Tara's Lament Begins

Shloka 1 (kishkindha.19.1)

स वानरमहाराजः शयानः शरपीडितः । प्रत्युक्तो हेतुमद्वाक्यैर्नोत्तरं प्रत्यपद्यत ॥ 19.1 ॥

sa vānaramahārājaḥ śayānaḥ śarapīḍitaḥ | pratyukto hetumadvākyairnottaraṃ pratyapadyata || 19.1 ||

That great king of the vanaras, lying stricken by the arrow, having been answered with such well-reasoned words, could find no further reply.

Shloka 2 (kishkindha.19.2)

अश्मभिः परिभिन्नाङ्गः पादपैराहतो भृशम् । रामबाणेन चाक्रान्तो जीवितान्ते मुमोह सः ॥ 19.2 ॥

aśmabhiḥ paribhinnāṅgaḥ pādapairāhato bhṛśam | rāmabāṇena cākrānto jīvitānte mumoha saḥ || 19.2 ||

His limbs battered by boulders, sorely struck by trees, and finally overcome by Rama's arrow, he sank into unconsciousness as his life ebbed.

Shloka 3 (kishkindha.19.3)

तं भार्या बाणमोक्षेण रामदत्तेन संयुगे । हतं प्लवगशार्दूलं तारा शुश्राव वालिनम् ॥ 19.3 ॥

taṃ bhāryā bāṇamokṣeṇa rāmadattena saṃyuge | hataṃ plavagaśārdūlaṃ tārā śuśrāva vālinam || 19.3 ||

His wife Tara heard that Vali, tiger among monkeys, had been slain in battle by the arrow loosed by Rama.

Shloka 4 (kishkindha.19.4)

सा सपुत्राप्रियं श्रुत्वा वधं भर्तुः सुदारुणम् । निष्पपात भृशं तस्मादुद्विग्ना गिरिकन्दरात् ॥ 19.4 ॥

sā saputrāpriyaṃ śrutvā vadhaṃ bhartuḥ sudāruṇam | niṣpapāta bhṛśaṃ tasmādudvignā girikandarāt || 19.4 ||

On hearing this dreadful and unwelcome news of her husband's death, she, along with her son, rushed out in deep anguish from the mountain cave.

Shloka 5 (kishkindha.19.5)

ये त्वङ्गदपरीवारा वानरा हि महाबलाः । ते सकार्मुकमालोक्य रामं त्रस्ताः प्रदुद्रुवुः ॥ 19.5 ॥

ye tvaṅgadaparīvārā vānarā hi mahābalāḥ | te sakārmukamālokya rāmaṃ trastāḥ pradudruvuḥ || 19.5 ||

The very mighty vanaras who formed Angada's escort, seeing Rama with his bow, fled in terror.

Shloka 6 (kishkindha.19.6)

सा ददर्श ततस्त्रस्तान् हरीनापततो द्रुतम् । यूथादेव परिभ्रष्टान् मृगान् निहतयूथपान् ॥ 19.6 ॥

sā dadarśa tatastrastān harīnāpatato drutam | yūthādeva paribhraṣṭān mṛgān nihatayūthapān || 19.6 ||

Then she saw those frightened monkeys rushing about in disarray, like beasts scattered from their herd once their leader has been slain.

Shloka 7 (kishkindha.19.7)

तानुवाच समासाद्य दुःखितान् दुःखिता सती । रामवित्रासितान् सर्वाननुबद्धानिवेषुभिः ॥ 19.7 ॥

tānuvāca samāsādya duḥkhitān duḥkhitā satī | rāmavitrāsitān sarvānanubaddhāniveṣubhiḥ || 19.7 ||

Grief-stricken herself, she came upon those grieving monkeys, all terrified by Rama, as though his arrows were still pursuing them, and spoke to them:

Shloka 8 (kishkindha.19.8)

वानरा राजसिंहस्य यस्य यूयं पुरःसराः । तं विहाय सुवित्रस्ताः कस्माद् द्रवत दुर्गताः ॥ 19.8 ॥

vānarā rājasiṃhasya yasya yūyaṃ puraḥsarāḥ | taṃ vihāya suvitrastāḥ kasmād dravata durgatāḥ || 19.8 ||

"O vanaras, why do you flee in such utter fright and desperation, abandoning the lion-king whom you were meant to escort?"

