Sloka & Translation

[Tara's counsel to Vali --- fight between Vali and Sugriva --- Rama observes Sugriva's plight in the duel --- shoots an arrow at Vali.]

tāmēvaṅ bruvatīṅ tārāṅ tārādhipanibhānanām.

vālī nirbhartsayāmāsa vacanaṅ cēdamabravīt4.16.1৷৷


ēvam thus, bruvatīm speaking, tārādhipanibhānanām Moon-like face, tāṅ tārām to such a Tara, vālī Vali, nirbhartsayāmāsa reproached, idam these, vacanaṅ ca words, abravīt spoke

To these words of Tara with her Moon-like face, Vali replied reproachfully:
garjatō.sya ca susambhraśca bhrātuḥ śatrōrviśēṣataḥ.

marṣayiṣyāmyahaṅ kēna kāraṇēna varānanē!4.16.2৷৷


varānanē! O lady with a charming face, bhrātuḥ brother, viśēṣataḥ especially, śatrōḥ enemy, asya his, susamrabdham excitement, garjataḥ as he roars, kēna kāraṇēna for what reason, marṣayiṣyāmi should I tolerate?

'O lady with a charming face! why should I tolerate the enemy (Sugriva) who is none other than my own younger brother, especially when he roars excitedly?
adharṣitānāṅ śūrāṇāṅ samarēṣvanivartinām.

dharṣaṇāmarṣaṇaṅ bhīru! maraṇādatiricyatē4.16.3৷৷


bhīru O timid lady, samarēṣu in combat, anivartinām for those who do not turn back, adharṣitānām for the invincible, śūrāṇām for heroes, dharṣaṇāmarṣaṇam to endure insult, maraṇāt more than death, atiricyatē is worse

O timid lady! to swallow insult (without facing the opponent) is worse than death for
indomitable heroes (like me) who know no retreat in a battle.
sōḍhuṅ na ca samarthō.haṅ yuddhakāmasya saṅyugē.

sugrīvasya ca samrambhaṅ hīnagrīvasya garjataḥ4.16.4৷৷


aham I am, saṅyugē in battle, yuddhakāmasya desiring to fight, hīnagrīvasya of the weak-necked, garjataḥ who roars, sugrīvasya of Sugriva, samrambham flurry, sōḍhum to tolerate, na samarthaḥ not right

'When the weak-necked Sugriva roars eager to join a duel it is not right on my part to tolerate his arrogance,much less his war-cry.
na ca kāryō viṣādastē rāghavaṅ prati matkṛtē.

dharmajñaśca kṛtajñaśca kathaṅ pāpaṅ kariṣyati4.16.5৷৷


matkṛtē for me, rāghavaṅ prati with respect to Rama, tē to you, viṣādaḥ worry, na kāryaḥ no need, dharmajñaśca for a knower of dharma, kṛtajñaśca a grateful person, pāpam sin, katham how, kariṣyati will he do

'You need not be concerned about me on account of Rama. How can one who knows dharma and who has a sense of gratitude commit sin?
nivartasva saha strībhiḥ kathaṅ bhūyō.nugacchasi.

sauhṛdaṅ darśitaṅ tārē! mayi bhakti: kṛtā tvayā4.16.6৷৷


strībhiḥ saha along with women, nivartasva you may return, bhūyaḥ again, katham how, anugacchasi following, tvayā by you, sauhṛdam concern, darśitaṅ (tāvat) shown by you, mayi to me, bhaktiḥ devotion, kṛtā is fixed

'Go back with all the women of the harem. Why do you follow me again? Your devotion towards me is evident from the sincere concern expressed by you.
pratiyōtsyāmyahaṅ gatvā sugrīvaṅ jahi sambhramam.

darpamātraṅ vinēṣyāmi na ca prāṇairvimōkṣyatē4.16.7৷৷


aham I am, gatvā after going, sugrīvam Sugriva, pratiyōtsyāmi will fight accepting his challenge, sambhramam anxiety, jahi give up, asya his, darpamātraṅ pride, vinēṣyāmi I will subdue, prāṇaiḥ with life, na vimōkṣyatē not be relieved

'I shall accept the challenge and fight with Sugriva. Give up your anxiety. I will destroy his pride, not his life.
ahaṅ hyājausthitasyāsya kariṣyāmi yathēpsitam.

