Tara's Lament

Shloka 1 (kishkindha.23.1)

ततः समुपजिघ्रन्ती कपिराजस्य तन्मुखम् । पतिं लोकश्रुता तारा मृतं वचनमब्रवीत् ॥ 23.1 ॥

tataḥ samupajighrantī kapirājasya tanmukham | patiṃ lokaśrutā tārā mṛtaṃ vacanamabravīt || 23.1 ||

Then Tara, renowned throughout the world, smelling again and again the face of that monkey-king, spoke these words to her dead husband.

Shloka 2 (kishkindha.23.2)

शेषे त्वं विषमे दुःखमकृत्वा वचनं मम । उपलोपचिते वीर सुदुःखे वसुधातले ॥ 23.2 ॥

śeṣe tvaṃ viṣame duḥkhamakṛtvā vacanaṃ mama | upalopacite vīra suduḥkhe vasudhātale || 23.2 ||

O hero, disregarding my word, you now lie in great misery upon this rugged, stone-strewn, most wretched ground.

Shloka 3 (kishkindha.23.3)

मत्तः प्रियतरा नूनं वानरेन्द्र मही तव । शेषे हि तां परिष्वज्य मां च न प्रतिभाषसे ॥ 23.3 ॥

mattaḥ priyatarā nūnaṃ vānarendra mahī tava | śeṣe hi tāṃ pariṣvajya māṃ ca na pratibhāṣase || 23.3 ||

O lord of monkeys, surely this earth is dearer to you than I am; for you lie embracing her, yet you do not answer me.

Shloka 4 (kishkindha.23.4)

सुग्रीवस्य वशं प्राप्तो विधिरेष भवत्यहो । सुग्रीव एव विक्रान्तो वीर साहसिकप्रिय ॥ 23.4 ॥

sugrīvasya vaśaṃ prāpto vidhireṣa bhavatyaho | sugrīva eva vikrānto vīra sāhasikapriya || 23.4 ||

Alas, it is indeed fate's own working that has brought you under Sugriva's power; O hero fond of daring deeds, Sugriva alone has now proven the valiant one.

Shloka 5 (kishkindha.23.5)

ऋक्षवानरमुख्यास्त्वां बलिनं पर्युपासते । तेषां विलपितं कृच्छ्रमङ्गदस्य च शोचतः ॥ 23.5 ॥

ṛkṣavānaramukhyāstvāṃ balinaṃ paryupāsate | teṣāṃ vilapitaṃ kṛcchramaṅgadasya ca śocataḥ || 23.5 ||

The chiefs of the bears and monkeys still attend upon you, O mighty one, wailing in sore distress, and Angada too grieves bitterly.

Shloka 6 (kishkindha.23.6)

मम चेमा गिरः श्रुत्वा किं त्वं न प्रतिबुध्यसे । इदं तद् वीरशयनं तत्र शेषे हतो युधि ॥ 23.6 ॥

mama cemā giraḥ śrutvā kiṃ tvaṃ na pratibudhyase | idaṃ tad vīraśayanaṃ tatra śeṣe hato yudhi || 23.6 ||

Having heard these words of mine, why do you not awaken? This is that very hero's bed, on which you now lie, slain in battle.

Shloka 7 (kishkindha.23.7)

शायिता निहता यत्र त्वयैव रिपवः पुरा । विशुद्धसत्त्वाभिजन प्रिययुद्ध मम प्रिय ॥ 23.7 ॥

śāyitā nihatā yatra tvayaiva ripavaḥ purā | viśuddhasattvābhijana priyayuddha mama priya || 23.7 ||

O you of pure and noble birth, O lover of battle, O my beloved - this is the very bed upon which you once laid your slain enemies to rest.

Shloka 8 (kishkindha.23.8)

मामनाथां विहायैकां गतस्त्वमसि मानद । शूराय न प्रदातव्या कन्या खलु विपश्चिता ॥ 23.8 ॥

māmanāthāṃ vihāyaikāṃ gatastvamasi mānada | śūrāya na pradātavyā kanyā khalu vipaścitā || 23.8 ||

O giver of honour, you have left me alone and helpless, and departed; truly the wise say a maiden should never be given in marriage to an adventurer.

