The Grief of Sugriva and Tara

Shloka 1 (kishkindha.24.1)

तामाशु वेगेन दुरासदेन त्वभिप्लुतां शोकमहार्णवेन । पश्यंस्तदा वाल्यनुजस्तरस्वी भ्रातुर्वधेनाप्रतिमेन तेपे ॥ 24.1 ॥

tāmāśu vegena durāsadena tvabhiplutāṃ śokamahārṇavena | paśyaṃstadā vālyanujastarasvī bhrāturvadhenāpratimena tepe || 24.1 ||

Seeing her thus swiftly overwhelmed by an unassailable, vast ocean of grief, Vali's swift younger brother then burned with remorse for the killing of his matchless brother.

Shloka 2 (kishkindha.24.2)

स बाष्पपूर्णेन मुखेन पश्यन् क्षणेन निर्विण्णमना मनस्वी । जगाम रामस्य शनैः समीपं भृत्यैर्वृतः सम्परिदूयमानः ॥ 24.2 ॥

sa bāṣpapūrṇena mukhena paśyan kṣaṇena nirviṇṇamanā manasvī | jagāma rāmasya śanaiḥ samīpaṃ bhṛtyairvṛtaḥ samparidūyamānaḥ || 24.2 ||

Watching her with a face full of tears, that thoughtful one instantly became despondent at heart, and, surrounded by his attendants and consumed with anguish, went slowly to Rama's side.

Shloka 3 (kishkindha.24.3)

स तं समासाद्य गृहीतचाप मुदात्तमाशीविषतुल्यबाणम् । यशस्विनं लक्षणलक्षिताङ्ग मवस्थितं राघवमित्युवाच ॥ 24.3 ॥

sa taṃ samāsādya gṛhītacāpa mudāttamāśīviṣatulyabāṇam | yaśasvinaṃ lakṣaṇalakṣitāṅga mavasthitaṃ rāghavamityuvāca || 24.3 ||

Approaching that glorious Raghava, who stood there holding his bow and his lofty arrow like a venomous serpent, his limbs marked with the signs of kingship, Sugriva spoke thus.

Shloka 4 (kishkindha.24.4)

यथा प्रतिज्ञातमिदं नरेन्द्र कृतं त्वया दृष्टफलं च कर्म । ममाद्य भोगेषु नरेन्द्रसूनो मनो निवृत्तं हतजीवितेन ॥ 24.4 ॥

yathā pratijñātamidaṃ narendra kṛtaṃ tvayā dṛṣṭaphalaṃ ca karma | mamādya bhogeṣu narendrasūno mano nivṛttaṃ hatajīvitena || 24.4 ||

O lord of men, exactly as you promised, you have accomplished this deed, and its result is now plain to see; yet, O prince, my mind has today withdrawn from every enjoyment, because a life has been destroyed.

Shloka 5 (kishkindha.24.5)

अस्यां महिष्यां तु भृशं रुदत्यां पुरेऽतिविक्रोशति दुःखतप्ते । हते नृपे संशयितेऽङ्गदे च न राम राज्ये रमते मनो मे ॥ 24.5 ॥

asyāṃ mahiṣyāṃ tu bhṛśaṃ rudatyāṃ pure'tivikrośati duḥkhatapte | hate nṛpe saṃśayite'ṅgade ca na rāma rājye ramate mano me || 24.5 ||

With this queen weeping bitterly, the city crying aloud in its anguish, the king slain, and Angada's life in doubt, O Rama, my mind takes no delight in the kingdom.

Shloka 6 (kishkindha.24.6)

क्रोधादमर्षादतिविप्रधर्षाद् भ्रातुर्वधो मेऽनुमतः पुरस्तात् । हते त्विदानीं हरियूथपेऽस्मिन् सुतीक्ष्णमिक्ष्वाकुवर प्रतप्स्ये ॥ 24.6 ॥

krodhādamarṣādativipradharṣād bhrāturvadho me'numataḥ purastāt | hate tvidānīṃ hariyūthape'smin sutīkṣṇamikṣvākuvara pratapsye || 24.6 ||

Out of anger, intolerance, and the excessive humiliation I had suffered, I once consented to my brother's killing; but now that this lord of monkeys is slain, O best of the Ikshvakus, I am plunged into the sharpest anguish.

