Shloka 1

ताराविलापः

Tārā’s Lament over Vāli

Devanagari script

ततस्समुपजिघ्रन्ती कपिराजस्य तन्मुखम्।पतिं लोकाच्च्युतं तारा मृतं वचनमब्रवीत्।।

Transliteration

tataḥ samupajighrantī kapirājasya tan-mukham | patiṃ lokāc cyutaṃ tārā mṛtaṃ vacanam abravīt ||

Translation

ततः समुपजिघ्रन्ती कपिराजस्य तन्मुखम्। पतिं लोकाच्च्युतं तारा मृतं वचनमब्रवीत्॥

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Kala (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय, temporal adverb

• samupajighrantī: smelling (kissing)
• samupajighrantī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sam-upa-ghrā (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले कृदन्त (शतृ/शानच् participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; qualifies tārā; 'smelling/kissing'

• kapirājasya: of the monkey-king
• kapirājasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kapi + rāja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (कपीनां राजा), पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• tat: that (his)
• tat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; demonstrative qualifying mukham

• mukham: face
• mukham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• patim: husband
• patim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• lokāt: from the world
• lokāt: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: loka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचन

• cyutam: departed, fallen away
• cyutam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: cyu (धातु) + cyuta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्त-कृदन्त, पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; qualifies patim

• tārā: Tara
• tārā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tārā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• mṛtam: dead
• mṛtam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mṛ (धातु) + mṛta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्त-कृदन्त, पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; qualifies patim (understood)

• vacanam: words, speech
• vacanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• abravīt: said
• abravīt: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: brū (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (imperfect/past), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Context

Tara kissed (smelt) the forehead of the king of monkeys who had departed and said:

Characters & Entities

• Tārā
• Vāli (Kapirāja)

FAQs

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

It highlights fidelity and the human duty of honoring the dead through final gestures of love and remembrance.

What is the narrative situation?

After Vāli’s death, Tārā approaches his body, kisses/smells his face, and begins her lament.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Devotion and loyalty—Tārā’s steadfast attachment and reverence for her husband.