Shloka 9

ताराविलापः

Tara’s Lament and Counsel after Vali’s Fall

Devanagari script

राज्यहेतोस्स चेद्भ्राता भ्रात्रा रौद्रेण पातितः।रामेण प्रहितैरौद्रैर्मार्गणैर्दूरपातिभिः।।

Transliteration

rājya-hetoḥ sa ced bhrātā bhrātrā raudreṇa pātitaḥ | rāmeṇa prahitair raudrair mārgaṇair dūra-pātibhiḥ ||

Translation

“ৰাজ্যৰ হেতুত যদি সেই ভ্ৰাতাই ক্ৰোধী ভ্ৰাতাৰ হাতত পতিত হৈছে—ৰামৰ প্ৰেৰিত ভয়ংকৰ, দূৰপতনশীল বাণৰ দ্বাৰা—তেন্তে তোমালোক কিয় পলাইছা?”

Word by Word

राज्य-हेतोःfor the sake of kingship

सःhe (Vali)

चेत्if

भ्राताbrother

भ्रात्राby (his) brother

रौद्रेणwith fury, fiercely

पातितःstruck down

रामेणby Rama

प्रहितैःsent, discharged

रौद्रैःfierce

मार्गणैःwith arrows

दूर-पातिभिःfar-flying, far-reaching

Context

'If the (elder) brother is struck down by his (younger) brother in anger for the sake of kingship using far-reaching arrows discharged by Rama, why are you running?'

Characters & Entities

Tārā

Rāma

Vāli (implied)

Sugrīva (implied as the brother)

arrows (mārgaṇa)

FAQs

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

The verse raises the dharmic tension between political ambition and familial bonds, while urging truthful facing of events rather than panic: fear must not replace clear judgment.

What is the narrative situation?

Tārā refers to Vāli’s fall—connected to the rivalry over rule and Rāma’s intervention—and challenges the monkeys’ flight.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Composure and moral clarity in turmoil—recognizing hard truths without surrendering to chaos.