Shloka 4.35.18

तारोपदेशः — Tara’s Counsel to Lakshmana (Restraint, Time, and Mobilization)

Devanagari script

एवमाख्यातवान्वाली स ह्यभिज्ञो हरीश्वरः।आगमस्तु न मे व्यक्तश्श्रवात्तस्माद्ब्रवीम्यहम्।।।।

Transliteration

evam ākhyātavān vālī sa hy abhijño harīśvaraḥ | āgamas tu na me vyaktaḥ śravāt tasmād bravīmy aham ||

Translation

Thus did Vālī, the well-informed lord of the monkeys, once relate it. Yet the source is not clear to me; therefore I speak only from what I have heard.

Context

Vali, the well-informed lord of the monkeys, has given an account of the demons. The source of the account is not known to me.Therefore I am speaking from what I have heard.

Characters & Entities

• Vālī
• Harīśvara (lord of monkeys)

FAQs

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

Satya is upheld through intellectual honesty: one should distinguish direct knowledge from hearsay and speak with appropriate caution.

What is the narrative situation?

Tārā cites Vālī as her informant about Laṅkā’s forces, while clarifying that she does not personally know the ultimate source.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Truthfulness with restraint—careful, qualified speech rather than exaggerated certainty.