Shloka 4.19.8

ताराविलापः — Tara’s Lament and Counsel after Vali’s Fall

Devanagari script

वानराः राजसिंहस्य यस्य यूयं पुरस्सराः।तं विहाय सुसन्त्रस्ताः कस्माद्द्रवथ दुर्गताः।।

Transliteration

vānarāḥ! rāja-siṃhasya yasya yūyaṃ purassarāḥ | taṃ vihāya susantrastāḥ kasmād dravatha durgatāḥ ||

Translation

“O monkeys! You who go before the lion among kings—why, abandoning him, do you run in misery, utterly frightened?”

Context

'O monkeys! deserting the lion among kings,whose servants you are ? What should you be frightened for ? Why run away in distress?

Characters & Entities

• Tārā
• Vānara-s
• Vāli (implied as rāja-siṃha)

FAQs

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

Dharma is framed as loyalty and moral steadiness: followers should not abandon their leader in calamity, and fear should not override duty.

What is the narrative situation?

Tārā confronts the panicked monkeys who are fleeing after Vāli’s defeat, questioning their abandonment and terror.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Courage and fidelity—standing firm rather than scattering in fear.