Shloka 12

वालिवधः

The Slaying of Vali

Devanagari script

ततः स्वस्त्ययनं कृत्वा मन्त्रविद्विजयैषिणी।अन्तःपुरं सह स्त्रीभिः प्रविष्टा शोकमोहिता4.16.12।।

Transliteration

tataḥ svastyayanaṃ kṛtvā mantravid vijayaiṣiṇī | antaḥpuraṃ saha strībhiḥ praviṣṭā śoka-mohitā ||

Translation

അനന്തരം മന്ത്രവിദ്യയിൽ നിപുണയും വിജയാഭിലാഷിണിയുമായ താര മംഗളാശീർവാദങ്ങൾ ഉച്ചരിച്ച്, ശോകമോഹിതയായി മറ്റു സ്ത്രീകളോടൊപ്പം അന്തഃപുരത്തിലേക്ക് പ്രവേശിച്ചു.

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; काल/अनन्तर (adverb: 'then/thereafter')

• svastyayanam: auspicious benediction
• svastyayanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: svasti+ayana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: 'utterance of auspicious benediction'

• kṛtvā: having done / having uttered
• kṛtvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive), अव्ययभाव

• mantravit: knowing mantras
• mantravit: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mantra+vid (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: 'knower of mantras'

• vijayaiṣiṇī: seeking victory
• vijayaiṣiṇī: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vijaya+eṣiṇī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: 'seeking victory'

• antaḥpuram: inner apartments
• antaḥpuram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: antaḥpura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन

• saha: with
• saha: Sahārtha (सहार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: saha (अव्यय)
• Form: सह-अव्यय (preposition-like indeclinable: 'with')

• strībhiḥ: with women
• strībhiḥ: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: strī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; तृतीया, बहुवचन

• praviṣṭā: entered
• praviṣṭā: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√viś (धातु)
• Form: क्त (PPP), स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपसर्ग: प्र

• śokamohitā: overwhelmed by grief
• śokamohitā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śoka+mohita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: 'deluded/overwhelmed by sorrow'

Context

The wise counsellor, Tara bade him farewell, wishing him victory and then, overwhelmed with sorrow, entered the inner apartment followed by the women-folk.

Characters & Entities

• Tārā
• Vāli
• antaḥpura (inner apartments)

FAQs

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

Dharma includes performing one’s duties—prayer, blessings, and proper leave-taking—even when the heart is burdened by sorrow.

What is the narrative situation?

Tārā gives auspicious blessings for Vāli’s victory and withdraws to the palace quarters with the women.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sincere goodwill: despite foreboding, Tārā still blesses and follows proper conduct.