vṛkṣairmuṣṭiprahāraiśca pīḍitaḥ pratiyāsyati4.16.8৷৷


aham I, iti ājau in the battlefield, sthitasya when he stands, asya his, yat whatever, īpsitam desire, kariṣyāmi I will do, vṛkṣaiḥ by the trees, muṣṭiprahāraiśca by hitting with fists, pīḍitaḥ hurt, pratiyāsyati will run back

'When he faces me in the battlefield, I will hit him with trees and fists, and he will run back for life.
na mē garvitamāyastaṅ sahiṣyati durātmavān.

kṛtaṅ tārē! sahāṅyatvaṅ sauhṛdaṅ darśitaṅ mayi4.16.9৷৷


durātmavān an evil-minded one, mē my, garvitam pride, ayastam hard strokes, na sahiṣyati will not tolerate, tārē! O Tara, sahāyatvam helpful attitude, kṛtam to do, mayi for me, sauhṛdam affection, darśitam you have shown

'That evil-minded Sugriva cannot bear my mighty, hard blows. Tara! you could shower your affection on me and extend help (in passing secret information obtained through Angada);
śāpitā.pi mama prāṇairnivartasva jayēna ca.

ahaṅ jitvā nivartiṣyē tamahaṅ bhrātaraṅ raṇē4.16.10৷৷


mama my, prāṇaiḥ with life, śāpitā api even a vow on my life, jayēna on victory, nivartasva I will return, aham I, raṇē in encounter, taṅ bhrātaram that brother, jitvā after winning, aham I, nivartiṣyē will return

'I make a vow even on my life and my victory. Pray return with the retinue. I will be back only after winning the encounter with my brother.
taṅ tu tārā pariṣvajya vālinaṅ priyavādinī.

cakāra rudatī mandaṅ dakṣiṇā sā pradakṣiṇam4.16.11৷৷


priyavādinī a lady pleasant in speech, dakṣiṇā a compliant, sā tārā that Tara, taṅ vālinam that Vali, pariṣvajya having embraced, mandam faintly rudatī weeping, pradakṣiṇam circumambulated, cakāra went

Pleasing in her words, Tara then embraced Vali and sobbing, circumambulated Vali in compliance (to his advice).
tataḥ svastyayanaṅ kṛtvā mantravidvijayaiṣiṇī.

antaḥpuraṅ saha strībhiḥ praviṣṭā śōkamōhitā4.16.12৷৷


tataḥ then, mantravit a lady well-versed in mantras, vijayaiṣiṇī a lady who wished victory, svastyayanam hailing, kṛtvā uttering, śōkamōhitā overwhelmed with sorrow, strībhiḥ saha along with women, antaḥpuram inner apartments, praviṣṭā entered

The wise counsellor, Tara bade him farewell, wishing him victory and then, overwhelmed with sorrow, entered the inner apartment followed by the women-folk.
praviṣṭāyāṅ tu tārāyāṅ saha strībhissvamālayam.

nagarānniryayau kruddhō mahāsarpa iva śvasan4.16.13৷৷


tārāyām when Tara, strībhissaha along with women, svam her, ālayam abode, praviṣṭāyām after she entered, kuddaḥ angry , mahāsarpa iva like a huge serpent, śvasan breathing, nagarāt from the city, niryayau came out.

After Tara and other women returned to their abode, Vali departed from the city, hissing like a huge angry cobra.
sa niśśvasya mahātējā vālī paramarōṣaṇaḥ.

sarvataścārayan dṛṣṭiṅ śatrudarśanakāṅkṣayā4.16.14৷৷


mahātējā: brilliant, vālī Vali, paramarōṣaṇaḥ very angrily, viśśvasya breathing heavily, śatrudarśanarāṅkṣayā with a desire to see the enemy, sarvataḥ in all directions, dṛṣṭim sight, cārayan sending.

The mighty Vali, breathing heavily, looked around to find where his enemy was.
sa dadarśa tataśśrīmān sugrīvaṅ hēmapiṅgalam.

susaṅvītamavaṣṭabdhaṅ dīpyamānamivānalam4.16.15৷৷


tataḥ then, śrīmān lustrous, saḥ he, hēmapiṅgalam of red gold complexion, susaṅvītam ready to combat, avaṣṭabdham steady, dīpyamānam glowing bright, analam iva like fire, sugrīvam Sugriva, dadarśa saw

There Vali saw Sugriva in lustrous, red gold complexion standing ready for a combat steady like glowing fire.
sa taṅ dṛṣṭvā mahāvīryaṅ sugrīvaṅ paryavasthitam.