Shloka 7 (kishkindha.24.7)

श्रेयोऽद्य मन्ये मम शैलमुख्ये तस्मिन् हि वासश्चिरमृष्यमूके । यथा तथा वर्तयतः स्ववृत्त्या नेमं निहत्य त्रिदिवस्य लाभः ॥ 24.7 ॥

śreyo'dya manye mama śailamukhye tasmin hi vāsaściramṛṣyamūke | yathā tathā vartayataḥ svavṛttyā nemaṃ nihatya tridivasya lābhaḥ || 24.7 ||

I think it better today to dwell forever upon that foremost mountain, Rishyamuka, sustaining myself somehow by my own means, than to gain even heaven itself by having him slain.

Shloka 8 (kishkindha.24.8)

न त्वा जिघांसामि चरेति यन्मा मयं महात्मा मतिमानुवाच । तस्यैव तद् राम वचोऽनुरूप मिदं वचः कर्म च मेऽनुरूपम् ॥ 24.8 ॥

na tvā jighāṃsāmi careti yanmā mayaṃ mahātmā matimānuvāca | tasyaiva tad rāma vaco'nurūpa midaṃ vacaḥ karma ca me'nurūpam || 24.8 ||

The words that great and wise soul once spoke to me, 'I do not wish to kill you, go your way' - those, O Rama, were fitting for him; and this word and deed of mine are, alas, fitting only for me.

Shloka 9 (kishkindha.24.9)

भ्राता कथं नाम महागुणस्य भ्रातुर्वधं राम विरोचयेत । राज्यस्य दुःखस्य च वीर सारं विचिन्तयन् कामपुरस्कृतोऽपि ॥ 24.9 ॥

bhrātā kathaṃ nāma mahāguṇasya bhrāturvadhaṃ rāma virocayeta | rājyasya duḥkhasya ca vīra sāraṃ vicintayan kāmapuraskṛto'pi || 24.9 ||

How indeed, O Rama, could a brother approve the killing of a brother possessed of such great virtues? O hero, even one driven by desire, weighing well the substance of kingdom against sorrow, who but I could take pleasure in it?

Shloka 10 (kishkindha.24.10)

वधो हि मे मतो नासीत् स्वमाहात्म्यव्यतिक्रमात् । ममासीद् बुद्धिदौरात्म्यात् प्राणहारी व्यतिक्रमः ॥ 24.10 ॥

vadho hi me mato nāsīt svamāhātmyavyatikramāt | mamāsīd buddhidaurātmyāt prāṇahārī vyatikramaḥ || 24.10 ||

Killing, indeed, was never in Vali's intent, for it would have transgressed against his own greatness; it is I whose transgression, born of a corrupted understanding, has become the taker of a life.

Shloka 11 (kishkindha.24.11)

द्रुमशाखावभग्नोऽहं मुहूर्तं परिनिष्टनन् । सान्त्वयित्वा त्वनेनोक्तो न पुनः कर्तुमर्हसि ॥ 24.11 ॥

drumaśākhāvabhagno'haṃ muhūrtaṃ pariniṣṭanan | sāntvayitvā tvanenokto na punaḥ kartumarhasi || 24.11 ||

Once, hurt by him with a tree-branch, I whimpered for a while; then, comforting me, he said to me, 'Do not provoke this again.'

Shloka 12 (kishkindha.24.12)

भ्रातृत्वमार्यभावश्च धर्मश्चानेन रक्षितः । मया क्रोधश्च कामश्च कपित्वं च प्रदर्शितम् ॥ 24.12 ॥

bhrātṛtvamāryabhāvaśca dharmaścānena rakṣitaḥ | mayā krodhaśca kāmaśca kapitvaṃ ca pradarśitam || 24.12 ||

Brotherliness, noble conduct, and righteousness - all these were preserved by him; while I displayed nothing but anger, desire, and the fickleness of a monkey.

Shloka 13 (kishkindha.24.13)

अचिन्तनीयं परिवर्जनीय मनीप्सनीयं स्वनवेक्षणीयम् । प्राप्तोऽस्मि पाप्मानमिदं वयस्य भ्रातुर्वधात् त्वाष्ट्रवधादिवेन्द्रः ॥ 24.13 ॥

acintanīyaṃ parivarjanīya manīpsanīyaṃ svanavekṣaṇīyam | prāpto'smi pāpmānamidaṃ vayasya bhrāturvadhāt tvāṣṭravadhādivendraḥ || 24.13 ||

O friend, by the killing of my brother I have acquired this sin - unthinkable, to be shunned, undesirable, and unfit even to be looked upon by myself - just as Indra did by the killing of Tvashtar's son.

