Book IV : Kishkindha Kanda - The Empire of Holy Monkeys

Chapter [Sarga] 20
Verses converted to UTF-8, Nov 09

Introduction


Tara's lamentation for her departing husband Vali. She unlike other forest beings who just forsake the dead partner, weeps bitterly for Vali and holds Sugreeva and Rama responsible for the untimely death of Vali. The common nature of humans is portrayed through the Vanara empress.


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राम चाप विसृष्टेन शरेण अंतकरेण तम् |
दृष्ट्वा विनिहतम् भूमौ तारा ताराधिप आनना || ४-२०-१
सा समासाद्य भर्तारम् पर्यष्वजत भामिनी |

1, 2a. taara adhipa aananaa = stars, lord, faced one [having a lovely face like moon, Tara]; bhaaminii = resentful lady; saa taaraa = such as she is, that Tara; raama caapa visR^iSTena = Rama's, bow, released; antakareNa shareNa = terminator [like,] with arrow; vinihatam = fallen down; tam bhartaaram bhuumau dR^iSTvaa = him, that husband, on floor, on seeing; samaasaadya paryaSvajata = reached, and embraced.

On seeing her husband felled to ground with a terminator like arrow released by Rama, that resentful lady Tara whose face is lovely like the moon, reached and embraced him. [4-20-1]

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इषुणा अभिहतम् दृष्ट्वा वालिनम् कुंजरोपमम् || ४-२०-२
वानरम् पर्वत इन्द्र आभम् शोक संतप्त मानसा |
तारा तरुम् इव उन्मूलम् पर्यदेवयत् आतुरा || ४-२०-३

2b, 3. iSuNaa abhihatam = by arrow, shot down; kunjara upamam = elephant, in simile; parvata indra aabham = [like] mountain, best one, in shine; unmuulam tarum iva = uprooted, tree, like; vaanaram vaalinam dR^iSTvaa = vanara, at Vali, on seeing; taaraa aaturaa = Tara, agonised; shoka samtapta maanasaa = by grief, scorched, with heart; paryadevayat = wailed fretfully.

Tara is agonised when she saw the elephantine and mountainous vanara, namely Vali, reduced to no more than an uprooted tree, and she wailed fretfully with grief scorching heart. [4-20-2b, 3]

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रणे दारुण विक्रान्त प्रवीर प्लवताम् वर |
किम् इदीनाम् पुरो भागाम् अद्य त्वम् न अभिभाषसे || ४-२०-४

4. raNe daaruNa = in fight, a stern one; vikraanta = victorious one; pra viira = best, valiant; plavataam vara = among fliers, the best; idiinaam = now - so far; puraH bhaagaam = before, you behind - not blamed you; a puraH bhaagam = not, before, your side [at your behind, I who never blamed you before or behind you]; such as I am; tvam kim adya na abhibhaaSase = you, why, now, not, greet - talk.

"Oh, stern one in fights, oh, victorious one, oh, best valiant, oh, best flier, I have never blamed you either in your presence or in your absence, why do not you talk to me now? [4-20-4]

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उत्तिष्ठ हरि शार्दूल भजस्व शयन उत्तमम् |
न एवम् विधाः शेरते हि भूमौ नृपति सत्तमाः || ४-२०-५

5. hari shaarduula uttiSTha = oh, monkey, the tiger, arise; bhajasva shayana uttamam = take, bed, best one; evam vidhaaH nR^ipati sattamaaH = this, kind of, by kings, the best; bhuumau na sherate hi = on soil, will not, repose, isn't it.

"Arise, oh, tigerly monkey, you have to make use of a best bed as best kings will not on repose on soil in this way, isn't it. [4-20-5]

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अतीव खलु ते कांता वसुधा वसुधाधिप |
गत असुर् अपि ताम् गात्रैः माम् विहाय निषेवसे || ४-२०-६

6. vasudhaa adhipa = land, lord - oh, king; te vasudhaa atiiva kaantaa khalu = to you, earth, highly, cherished [darling,] indeed; gata asuH api = gone - drained, lives, though; maam vihaaya = me, leaving off; gaatraiH taam niSevase = with limbs, her, you adore - embrace.

