उत्पतित पद्माभः समृणाल इव ह्रदः || ४-१५-४
With asymmetrical teeth and with burning fireball like eyes Vali is reflective of a lake whose red-lotuses are uprooted leaving stalks afloat. [4-15-4]
4. damSTraa karaalaH = with teeth, asymmetrical; krodhaat = by fury; diipta agni locanaH = burning, fire like, eyed; vaalii = Vali; ut patita padma aabhaH = [like] up, rooted, lotuses, in shine; sa mR^iNaala hradaH iva = with, stalks, lake, like bhaati = he shone forth.
Verse 5
शब्दम् दुर्मर्षणम् श्रुत्वा निष्पपात ततो हरिः |
वेगेन च पद न्यासैर् दारयन् इव मेदिनीम् || ४-१५-५
That monkey Vali then on hearing that intolerable noise bolted out of palace chambers thumping his feet as though to shatter the earth. [4-15-5]
5. tataH = then; hariH = monkey Vali; shrutvaa dur marSaNam shabdam = on hearing, not, tolerable, noise; vegena pada nyaasaiH = speedily, by foot, placing [thumping feet]; mediniim daarayan iva = earth, shattering, as though; niSpapaata = bolted out.
Verse 6
तम् तु तारा परिष्वज्य स्नेहाद् दर्शित सौहृदा |
उवाच त्रस्त संभ्रांता हित उदर्कम् इदम् वचः || ४-१५-६
His wife Tara stepped in and showing goodwill and amity hugged him, for she is in fear and bewilderment, and said this word that is beneficial in its futurity if Vali heeds it. [4-15-6]
6. taaraa = Lady Tara; tam snehaat pariSvajya = him, in amity, on hugging; darshita sauhR^idaa = one who has shown, good will; trasta sambhraantaa = in fear, bewildered; hita udarkam idam vacaH = beneficial, futurity, this, word; uvaaca = said.
Verse 7
साधु क्रोधम् इमम् वीर नदी वेगम् इव आगतम् |
शयनाद् उत्थितः काल्यम् त्यज भुक्ताम् इव स्रजम् || ४-१५-७
“Oh brave one, you better gently leave off this anger that is coming on like a gushing river as is done with an enjoyed chaplet on getting up from bed in early hours. [4-15-7]
7. viira = oh, brave one; nadii vegam iva aagatam = river’s, speediness [gush,] like, that came; imam krodham = this, anger; kaalyam = in early hours; shayanaat utthitaH = from bed, on getting up; bhuktaam srajam iva = enjoyed, chaplet, like; saadhu tyaja = gently, leave off.
Verse 8
काल्यम् एतेन संग्रामम् करिष्यसि च वानर |
वीर ते शत्रु बाहुल्यम् फल्गुता वा न विद्यते || ४-१५-८
“Oh, monkey, you can fight with him in early hours of tomorrow, oh, brave one, evidently you neither have divers enemies nor your valour is trivialised.”
8. vaanara = oh, monkey; etena kaalyam samgraamam kariSyasi = with him, in early hours / or at appropriate time, fighting, you can do; viira = oh brave one; te shatru baahulyam = to you, enemies, divers; phalgutaa vaa na vidyate = [your valour] trivialised, or, not, evident.
Verse 9
सहसा तव निष्क्रामो मम तावत् न रोचते |
श्रूयताम् अभिधास्यामि यन् निमित्तम् निवार्यते || ४-१५-९
“Your quick exiting is disagreeable for me, and what for you are dissuaded that may be listened as I tell. [4-15-9]
9. sahasaa tava niSkraamaH = quickly, your, exiting; mama na rocate taavat = for me, not, pleasing – disagreeable; yan nimittam nivaaryate = by what, reason, you are dissuaded; shruuyataam abhidhaasyaami = let it be heard, I will tell.
