Introduction

Lady Tara rushes out to reach her slain husband while the monkey generals seek of her to anoint Angada as king immediately or leave Kishkindha, for Sugreeva and his men may come occupying the city. She chides their advises away and proceeds to meet Vali. She arrives at that place, sees Rama and his brother Lakshmana, her husband Vali and his brother Sugreeva. She faints and wails for the departing soul of Vali.

Verse 1

स वानर महाराजः शयानः शर पीडितः |
प्रत्युक्तो हेतुमद् वाक्यैः न उत्तरम् प्रत्यपद्यत || ४-१९-१

That great vanara king Vali who is sprawling agonised by arrow, and to whom Rama gave a reply with well-reasoned words did not find any other reply to be given to Rama. [4-19-1]

1. shara piiDitaH shayaanaH = agonised by, arrow, lying – sprawling; saH vaanara mahaa raajaH = he, vanara, great, king Vali; hetumat vaakyaiH = with reasonable, sentences; prati uktaH = in return, who is said [replied by Rama]; uttaram = reply; na prati apadyata = not, in turn, he derived, – find another reply.

Verse 2

अश्मभिः परिभिन्न अंगः पादपैर् आहतो भृशम् |
राम बाणेन च आक्रान्तो जीवित अंते मुमोह सः || ४-१९-२

He who is heavily thrashed with trees, whose limbs are variously cracked with boulders, and whom Rama’s arrow finally vanquished, that Vali fainted at the time of his breathing his last. [4-19-2]

2. ashmabhiH pari bhinna angaH = with boulders, variously, cracked, with limbs; paadapaiH bhR^isham aahataH = with trees, heavily, thrashed; raama baaNena ca = by Rama’s, arrow, also; aakraantaH = vanquished; saH jiivita ante mumoha = he, at life, ending – at the time of breathing last, fainted.

Verse 3

तम् भार्या बाण मोक्षेण राम दत्तेन संयुगे |
हतम् प्लवग शार्दूलम् तारा शुश्राव वालिनम् || ४-१९-३

Tara, wife of Vali, heard that the tigerly monkey Vali perished in fight by the arrow released by Rama.

3. plavaga shaarduulam = monkey, the tiger; tam vaalinam = him, about Vali; samyuge = in fight; raama dattena = by Rama, given – accorded; baaNa mokSeNa = by arrow, release of; hatam = as perished; bhaaryaa taaraa shushraava = wife, Tara, heard.

Verse 4

सा सपुत्र अप्रियम् श्रुत्वा वधम् भर्तुः सुदारुणम् |
निष्पपात भृशम् तस्मात् उद्विग्ना गिरि कंदरात् || ४-१९-४

On hearing the very gruesome killing of her husband that is unpleasant, she is highly anguished and rushed out of Kishkindha along with Angada. [4-19-4]

4. sa putra = with, son; saa = she; bhartuH = husband’s; su daaruNam = very, gruesome; a priyam = un, pleasant; vadham shrutvaa = about killing, on hearing; bhR^isham udvignaa = highly, anguished; tasmaat giri kandaraat = from, that mountain’s, cave – say Kishkindha; niSpapaata = fell out – rushed out.

Verse 5

ये ते अंगद परीवारा वानरा हि महाबलाः |
ते सकार्मुकम् आलोक्य रामम् त्रस्ताः प्रदुद्रुवुः || ४-१९-५

On seeing Rama with bow those very mighty vanara-s that form the escort of Angada are scared to death, and they very quickly fled from there towards Kishkindha. [4-19-5]

5. angada pariivaaraa = Angada’s, escorts; ye mahaabalaaH vaanaraa = those, very mighty vanara-s are there; te = they; sa kaarmukam = with, bow; raamam aalokya = Rama, on seeing; trastaaH = scared [to death]; pradudravuH [pra du druvuH] = very, quickly, fled.

