Shloka 1

वालिवधोत्तरशोकः

Sugriva’s Remorse and Tara’s Lament after Vali’s Death

Devanagari script

तां चाश्रुवेगेन दुरासदेनत्वभिप्लुतां शोकमहार्णवेन।पश्यंस्तदा वाल्यनुजस्तरस्वीभ्रातुर्वधेनाप्रतिमेन तेपे।।

Transliteration

tāṃ cāśru-vegena durāsadena tv abhiplutāṃ śoka-mahārṇavena | paśyaṃs tadā vāly-anujas tarasvī bhrātur vadhena ’pratimena tepe ||

Translation

Bấy giờ Sugrīva, em trai dũng mãnh của Vāli, thấy Tārā bị cơn lũ lệ không thể chống đỡ—một đại dương sầu khổ—nhấn chìm, liền đau đớn vì cái chết vô song của anh mình.

Word by Word

• tām: her
• tām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक: तद्)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd), Singular; refers to the woman

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• aśru-vegena: by the rush of tears
• aśru-vegena: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aśru (प्रातिपदिक) + vega (प्रातिपदिक: वेग)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (षष्ठी) 'flood/force of tears'; Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• durāsadena: unassailable
• durāsadena: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dur-āsada (प्रातिपदिक: दुरासद)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Singular; qualifies 'śokamahārṇavena' (ocean hard to cross/approach)

• tu: indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात) contrast/emphasis

• abhiplutām: overwhelmed
• abhiplutām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: abhi+plu (धातु: अभि+प्लु) (कृदन्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Feminine, Accusative, Singular; qualifies 'tām'

• śoka-mahā-arṇavena: by the great ocean of grief
• śoka-mahā-arṇavena: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śoka (प्रातिपदिक) + mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + arṇava (प्रातिपदिक: अर्णव)
• Form: Karmadhāraya 'great ocean of grief'; Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• paśyan: seeing
• paśyan: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु: दृश्/पश्य) (कृदन्त)
• Form: Present participle (शतृ), Masculine, Nominative, Singular; agrees with 'vālyanujaḥ'

• tadā: then
• tadā: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb of time

• vāli-anujaḥ: Vali's younger brother (Sugriva)
• vāli-anujaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vālin (प्रातिपदिक: वालिन्) + anuja (प्रातिपदिक: अनुज)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (षष्ठी) 'younger brother of Vāli'; Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• tarasvī: powerful
• tarasvī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tarasvin (प्रातिपदिक: तरस्विन्)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; epithet of Sugriva

• bhrātuḥ: of (his) brother
• bhrātuḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhrātṛ (प्रातिपदिक: भ्रातृ)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th), Singular

• vadhena: by the killing
• vadhena: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vadha (प्रातिपदिक: वध)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd), Singular

• apratimena: incomparable
• apratimena: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-pratima (प्रातिपदिक: अप्रतिम)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular; qualifies 'vadhena'

• tepe: suffered/agonized
• tepe: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: tap (धातु: तप्)
• Form: Liṭ-lakāra (perfect/परोक्ष), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Singular, Ātmanepada

Context

Sugriva, the unassailable younger brother of Vali, perceiving Tara overwhelmed in the ocean of grief felt agonized for the killing of his brother of incomparable power.

Characters & Entities

• Sugrīva
• Vāli
• Tārā

FAQs

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

It highlights accountability and empathy: even when victory is achieved, dharma requires sensitivity to suffering and recognition of the moral weight of kin-slaying.

What is the narrative situation?

After Vāli’s fall, Sugrīva witnesses Tārā’s intense grief and is pained by the consequence of his brother’s death.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sugrīva’s capacity for remorse and compassion, indicating moral awareness beyond political gain.