Verse 10
पूर्वम् आपतितः क्रोधात् स त्वाम् आह्वयते युधि |
निष्पत्य च निरस्तः ते हन्यमानो दिशो गतः || ४-१५-१०
“Earlier Sugreeva came assaulting and inviting you for a combat, and you also have gone out and rendered him as a nonentity, and being battered by you he fled in all directions. [4-15-10]
10. puurvam krodhaat aa patitaH = earlier, in anger came, falling on – came assaulting; tvaam yudhi aahvayate = you, for fight, he is inviting; te = to you [by you]; niS patya = on going out; nirastaH = defeated – made a nonentity; hanyamaanH dishaH gataH = by you, being battered, into directions, fled.
Verse 11
त्वया तस्य निरस्तस्य पीडितस्य विशेषतः |
इह एत्य पुनर् आह्वानम् शंकाम् जनयति इव मे || ४-१५-११
“He who is undone earlier by you, particularly after torturing by you, his coming here again and inviting you for a duel is causing a doubt in me. [4-15-11]
11. tvayaa = by you; nirastasya = who is undone; visheSataH piiDitasya = especially, tortured; tasya = such a one; iha punaH etya = to here, again, on coming,; aahvaanam = inviting you – for duel; me shankaam janayati iva = to me, doubt, causing, like that.
Verse 12
दर्पः च व्यवसायः च यादृशः तस्य नर्दतः |
निनादस्य च संरंभो न एतत् अल्पम् हि कारणम् || ४-१५-१२
“The arrogance and endeavour of the shouter, and even the rampage of his furore, all these will not have a trivial reason, isn’t it. [4-15-12]
12. nardataH = one who is shouting; tasya darpaH ca = his, arrogance, also; vyavasaayaH ca = endeavour, also; ninaadasya ca samrambhaH = furore’s, also, rampage; etat alpam kaaraNam na hi = all this, with trivial, reason, not, isn’t it.
Verse 13
न असहायम् अहम् मन्ये सुग्रीवम् तम् इह आगतम् |
अवष्टब्ध सहायः च यम् आश्रित्य एष गर्जति || ४-१५-१३
“I do not think that Sugreeva has come here unaccompanied, and on whom he is dependant must be an unflinching support foregathered by Sugreeva. [4-15-13]
13. iha aagatam tam sugriivam = to here, who came, that, Sugreeva is; a sahaayam aham = not, assisted; na manye = not, I think; avaSTabdha sahaayaH ca = foregathering [unflinching,] support, also; yam aashritya eSaH garjati = whom, depending on, he is [Sugreeva is,] roaring.
Verse 14
प्रकृत्या निपुणः चैव बुद्धिमान् चैव वानरः |
न अपरीक्षित वीर्येण सुग्रीवः सख्यम् एष्यति || ४-१५-१४
“By his nature Sugreeva is an expert and even so a clever one, and he does not enter into friendship with anyone without examining his mettle. [4-15-14]
14. prakR^ityaa nipuNaH caiva = by nature, [Sugreeva is] an expert, also thus; buddhimaan = clever one; vaanaraH = that monkey [Sugreeva]; a pariikSita viiryeNa = without, examining, mettle; sugriivaH sakhyam = Sugreeva, friendship; na eSyati = will not, engage [in friendship.]
Verse 15
पूर्वम् एव मया वीर श्रुतम् कथयतो वचः |
अंगदस्य कुमारस्य वक्ष्यामि अद्य हितम् वचः || ४-१५-१५
“I am already briefed by our son Angada’s information, and what I have heard I will now relate that helpful word to you. [4-15-15]
15. viira = oh, brave one; puurvam eva kathayataH = already, only, [to me] told – briefed; kumaarasya angadasya vacaH = [our] son by Angada’s, word – information; maya shrutam = by me, heard; hitam vacaH adya vakSyaami = helpful, word, now, I will tell.
