Shloka 9

ताराविलापः

Tara’s Lament and Counsel after Vali’s Fall

Devanagari script

राज्यहेतोस्स चेद्भ्राता भ्रात्रा रौद्रेण पातितः।रामेण प्रहितैरौद्रैर्मार्गणैर्दूरपातिभिः।।

Transliteration

rājya-hetoḥ sa ced bhrātā bhrātrā raudreṇa pātitaḥ | rāmeṇa prahitair raudrair mārgaṇair dūra-pātibhiḥ ||

Translation

“如果为了王位，那位兄弟确实被愤怒的亲兄弟击倒——被罗摩那凶猛、射程极远的箭矢所击倒——你们为何还要逃跑？”

Word by Word

• राज्य-हेतोः: for the sake of kingship
• राज्य-हेतोः: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राज्य (प्रातिपदिक) + हेतु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (राज्यस्य हेतु:)

• सः: he (Vali)
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• चेत्: if
• चेत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: चेत् (अव्यय)
• Form: शर्त-अव्यय (conditional particle)

• भ्राता: brother
• भ्राता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भ्रातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; apposition to सः

• भ्रात्रा: by (his) brother
• भ्रात्रा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भ्रातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• रौद्रेण: with fury, fiercely
• रौद्रेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रौद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; भाववाचक (in a fierce manner/with fury)

• पातितः: struck down
• पातितः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √पत् (धातु) + णिच् (causative) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; “(is) felled/struck down”

• रामेण: by Rama
• रामेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• प्रहितैः: sent, discharged
• प्रहितैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र-√हि (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying mārgaṇaiḥ)

• रौद्रैः: fierce
• रौद्रैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रौद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying mārgaṇaiḥ)

• मार्गणैः: with arrows
• मार्गणैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मार्गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• दूर-पातिभिः: far-flying, far-reaching
• दूर-पातिभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दूर (प्रातिपदिक) + पातिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (दूरं पतन्ति) विशेषण (qualifying mārgaṇaiḥ)

Context

'If the (elder) brother is struck down by his (younger) brother in anger for the sake of kingship using far-reaching arrows discharged by Rama, why are you running?'

Characters & Entities

• Tārā
• Rāma
• Vāli (implied)
• Sugrīva (implied as the brother)
• arrows (mārgaṇa)

FAQs

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

The verse raises the dharmic tension between political ambition and familial bonds, while urging truthful facing of events rather than panic: fear must not replace clear judgment.

What is the narrative situation?

Tārā refers to Vāli’s fall—connected to the rivalry over rule and Rāma’s intervention—and challenges the monkeys’ flight.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Composure and moral clarity in turmoil—recognizing hard truths without surrendering to chaos.