Verse 6

सा ददर्श ततः त्रस्तान् हरीन् आपततो द्रुतम् |
यूथाद् इव परिभ्रष्टान् मृगान् निहत यूथपान् || ४-१९-६

Then on her way towards field of combat she saw the monkeys that are frightened and fleeing in disorder, like those animals that have wandered off from their herd when their master is killed. [4-19-6]

6. tataH = then; saa = she – Tara; trastaan = those who are scared; drutam = hastily; aa patataH = coming, falling – fleeing away disorderly; nihata yuuthapaan = that have killed, troop leader – master; yuuthaat = from herd; pari bhraSTaan = wandered off; mR^igaan iva = animal, like; hariin dadarsha = monkeys, she saw.

Verse 7

तान् उवाच समासाद्य दुःखितान् दुःखिता सती |
राम वित्रासितान् सर्वान् अनुबद्धान् इव इषुभिः || ४-१९-७

Nearing those monkeys that are already distressed at the fall of Vali, and that are highly frightened by Rama, and that are fleeing as though Rama’s arrow is still tracking them down, Tara spoke to all of them, distressed as she is. [4-19-7]

 

7. duHkhitaan = who are distressed; iSubhiH anu baddhaan iva = by arrows, followed closely – tracked down, as though; raama vi traasitaan = by Rama, highly, frightened; taan = them, the vanara-s; samaasaadya = on nearing; duHkhitaa satii = distressed, as she is; sarvaan uvaaca = to all, spoke.

Verse 8

वानरा राज सिंहस्य यस्य यूयम् पुरः सराः |
तम् विहाय सुवित्रस्ताः कस्माद् द्रवत दुर्गताः || ४-१९-८

“Oh! Vanara-s, what for you are running away in utter fright and desperation, leaving off your best king to whom all of you are ushers?” Thus Tara enquired with the monkeys. [4-19-8]

8. vaanaraaH = oh Vanara-s; yuuyam = you all; yasya raaja simhasya = to which, king, best; puraH saraaH = preceding, going before – ushers; tam vihaaya = him leaving off; suvitrastaaH – su vi trastaaH = very, highly, frightened; dur gataaH = woe, entered ones [woebegone, in desperation]; kasmaat dravata = what for, you run away.

Verse 9

राज्य हेतोः स चेत् भ्राता भ्रात्रा कॄरेण पातितः |
रामेण प्रसृतैः दूरात् मार्गणैः दूर पातिभिः || ४-१९-९

“Whether or not a cruel brother made his brother to fall for the reason of kingdom with the arrows of Rama which can surge well from distance and fall on distant target? Aver it. [4-19-9]

9. kR^iireNa bhraatraa = by cruel, brother [by Sugreeva]; bhraataa = brother; saH = he [Vali]; raajya hetoH = kingdom, for the reason of; raameNa = by Rama; duuraat = from distance; pra sR^itaiH = well, surging; duura paatibhiH = distantly, falling; maargaNaiH = with arrows; paatitaH = felled; cet = if / whether.

Verse 10

कपि पत्न्या वचः श्रुत्वा कपयः काम रूपिणः |
प्राप्त कालम् अविश्लिष्टम् ऊचुर् वचनम् अंगनाम् || ४-१९-१०

On hearing the words of monkey’s wife those guise-changing monkeys spoke this sentence coherently to lady Tara, befitting to present time of chaos. [4-19-10]

10. kaama ruupiNaH kapayaH = at wish, guise-changers, monkeys; kapi patnyaa = of monkey [Vali’s,] wife; vacaH shrutvaa = words, on hearing; praapta kaalam = chanced, time – befitting to time; avishliSTam [a vi shliSTam = not, very, coherent] – coherently; vacanam = sentence; anganaam uucuH = to lady [Tara,] spoke.

Verse 11

जीवपुत्रे निवर्तस्व पुत्रम् रक्षस्व च अन्दगम् |
अंतको राम रूपेण हत्वा नयति वालिनम् || ४-१९-११

“Return, oh, lady with a living son, and safeguard Angada, for the Terminator in the form of Rama is taking away Vali on killing. [4-19-11]

11. jiiva putre = alive, son – oh, one with a living son; ni vartasva = re, turn; putram andagam rakSasva ca = son, Angada, you safeguard, also; antakaH raama ruupeNa = Terminator, in Rama’s, in form; vaalinam hatvaa nayati = Vali, on killing, leading away – taking away.