Verse 16
अंगदः तु कुमरो अयम् वनांतम् उपनिर्गतः |
प्रवृत्तिः तेन कथिता चारैः असीत् निवेदिता || ४-१५-१६
“Son Angada said this account when he returned from forests, and to him spies are said to have reported this. [4-15-16]
16. kumaraH ayam angadaH tu = son, this, Angada, but; vana antam upanirgataH = in forest, interior, [went and] came out of; tena pravR^ittiH kathitaa = by him, an account, is said; caaraiH niveditaa asiit = by spies, reported, it is.
Verse 17 & 18a
अयोध्य अधिपतेः पुत्रौ शूरौ समर दुर्जयौ |
इक्ष्वाकूणाम् कुले जातौ प्रथितौ राम लक्ष्मणौ || ४-१५-१७
सुग्रीव प्रिय कामार्थम् प्राप्तौ तत्र दुरासदौ |
“Those that are born in Ikshvaku dynasty, sons of the king of Ayodhya, valiant and unconquerable ones in war, called Rama and Lakshmana are there in this country. These two unassailable ones have chanced there at Sugreeva’s place to fulfil the longing desire of Sugreeva. [4-15-17, 18a]
17, 18a. ikshvaakuuNaam kule jaatau = Ikshvaku, dynasty, born in; ayodhya adhipateH putrau = Ayodhya’s, king’s, two sons; shuurau = valiant ones; samara dur jayau = in war, not, conquerable ones; raama lakshmaNau = Rama, Lakshmana; prathitau = are available [and moving in this country]; dur aasadau = those two being not, assailable ones; sugriiva priya kaama artham = Sugreeva’s, longing, desire, to fulfil; tatra praaptau = there [at Sugreeva’s place Rishyamuka,] arrived.
Verse 18b & 19a
स ते भ्रातुर् हि विख्यातः सहायो रण कर्मणि || ४-१५-१८
रामः पर बलमर्दी युगान्त अग्निः इव उत्थितः |
“He is an acclaimed one for his warfare, and like the fire flaring up at the end of era he shatters the strength of enemies, and he is Rama your brother’s helpmate, they say so. [4-15-18b, 19a]
18b, 19a. raNa karmaNi vikhyaataH = in war, works, acclaimed one; utthitaH yuga anta agniH iva = flared up, era, end of, fire, like; para bala mardii = other’s [enemy’s,] strength, shatterer of; saH raamaH = that, Rama; te bhraatuH sahaayaH hi = your, brother’s, helpmate, they say so.
Verse 19b & 20a
निवास वृक्षः साधूनाम् आपन्नानाम् परा गतिः | ४-१५-१९
आर्तानाम् संश्रयः चैव यशसः च एक भाजनम् |
“And he is said to the habitable tree for the polite, the ultimate course for the woebegone, a hospice for the agonised, and for grace Rama is the only abode. [4-15-19b, 20a]
19b, 20a. saadhuunaam nivaasa vR^ikSaH = for the polite, a habitable, tree; aapannaanaam paraa gatiH = for woebegone, ultimate, course; aartaanaam sam shrayaH caiva = for agonised, a good, hospice; yashasaH ca eka bhaajanam = for grace, also, the only, abode.
Verse 20b & 21
ज्ञान विज्ञान संपन्नो निदेशो निरतः पितुः || ४-१५-२०
धातूनाम् इव शैलेन्द्रो गुणानाम् आकरो महान् |
“He is endowed with the knowledge of mundane and ultra-mundane things, he always abides in the directives of his father, and as with Mt. Himalayas for all natural elements he is the greatest mine of merits. [4-15-20b, 21a]
20b, 21. j~naana vi j~naana sampannaH = knowledge [of mundane things,] knowledge [of ultra-mundane things,] endowed with; pituH nideshaH nirataH [sthitaH = abides] = in father’s, directive, always involved, [or, one who abides]; = ; dhaatuunaam iva shaila indraH = for elements, like, mountain, the great -Himalayas; guNaanaam mahaan aakaraH = for merits, greatest, mine.