gāḍhaṅ paridadhē vāsō vālī! paramarōṣaṇa:4.16.16৷৷


paramarōṣaṇa: in mighty rage, mahāvīryaṅ great hero, saḥ vālī Vali, paryavasthitam standing firmly taṅ sugrīvam Sugriva, dṛṣṭvā on seeing, vāsaḥ (upper) cloth, gāḍham tightly, paridadhē tied up

On seeing the great hero Sugriva standing firmly, the enraged Vali tied his upper cloth (around his loin) tightly.
sa vālī gāḍhasaṅvītō muṣṭimudyamya vīryavān.

sugrīvamēvābhimukhō yayau yōddhuṅ kṛtakṣaṇaḥ4.16.17৷৷


gāḍhasaṅvītaḥ with cloth tied tightly, vīryavān brave, saḥ vālī Vali, muṣṭim fist, udyamya advanced towards, yōddhum for combat, kṛtakṣaṇaḥ waiting for the moment impatiently, sugrīvam Sugriva, abhimukhaḥ towards, yayau went

Vali tied up his cloth tightly, raised his fist and advanced towards Sugriva, ready for the encounter.
śliṣṭaṅ muṣṭiṅ samudyamya saṅrabdhataramāgataḥ.

sugrīvō.pi samuddiśya vālinaṅ hēmamālinam4.16.18৷৷


sugrīvaḥ Sugriva, api also, śliṣṭam firmly closed, muṣṭim fist, samudyamya lifting up, hēmamālim adorned with gold necklace, vālinam Vali, samuddiśya directing towards, saṅrabdhataram more impatiently, āgataḥ reached

Sugriva also lifted his fist firmly and advanced more impatiently towards Vali adorned with a golden necklace.
taṅ vālī krōdhatāmrākṣassugrīvaṅ raṇapaṇḍitam.

āpatantaṅ mahāvēgamidaṅ vacanamabravīt4.16.19৷৷


vālī Vali, krōdhatāmrākṣaḥ whose eyes red in anger, raṇapaṇḍitam expert in warfare, mahāvēgam of great speed, āpatantam pouncing upon, taṅ sugrīvam him Sugriva, idaṅ vacanam these words, abravīt spoke

While Sugriva, expert in combat, advanced swiftly to pounce upon (his enemy), Vali whose eyes turned red in anger said:
ēṣa muṣṭirmayābaddhō gāḍhassannihitāṅguliḥ.

mayā vēgavimuktastē prāṇānādāya yāsyati4.16.20৷৷


sannisatāṅguliḥ closely held fingers, gāḍhaḥ tight, ēṣaḥ this, baddhaḥ mahān clenched and big. muṣṭiḥ fist, mayā by me, vēgavimuktaḥ hit with formidable speed, tē your, prāṇān life, ādāya on taking out, yāsyati will move away

ēvamuktastu sugrīvaḥ kruddhō vālinamabravīt.

tavaiva cā haranprāṇānmuṣṭiḥ patatu mūrdhani4.16.21৷৷


ēvam in that way, uktaḥ sugrīvaḥ Sugriva having been addressed, kruddhaḥ angry, vālinam Vali, abravīt said, ēṣaḥ thus, muṣṭiḥ fist, tava your, prāṇān life, haran take, mūrdhani on your forehead, patatu let it hit

This infuriated Sugriva who, looking at Vali, said 'This fist of mine will draw your life out, hitting your forehead'.
tāḍitastēna saṅkṛddhassamabhikramya vēgitaḥ.

abhavacchōṇitōdgārī sōtpīḍa iva parvataḥ4.16.22৷৷


vēgitaḥ speedily, samabhikramya encountered him, tēna by him, tāḍitaḥ struck, saṅkṛddhaḥ enraged, śōṇitōdgārī rivulets of blood, sōtpēḍaḥ flowing, parvataḥ iva like a mountain, abhavat appeared

Struck by Vali, enraged Sugriva encountered Vali more aggresively. His body drenched in blood seemed a mountain with rivulets of blood flowing.
sugrīvēṇa tu nissaṅgaṅ sālamutpāṭya tējasā.

gātrēṣvabhihatō vālī vajrēṇēva mahāgiriḥ4.16.23৷৷


sugrīvēṇa tu by Sugriva also, tējasā with vigour, nissaṅgam pulled out, sālam sala tree, utpāṭya uprooted, vajrēṇa with the thunderbolt, mahāgiriḥ iva like a huge mountain, gātrēṣu on the body, abhihataḥ struck.