"The earth seems to be a highly cherished darling of yours, oh, lord of the land, as you still embrace her with your limbs leaving me off, even when your lives are drained. [4-20-6]

These dialogs of Tara are not statements of facts but a kind of question like imperatives as, "Is this earth a highly cherished darling of yours than me, that is why you still cling to her leaving me off, am I that bad..." "Have you built a heavenly city in the pathway of heaven and you go there leaving me, am I unfit to come with you..." and the like.

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व्यक्तम् अद्य त्वया वीर धर्मतः संप्रवर्तता |
किष्किंधा इव पुरी रम्या स्वर्ग मार्गे विनिर्मिता || ४-२०-७

7. viira = oh, valiant one; dharmataH = righteously; sampravartataa [sam pra vartataa] = who conducts himself; tvayaa = by you; adya kiSkindhaa iva = now, Kishkindha, like; ramyaa purii = delightful, city; svarga maarge = to heaven, on path; vi nirmitaa = well built; vyaktam = it is evident.

"It is evident that you, who conduct yourself righteously, must have built a Kishkindha-like delightful city in the pathway to heaven by your leaving lovely Kishkindha. [4-20-7]

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यानि अस्माभिः त्वया सार्धम् वनेषु मधु गंधिषु |
विहृतानि त्वया काले तेषाम् उपरमः कृतः || ४-२०-८

8. tvayaa = by you; asmaabhiH saardham = with us, along with; madhu gandhiSu vaneSu = sweet smelling [or, with liquor, odour,] in forests; yaani vihR^itaani kaale = which, pleasure trips, in time - from time to time; teSaam uparamaH tvayaa kR^itaH = to them, stoppage - bring to an end, by you, made.

"You bring an end to the pleasure trips you made along with us in the sweet smelling forests from time to time by your departing. [4-20-8]

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निरानंदा निराशा अहम् निमग्ना शोक सागरे |
त्वयि पंचत्वम् आपन्ने महायूथप यूथपे || ४-२०-९

9. mahaa yuuthapa yuuthape = oh, great, chief, of chiefs [ of monkeys]; tvayi pancatvam aapanne = on you, fifth state, befallen; aham = I am; nir aanandaa = without, happiness; nir aashaa = without, hope; shoka saagare nimagnaa = sadness, sea, drowned.

"When this fifth state betiding you, oh, great chief of chiefs of monkeys, I am dejected, despaired and drowned in the sea of sadness. [4-20-9]

Where the preceding four states of living beings are, waking state, dream state, and the state of deep sleep. There is another undistinguished fourth called turriya  Death is the fifth one.

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हृदयम् सुस्थिरम् मह्यम् दृष्ट्वा विनिहतम् भुवि |
यन् न शोक अभिसंतप्तम् स्फुटते अद्य सहस्रधा || ४-२०-१०

10. mahyam = for me; hR^idayam su sthiram = heart is, very, sturdy; yat = why because; vinihatam bhuvi [patitam] = killed, on ground, [fallen you]; dR^iSTvaa = on seeing; shoka abhisamtaptam = in sorrow, tormented; adya = now; sahasradhaa na sphuTate = into thousand [splints,] not, splintering.

"My heart is very sturdy - perhaps, even on seeing you slain and fallen to ground, it is not splintering now into thousand splints, though it is tormented by sorrow. [4-20-10]

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सुग्रीवस्य त्वया भार्या हृता स च विवासितः |
यत् तत् तस्य त्वया व्युष्टिः प्राप्ता इयम् प्लवगाधिप || ४-२०-११

11. plavaga adhipa = oh, fliers, chief of; tvayaa = by you; yat = for which [reason]; sugriivasya = Sugreeva's; bhaaryaa hR^itaa = wife, snatched away; saH ca vivaasitaH = he, also, expelled [ from Kishkindha]; tat = by that reason; tvayaa = by you; tasya = of that [misdeed]; iyam vyuSTiH praaptaa = this, result, obtained.

