Kishkindha Kanda, Sarga 20

Meaning

Beholding her aforesaid husband lying on the ground mortally wounded by a death-dealing arrow discharged from Śrī Rāma’s bow, and duly reaching him, that proud lady, Tārā, whose face resembled the moon, clasped him to her bosom. Seeing Vālī, the monkey chief, who looked like an elephant and resembled a lordly mountain, struck down with an arrow and lying like an uprooted tree, Tārā, whose mind was tormented with grief, lamented as follows, distressed as she was : (1—3)

Meaning

“Why don’t you speak today to me, who stand before you at this moment, O great hero, the foremost of monkeys, possessed as you are of terrific prowess in combat? (4)

Meaning

“Get up, O tiger among monkeys, and take to your excellent couch. Surely, jewels among kings, such as you are, do not lie down on the ground. (5)

Meaning

“The earth, O suzerain lord of the earth, is indeed extremely beloved of you as is evident from the fact that, ignoring me, you hug her with your limbs even though your life has departed. (6)

Meaning

“Evidently, O heroic king, a city as lovely as Kiṣkindhā, which you are leaving forever, has been specially built today on your way to heaven by you, who fought according to the principles of righteousness. (7)

Meaning

“A dead stop has been given by you at this time to the pastimes which were enjoyed by us in your company in woodlands emitting sweet fragrance. (8)

Meaning

“Now that you, the leader of great generals are reduced to the five elements, I am bereft of all joy and hope and am deeply plunged in a sea of grief. (9)

Meaning

“My heart is very strong in that, even though tormented with grief to see you fallen helpless on the ground, it does not break into a thousand pieces today. (10)

Meaning

“Since Sugrīva’s wife was wrested and he was exiled by you, this is the fruit reaped by you of that wrongdoing of yours, O suzerain lord of monkeys ! (11)

Meaning

“I too, who tendered salutary advice to you, wishing well as I did of you, O ruler of monkeys, and who was intent on securing your highest good, was reproached by you through ignorance. (12)

Meaning

“Blessed with an ethereal form, you will surely churn the minds of celestial nymphs clever at dalliance and proud of their comeliness and lasting youth, O worthy bestower of honour ! (13)

Meaning

“The time which will put an end to your life and which is free from doubt, has surely arrived. It is by that time alone that you, who were subject to the control of none, were forcibly brought under the sway of Sugrīva. (14)

Meaning

“It is not in the fitness of things that having struck Vālī, fighting with another and thus having done something highly despicable, Śrī Rāma, a scion of Kākutstha, should not feel sore distressed at heart.(15)

Meaning

“Having been brought up in an atmosphere bereft of suffering and having never felt miserable in the past, I shall now like one forlorn miserably suffer widowhood, full of grief and agony. (16)

Meaning

“To what plight will the valiant, yet tender Aṅgada be reduced—Aṅgada, who has been tended affectionately by me and deserves every comfort—when his uncle, Sugrīva, is beside himself with anger?(17)

Meaning

“(Turning towards Aṅgada) bring your father, who is fond of virtue, well within your sight, my son; henceforth his sight will become difficult to obtain, my darling ! (18)

Meaning

“(Turning once more to Vālī) fully comfort your son and duly smelling him at the head, give to me your parting message, since you have now set out on your journey to the other world. (19)

Meaning

“Indeed a great feat has been accomplished by Śrī Rāma in killing you. In fact acquittance has been obtained by him thereby in the matter of his plighted word to Sugrīva to dispose of you. (20)

Meaning

“(Turning to Sugrīva) be satisfied now that your desire has been fulfilled, O Sugrīva ! You will now get back your wife, Rumā, too. Enjoy the kingdom without feeling perturbed, since your hostile brother has been killed. (21)

Meaning

“(Turning to Vālī again) why do you not speak to me, your darling, lamenting thus? Lo ! Here are your numerous pretty wives, O ruler of monkeys !” (22)

Meaning

Hearing her lament and surrounding Aṅgada on all sides, all those Vānara ladies (the wives of Vālī) cried loudly, distressed and stricken with agony as they were : (23)

Meaning

Tārā continues : “Why have you departed on your long sojourn in the other world, deserting Aṅgada, O lord possessed of heroic arms adorned with armlets? It is not meet for you to leave abruptly in this way, abandoning your son, who is so proximate to you in point of excellences and is clad in an agreeable and lovely dress. (24)

Meaning

“If anything repugnant to you has inconsiderately been done by me, O lord with long arms, pray, condone that offence of mine, O protector of the race of monkeys; I touch your feet with my head. O gallant one !” (25)

Meaning

Wailing piteously as aforesaid, with other Vānara ladies, by the side of her husband, Tārā of faultless complexion, for her part, resolved to abstain from food and drink and await death sitting on the ground close to the place where Vālī lay. (26)