Verse 21b & 22a
तत् क्षमो न विरोधः ते सह तेन महात्मना || ४-१५-२१
दुर्जयेन अप्रमेयेण रामेण रण कर्मसु |
“By that reason, with that unconquerable on in conflicts, an imponderable one and a great-soul Rama, your enmity is inapposite. [4-15-21b, 22a]
21b, 22a. tat = by that reason; mahaatmanaa = with great souled one; raNa karmasu durjayena = in conflicts, unconquerable one; a prameyeNa = not, estimable – imponderable one; saha tena raameNa = with that, Rama; te virodhaH na kSamaH = your, enmity, not, admissible – inadmissible, inappropriate, inapposite.
Verse 22b & 23a
शूर वक्ष्यामि ते किंचिन् न च इच्छामि अभ्यसूयितुम् || ४-१५-२२
श्रूयताम् क्रियताम् चैव तव वक्ष्यामि यद् हितम् |
“Oh dauntless one, I tell you this much that you shall not become overcritical of him, and what I say is beneficial to you that may now be listened and even implemented. [4-15-22b, 23a]
22b, 23a. shuura = oh, dauntless one; te kimcit vakSyaami = to you, a little, I will say; abhyasuuyitum = you to find fault in good merits, you to become overcritical; na ca icChaami = not, also, I wish; tava hitam yat vaksyaami = to you, what that is beneficial, that, I am saying; shruuyataam = be heard; kriyataam caiva = be done, also.
Verse 23b & 24a
यौवराज्येन सुग्रीवम् तूर्णम् साधु अभिषेचय || ४-१५-२३
विग्रहम् मा कृथा वीर भ्रात्रा राजन् यवीयसा |
“Oh, king, let Sugreeva be decorously and quickly anointed as prince regent, and oh, resolute one, let there be no hostility to your own younger brother. [4-15-23b, 24a]
23b, 24a. viira = oh, resolute one; raajan = oh, king; tuurNam = quickly; sugriivam = Sugreeva be; yauvaraajyena = as prince regent; saadhu abhiSecaya = gently – decorously, anoint; yaviiyasaa bhraatraa = with younger, brother; vigraham maa kR^ithaa = hostility, not, be made.
Verse 24b & 25a
अहम् हि ते क्षमम् मन्ये तेन रामेण सौहृदम् || ४-१५-२४
सुग्रीवेण च संप्रीतिम् वैरम् उत्सृज्य दूरतः |
“Achieving unanimity with Sugreeva and solidarity with Rama by discarding enmity, in effect is appropriate for you, thus I deem. [4-15-24b, 25a]
24b, 25a. vairam duurataH utsR^ijya = enmity, far away, discard; sugriiveNa sampriitim = with Sugreeva, harmony – unanimity; tena raameNa sauhR^idam = with him, Rama, solidarity; te kSamam aham manye hi = to you, appropriate, I, deem, in effect.
Verse 25b & 26a
लालनीयो हि ते भ्राता यवीयान् एष वानरः || ४-१५-२५
तत्र वा सन्निहस्थो वा सर्वथा बन्धुः एव ते |
“This Sugreeva is your younger brother and you should be keen about him, isn’t it… and whether he is here or there in Rishyamuka he is just your brother. [4-15-25b, 26a]
25b, 26a. yaviiyaan bhraataa = younger, brother; eSa vaanaraH = this, monkey Sugreeva; te laalaniiyaH hi = to you, to be keen about him, isn’t it; tatra san vaa = there, he is, either; iha sthaH vaa = here, he is there, or; sarvathaa te bandhuH eva = in any way, kinsman, just, of yours.