Shloka 14 (kishkindha.24.14)

पाप्मानमिन्द्रस्य मही जलं च वृक्षाश्च कामं जगृहुः स्त्रियश्च । को नाम पाप्मानमिमं सहेत शाखामृगस्य प्रतिपत्तुमिच्छेत् ॥ 24.14 ॥

pāpmānamindrasya mahī jalaṃ ca vṛkṣāśca kāmaṃ jagṛhuḥ striyaśca | ko nāma pāpmānamimaṃ saheta śākhāmṛgasya pratipattumicchet || 24.14 ||

Earth, water, trees, and women willingly took a share of Indra's sin upon themselves; but who indeed would wish to bear and accept this sin of mine, the sin of a mere monkey?

Shloka 15 (kishkindha.24.15)

नार्हामि सम्मानमिमं प्रजानां न यौवराज्यं कुत एव राज्यम् । अधर्मयुक्तं कुलनाशयुक्त मेवंविधं राघव कर्म कृत्वा ॥ 24.15 ॥

nārhāmi sammānamimaṃ prajānāṃ na yauvarājyaṃ kuta eva rājyam | adharmayuktaṃ kulanāśayukta mevaṃvidhaṃ rāghava karma kṛtvā || 24.15 ||

Having done such a deed, joined with unrighteousness and the ruin of my own line, O Raghava, I do not deserve this honour from my subjects - let alone the regency, and far less the kingdom itself.

Shloka 16 (kishkindha.24.16)

पापस्य कर्तास्मि विगर्हितस्य क्षुद्रस्य लोकापकृतस्य लोके । शोको महान् मामभिवर्ततेऽयं वृष्टेर्यथा निम्नमिवाम्बुवेगः ॥ 24.16 ॥

pāpasya kartāsmi vigarhitasya kṣudrasya lokāpakṛtasya loke | śoko mahān māmabhivartate'yaṃ vṛṣṭeryathā nimnamivāmbuvegaḥ || 24.16 ||

I am the doer of a sin that is condemnable, base, and harmful to the world; this great sorrow now rushes upon me, just as the force of rainwater rushes down toward a low place.

Shloka 17 (kishkindha.24.17)

सोदर्यघातापरगात्रवालः संतापहस्ताक्षिशिरोविषाणः । एनोमयो मामभिहन्ति हस्ती दृप्तो नदीकूलमिव प्रवृद्धः ॥ 24.17 ॥

sodaryaghātāparagātravālaḥ saṃtāpahastākṣiśiroviṣāṇaḥ | enomayo māmabhihanti hastī dṛpto nadīkūlamiva pravṛddhaḥ || 24.17 ||

With the slaying of my own brother as its hindquarters and tail, and my own anguish as its trunk, eyes, head, and tusks, this elephant made of sin gores me, furious and swollen, as it would gore a riverbank.

Shloka 18 (kishkindha.24.18)

अंहो बतेदं नृवराविषह्यं निवर्तते मे हृदि साधुवृत्तम् । अग्नौ विवर्णं परितप्यमानं किट्टं यथा राघव जातरूपम् ॥ 24.18 ॥

aṃho batedaṃ nṛvarāviṣahyaṃ nivartate me hṛdi sādhuvṛttam | agnau vivarṇaṃ paritapyamānaṃ kiṭṭaṃ yathā rāghava jātarūpam || 24.18 ||

Alas, O best of kings, this transgression of mine is unbearable, by which good conduct is departing from my heart - as gold, heated in fire, loses its lustre through the dross that torments it, O Raghava.

Shloka 19 (kishkindha.24.19)

महाबलानां हरियूथपाना मिदं कुलं राघव मन्निमित्तम् । अस्याङ्गदस्यापि च शोकतापा दर्धस्थितप्राणमितीव मन्ये ॥ 24.19 ॥

mahābalānāṃ hariyūthapānā midaṃ kulaṃ rāghava mannimittam | asyāṅgadasyāpi ca śokatāpā dardhasthitaprāṇamitīva manye || 24.19 ||

O Raghava, I think that this entire line of mighty monkey commanders now stands with its life half-suspended because of me, and this Angada too is likewise half-alive, scorched by grief.