Verse 12

क्षिप्तान् वृक्षान् समाविध्य विपुलाः च शिलाः तथा |
वाली वज्र समैर् बाणैर् वज्रेण इव निपातितः || ४-१९-१२

“Shattering trees and massive boulders that Vali hurled at him with thunderbolt like arrows Rama felled Vali as if by thunderbolt. [4-19-12]

12. kSiptaan vR^ikSaan = hurled, trees [at him]; tathaa = likewise; vipulaaH shilaaH = massive, boulders; vajra samaiH baaNaiH = thunderbolt, similar, with arrows; sam aavidhya = completely, on shattering; vaalii = Vali; vajreNa iva nipaatitaH = by thunderbolt, as if, felled.

Verse 13

अभिभूतम् इदम् सर्वम् विद्रुतम् वानरम् बलम् |
अस्मिन् प्लवग शार्दूले हते शक्र सम प्रभे || ४-१९-१३

“When that tigerly fly-jumper Vali whose brilliance is similar to Indra is killed all this vanara force felt defenceless and fled. [4-19-13]

13. shakra sama prabhe = Indra, similar, in brilliance; asmin plavaga shaarduule = this one [Vali’s,] flier, tiger among; hate = when killed; idam sarvam vaanaram balam = this, all, vanara, force; abhibhuutam vidrutam = vanquished – felt defenceless, fled.

Verse 14

रक्ष्यताम् नगरम् शूरैर् अंगदः च अभिषिच्यताम् |
पदस्थम् वालिनः पुत्रम् भजिष्यन्ति प्लवंगमाः || ४-१९-१४

“Let the city of Kishkindha be safeguarded and let Angada be anointed, and when Vali’s son Angada is enthroned all the fly-jumpers will stand by him. [4-19-14]

14. nagaram shuuraiH rakSyataam = city, by brave ones, be safeguarded; angadaH ca abhiSicyataam = Angada, also, be anointed; pada stham = in place [who is on throne]; vaalinaH putram = Vali’s, son Angada; plavamgamaaH bhajiSyanti = fly-jumpers, will adore – stand by.

Verse 15

अथवा अरुचितम् स्थानम् इह ते रुचिरानने |
आविशन्ति हि दुर्गाणि क्षिप्रम् अद्य एव वानराः || ४-१९-१५

“Or, your staying here is not good, oh, one with a pleasant visage, for those monkeys of Sugreeva will promptly enter our strongholds on this day itself. [4-19-15]

15. rucira anane = oh, one with pleasant, face Tara; athavaa = or; iha te sthaanam = here, your, staying; a rucitam = not, good; vaanaraaH = monkeys [of Sugreeva]; adya eva = today, only; kSipram durgaaNi = promptly, in to strongholds; aavishanti hi = they enter, indeed.

Verse 16

अभार्याः सह भार्याः च सन्ति अत्र वन चारिणः |
लुब्धेभ्यो विप्रलब्धेयः तेभ्यो नः सुमहद् भयम् || ४-१९-१६

“There are foresters in Kishkindha, some with wives and some without, some hankering after wives, some whom we have victimised, and from them we have very great danger.” So said monkeys to Tara. [4-19-16]

16. a bhaaryaaH = without, wives; saha bhaaryaaH ca = with, wives, also; vana caariNaH atra santi = forest, moving ones, in there [in Kishkindha,] are there; lubdhebhyaH = by the cravers [of wives]; vipralabdhebhyaH [vi pra labdheyaH] = those that are victimised by us; tebhyaH = from them; naH = to us; su mahat = very, great; bhayam = danger is there.

