Shloka 18

ताराविलापः

Tara’s Lament over Vāli

Devanagari script

समाश्वासय पुत्रं त्वं सन्देशं सन्दिशस्व मे।मूर्ध्नि चैनं समाघ्राय प्रवासं प्रस्थितो ह्यसि4.20.18।।

Transliteration

samāśvāsaya putraṃ tvaṃ sandeśaṃ sandiśasva me |

mūrdhni cainaṃ samāghrāya pravāsaṃ prasthito hy asi ||

Translation

Tröste deinen Sohn und richte ihm meine Botschaft aus. Rieche zum Abschied an seinem Scheitel—denn wahrlich, du brichst zu einer fernen Reise auf.

Word by Word

• समाश्वासय: console
• समाश्वासय: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्+आ+√श्वस् (धातु) (णिच् causative: आश्वासय-)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; causative 'cause to be comforted'

• पुत्रम्: son
• पुत्रम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा, एकवचन

• सन्देशम्: message
• सन्देशम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सन्देश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• सन्दिशस्व: deliver/communicate
• सन्दिशस्व: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्+√दिश् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• मे: to me
• मे: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/Dative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: चतुर्थी (Dative), एकवचन (enclitic)

• मूर्ध्नि: on the head/forehead
• मूर्ध्नि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूर्धन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• एनम्: him
• एनम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; अनाफोरिक (enclitic demonstrative)

• समाघ्राय: having smelled (embraced and smelled)
• समाघ्राय: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्+आ+√घ्रा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund/absolutive)

• प्रवासम्: journey/exile
• प्रवासम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रवास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• प्रस्थितः: departed/set out
• प्रस्थितः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र+स्थित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √स्था (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; PPP used predicatively with असि

• हि: indeed
• हि: Nishchaya/Hetu (निश्चय/हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: हेतौ/निश्चये-अव्यय (particle: indeed/for)

• असि: you are
• असि: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Context

'Indeed, Rama has achieved a great feat in fulfilling his promise to Sugriva. He is acquitted of the debt by killing you.

Characters & Entities

• Tārā
• Vāli
• Aṅgada

FAQs

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

Dharma is expressed as compassionate responsibility at life’s end: offering reassurance, leaving guidance, and ensuring the child is emotionally and morally supported.

What is the narrative situation?

Tārā addresses the dying Vāli, urging him to comfort Aṅgada and leave final instructions.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Tārā’s practical wisdom (nīti) amid grief—she prioritizes the child’s welfare and continuity of guidance.