Shloka 20 (kishkindha.24.20)

सुतः सुलभ्यः सुजनः सुवश्यः कुतस्तु पुत्रः सदृशोऽङ्गदेन । न चापि विद्येत स वीर देशो यस्मिन् भवेत् सोदरसंनिकर्षः ॥ 24.20 ॥

sutaḥ sulabhyaḥ sujanaḥ suvaśyaḥ kutastu putraḥ sadṛśo'ṅgadena | na cāpi vidyeta sa vīra deśo yasmin bhavet sodarasaṃnikarṣaḥ || 24.20 ||

An easy, virtuous, and obedient son is not hard to find; but where indeed could one find a son equal to Angada? Nor, O hero, is there any land where the nearness of one's own brother can be had again.

Shloka 21 (kishkindha.24.21)

अद्याङ्गदो वीरवरो न जीवे ज्जीवेत माता परिपालनार्थम् । विना तु पुत्रं परितापदीना सा नैव जीवेदिति निश्चितं मे ॥ 24.21 ॥

adyāṅgado vīravaro na jīve jjīveta mātā paripālanārtham | vinā tu putraṃ paritāpadīnā sā naiva jīvediti niścitaṃ me || 24.21 ||

If today this best of heroes, Angada, does not survive, his mother might yet live for the sake of caring for him; but without her son, wretched with anguish, I am certain she will not live at all.

Shloka 22 (kishkindha.24.22)

सोऽहं प्रवेक्ष्याम्यतिदीप्तमग्निं भ्रात्रा च पुत्रेण च सख्यमिच्छन् । इमे विचेष्यन्ति हरिप्रवीराः सीतां निदेशे परिवर्तमानाः ॥ 24.22 ॥

so'haṃ pravekṣyāmyatidīptamagniṃ bhrātrā ca putreṇa ca sakhyamicchan | ime viceṣyanti haripravīrāḥ sītāṃ nideśe parivartamānāḥ || 24.22 ||

Such as I am, seeking fellowship with my brother and his son, I shall enter a blazing fire; and these best of monkeys, remaining under your command, shall search for Sita.

Shloka 23 (kishkindha.24.23)

कृत्स्नं तु ते सेत्स्यति कार्यमेत न्मय्यप्यतीते मनुजेन्द्रपुत्र । कुलस्य हन्तारमजीवनार्हं रामानुजानीहि कृतागसं माम् ॥ 24.23 ॥

kṛtsnaṃ tu te setsyati kāryameta nmayyapyatīte manujendraputra | kulasya hantāramajīvanārhaṃ rāmānujānīhi kṛtāgasaṃ mām || 24.23 ||

O prince of men, even after I am gone this entire task of yours will surely be accomplished; O Rama, permit me, the destroyer of my own line and the doer of this offence, who is no longer fit to live.

Shloka 24 (kishkindha.24.24)

इत्येवमार्तस्य रघुप्रवीरः श्रुत्वा वचो वालिजघन्यजस्य । संजातबाष्पः परवीरहन्ता रामो मुहूर्तं विमना बभूव ॥ 24.24 ॥

ityevamārtasya raghupravīraḥ śrutvā vaco vālijaghanyajasya | saṃjātabāṣpaḥ paravīrahantā rāmo muhūrtaṃ vimanā babhūva || 24.24 ||

Hearing thus the anguished words of Vali's younger brother, that best of the Raghu line, the slayer of enemy heroes, Rama, his eyes filled with tears, became troubled at heart for a moment.

Shloka 25 (kishkindha.24.25)

तस्मिन् क्षणेऽभीक्ष्णमवेक्षमाणः क्षितिक्षमावान् भुवनस्य गोप्ता । रामो रुदन्तीं व्यसने निमग्नां समुत्सुकः सोऽथ ददर्श ताराम् ॥ 24.25 ॥

tasmin kṣaṇe'bhīkṣṇamavekṣamāṇaḥ kṣitikṣamāvān bhuvanasya goptā | rāmo rudantīṃ vyasane nimagnāṃ samutsukaḥ so'tha dadarśa tārām || 24.25 ||

At that very moment, that patient, earth-like protector of the world, Rama, glancing about repeatedly with concern, then beheld Tara, weeping and sunk in calamity.

