Shloka 15

ताराविलापः

Tara’s Lament over Vāli

Devanagari script

वैधव्यं शोकसन्तापं कृपणं कृपणा सती।अदुःखोपचिता पूर्वं वर्तयिष्याम्यनाथवत्।।4.20.15।।

Transliteration

vaidhavyaṃ śokasantāpaṃ kṛpaṇaṃ kṛpaṇā satī | aduḥkhopacitā pūrvaṃ vartayiṣyāmy anāthavat ||

Translation

Ich, die einst keinen Kummer kannte, muss nun in elender Witwenschaft leben, vom Schmerz verzehrt—wie eine, die ohne Zuflucht ist.

Word by Word

• वैधव्यम्: widowhood
• वैधव्यम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैधव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• शोकसन्तापम्: torment of grief
• शोकसन्तापम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शोक-सन्ताप (प्रातिपदिक; components: शोक + सन्ताप)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष ('heat/torment of grief')

• कृपणम्: wretchedly
• कृपणम्: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृपण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणवत् (adverbial accusative: 'wretchedly')

• कृपणा: wretched
• कृपणा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृपण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण of अहम् (implied)

• सती: being
• सती: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत् (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √अस् (धातु) + शतृ)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; वर्तमानकृदन्त (present participle) 'being'

• अदुःखोपचिता: previously unaccustomed to sorrow
• अदुःखोपचिता: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-दुःख-उपचित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; components: अ + दुःख + उपचित; √चि (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नञ्-तत्पुरुष + PPP; 'one who had not been accustomed to sorrow'

• पूर्वम्: formerly
• पूर्वम्: Kala-adhikarana (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पूर्वम् (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• वर्तयिष्यामि: I will live/continue
• वर्तयिष्यामि: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वृत् (धातु) (णिच् causative: वर्तय-)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; causative sense 'I will live/lead (my life)'

• अनाथवत्: like an orphan
• अनाथवत्: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अनाथवत् (अव्यय; तद्धितान्त from अनाथ + वत्)
• Form: उपमानवाचक-अव्यय (simile adverb: 'like an orphan')

Context

'I have not experienced poverty or suffering before. Immersed in grief, like an orphan, now I am reduced to the pitiable condition of a widow.

Characters & Entities

• Tārā
• Vāli

FAQs

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

Dharma is inseparable from compassion: the verse foregrounds the social and emotional vulnerability created by death, urging sensitivity to those left without protection.

What is the narrative situation?

Tārā anticipates her life after Vāli’s death—widowhood and grief replacing former security.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Endurance and frank self-awareness in the face of sudden vulnerability.