Shloka 9 (kishkindha.23.9)

शूरभार्यां हतां पश्य सद्यो मां विधवां कृताम् । अवभग्नश्च मे मानो भग्ना मे शाश्वती गतिः ॥ 23.9 ॥

śūrabhāryāṃ hatāṃ paśya sadyo māṃ vidhavāṃ kṛtām | avabhagnaśca me māno bhagnā me śāśvatī gatiḥ || 23.9 ||

Behold, I, the wife of a hero, struck down, made a widow in an instant; my pride is shattered, and my lasting refuge is broken.

Shloka 10 (kishkindha.23.10)

अगाधे च निमग्नास्मि विपुले शोकसागरे । अश्मसारमयं नूनमिदं मे हृदयं दृढम् ॥ 23.10 ॥

agādhe ca nimagnāsmi vipule śokasāgare | aśmasāramayaṃ nūnamidaṃ me hṛdayaṃ dṛḍham || 23.10 ||

I am sunk in an unfathomable and vast ocean of grief; surely this heart of mine has become hard as iron -

Shloka 11 (kishkindha.23.11)

भर्तारं निहतं दृष्ट्वा यन्नाद्य शतधा कृतम् । सुहृच्चैव च भर्ता च प्रकृत्या च मम प्रियः ॥ 23.11 ॥

bhartāraṃ nihataṃ dṛṣṭvā yannādya śatadhā kṛtam | suhṛccaiva ca bhartā ca prakṛtyā ca mama priyaḥ || 23.11 ||

since, seeing my husband slain today, it has not shattered into a hundred pieces - he who was my friend, my husband, and by his very nature dear to me.

Shloka 12 (kishkindha.23.12)

प्रहारे च पराक्रान्तः शूरः पञ्चत्वमागतः । पतिहीना तु या नारी कामं भवतु पुत्रिणी ॥ 23.12 ॥

prahāre ca parākrāntaḥ śūraḥ pañcatvamāgataḥ | patihīnā tu yā nārī kāmaṃ bhavatu putriṇī || 23.12 ||

That hero, so valiant when struck, has now met his death; but a woman without a husband, even should she have sons at will -

Shloka 13 (kishkindha.23.13)

धनधान्यसमृद्धापि विधवेत्युच्यते जनैः । स्वगात्रप्रभवे वीर शेषे रुधिरमण्डले ॥ 23.13 ॥

dhanadhānyasamṛddhāpi vidhavetyucyate janaiḥ | svagātraprabhave vīra śeṣe rudhiramaṇḍale || 23.13 ||

and even should she be rich in wealth and grain, is still called a widow by people. O hero, you now lie in a pool of blood flowing from your own limbs,

Shloka 14 (kishkindha.23.14)

कृमिरागपरिस्तोमे स्वकीये शयने यथा । रेणुशोणितसंवीतं गात्रं तव समन्ततः ॥ 23.14 ॥

kṛmirāgaparistome svakīye śayane yathā | reṇuśoṇitasaṃvītaṃ gātraṃ tava samantataḥ || 23.14 ||

as if reclining upon your own bed spread with a crimson coverlet; your whole body is enveloped all around with dust and blood.

Shloka 15 (kishkindha.23.15)

परिरब्धुं न शक्नोमि भुजाभ्यां प्लवगर्षभ । कृतकृत्योऽद्य सुग्रीवो वैरेऽस्मिन्नतिदारुणे ॥ 23.15 ॥

parirabdhuṃ na śaknomi bhujābhyāṃ plavagarṣabha | kṛtakṛtyo'dya sugrīvo vaire'sminnatidāruṇe || 23.15 ||

O bull among monkeys, I am unable to embrace you with both my arms; Sugriva today has achieved his purpose in this most terrible enmity.

Shloka 16 (kishkindha.23.16)

यस्य रामविमुक्तेन हृतमेकेषुणा भयम् । शरेण हृदि लग्नेन गात्रसंस्पर्शने तव ॥ 23.16 ॥

yasya rāmavimuktena hṛtamekeṣuṇā bhayam | śareṇa hṛdi lagnena gātrasaṃsparśane tava || 23.16 ||

The very arrow released by Rama that removed his fear - that same arrow, lodged in your heart, now hinders me from touching your body.