Shloka 26 (kishkindha.24.26)

तां चारुनेत्रां कपिसिंहनाथां पतिं समाश्लिष्य तदा शयानाम् । उत्थापयामासुरदीनसत्त्वां मन्त्रिप्रधानाः कपिराजपत्नीम् ॥ 24.26 ॥

tāṃ cārunetrāṃ kapisiṃhanāthāṃ patiṃ samāśliṣya tadā śayānām | utthāpayāmāsuradīnasattvāṃ mantripradhānāḥ kapirājapatnīm || 24.26 ||

The chief ministers then began to raise up that beautiful-eyed queen of the monkey-king, who, though of undaunted spirit, lay embracing her husband, the lion among monkeys.

Shloka 27 (kishkindha.24.27)

सा विस्फुरन्ती परिरभ्यमाणा भर्तुः समीपादपनीयमाना । ददर्श रामं शरचापपाणिं स्वतेजसा सूर्यमिव ज्वलन्तम् ॥ 24.27 ॥

sā visphurantī parirabhyamāṇā bhartuḥ samīpādapanīyamānā | dadarśa rāmaṃ śaracāpapāṇiṃ svatejasā sūryamiva jvalantam || 24.27 ||

Trembling and struggling as she was drawn away, still embracing, from beside her husband, she then beheld Rama, bow and arrow in hand, blazing by his own splendour like the sun.

Shloka 28 (kishkindha.24.28)

सुसंवृतं पार्थिवलक्षणैश्च तं चारुनेत्रं मृगशावनेत्रा । अदृष्टपूर्वं पुरुषप्रधान मयं स काकुत्स्थ इति प्रजज्ञे ॥ 24.28 ॥

susaṃvṛtaṃ pārthivalakṣaṇaiśca taṃ cārunetraṃ mṛgaśāvanetrā | adṛṣṭapūrvaṃ puruṣapradhāna mayaṃ sa kākutstha iti prajajñe || 24.28 ||

That fawn-eyed lady, seeing him wholly marked with the signs of kingship, his eyes beautiful, this foremost of men never seen by her before, recognized: "This is that very Kakutstha."

Shloka 29 (kishkindha.24.29)

तस्येन्द्रकल्पस्य दुरासदस्य महानुभावस्य समीपमार्या । आर्तातितूर्णं व्यसनं प्रपन्ना जगाम तारा परिविह्वलन्ती ॥ 24.29 ॥

tasyendrakalpasya durāsadasya mahānubhāvasya samīpamāryā | ārtātitūrṇaṃ vyasanaṃ prapannā jagāma tārā parivihvalantī || 24.29 ||

That noble lady Tara, overwhelmed by anguish and fallen into calamity, went very swiftly, greatly distraught, to the presence of that magnanimous, unassailable one who was Indra's equal.

Shloka 30 (kishkindha.24.30)

तं सा समासाद्य विशुद्धसत्त्वं शोकेन सम्भ्रान्तशरीरभावा । मनस्विनी वाक्यमुवाच तारा रामं रणोत्कर्षणलब्धलक्ष्यम् ॥ 24.30 ॥

taṃ sā samāsādya viśuddhasattvaṃ śokena sambhrāntaśarīrabhāvā | manasvinī vākyamuvāca tārā rāmaṃ raṇotkarṣaṇalabdhalakṣyam || 24.30 ||

Reaching that being of pure essence, her body agitated by grief, that spirited Tara spoke these words to Rama, who had won his mark through his supremacy in battle.

Shloka 31 (kishkindha.24.31)

त्वमप्रमेयश्च दुरासदश्च जितेन्द्रियश्चोत्तमधर्मकश्च । अक्षीणकीर्तिश्च विचक्षणश्च क्षितिक्षमावान् क्षतजोपमाक्षः ॥ 24.31 ॥

tvamaprameyaśca durāsadaśca jitendriyaścottamadharmakaśca | akṣīṇakīrtiśca vicakṣaṇaśca kṣitikṣamāvān kṣatajopamākṣaḥ || 24.31 ||

You are immeasurable, unassailable, one whose senses are mastered, supreme in righteousness; your fame is undiminished, you are discerning, patient as the earth, and your eyes have the ruddy hue befitting a sovereign.

Shloka 32 (kishkindha.24.32)

त्वमात्तबाणासनबाणपाणि र्महाबलः संहननोपपन्नः । मनुष्यदेहाभ्युदयं विहाय दिव्येन देहाभ्युदयेन युक्तः ॥ 24.32 ॥

tvamāttabāṇāsanabāṇapāṇi rmahābalaḥ saṃhananopapannaḥ | manuṣyadehābhyudayaṃ vihāya divyena dehābhyudayena yuktaḥ || 24.32 ||

You, bow and arrow in hand, are mighty and possess a well-formed frame; setting aside the mere splendour of a human body, you seem endowed instead with a divine bodily splendour.

