Shloka 1

ताराविलापः

Tara’s Lament and Counsel after Vali’s Fall

Devanagari script

स वानरमहाराजश्शयानश्शरविक्षतः।प्रत्युक्तो हेतुमद्वाक्यैर्नोत्तरं प्रत्यपद्यत।।

Transliteration

sa vānaramahārājaḥ śayānaḥ śaravikṣataḥ | pratyukto hetumad-vākyair nottaraṃ pratyapadyata ||

Translation

Raja agung kaum vanara itu terbaring di tanah, tertikam anak panah; walau dijawab dengan kata-kata yang beralasan, dia tidak memperoleh jawapan untuk dibalas.

Word by Word

• saḥ: he (Vali)
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• vānaramahārājaḥ: the great king of monkeys
• vānaramahārājaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vānara + mahārāja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (vānaraḥ ca sa mahārājaḥ)

• śayānaḥ: lying (down)
• śayānaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √śī (शी धातु) + śānac (शानच्)
• Form: शानच्-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त (present participle, Ātmanepada sense), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् saḥ

• śaravikṣataḥ: wounded by arrows
• śaravikṣataḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śara + √kṣan/√kṣi? (क्षि/क्षन् धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (śaraiḥ vikṣataḥ = wounded by arrows)

• pratyuktaḥ: having been addressed/answered
• pratyuktaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prati-√vac (वच् धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; 'having been replied to/answered'

• hetumat-vākyaiḥ: with reasoned words
• hetumat-vākyaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hetumat + vākya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः (hetumat = reasoned) + vākya; करणम्

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

• uttaram: an answer
• uttaram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: uttara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• pratyapadyata: found/obtained
• pratyapadyata: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: prati-ā-√pad (पद् धातु)
• Form: लङ् (imperfect/past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद

Context

The king of monkeys lying on the ground struck by the arrow did not offer to reply after listening to Rama's appropriate answers (to his objections).

Characters & Entities

• Vāli
• Rāma (implied as the one giving reasoned answers)

FAQs

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

When dharma is supported by clear reasoning, it can dissolve objections; ethical discourse requires yielding when one’s position cannot be defended truthfully.

What is the narrative situation?

After Rāma answers Vāli’s challenges, Vāli—wounded and weakened—falls silent, unable to counter the reasoning.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The power of reasoned, dharma-grounded speech (Rāma’s) and the implicit acceptance of truth when one cannot honestly rebut it.