Shloka 11

वालिवधः

The Slaying of Vali

Devanagari script

तं तु तारा परिष्वज्य वालिनं प्रियवादिनी।चकार रुदती मन्दं दक्षिणा सा प्रदक्षिणम्4.16.11।।

Transliteration

taṃ tu tārā pariṣvajya vālinaṃ priyavādinī | cakāra rudatī mandaṃ dakṣiṇā sā pradakṣiṇam ||

Translation

حينئذٍ عانقت تارا، رقيقةَ القول، فالي؛ وبدموعٍ هادئة طافت به طوافَ الوداع طاعةً وإجلالًا.

Word by Word

• tam: him
• tam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; द्वितीया, एकवचन; पुंलिङ्ग

• tu: but
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (contrastive particle)

• tārā: Tara
• tārā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tārā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन

• pariṣvajya: having embraced
• pariṣvajya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pari-√svaj (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive), अव्ययभाव; उपसर्ग: परि; धातु: √स्वज् (to embrace)

• vālinam: Vali
• vālinam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vālin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन

• priyavādinī: pleasant-speaking
• priyavādinī: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: priya+vādinī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय: 'pleasant-speaking'

• cakāra: did / performed
• cakāra: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• rudatī: weeping
• rudatī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √rud (धातु)
• Form: शतृ (Present active participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन

• mandam: softly / faintly
• mandam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: manda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-प्रयोग (adverbial accusative): 'gently/faintly'

• dakṣiṇā: compliant / auspicious
• dakṣiṇā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dakṣiṇā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण of sā (Tara): 'compliant/auspicious/rightward'

• sā: she
• sā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; प्रथमा, एकवचन; स्त्रीलिङ्ग

• pradakṣiṇam: circumambulation
• pradakṣiṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pradakṣiṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन; 'circumambulation (keeping right)'

Context

Pleasing in her words, Tara then embraced Vali and sobbing, circumambulated Vali in compliance (to his advice).

Characters & Entities

• Tārā
• Vāli

FAQs

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

Even amid disagreement, Dharma preserves respect and care in relationships; Tārā’s farewell shows duty and compassion without abandoning truth.

What is the narrative situation?

Tārā, unable to stop Vāli, performs a respectful farewell gesture and lets him go.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Loyalty and tenderness: Tārā remains dignified and devoted despite fear and grief.