Verse 26b & 27
नहि तेन समम् बन्धुम् भुवि पश्यामि किंचन || ४-१५-२६
दान मानादि सत्कर्रैः कुरुष्व प्रत्यनन्तरम् |
वैरम् एतत् सम् उत्स्रृज्य तव पार्श्वे स तिष्ठतु || ४-१५-२७
“Indeed, I do not see anyone on earth a coequal to him in kindred spirit, hence leave off this enmity and honour him with bestowals and felicitations as an insider, and retain him at your side. [4-15-26b, 27]
26b, 27. tena samam bandhum = his, coequal, kindred spirit; kimcana = anyone; bhuvi na pashyaami hi = on earth, not, I see, indeed; etat vairam samutsrR^ijya = all this, enmity, completely leaving off; daana maana aadi satkarraiH = with bestowals, felicitations, and the like, honours; prati anantaram = like one who is very close / like one who is your legatee; kuruSva = you make; saH tava paarshve tiSThatu = him, by your, side, be kept.
Verse 28
सुग्रीवो विपुल ग्रीवो महाबन्धुः मतः तव |
भ्रातृ सौहृदम् आलंब्य न अन्या गति इह अस्ति ते || ४-१५-२८
“That boisterously voiced Sugreeva is indisputably an excellent kinsman of yours, and hence brace yourself with the fondness of brotherhood, as there is no other way out to you. [4-15-28]
28. vipula griivaH = broad, throated – boisterously, voiced; sugriivaH = Sugreeva; tava mahaa bandhuH mataH = your, an excellent, kinsman, accepted as – indisputable kinsman; bhraatR^i sauhR^idam aalambya = brother’s, fondness, brace yourself; te iha anyaa gati na asti = to you, now, another, way out, is not, there.
Verse 29
यदि ते मत् प्रियम् कार्यम् यदि च अवैषि माम् हिताम् |
याच्यमानः प्रियत्वेन साधु वाक्यम् कुरुष्व मे || ४-१५-२९
“If you look upon to do my favoured deed, and if you look upon me as an expedient one, I beg of you in our loving attachment that my gentle word of advise be done. [4-15-29]
29. te mat priyam kaaryam [aveSi] yadi = to you, to me, dear, deed [if you consider,] if; maam hitaam avaiSi yadi ca = me, as expedient, means of attaining an end, [if you] believe, if; priyatvena = in loving attachment; yaacyamaanaH = you are being begged; me vaakyam saadhu kuruSva = my, word [of advise,] simply, you make happen.
Verse 31
तदा हि तारा हितम् एव वाक्यम्
तम् वालिनम् पथ्यम् इदम् बभाषे |
न रोचते तद् वचनम् हि तस्य
काल अभिपन्नस्य विनाश काले || ४-१५-३१
Then, though Tara spoke beneficial and advisable words they are unimpressive to Vali for he is impounded by fatality and driven by time to his doom. [4-15-31]
31. tadaa hi taaraa = then, indeed, Tara; tam vaalinam = to him, Vali; hitam pathyam = beneficial, advisable [though]; idam vaakyam babhaaSe = this, sentence, spoke; kaala abhipannasya = by fatality, impounded; tasya = to him to Vali; vinaasha kale = at doom, time; tat vacanam na rocate = that, word, is not, impressive.
Verse 30
प्रसीद पथ्यम् श्रुणु जल्पितम् हि मे
न रोषम् एव अनुविधातुम् अर्हसि |
क्षमो हि ते कोशल राज सूनुना
न विग्रहः शक्र सम तेजसा || ४-१५-३०
“Be graceful and it behove you to listen to my small but expedient talk, and following up rancour alone is unbecoming of you, thereby your confrontation with the Prince of Kosala will be unpardonable for his dynamism equals that of Indra.” Thus Tara spoke to her husband Vali. [4-15-30]
30. prasiida = be graceful; shruNu me pathyam jalpitam = listen, to my, expedient, small talk; roSam eva = rancour, alone; anuvidhaatum na arhasi = to follow up, not, becoming of you; shakra sama tejasaa = with Indra, equal, in dynamism; koshala raaja suununaa = with Kosala, king’s, son; te vigrahaH na kshamaH hi = to you, confrontation, not, pardonable, indeed.
