Shloka 21

ताराविलापः

Tara’s Lament and Counsel after Vali’s Fall

Devanagari script

आव्रजन्ती ददर्शाथ पतिं निपतितं भुवि।हन्तारं दानवेन्द्राणां समरेष्वनिवर्तिनम्।।

Transliteration

āvrajantī dadarśātha patiṃ nipatitaṃ bhuvi | hantāraṃ dānavendrāṇāṃ samareṣv anivartinam ||

Translation

近づくと、彼女は地に倒れ伏す夫を見た――ダーナヴァの王たちを討ち、戦場で決して退かぬ勇者を。

Word by Word

• āvrajantī: approaching
• āvrajantī: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-vraj (आ-व्रज् धातु)
• Form: शतृ (Present Active Participle); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — ‘approaching/coming near’

• dadarśa: saw
• dadarśa: Kriyā (क्रिया/Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (दृश् धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular); परस्मैपद

• atha: then
• atha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम/काल (sequence particle)

• patim: husband
• patim: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• nipatitam: fallen
• nipatitam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier of patiṃ)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni-pat (नि-पत् धातु)
• Form: क्त (Past Passive Participle); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन — ‘fallen’

• bhuvi: on the ground
• bhuvi: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhūmi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), सप्तमी (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• hantāram: the slayer
• hantāram: Karma (कर्म/Object—apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: han-tṛ (हन् धातु + तृच्) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); agent noun ‘slayer’ in apposition to patim

• dānavendrāṇām: of the demon-chiefs
• dānavendrāṇām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dānava + indra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन (Plural); तत्पुरुष-समासः: दानवानाम् इन्द्राः (chiefs among demons)

• samareṣu: in battles
• samareṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Domain)
• Type: Noun
• Root: samara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सप्तमी (Locative/7th), बहुवचन (Plural)

• anivartinam: one who never retreated
• anivartinam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-ni-vartin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular) — qualifying patim/hantāram

Context

As she was nearing (the spot) she saw her husband, a great conqueror of monkeys who never retreated from the battle, mortally hit and fallen on the ground.

Characters & Entities

• Tārā
• Vāli
• Dānavas

FAQs

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

The limits of worldly prowess: even the steadfast hero falls—prompting reflection on dharma beyond mere strength.

What is the narrative situation?

Tārā arrives and witnesses Vāli lying fallen, remembered for fearless victories.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Vāli’s valor (śaurya) and steadfastness (anivartitā) in battle.