Shloka 20

ताराविलापः

Tārā’s Lament over Vāli

Devanagari script

अवकीर्णं विमार्जन्ती भर्तारं रणरेणुना।अस्रैर्नयनजैश्शूरं सिषेचास्त्रसमाहतम्।।

Transliteration

avakīrṇaṁ vimārjantī bhartāraṁ raṇareṇunā | asrair nayanajaiḥ śūraṁ siṣecāstrasamāhatam ||

Translation

Sie wischte ihren Mann ab, der vom Kampfstaub bedeckt war; und den Helden, von einer Waffe getroffen, badete sie mit den Tränen, die aus ihren Augen flossen.

Word by Word

• अवकीर्णम्: covered/scattered over
• अवकीर्णम्: कर्म-विशेषण (Karma-viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अवकीर्ण (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; अव-उपसर्ग + √कॄ (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying भर्तारम्)

• विमार्जन्ती: wiping/cleaning
• विमार्जन्ती: कर्ता-विशेषण (Karta-viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Verb
• Root: विमार्जन्ती (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; वि-उपसर्ग + √मृज् (धातु) + शतृ, स्त्री)
• Form: वर्तमानकर्तरि कृदन्त (present active participle); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तृ-विशेषण (she)

• भर्तारम्: husband/lord
• भर्तारम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भर्तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• रणरेणुना: with the dust of battle
• रणरेणुना: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रणरेणु (प्रातिपदिक; रण + रेणु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• अस्रैः: with tears
• अस्रैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• नयनजैः: born from the eyes
• नयनजैः: करण-विशेषण (Karaṇa-viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नयनज (प्रातिपदिक; नयन + ज)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying अस्रैः)

• शूरम्: the hero/warrior
• शूरम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेष्य (apposition to भर्तारम्)

• सिषेच: sprinkled/watered
• सिषेच: क्रिया (Kriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √सिच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• अस्त्रसमाहतम्: struck by a weapon
• अस्त्रसमाहतम्: कर्म-विशेषण (Karma-viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अस्त्रसमाहत (प्रातिपदिक; अस्त्र + समाहत)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying भर्तारम्/शूरम्)

Context

She (Tara) wiped the body wounded with the weapon and covered with war-dust, sprinkling her tear drops from her eyes.

Characters & Entities

• Tārā
• Vāli

FAQs

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

Dharma is shown as compassionate duty: caring for the fallen, honoring relational obligations, and responding to suffering with tenderness rather than cruelty.

What is the narrative situation?

Tārā physically tends to Vāli’s dust-covered, weapon-wounded body, wiping him and wetting him with her tears.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Karunā (compassion) and fidelity—Tārā’s devoted care continues even at the edge of death.