Shloka 8

तारोपदेशः

Tara’s Counsel to Vali on Sugriva’s Roar and Rama’s Alliance

Devanagari script

काल्यमेतेन सङ्ग्रामं करिष्यसि च वानर।वीर ते शत्रुबाहुल्यं फल्गुता वा न विद्यते।।

Transliteration

kālyam etena saṅgrāmaṃ kariṣyasi ca vānara | vīra te śatru-bāhulyaṃ phalgutā vā na vidyate ||

Translation

ഹേ വാനരവീരാ! നാളെ പ്രഭാതത്തിൽ അവനോടു യുദ്ധം ചെയ്ക; ഈ താമസം നിന്റെ വീര്യം ക്ഷീണമെന്നോ ശത്രുവിനോടു അത്യധിക ബഹുമാനം കാണിക്കുന്നതെന്നോ സൂചിപ്പിക്കുകയില്ല.

Word by Word

• काल्यम्: tomorrow morning
• काल्यम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: काल्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: काल्य-शब्दः अव्ययवत् (adverbial accusative usage); अर्थे—प्रातः/श्वः (tomorrow morning)

• एतेन: with him/with this one
• एतेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे/नपुंसकलिङ्गे, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचनम्; instrumental—"with this/with him"

• सङ्ग्रामम्: battle
• सङ्ग्रामम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सङ्ग्राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचनम्; object of action

• करिष्यसि: you will do / you will wage
• करिष्यसि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकारः (Simple Future), परस्मैपदम्, मध्यमपुरुषः (2nd person), एकवचनम्

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्ययम् (conjunction)

• वानर: O monkey
• वानर: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वानर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचनम्

• वीर: O hero
• वीर: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचनम्

• ते: your / for you
• ते: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचनम्; possessive/dative-like—"for you/your" (here: your)

• शत्रु-बाहुल्यम्: abundance of enemies
• शत्रु-बाहुल्यम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत्रु (प्रातिपदिक) + बाहुल्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचनम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—शत्रूणां बाहुल्यम् (abundance of enemies)

• फल्गुता: weakness / insignificance
• फल्गुता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल्गुता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचनम्

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्ययम् (disjunctive particle: or)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्ययम् (negation)

• विद्यते: exists / is found
• विद्यते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: विद् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकारः (Present), आत्मनेपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd person), एकवचनम्; existential—"is/exists"

Context

'O monkey! fight him only tomorrow morning. By this you are not going to prove your weakness or increase your respect for the enemy.

Characters & Entities

• Tārā
• Vāli
• Sugrīva

FAQs

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

Dharma is not mere haste in battle; strategic restraint can be righteous, preserving clarity and reducing reckless harm.

What is the narrative situation?

Tārā proposes postponing the fight until morning, to avoid a rash confrontation.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Measured courage: true valor includes patience and the ability to choose the right time.