Shloka 29

ताराविलापः

Tārā’s Lament over Vāli

Devanagari script

राज्यश्रीर्न जहाति त्वां गतासुमपि मानद।सूर्यस्यावर्तमानस्य शैलराजमिव प्रभा।।

Transliteration

rājyaśrīr na jahāti tvāṃ gatāsum api mānada | sūryasyāvartamānasya śailarājam iva prabhā ||

Translation

Ô vénérable, bien que la vie t’ait quitté, la splendeur royale ne t’abandonne pas—comme l’éclat du soleil ne quitte pas le seigneur des montagnes au couchant.

Word by Word

• rājya-śrīḥ: royal glory
• rājya-śrīḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājya (प्रातिपदिक) + śrī (प्रातिपदिक: श्री)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (षष्ठी) 'royal fortune/glory'; Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st), Singular

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle

• jahāti: leaves/abandons
• jahāti: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: hā (धातु: हा)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (present), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Singular, Parasmaipada

• tvām: you
• tvām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (प्रातिपदिक: युष्मद्)
• Form: Pronoun, Accusative (2nd), Singular

• gata-āsum: even (though) dead
• gata-āsum: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gata (कृदन्त: गम्) + asu (प्रातिपदिक: असु)
• Form: Bahuvrīhi 'whose life-breath has gone'; Masculine, Accusative, Singular; qualifies 'tvām'

• api: even
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; concessive particle (अपि)

• mānada: O giver of honor (venerable one)
• mānada: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mānada (प्रातिपदिक: मानद)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th), Singular; address

• sūryasya: of the sun
• sūryasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sūrya (प्रातिपदिक: सूर्य)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th), Singular

• āvartamānasya: as it returns
• āvartamānasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ā+vṛt (धातु: आ+वृत्) (कृदन्त)
• Form: Present participle (शतृ) 'returning/turning back'; Masculine, Genitive, Singular; qualifies 'sūryasya'

• śaila-rājam: the king of mountains
• śaila-rājam: Upameya (उपमेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaila (प्रातिपदिक) + rāja (प्रातिपदिक: राजन्)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (षष्ठी) 'king of mountains'; Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• iva: like
• iva: Upamā (उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Simile marker

• prabhā: radiance
• prabhā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prabhā (प्रातिपदिक: प्रभा)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular; subject of implied comparison

Context

'O venerable one, even though life has departed from you, kingly glory does not leave you any more than the light of the setting son leaves the king of mountains. (western mountain)

Characters & Entities

• Tārā
• Vāli
• Sun (Sūrya)

FAQs

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

Dignity can persist even in death; dharma honors the fallen with truth and respect, separating moral evaluation from mere insult or contempt.

What is the narrative situation?

Tārā observes that Vāli’s kingly presence still appears undiminished even as he lies dying.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Reverence and fairness—Tārā acknowledges Vāli’s stature while grieving, maintaining respectful speech (satya with maryādā).