Shloka 18

तारोपदेशः

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

Devanagari script

तव भ्रातुर्हि विख्यातस्सहायो रणकर्कशः।रामः परबलामर्दी युगान्ताग्निरिवोत्थितः।।

Transliteration

tava bhrātur hi vikhyātaḥ sahāyo raṇakarkaśaḥ | rāmaḥ parabalāmardī yugāntāgnir ivotthitaḥ ||

Translation

నీ అన్నకు రాముడు ప్రసిద్ధ సహాయకుడు—యుద్ధంలో అత్యంత కఠినుడు; శత్రుసేనలను మర్దించే వాడు, యుగాంతాగ్నివలె ఉద్భవించినవాడు।

Word by Word

• तव: your
• तव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन (Singular), सर्वनाम (Pronoun)

• भ्रातुः: of (your) brother
• भ्रातुः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhrātṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन (Singular)

• हि: indeed/for
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अव्यय

• विख्यातः: famous
• विख्यातः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi-khyā (धातु) + kta (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण (adjective)

• सहायः: helper/ally
• सहायः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sahāya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• रणकर्कशः: fierce in battle
• रणकर्कशः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: raṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + karkaśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (locative/7th sense: ‘in battle’), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• रामः: Rama
• रामः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• परबलामर्दी: crusher of enemy forces
• परबलामर्दी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para-bala (प्रातिपदिक) + mardī (प्रातिपदिक; from √mṛd/√mard)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (object-relation: ‘enemy-force’), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• युगान्ताग्निः: the end-of-age fire
• युगान्ताग्निः: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yuga-anta (प्रातिपदिक) + agni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (‘fire at the end of an age’), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• इव: like/as
• इव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-वाचक अव्यय (indeclinable of comparison)

• उत्थितः: arisen/sprung up
• उत्थितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ud-√sthā (धातु) + kta (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

Context

'Rama, famous for crushing foes in war, like the fire that breaks out at the dissolution of the world, has slain strong enemies like Khara and will help your brother.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Sugrīva
• Vāli

FAQs

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

Dharma-guided action requires heeding prudent warnings: when a righteous and powerful ally supports the other side, aggression becomes adharma and self-destructive.

What is the narrative situation?

Tārā stresses that Rāma stands as Sugrīva’s celebrated battle-ally, implying grave danger for Vāli.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Caution informed by truth—accepting reality even when it threatens one’s pride.