Shloka 9 (kishkindha.19.9)

राज्यहेतोः स चेद् भ्राता भ्रात्रा क्रूरेण पातितः । रामेण प्रहितैर्दूरान्मार्गणैर्दूरपातिभिः ॥ 19.9 ॥

rājyahetoḥ sa ced bhrātā bhrātrā krūreṇa pātitaḥ | rāmeṇa prahitairdūrānmārgaṇairdūrapātibhiḥ || 19.9 ||

"Tell me — has that cruel brother caused his own brother's fall for the sake of a kingdom, felled from afar by Rama's far-flying shafts?"

Shloka 10 (kishkindha.19.10)

कपिपत्न्या वचः श्रुत्वा कपयः कामरूपिणः । प्राप्तकालमविश्लिष्टमूचुर्वचनमङ्गनाम् ॥ 19.10 ॥

kapipatnyā vacaḥ śrutvā kapayaḥ kāmarūpiṇaḥ | prāptakālamaviśliṣṭamūcurvacanamaṅganām || 19.10 ||

Hearing the words of the monkey-king's wife, those shape-shifting monkeys spoke to her clearly, words befitting the moment:

Shloka 11 (kishkindha.19.11)

जीवपुत्रे निवर्तस्व पुत्रं रक्षस्व चाङ्गदम् । अन्तको रामरूपेण हत्वा नयति वालिनम् ॥ 19.11 ॥

jīvaputre nivartasva putraṃ rakṣasva cāṅgadam | antako rāmarūpeṇa hatvā nayati vālinam || 19.11 ||

"Turn back, O mother of a living son, and protect your son Angada — Death itself, in the form of Rama, has slain Vali and is carrying him away.

Shloka 12 (kishkindha.19.12)

क्षिप्तान् वृक्षान् समाविध्य विपुलाश्च तथा शिलाः । वाली वज्रसमैर्बाणैर्वज्रेणेव निपातितः ॥ 19.12 ॥

kṣiptān vṛkṣān samāvidhya vipulāśca tathā śilāḥ | vālī vajrasamairbāṇairvajreṇeva nipātitaḥ || 19.12 ||

Shattering the trees and huge boulders Vali hurled at him with his thunderbolt-like arrows, Rama has felled him as if with a thunderbolt.

Shloka 13 (kishkindha.19.13)

अभिभूतमिदं सर्वं विद्रुतं वानरं बलम् । अस्मिन् प्लवगशार्दूले हते शक्रसमप्रभे ॥ 19.13 ॥

abhibhūtamidaṃ sarvaṃ vidrutaṃ vānaraṃ balam | asmin plavagaśārdūle hate śakrasamaprabhe || 19.13 ||

With that tiger among monkeys, radiant as Indra, now slain, this entire vanara army has been overwhelmed and put to flight.

Shloka 14 (kishkindha.19.14)

रक्ष्यतां नगरी शूरैरङ्गदश्चाभिषिच्यताम् । पदस्थं वालिनः पुत्रं भजिष्यन्ति प्लवंगमाः ॥ 19.14 ॥

rakṣyatāṃ nagarī śūrairaṅgadaścābhiṣicyatām | padasthaṃ vālinaḥ putraṃ bhajiṣyanti plavaṃgamāḥ || 19.14 ||

Let the city be guarded by brave men, and let Angada be crowned — the vanaras will rally around Vali's son once he is enthroned.

