Ramayana — Kishkindha Kanda, Sarga 15, Shloka 19

तारोपदेशः

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

Devanagari script

निवासवृक्षः साधूनामापन्नानां परा गतिः।आर्तानां संश्रयश्चैव यशसश्चैकभाजनम्।।

Transliteration

nivāsavṛkṣaḥ sādhūnām āpannānāṃ parā gatiḥ | ārtānāṃ saṃśrayaś caiva yaśasaś caika-bhājanam ||

Translation

他是善人之荫树，是困厄者的至上归依，是受苦者的依止，亦是盛载名声的唯一宝器。

Word by Word

• निवासवृक्षः: a sheltering tree
• निवासवृक्षः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nivāsa (प्रातिपदिक) + vṛkṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (‘tree of shelter’), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• साधूनाम्: of the virtuous
• साधूनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sādhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन (Plural)

• आपन्नानाम्: of the distressed/helpless
• आपन्नानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ā-√pad (धातु) + kta (कृत्)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP) ‘āpanna’ used substantively, पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• परा: supreme
• परा: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifies ‘gatiḥ’)

• गतिः: refuge/goal
• गतिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• आर्तानाम्: of the afflicted
• आर्तानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ārta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• संश्रयः: protector/shelter
• संश्रयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṃ-√śri (धातु) + a (प्रातिपदिक-निर्माण)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-बोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-निपात (emphatic particle)

• यशसः: of fame
• यशसः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yaśas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), षष्ठी, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-बोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• एकभाजनम्: sole repository
• एकभाजनम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक) + bhājana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (‘single repository’), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Context

'He is like a sheltering tree to the virtuous, an ultimate refuge for the destitutes and a protector of the distressed. He is the sole repository of fame.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma

FAQs

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

Dharma is protection of the righteous and refuge for the suffering—an ideal of kingship and heroism embodied by Rāma.

What is the narrative situation?

Tārā describes Rāma’s moral stature to dissuade Vāli from opposing him.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Compassionate guardianship—being a refuge to the vulnerable.