Shloka 17 (kishkindha.23.17)

वार्यामि त्वां निरीक्षन्ती त्वयि पञ्चत्वमागते । उद्बबर्ह शरं नीलस्तस्य गात्रगतं तदा ॥ 23.17 ॥

vāryāmi tvāṃ nirīkṣantī tvayi pañcatvamāgate | udbabarha śaraṃ nīlastasya gātragataṃ tadā || 23.17 ||

Thus hindered, I can only gaze upon you now that you have met your death. Then Nila drew out that arrow lodged in his body,

Shloka 18 (kishkindha.23.18)

गिरिगह्वरसंलीनं दीप्तमाशीविषं यथा । तस्य निष्कृष्यमाणस्य बाणस्यापि बभौ द्युतिः ॥ 23.18 ॥

girigahvarasaṃlīnaṃ dīptamāśīviṣaṃ yathā | tasya niṣkṛṣyamāṇasya bāṇasyāpi babhau dyutiḥ || 23.18 ||

as one might draw out a glowing venomous serpent hidden within a mountain cave; and even as it was drawn forth, that arrow's brightness shone,

Shloka 19 (kishkindha.23.19)

अस्तमस्तकसंरुद्धरश्मेर्दिनकरादिव । पेतुः क्षतजधारास्तु व्रणेभ्यस्तस्य सर्वशः ॥ 23.19 ॥

astamastakasaṃruddharaśmerdinakarādiva | petuḥ kṣatajadhārāstu vraṇebhyastasya sarvaśaḥ || 23.19 ||

like the sun's last rays checked by the peak of the western mountain at sunset. Then streams of blood fell from all his wounds on every side,

Shloka 20 (kishkindha.23.20)

ताम्रगैरिकसम्पृक्ता धारा इव धराधरात् । अवकीर्णं विमार्जन्ती भर्तारं रणरेणुना ॥ 23.20 ॥

tāmragairikasampṛktā dhārā iva dharādharāt | avakīrṇaṃ vimārjantī bhartāraṃ raṇareṇunā || 23.20 ||

like streams tinged with copper-red ochre flowing down a mountainside. Wiping her husband, who was covered with the dust of battle,

Shloka 21 (kishkindha.23.21)

अस्रैर्नयनजैः शूरं सिषेचास्त्रसमाहतम् । रुधिरोक्षितसर्वाङ्गं दृष्ट्वा विनिहतं पतिम् ॥ 23.21 ॥

asrairnayanajaiḥ śūraṃ siṣecāstrasamāhatam | rudhirokṣitasarvāṅgaṃ dṛṣṭvā vinihataṃ patim || 23.21 ||

she bathed that weapon-struck hero with the tears born of her own eyes, having beheld her husband slain, his whole body drenched in blood.

Shloka 22 (kishkindha.23.22)

उवाच तारा पिङ्गाक्षं पुत्रमङ्गदमङ्गना । अवस्थां पश्चिमां पश्य पितुः पुत्र सुदारुणाम् ॥ 23.22 ॥

uvāca tārā piṅgākṣaṃ putramaṅgadamaṅganā | avasthāṃ paścimāṃ paśya pituḥ putra sudāruṇām || 23.22 ||

Then that lady Tara spoke to her tawny-eyed son Angada: "My son, behold this most terrible final state of your father.

Shloka 23 (kishkindha.23.23)

सम्प्रसक्तस्य वैरस्य गतोऽन्तः पापकर्मणा । बालसूर्योज्ज्वलतनुं प्रयातं यमसादनम् ॥ 23.23 ॥

samprasaktasya vairasya gato'ntaḥ pāpakarmaṇā | bālasūryojjvalatanuṃ prayātaṃ yamasādanam || 23.23 ||

Through a long-clung enmity and his own ill deed, he has come to his end; his body, once blazing like the newly risen sun, has now gone to the abode of the god of death.