"By which reason you have snatched away Sugreeva's wife, oh, chief of fliers, and even expelled him from Kishkindha, that is the reason why you got this result. [4-20-11]

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निःश्रेयस परा मोहात् त्वया च अहम् विगर्हिता |
या एषा अब्रुवम् हितम् वाक्यम् वानरेन्द्र हित एषिणी || ४-२०-१२

12. vaanara indra = oh, monkey, the best; niHshreyasa paraa = well-being, interested in; hita eSiNii = welfare, wishing; yaa = she who is; eSa = = this me; hitam vaakyam abruvam = beneficial, word, when said; aham tvayaa mohaat vi garhitaa = I, by you, unmindfully, refused - brushed me aside.

"I am she who said a beneficial word to you with an interest in your well-being and wishing your welfare, but oh, best monkey, you unmindfully brushed me off. [4-20-12]

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रूप यौवन दृप्तानाम् दक्षिणानाम् च मानद |
नूनम् अप्सरसाम् आर्य चित्तानि प्रमथिष्यसि || ४-२०-१३

13. maana da = of honour, endower of; aarya = oh, honourable one; ruupa yauvana dR^iptaanaam = by beauty, by youthfulness, those who are proud of; dakshiNaanaam = by experts in romance; apsarasaam = celestial's, of apsara-s; cittaani = hearts; pramathiSyasi = you will stir up; nuunam = definitely.

"Oh, endower of honour, apsara-s, the celestial dancers, will be proud of their beauty, youthfulness, and expertise in romance, and oh, honourable one, you can stir up their hearts towards you by your gallantry, definite is that. [4-20-13]

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कालो निःसंशयो नूनम् जीवित अंतकरः तव |
बलात् येन अवपन्नो असि सुग्रीवस्य अवशो वशम् || ४-२०-१४

14. niH samshayaH = without, doubting - undoubtable; kaalaH = Time [or, death]; tava = for you; jiivita anta karaH = life, end, made [ended your life]; nuunam = definitely; yena = by which [Time/Death]; a vashaH = uncontrollable such as you are; balaat = perforce / capability; sugriivasya vasham ava pannaH asi = Sugreeva's, control, obtained [Time brought you down,] you are.

"The Time which is an undoubtable factor in respect of anybody has ended your life, definite is that, and that Time alone perforce brought you, who are otherwise an uncontrollable force, to the control of Sugreeva.

Or

The Death / Time no doubt has a concern with anyone for it is the ender of life, and definitely it chanced upon you by the capability of Sugreeva in getting support of Rama, and Sugreeva alone controlled you, who are otherwise an uncontrollable force. [4-20-14]

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अस्थाने वालिनम् हत्वा युध्यमानम् परेण च |
न संतप्यति काकुत्स्थः कृत्वा सुगर्हितम् || ४-२०-१५

15. kaakutsthaH = Rama; pareNa yudhyamaanam = with other, fighting; vaalinam = Vali; a sthaane = not, in proper place, or, in an unbefitting method; hatvaa = on killing; su garhitam [karma] = highly, deplorable [deed]; kR^itvaa = on doing; na sam tapyati = not, at all, worried.

"Rama's killing Vali when he is fighting with another is unbefitting in its method, and he too is not at all worried for doing such a highly deplorable deed. [4-20-15]

This verse is not found in some texts like critical edition and in Eastern recension etc.

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वैधव्यम् शोक संतापम् कृपणम् अकृपणा सती |
अदुह्ख उपचिता पूर्वम् वर्तयिष्यामि अनाथवत् || ४-२०-१६

16. puurvam = in early times - so far; a kR^ipaNam satii = not, doleful, I am; a duHkha upacitaa = not, sadness, accompanied with - not saddened; anaatha vat = desolated one, as with; kR^ipaNaa = dolefulness; vaidhavyam = widowhood; shoka samtaapam = sadness, seethed by; vartayiSyaami = I have to undergo.

