Shloka 16

ताराशोकविनोदनम्

Consolation of Tara and Counsel on Succession

Devanagari script

न हि मम हरिराजसंश्रयात्क्षमतरमस्ति परत्र चेह वा।अभिमुखहतवीरसेवितंशयनमिदं मम सेवितुं क्षमम्।।

Transliteration

na hi mama harirāja-saṃśrayāt kṣamataram asti paratra ceha vā | abhimukha-hata-vīra-sevitaṃ śayanam idaṃ mama sevitum kṣamam ||

Translation

నాకు—ఇహలోకములో గాని పరలోకములో గాని—వానరరాజుని ఆశ్రయించుటకన్నా శ్రేయస్కరమైన, సురక్షితమైన శరణు లేదు. నా కళ్లముందే హతుడైన ఆ వీరుడు సేవించిన ఈ శయ్యను నేను ఆశ్రయించుట యుక్తమే।

Word by Word

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध-निपात

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात

• मम: for me / my
• मम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• हरि-राज-संश्रयात्: than taking refuge with the monkey-king
• हरि-राज-संश्रयात्: Apadana (अपादान/Ablative of comparison)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक) + राजन् (प्रातिपदिक) + संश्रय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास; अपादान (ablative: 'from/than')

• क्षमतरम्: more fitting/safer
• क्षमतरम्: Pradhana-kriya-puraka (विधेय/Predicate complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; तरप्-प्रत्यय (comparative)

• अस्ति: is
• अस्ति: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/लट्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• परत्र: in the next world
• परत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Adverbial location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: परत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देश/काल-क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• इह: here
• इह: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Adverbial location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Disjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्प (disjunction)

• अभिमुख-हत-वीर-सेवितम्: used/occupied by the hero slain facing (me)
• अभिमुख-हत-वीर-सेवितम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभिमुख (प्रातिपदिक) + हन् (धातु)→हत (कृदन्त, क्त) + वीर (प्रातिपदिक) + सेवित (कृदन्त, क्त; √सेव्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (śayanaṃ viśeṣayati)

• शयनम्: bed/resting place
• शयनम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शयन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; सर्वनाम; विशेषण

• मम: for me
• मम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• सेवितुम्: to use / to lie on
• सेवितुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/Purpose)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सेव् (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive) — 'to use/serve/lie upon'

• क्षमम्: proper/fitting
• क्षमम्: Pradhana-kriya-puraka (विधेय/Predicate complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण (predicate adjective)

Context

'You are aware of the uncertain and transient happenings in the lives of living beings. Therefore, a wise lady should do auspicious work in this world.

Characters & Entities

• Tārā
• Hanumān
• Vāli

FAQs

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

Marital fidelity as a vowed dharma (pativratā-ideal in epic ethics): Tārā frames her identity and refuge as inseparable from her husband, even beyond death.

What is the narrative situation?

Tārā declares her intention to follow Vāli in death, choosing his pyre/resting place as her own.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Single-minded devotion and resolve—though expressed through the extremity of grief.