Shloka 24 (kishkindha.23.24)

अभिवादय राजानं पितरं पुत्र मानदम् । एवमुक्तः समुत्थाय जग्राह चरणौ पितुः ॥ 23.24 ॥

abhivādaya rājānaṃ pitaraṃ putra mānadam | evamuktaḥ samutthāya jagrāha caraṇau pituḥ || 23.24 ||

Pay homage, my son, to the king, your father, the giver of honour." Thus addressed, Angada rose and grasped the feet of his father,

Shloka 25 (kishkindha.23.25)

भुजाभ्यां पीनवृत्ताभ्यामङ्गदोऽहमिति ब्रुवन् । अभिवादयमानं त्वामङ्गदं त्वं यथा पुरा ॥ 23.25 ॥

bhujābhyāṃ pīnavṛttābhyāmaṅgado'hamiti bruvan | abhivādayamānaṃ tvāmaṅgadaṃ tvaṃ yathā purā || 23.25 ||

encircling you with his two sturdy, rounded arms, saying, "I am Angada," offering you homage as he has always done before -

Shloka 26 (kishkindha.23.26)

दीर्घायुर्भव पुत्रेति किमर्थं नाभिभाषसे । अहं पुत्रसहाया त्वामुपासे गतचेतनम् । सिंहेन पातितं सद्यो गौः सवत्सेव गोवृषम् ॥ 23.26 ॥

dīrghāyurbhava putreti kimarthaṃ nābhibhāṣase | ahaṃ putrasahāyā tvāmupāse gatacetanam | siṃhena pātitaṃ sadyo gauḥ savatseva govṛṣam || 23.26 ||

Why do you not say to him, 'Long may you live, my son'? I, together with my son, now sit beside you who have lost all consciousness, as a cow with her calf sits beside the bull just felled by a lion.

Shloka 27 (kishkindha.23.27)

इष्ट्वा संग्रामयज्ञेन रामप्रहरणाम्भसा । तस्मन्नवभृथे स्नातः कथं पत्न्या मया विना ॥ 23.27 ॥

iṣṭvā saṃgrāmayajñena rāmapraharaṇāmbhasā | tasmannavabhṛthe snātaḥ kathaṃ patnyā mayā vinā || 23.27 ||

Having performed the sacrifice of battle, how have you bathed the concluding bath in the waters of Rama's weapon without your wife, that is, without me, present there?

Shloka 28 (kishkindha.23.28)

या दत्ता देवराजेन तव तुष्टेन संयुगे । शातकौम्भीं प्रियां मालां तां ते पश्यामि नेह किम् ॥ 23.28 ॥

yā dattā devarājena tava tuṣṭena saṃyuge | śātakaumbhīṃ priyāṃ mālāṃ tāṃ te paśyāmi neha kim || 23.28 ||

Where now is that dear golden garland which the king of the gods, pleased with you in battle, once gave you? Why do I not see it here upon you?

Shloka 29 (kishkindha.23.29)

राज्यश्रीर्न जहाति त्वां गतासुमपि मानद । सूर्यस्यावर्तमानस्य शैलराजमिव प्रभा ॥ 23.29 ॥

rājyaśrīrna jahāti tvāṃ gatāsumapi mānada | sūryasyāvartamānasya śailarājamiva prabhā || 23.29 ||

O giver of honour, even now that your breath has departed, the splendour of royal fortune does not leave you, just as the sun's radiance does not leave the great mountain even while the sun moves on.

Shloka 30 (kishkindha.23.30)

न मे वचः पथ्यमिदं त्वया कृतं न चास्मि शक्ता हि निवारणे तव । हता सपुत्रास्मि हतेन संयुगे सह त्वया श्रीर्विजहाति मामपि ॥ 23.30 ॥

na me vacaḥ pathyamidaṃ tvayā kṛtaṃ na cāsmi śaktā hi nivāraṇe tava | hatā saputrāsmi hatena saṃyuge saha tvayā śrīrvijahāti māmapi || 23.30 ||

You did not heed this beneficial word of mine, nor was I able to restrain you; slain as you are in battle, I, together with my son, am slain too, for with you my very fortune forsakes me as well.