Shloka 33 (kishkindha.24.33)

येनैव बाणेन हतः प्रियो मे तेनैव बाणेन हि मां जहीहि । हता गमिष्यामि समीपमस्य न मां विना वीर रमेत वाली ॥ 24.33 ॥

yenaiva bāṇena hataḥ priyo me tenaiva bāṇena hi māṃ jahīhi | hatā gamiṣyāmi samīpamasya na māṃ vinā vīra rameta vālī || 24.33 ||

With that very arrow by which my beloved was slain, slay me too; slain, I shall go to be near him, for, O hero, Vali will find no delight without me.

Shloka 34 (kishkindha.24.34)

स्वर्गेऽपि पद्मामलपत्रनेत्र समेत्य सम्प्रेक्ष्य च मामपश्यन् । न ह्येष उच्चावचताम्रचूडा विचित्रवेषाप्सरसोऽभजिष्यत् ॥ 24.34 ॥

svarge'pi padmāmalapatranetra sametya samprekṣya ca māmapaśyan | na hyeṣa uccāvacatāmracūḍā vicitraveṣāpsaraso'bhajiṣyat || 24.34 ||

O lotus-petal-eyed one, even in heaven, though he meets and gazes upon the apsaras with their varied copper-hued crests and their wondrous attire, not finding me there, he will take no delight in them.

Shloka 35 (kishkindha.24.35)

स्वर्गेऽपि शोकं च विवर्णतां च मया विना प्राप्स्यति वीर वाली । रम्ये नगेन्द्रस्य तटावकाशे विदेहकन्यारहितो यथा त्वम् ॥ 24.35 ॥

svarge'pi śokaṃ ca vivarṇatāṃ ca mayā vinā prāpsyati vīra vālī | ramye nagendrasya taṭāvakāśe videhakanyārahito yathā tvam || 24.35 ||

O hero, even in heaven, without me, Vali will attain only grief and pallor - just as you, without the Videha princess, remain so upon the lovely slopes of this great mountain.

Shloka 36 (kishkindha.24.36)

त्वं वेत्थ तावद् वनिताविहीनः प्राप्नोति दुःखं पुरुषः कुमारः । तत् त्वं प्रजानञ्जहि मां न वाली दुःखं ममादर्शनजं भजेत ॥ 24.36 ॥

tvaṃ vettha tāvad vanitāvihīnaḥ prāpnoti duḥkhaṃ puruṣaḥ kumāraḥ | tat tvaṃ prajānañjahi māṃ na vālī duḥkhaṃ mamādarśanajaṃ bhajeta || 24.36 ||

You yourself well know how much sorrow even a young man suffers when deprived of his woman; knowing this, kill me, so that Vali may not have to bear the grief born of never seeing me again.

Shloka 37 (kishkindha.24.37)

यच्चापि मन्येत भवान् महात्मा स्त्रीघातदोषस्तु भवेन्न मह्यम् । आत्मेयमस्येति हि मां जहि त्वं न स्त्रीवधः स्यान्मनुजेन्द्रपुत्र ॥ 24.37 ॥

yaccāpi manyeta bhavān mahātmā strīghātadoṣastu bhavenna mahyam | ātmeyamasyeti hi māṃ jahi tvaṃ na strīvadhaḥ syānmanujendraputra || 24.37 ||

And should you, great soul, think, 'let not the sin of killing a woman fall on me' - then kill me, deeming, 'she is his very self'; thus, O prince of men, it shall not be reckoned the killing of a woman.

Shloka 38 (kishkindha.24.38)

शास्त्रप्रयोगाद् विविधाश्च वेदा दनन्यरूपाः पुरुषस्य दाराः । दारप्रदानाद्धि न दानमन्यत् प्रदृश्यते ज्ञानवतां हि लोके ॥ 24.38 ॥

śāstraprayogād vividhāśca vedā dananyarūpāḥ puruṣasya dārāḥ | dārapradānāddhi na dānamanyat pradṛśyate jñānavatāṃ hi loke || 24.38 ||

By the application of scripture, and by the various Vedas, a man's wife is held to be no separate being from himself; and in the world of the wise, no gift is seen greater than the gift of a bride.