Shloka 15 (kishkindha.19.15)

अथवारुचितं स्थानमिह ते रुचिरानने । आविशन्ति च दुर्गाणि क्षिप्रमद्यैव वानराः ॥ 19.15 ॥

athavārucitaṃ sthānamiha te rucirānane | āviśanti ca durgāṇi kṣipramadyaiva vānarāḥ || 19.15 ||

"Or else, O fair-faced one, it may not be safe for you to remain here — this very day Sugriva's monkeys will swiftly seize our strongholds.

Shloka 16 (kishkindha.19.16)

अभार्याः सहभार्याश्च सन्त्यत्र वनचारिणः । लुब्धेभ्यो विप्रलब्धेभ्यस्तेभ्यो नः सुमहद्भयम् ॥ 19.16 ॥

abhāryāḥ sahabhāryāśca santyatra vanacāriṇaḥ | lubdhebhyo vipralabdhebhyastebhyo naḥ sumahadbhayam || 19.16 ||

There are forest-dwellers here, some with wives, some without, some lustful, some whom we have wronged — from them we face very great danger."

Shloka 17 (kishkindha.19.17)

अल्पान्तरगतानां तु श्रुत्वा वचनमङ्गना । आत्मनः प्रतिरूपं सा बभाषे चारुहासिनी ॥ 19.17 ॥

alpāntaragatānāṃ tu śrutvā vacanamaṅganā | ātmanaḥ pratirūpaṃ sā babhāṣe cāruhāsinī || 19.17 ||

Having gone but a little further and heard these words, that sweetly-smiling lady spoke in a manner befitting herself:

Shloka 18 (kishkindha.19.18)

पुत्रेण मम किं कार्यं राज्येनापि किमात्मना । कपिसिंहे महाभागे तस्मिन् भर्तरि नश्यति ॥ 19.18 ॥

putreṇa mama kiṃ kāryaṃ rājyenāpi kimātmanā | kapisiṃhe mahābhāge tasmin bhartari naśyati || 19.18 ||

"What use is a son to me now, or a kingdom, or even my own life, when my husband, that most glorious lion among monkeys, has perished?

Shloka 19 (kishkindha.19.19)

पादमूलं गमिष्यामि तस्यैवाहं महात्मनः । योऽसौ रामप्रयुक्तेन शरेण विनिपातितः ॥ 19.19 ॥

pādamūlaṃ gamiṣyāmi tasyaivāhaṃ mahātmanaḥ | yo'sau rāmaprayuktena śareṇa vinipātitaḥ || 19.19 ||

I shall go now to the very feet of that great-souled one who lies felled by the arrow loosed by Rama."

Shloka 20 (kishkindha.19.20)

एवमुक्त्वा प्रदुद्राव रुदती शोकमूर्च्छिता । शिरश्चोरश्च बाहुभ्यां दुःखेन समभिघ्नती ॥ 19.20 ॥

evamuktvā pradudrāva rudatī śokamūrcchitā | śiraścoraśca bāhubhyāṃ duḥkhena samabhighnatī || 19.20 ||

So saying, she rushed forward, weeping, half-fainting with grief, beating her head and breast with both hands in anguish.

Shloka 21 (kishkindha.19.21)

सा व्रजन्ती ददर्शाथ पतिं निपतितं भुवि । हन्तारं दानवेन्द्राणां समरेष्वनिवर्तिनाम् ॥ 19.21 ॥

sā vrajantī dadarśātha patiṃ nipatitaṃ bhuvi | hantāraṃ dānavendrāṇāṃ samareṣvanivartinām || 19.21 ||

As she went on, she saw her husband lying fallen on the ground — he who had slain mighty demon-lords and never once retreated in battle,

Shloka 22 (kishkindha.19.22)

