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Shloka 26

ताराविलापः

Tara’s Lament over Vāli

Transliteration

tathā tu tārā karuṇaṁ rudantī bhartuḥ samīpe saha vānarībhiḥ | vyavasyata prāyam upopaveṣṭum anindyavarṇā bhuvi yatra vālī ||

Translation

Then Tārā—of flawless beauty—crying in deep compassion, sat down on the ground near her husband Vāli, together with the other she-monkeys, resolved to undertake prāya (fasting unto death), giving up food and drink.

Word by Word
तथाthus, in that manner
तथा:
क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial modifier)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतथा (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
Formअव्यय (क्रियाविशेषण) = indeclinable adverb
तुbut, indeed
तु:
सम्बन्धसूचक/निपात (Discourse particle)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतु (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
Formअव्यय (निपात/समुच्चय-व्यतिरेक) = indeclinable particle (but/indeed)
ताराTārā
तारा:
कर्ता (Agent/subject)
TypeNoun
Rootतारा (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (feminine, nominative singular)
करुणम्piteously, compassionately
करुणम्:
क्रियाविशेषण (Manner)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootकरुण (प्रातिपदिक)
Formअव्यय (क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण नपुंसकलिङ्ग-एकवचन-आकार) = used adverbially ‘piteously’
रुदन्तीweeping, crying
रुदन्ती:
कर्ता-विशेषण (Participial predicate of the subject)
TypeVerb
Rootरुद् (धातु) → रुदन्ती (वर्तमान-कृदन्त, शतृ)
Formवर्तमानकाले कृदन्त (शतृ-प्रत्यय), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; परस्मैपदी धातु ‘रुद्’ = present active participle, feminine nominative singular
भर्तुःof (her) husband
भर्तुः:
सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation: of her husband)
TypeNoun
Rootभर्तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन (masculine, genitive singular)
समीपेnear, in the vicinity
समीपे:
अधिकरण (Location)
TypeNoun
Rootसमीप (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन (neuter, locative singular)
सहtogether with
सह:
सहकारक/सहयोग (Accompaniment marker)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootसह (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
Formअव्यय (सह-योगे) = indeclinable preposition/adverb ‘together with’ (governs instrumental)
वानरीभिःwith the she-monkeys
वानरीभिः:
सहकर्ता/सहयोग (Accompaniment)
TypeNoun
Rootवानरी (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (feminine, instrumental plural)
व्यवस्यतresolved, decided
व्यवस्यत:
क्रिया (Main verb)
TypeVerb
Rootवि + अव + सि (धातु ‘अव√सि/वस्’ अर्थे ‘निश्चय/व्यवसाय’) → व्यवस्यत
Formलङ्-लकार (अनद्यतनभूत), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद = imperfect, 3rd person singular, active
प्रायम्a fast unto death (prāya)
प्रायम्:
कर्म (Object/complement of resolving)
TypeNoun
Rootप्राय (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (neuter, accusative singular); अव्ययीभावेन ‘प्रायम्’ = ‘unto death/fasting unto death’
उपोपवेष्टुम्to sit down (in observance)
उपोपवेष्टुम्:
प्रयोजन/उद्देश्य (Purpose infinitive)
TypeVerb
Rootउप + उप + विश् (धातु) → उपोपवेष्टुम् (तुमुन्)
Formकृदन्त (तुमुन्-प्रत्यय) = infinitive; धातु ‘विश्’ (to sit) with prefixes upa+upa
अनिन्द्यवर्णाof blameless complexion/appearance
अनिन्द्यवर्णा:
कर्ता-विशेषण (Adjective of the subject)
TypeAdjective
Rootअनिन्द्य + वर्णा (प्रातिपदिकौ)
Formकर्मधारय-समास; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (feminine, nominative singular)
भुविon the ground, on earth
भुवि:
अधिकरण (Location)
TypeNoun
Rootभू (प्रातिपदिक ‘भू/भूमि’)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन (feminine, locative singular)
यत्रwhere
यत्र:
देशाधिकरण-निर्देशक (Locative-relative marker)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootयत्र (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
Formअव्यय (सम्बन्ध/देशवाचक) = relative adverb ‘where’
वालीVālī
वाली:
कर्ता (Subject of implied ‘was/lay’)
TypeNoun
Rootवालिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (masculine, nominative singular)
Context

Beautiful Tara crying pathetically sat near her husband along with other female monkeys on the ground, determined to abstain from food and drink, awaiting death.ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē kiṣkindhākāṇḍē viṅśassargaḥ৷৷Thus ends the twentieth sarga of Kishkindakanda of the Holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.

Characters & Entities
T
Tārā
V
Vāli

FAQs

The verse highlights the intensity of spousal loyalty and grief; Tārā’s resolve for prāya reflects a traditional (though emotionally driven) ideal of unwavering attachment to one’s husband. It also implicitly warns how sorrow can push one toward extreme vows, raising the dharmic need for counsel and restraint from the community.

After Vāli has fallen, Tārā reaches him with the other she-monkeys, weeps, and sits by his side, deciding to fast—renouncing food and drink—as if awaiting death.

Tārā’s steadfast devotion and single-minded resolve (niścaya), though expressed through grief, is emphasized.

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