Shloka 39 (kishkindha.24.39)

त्वं चापि मां तस्य मम प्रियस्य प्रदास्यसे धर्ममवेक्ष्य वीर । अनेन दानेन न लप्स्यसे त्व मधर्मयोगं मम वीर घातात् ॥ 24.39 ॥

tvaṃ cāpi māṃ tasya mama priyasya pradāsyase dharmamavekṣya vīra | anena dānena na lapsyase tva madharmayogaṃ mama vīra ghātāt || 24.39 ||

And you too, O hero, considering righteousness, shall bestow me upon that beloved husband of mine; by this gift, O hero, you shall incur no taint of unrighteousness from my killing.

Shloka 40 (kishkindha.24.40)

आर्तामनाथामपनीयमाना मेवंगतां नार्हसि मामहन्तुम् । अहं हि मातङ्गविलासगामिना प्लवंगमानामृषभेण धीमता । विना वरार्होत्तमहेममालिना चिरं न शक्ष्यामि नरेन्द्र जीवितुम् ॥ 24.40 ॥

ārtāmanāthāmapanīyamānā mevaṃgatāṃ nārhasi māmahantum | ahaṃ hi mātaṅgavilāsagāminā plavaṃgamānāmṛṣabheṇa dhīmatā | vinā varārhottamahemamālinā ciraṃ na śakṣyāmi narendra jīvitum || 24.40 ||

Anguished, helpless, and dragged away as I am in such a plight, it is not fitting for you to refrain from killing me; for, O king, without that wise bull among monkeys, who moved with the gait of a rutting elephant and wore the most excellent golden garland, I shall not be able to live for long.

Shloka 41 (kishkindha.24.41)

इत्येवमुक्तस्तु विभुर्महात्मा तारां समाश्वास्य हितं बभाषे । मा वीरभार्ये विमतिं कुरुष्व लोको हि सर्वो विहितो विधात्रा ॥ 24.41 ॥

ityevamuktastu vibhurmahātmā tārāṃ samāśvāsya hitaṃ babhāṣe | mā vīrabhārye vimatiṃ kuruṣva loko hi sarvo vihito vidhātrā || 24.41 ||

Thus addressed, that mighty, great-souled lord, consoling Tara, spoke words of good counsel: "O wife of a hero, do not let your mind go astray; the whole of this world has been ordained by the Creator in this very manner.

Shloka 42 (kishkindha.24.42)

तं चैव सर्वं सुखदुःखयोगं लोकोऽब्रवीत् तेन कृतं विधात्रा । त्रयोऽपि लोका विहितं विधानं नातिक्रमन्ते वशगा हि तस्य ॥ 24.42 ॥

taṃ caiva sarvaṃ sukhaduḥkhayogaṃ loko'bravīt tena kṛtaṃ vidhātrā | trayo'pi lokā vihitaṃ vidhānaṃ nātikramante vaśagā hi tasya || 24.42 ||

And this entire admixture of joy and sorrow, people say, has likewise been fashioned by that Creator; and all three worlds, being subject to him, never transgress the arrangement he has ordained.

Shloka 43 (kishkindha.24.43)

प्रीतिं परां प्राप्स्यसि तां तथैव पुत्रश्च ते प्राप्स्यति यौवराज्यम् । धात्रा विधानं विहितं तथैव न शूरपत्न्यः परिदेवयन्ति ॥ 24.43 ॥

prītiṃ parāṃ prāpsyasi tāṃ tathaiva putraśca te prāpsyati yauvarājyam | dhātrā vidhānaṃ vihitaṃ tathaiva na śūrapatnyaḥ paridevayanti || 24.43 ||

You shall attain that same supreme happiness once more, and your son shall obtain the regency; such indeed is the arrangement ordained by the Creator - the wives of the valiant do not go on lamenting."

Shloka 44 (kishkindha.24.44)

आश्वासिता तेन महात्मना तु प्रभावयुक्तेन परंतपेन । सा वीरपत्नी ध्वनता मुखेन सुवेषरूपा विरराम तारा ॥ 24.44 ॥

āśvāsitā tena mahātmanā tu prabhāvayuktena paraṃtapena | sā vīrapatnī dhvanatā mukhena suveṣarūpā virarāma tārā || 24.44 ||

Consoled thus by that great-souled, majestic scourge of his foes, that hero's wife, Tara, lovely in form and adornment, at last ceased her lament, her voice still faltering.