Verse 17

अल्पांतर गतानाम् तु श्रुत्वा वचनम् अंगना |
आत्मनः प्रतिरूपम् सा बभाषे चारु हासिनी || ४-१९-१७

On going a small distance ahead after listening those words, she whose smile will be winsome, that lady Tara said this befitting to her personality. [4-19-17]

17. alpa antara gataanaam = small, distance, on going; vacanam shrutvaa = sentence, on hearing; caaru haasinii = one with winsome, smile; saa anganaa = she, that lady; aatmanaH pratiruupam = for herself, befitting; babhaaSe = she said.

Verse 18

पुत्रेण मम किम् कार्यम् किम् राज्येन किम् आत्मना |
कपि सिम्हे महा भागे तस्मिन् भर्तरि नश्यति || ४-१९-१८

“Of what avail is a son, or a kingdom, or I to myself when my husband that lion like monkey with great honour perished. [4-19-18]

18. kapi simhe = monkey, the lion; mahaa bhaage = of great, honour; tasmin bhartari = that, my husband’s; nashyati sati = perished, when; mama = to me; putreNa kim kaaryam = by son, what, avail of; raajyena kim = by kingdom, what; aatmanaa kim = for myself, what [is the use.]

Verse 19

पाद मूलम् गमिष्यामि तस्य एव अहम् महात्मनः |
यो असौ राम प्रयुक्तेन शरेण विनिपातितः || ४-१९-१९

“I wish to consign myself at the base of foot of that great-soul, who is felled down by the arrow projected by Rama.” So said Tara to fleeing monkeys. [4-19-19]

19. yaH asau = who, he is; raama prayuktena shareNa = by Rama, projected, with arrow; vinipaatitaH = felled down; mahaatmanaH = of that great-souled one; tasya paada muulam eva = his, foot, at base, only; aham gamiSyaami = I, wish to go – I consign myself [on pyre.]

Verse 20

एवम् उक्त्वा प्रदुद्राव रुदती शोक मूर्च्छिता |
शिरः च उरः च बाहुभ्याम् दुःखेन समभिघ्नती || ४-१९-२०

Saying thus she started to wail and convulse in agony, and slapped her head and chest with both of her hands while she speedily rushed towards Vali. [4-19-20]

20. evam uktvaa = thus, saying; rudatii = while wailing; shoka muurcChitaa = in agony, convulsing; duHkhena = in anguish; shiraH ca uraH ca = head, also, chest, also; baahubhyaam = with two hands; samabhighnatii [sam abhi ghnatii] = while slapping; pradudraava = speedily, rushed [towards Vali.]

Verse 21

सा व्रजन्ती ददर्श अथ पतिम् निपतितम् भुवि |
हन्तारम् दानव इन्द्राणाम् समरेषु अनिवर्तिनाम् || ४-१९-२१

While she is still trudging then she saw her husband who is the destroyer of arch-demons like Maayaavi and Dundubhi, and who never retreated in combats, but now fallen down on ground. [4-19-21]

21. saa vrajantii = she, while advancing – trudging; atha = then; daanava indraaNaam = demons, arch-; hantaaram = destroyer of; samareSu a nivartinaam = in combats, back, coming – not, retreating; bhuvi nipatitam = on ground, fallen down; patim dadarsha = husband, she saw.

Verse 22

क्षेप्तारम् पर्वत इन्द्राणाम् वज्राणाम् इव वासवम् |
महावात समाविष्टम् महामेघ औघ निःस्वनम् || ४-१९-२२

She saw Vali who is a flinger of loftiest mountains as with Indra flinging his thunderbolt, who is a blaster as with great gusty winds, and who is a roarer as with a cluster of great black-clouds. [4-19-22]

22. vajraaNaam vaasavam iva = for thunderbolts, Indra, as with; parvata indraaNaam kSeptaaram = mountains, the lofty ones, flinger of; mahaa vaata sama aviSTam = great, gust of winds, similar, having blast; mahaa megha augha niHsvanam = great, black-clouds, cluster, a roarer; [saa dadarsha = she, saw.]