"So far I am not doleful or saddened, but now as a desolate seethed by sorrow I have to undergo widowhood and dolefulness. [4-20-16]

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लालितः च अंगदो वीरः सुकुमारः सुखोचितः |
वत्स्यते काम् अवस्थाम् मे पितृव्ये क्रोध मूर्च्छिते || ४-२०-१७

17. pitR^ivye krodha muurcChite = when paternal-uncle, in fury, fit of; laalitaH = one who is raised fondly; sukumaaraH = graceful one; sukha ucitaH = for comforts, used to; viiraH = brave one; me angadaH = my, Angada; kaam avasthaam vatsyate = which, predicament, he undergoes.

"My Angada is raised fondly, a brave one with gracefulness and one who is accustomed to comforts, but which will be the predicament he has to undergo when his paternal-uncle Sugreeva gets into a fit of fury. [4-20-17]

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कुरुष्व पितरम् पुत्र सुदृष्टम् धर्म वत्सलम् |
दुर्लभम् दर्शनम् तस्य तव वत्स भविष्यति || ४-२०-१८

18. putra = oh, son Angada; dharma vatsalam = virtue, patron of; tava pitaram = your, father; su dR^iSTam = one who is clearly seen; kuruSva = make - see your father clearly; vatsa = oh, boy; tasya darshanam durlabham bhaviSyati = his, sight, impossible, it will be [from now on.]

"Oh, son Angada, clearly see your father, a patron of virtue, oh, boy, later it is impossible to catch a glimpse of him." Thus Tara said to her son Angada. [4-20-18]

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समाश्वासय पुत्रम् त्वम् संदेशम् संदिशस्व मे |
मूर्ध्नि च एनम् समाघ्राय प्रवासम् प्रस्थितो हि असि || ४-२०-१९

19. tvam putram = you, let son be; sam aashvaasaya = assuage - well, reassured; enam muurdhni samaaghraaya- him, on forehead, on smelling [kissing]; me samdesham samdishasva = to me, message, give; pravaasam prasthitaH asi hi = to another world, you started, you are, isn't it..

"You have started towards other world, isn't it, so reassure your son, kiss goodbye on his forehead, and give me your parting messages." So said Tara to Vali. [4-20-19]

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रामेण हि महत् कर्म कृतम् त्वाम् अभिनिघ्नता |
आनृण्यम् तु गतम् तस्य सुग्रीवस्य प्रतिश्रवे || ४-२०-२०

20. tvaam = you; abhinighnataa [abhi ni ghnataa] = [when he] hit you down; raameNa mahat karma kR^itam hi = by Rama, great, deed, is done, really; sugriivasya pratishrave = to Sugreeva, [in the matter of] promise; tasya = his - Rama's; a nR^iNyam = no, debt - debtless; gatam tu = obtained, but.

"Really, Rama has not only done a great deed of hitting you down, but he also achieved indebtedness towards Sugreeva, both in a single promise. [4-20-20]

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सकामो भव सुग्रीव रुमाम् त्वम् प्रतिपत्स्यसे |
भुंक्ष्व राज्यम् अनुद्विग्नः शस्तो भ्राता रिपुः तव || ४-२०-२१

21. sugriiva = oh, Sugreeva; sa kaamaH bhava = fulfilled, desires [with contentment,] you be; tvam rumaam prati patsyase = Ruma, you, again, you get; an udvignaH = un, ruffled; raajyam bhunkSva = kingdom, you wallow in; tava ripuH bhraataa shastaH = your, enemy, brother, is hushed - silenced.

"Now, you are to your heart's content Sugreeva as you regain your wife Ruma, you may even wallow in the kingdom unworriedly as your enemy-brother is silenced." So said Tara to Sugreeva. [4-20-21]

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किम् माम् एवम् प्रलपतीम् प्रियाम् त्वम् न अभिभाषसे |
इमाः पश्य वरा बह्वयः भार्याः ते वानरेश्वर || ४-२०-२२

22. vaanara iishvara = oh, vanara-s, lord; evam = this way; pra lapatiim = highly, one who is prattling; priyaam = to dear one; maam = to me; tvam kim na abhi bhaaSase = you, why, not, talk to me; te bahvayaH varaaH bhaaryaaH = your, several, comely, wives; imaaH = here they are; pashya = you see.