क्षेप्तारं पर्वतेन्द्राणां वज्राणामिव वासवम् । महावातसमाविष्टं महामेघौघनिःस्वनम् ॥ 19.22 ॥

kṣeptāraṃ parvatendrāṇāṃ vajrāṇāmiva vāsavam | mahāvātasamāviṣṭaṃ mahāmeghaughaniḥsvanam || 19.22 ||

who could hurl great mountains as Indra hurls his thunderbolts, whose onset was like a mighty gale, whose roar was like the thunder of massed rainclouds,

Shloka 23 (kishkindha.19.23)

शक्रतुल्यपराक्रान्तं वृष्ट्वेवोपरतं घनम् । नर्दन्तं नर्दतां भीमं शूरं शूरेण पातितम् । शार्दूलेनामिषस्यार्थे मृगराजमिवाहतम् ॥ 19.23 ॥

śakratulyaparākrāntaṃ vṛṣṭvevoparataṃ ghanam | nardantaṃ nardatāṃ bhīmaṃ śūraṃ śūreṇa pātitam | śārdūlenāmiṣasyārthe mṛgarājamivāhatam || 19.23 ||

whose valour against foes equalled Indra's, now stilled like a cloud that has spent its rain — that dread thunderer among thunderers, that hero felled by a hero, like a lord among beasts brought down by a tiger for its prey.

Shloka 24 (kishkindha.19.24)

अर्चितं सर्वलोकस्य सपताकं सवेदिकम् । नागहेतोः सुपर्णेन चैत्यमुन्मथितं यथा ॥ 19.24 ॥

arcitaṃ sarvalokasya sapatākaṃ savedikam | nāgahetoḥ suparṇena caityamunmathitaṃ yathā || 19.24 ||

He lay like some sacred shrine, revered by all, adorned with flags and altars, now torn down by Garuda in pursuit of a serpent.

Shloka 25 (kishkindha.19.25)

अवष्टभ्यावतिष्ठन्तं ददर्श धनुरूर्जितम् । रामं रामानुजं चैव भर्तुश्चैव तथानुजम् ॥ 19.25 ॥

avaṣṭabhyāvatiṣṭhantaṃ dadarśa dhanurūrjitam | rāmaṃ rāmānujaṃ caiva bhartuścaiva tathānujam || 19.25 ||

She saw Rama standing there, leaning on his mighty bow, with his younger brother Lakshmana, and likewise her own husband's brother, Sugriva.

Shloka 26 (kishkindha.19.26)

तानतीत्य समासाद्य भर्तारं निहतं रणे । समीक्ष्य व्यथिता भूमौ सम्भ्रान्ता निपपात ह ॥ 19.26 ॥

tānatītya samāsādya bhartāraṃ nihataṃ raṇe | samīkṣya vyathitā bhūmau sambhrāntā nipapāta ha || 19.26 ||

Passing them by, she reached her husband slain in battle, and, gazing upon him, fell to the ground, overwhelmed with anguish and confusion.

Shloka 27 (kishkindha.19.27)

सुप्तेव पुनरुत्थाय आर्यपुत्रेति वादिनी । रुरोद सा पतिं दृष्ट्वा संवीतं मृत्युदामभिः ॥ 19.27 ॥

supteva punarutthāya āryaputreti vādinī | ruroda sā patiṃ dṛṣṭvā saṃvītaṃ mṛtyudāmabhiḥ || 19.27 ||

Then, as though waking from sleep, she rose again, and crying, "O noble one!" wept to see her husband bound fast in the cords of death.

Shloka 28 (kishkindha.19.28)

तामवेक्ष्य तु सुग्रीवः क्रोशन्तीं कुररीमिव । विषादमगमत् कष्टं दृष्ट्वा चाङ्गदमागतम् ॥ 19.28 ॥

tāmavekṣya tu sugrīvaḥ krośantīṃ kurarīmiva | viṣādamagamat kaṣṭaṃ dṛṣṭvā cāṅgadamāgatam || 19.28 ||

Seeing her wailing like a female osprey, and seeing Angada arrive there too, Sugriva was overcome with a heavy sorrow.