Verse 23

शक्रतुल्य पराक्रांतम् वृष्ट्वा इव उपरतम् घनम् |
नर्दन्तम् नर्दताम् भीमम् शूरम् शूरेण पातितम् |
शार्दूलेन आमिषस्य अर्थे मृग राजम् इव आहतम् || ४-१९-२३

He who equals Indra in the invasion of enemies, a violent thunderer at the opponent thunderers, a brave one felled by still brave one, and who is like a best animal killed by a tiger for the purpose of flesh, and quietened like black-cloud at the end of downpour, At him she saw. [4-19-23]

23. shakra tulya para aakraantam = Indra, equal, others, in invading; nardantam nardataam bhiimam = a thunderer, to [other] thunderers, violent; shuuram shuureNa paatitam = braving one [Vali,] by braver [Rama,] felled; aamiSasya arthe = for flesh, for the purpose of; shaarduulena = by tiger; aahatam = killed; mR^iga raajam iva = animal, the best, like; vR^iSTvaa uparatam ghanam iva = on downpour, quietened, black-cloud, like; [he is sprawling; saa dadarsha = she, saw.]

Verse 24

अर्चितम् सर्व लोकस्य सपताकम् सवेदिकम् |
नाग हेतोः सुपर्णेन चैत्यम् उन्मथितम् यथा || ४-१९-२४

He who is like a sanctum that is hitherto worshipped by all people, that is decorated with flags and demarcated with podia, but just ravaged by an eagle for the sake of a snake which sneaked into that sanctum, and Tara saw such a Vali plumped on the ground. [4-19-24]

24. sarva lokasya arcitam = by all, people, worshipped; sa pataakam = with, flags – decorated with; sa vedikam = with, podium; suparNena = by eagle; naaga hetoH [yathaa] = snake, for the reason of, [as with]; un mathitam = highly, ravaged; caityam yathaa = a sanctum, as with; [paatitam saa dadarsha = fallen, she, saw.]

Verse 25

अवष्टभ्य अवतिष्ठंतम् ददर्श धनुर् ऊर्जितम् |
रामम् रामानुजम् चैव भर्तुः चैव तथा अनुजम् || ४-१९-२५

She saw Rama standing and abutting on his very powerful bow, and his younger brother Lakshmana, even at the younger brother of her husband, namely Sugreeva. [4-19-25]

25. uurjitam dhanuH = very powerful, bow; avaSTabhya = abutting on; ava tiSThantam = standing; raamam raama anujam caiva = at Rama, Rama’s, younger brother – Lakshmana, also thus; tathaa = likewise; bhartuH anujam caiva = husband’s, younger brother – Sugreeva, also thus; dadarsha = she saw.

Verse 26

तान् अतीत्य समासाद्य भर्तारम् निहतम् रणे |
समीक्ष्य व्यथिता भूमौ संभ्रांता निपपात ह || ४-१९-२६

Going past them she reached her husband who is routed in combat, and on observing him closely she indeed fell down on earth as she is distraught and dumbfounded. [4-19-26]

26. taan atiitya = them, going past; raNe nihatam = in combat routed; bhartaaram samaasaadya = at husband, on reaching; samiikSya = on observing closely; vyathitaa = distraught; sambhraantaa = dumbfounded; bhuumau nipapaata [ni pa paata ] ha = on earth, fell down, indeed.

Verse 28

ताम् अवेक्ष्य तु सुग्रीवः क्रोशन्तीम् कुररीम् इव |
विषादम् अगमत् कष्टम् दृष्ट्वा च अंगदम् आगतम् || ४-१९-२८

On observing her who is wailing like a female osprey, and even on looking at Angada who arrived there, a miserable remorse came upon Sugreeva. [4-19-28]

28. sugriivaH = to Sugreeva; kurariim iva kroshantiim = female osprey, like, wailing one; taam avekSya = her, on observing; aagatam angadam ca dR^iSTvaa = one who arrived, Angada, also, on seeing; kaSTam viSaadam agamat = miserable, remorse, came upon him.