""Oh, lord of monkeys, why do not you talk to me, the dear wife of yours, when I am prattling at length, by the way, several of your comely wives are here, they are here, see them." Thus Tara lamented. [4-20-22]

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तस्या विलपितम् श्रुत्वा वानर्यः सर्वतः च ताः |
परिगृह्य अंगदम् दीना दुह्ख आर्ताः परिचुक्रुशुः || ४-२०-२३

23. sarvataH = those that are around; taaH vaanaryaH = those, vanara females; tasyaa vilapitam shrutvaa = her [Tara's], lamentation, on listening; angadam parigR^ihya = Angada, on embracing; diinaa = becoming pathetic; duhkha aartaaH = saddened, pitiably; paricukrushuH = piteously wept.

On listening Tara's lamentation the vanara females that are around became plaintive, saddened pitiably and wept piteously embracing Angada. [4-20-23]

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किम् अंगदम् स अंगद वीर बाहो
विहाय यातो असि अद्य चिरम् प्रवासम् |
न युक्तम् एवम् गुण संनिकृष्टम्
विहाय पुत्रम् प्रिय पुत्रम् प्रिय चारु वेषम् || ४-२०-२४

24. sa angada viira baahuH = with, bicep-lets, mighty, armed one [Vali]; priya putram angadam vihaaya = dear, son, Angada, on leaving; ciram pravaasam = eternal, abode; kim yaataH asi = why, going, you are; guNa samnikR^iSTam = with qualities, come close to - one with best aptitudes; priya caaru veSam = in pleasant, exquisite, getup; putram son [in such a getup]; vihaaya = on leaving; evam = this way of going; na yuktam = not, befitting.

"Oh, one with bracelets on your mighty arms, why you are going to an eternal abode leaving your dear son Angada? Your going away leaving such a son, who possesses best aptitudes that comes close to your abilities, and the one who always wears an exquisitely pleasant getup, is unbefitting. [4-20-24]

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यदि अप्रियम् किंचिद् असंप्रधार्य
कृतम् मया स्यात् तव दीर्घ बाहो |
क्षमस्व मे तत् हरि वंश नाथ
व्रजामि मूर्ध्ना तव वीर पादौ || ४-२०-२५

25. diirgha baaho = oh, long, armed one - masterful one; hari vamsha naatha = oh, monkeys, lineage, lord of; viira = oh, brave one; a sampradhaarya = not, discriminatingly; mayaa tava = by me, to you [with you]; a priyam = un, desirable; kimcit = in the lest; kR^itam syaat yadi = done, is there, if; me tat kSamasva = me, for that, pardon me; muurdhnaa tava paadau vrajaami = with forehead, at your, two feet, I am going - I bow down.

"If I have done any undesirable deed in an indiscriminate way, even in the least, I may be pardoned for that, and here I bow down at your feet... oh, masterful one... oh, the lord of monkeys lineage... oh, brave one... [Thus Tara wept for Vali.] [4-20-25]

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तथा तु तारा करुणम् रुदंती
भर्तुः समीपे सह वानरीभिः |
व्यवस्यत प्रायम् अनिन्द्य वर्णा
उपोपवेष्टुम् भुवि यत्र वाली || ४-२०-२६

26. a nindya varNaa = un, blemished, complexion - one with; taaraa = Tara; bhartuH samiipe = husband's, in proximity; vaanariibhiH saha = female Vanara-s, along with; tathaa = that way; karuNam rudantii = pitiably, weeping; vaalii yatra = Vali, where he is; bhuvi = [there] on ground; praayam = death; upa upaveSTum = to sit nearby of [death, self-immolation]; vyavasyata [vi ava syata] = she dropped down.

That Tara with her unblemished complexion is seated in the close proximity of her husband along with other vanara females, and weeping pitiably in that way, she decided to self-immolate, and thus she flounced down onto ground where Vali is slouching. [4-20-26]

- - -

इति वाल्मीकि रामायणे आदि काव्ये किष्किन्ध काण्डे विंशः सर्गः

Thus, this is the 20th chapter in Kishkindha Kanda of Valmiki Ramayana, the First Epic poem of India.

Verse Locator for Book IV : Kishkindha Kanda - The Empire of Holy Monkeys : Chapter 20

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