With all his vigour, Sugriva uprooted a sala tree, pulled it out and struck Vali on the body, like a thunderbolt striking a huge mountain.
sa tu vālī pracalitassālatāḍanavihvalaḥ.

gurubhārasamākrāntō nau sārtha iva sāgarē4.16.24৷৷


sālatāḍanavihvalaḥ hurt by the blows of the sala tree, saḥ he, vālī tu Vali also, sāgarē in the ocean, gurubhārasamākrāntaḥ heavily loaded, sārtha trader's, nauḥ ship, iva like, pracalitaḥ shaken up

Struck by the blows of the sala tree, Vali also lost his balance like the heavily loaded ship of a trader shaken up in the ocean.
tau bhīmabalavikrāntau suparṇasamavēginau.

pravṛddhau ghōravapuṣau candrasūryāvivāmbarē.

parasparamamitraghnau cchidrānvēṣaṇatatparau4.16.25৷৷


bhīmabalavikrāntau of terrific strength, suparṇasamavēginau both as fast as Suparna (Garuda), ghōravapuṣau both of fierce appearance, parasparam each other, chidrānvēṣaṇatatparau both searching the weak points of the other, amitraghnau both striking and trying to win over the other, tau both, ambarē in the sky, candrasūryāviva like Sun and Moon, pravṛddhau both grew

Both of them endowed with terrible strength, fierce in appearance, and each seeking the weak points of the other advanced, as fast as Garuda, striking at the enemy. Their fight grew more and more fierce like the fight between Sun and Moon in the sky.
tatō.vardhata vālī tu balavīryasamanvitaḥ.

sūryaputrō mahāvīryassugrīvaḥ parihīyatē4.16.26৷৷


tataḥ then, balavīryasamanvitaḥ endowed with strength and valour, vālī Vali, avardhata he grew, mahāvīryaḥ mighty, sūryaputraḥ Sun's son, sugrīvaḥ Sugriva, parihīyatē becomes weak

In a short while Vali, endowed with great strength, gained the upper hand and Sugriva, son of the Sun-god, was losing ground .
vālinā bhagnadarpastu sugrīvō mandavikramaḥ.

vālinaṅ prati sāmarṣō darśayāmāsa lāghavam4.16.27৷৷


vālinā by Vali, bhagnadarpaḥ pride crushed, sugrīvaḥ Sugriva, mandavikramaḥ diminished in strength, sāmarṣaḥ anguished, vālinaṅ prati towards Vali, lāghavam shrewdness, darśayāmāsa displayed

With his strength waning and pride crushed, Sugriva, anguished, exhibited shrewdness.
vṛkṣaiḥ ssaśākhai ssaśikhairvajrakōṭinibhairnakhaiḥ4.16.28৷৷

muṣṭibhirjānubhiḥ padbhirbāhubhiśca punaḥ punaḥ.

tayōryuddhamabhūdghōraṅ vṛtravāsavayōriva4.16.29৷৷


tayōḥ both, vṛkṣaiḥ with trees, saśākhaiḥ with branches, śikharaiḥ with tops, vajrakōṭinibhaiḥ by those hard as tips of thunderbolts, nakhaiḥ with nails, muṣṭibhiḥ with fists, padbhiḥ with feet, jānubhiḥ with knees, vṛtravāsavayōriva like Vritra and Indra, punaḥ punaḥ again and again, ghōram terrible, yuddham combat, abhūt became.

Both like Vritra and Indra fought, hitting each other again and again with trees full of branches and tops, with their hard nails akin to thunderbolts and with their fists, knees, feet, etc.
tau śōṇitāktau yudhyētāṅ vānarau vanacāriṇau.

mēghāviva mahāśabdai starjamānau parasparam4.16.30৷৷


vanacāriṇau wanderers of the forest, tau both of them, vānarau monkeys, śōṇitāktau both with blood stains, parasparam at each other, mahāśabdaiḥ producing loud sound, mēghāviva like two clouds, tarjamānau pointing at each other, yudhyētām clashed

The monkeys, wanderers in the forest, both with blood stains fiercely clashed pointing at each other, roaring with dreadful sounds like two clouds.
hīyamānamathō.paśyatsugrīvaṅ vānarēśvaram.

vīkṣamāṇaṅ diśaścaiva rāghavassa muhurmuhuḥ4.16.31৷৷


atha then, saḥ rāghavaḥ Rama, muhurmuhuḥ again and again, diśaḥ different directions, vīkṣamāṇam glancing, vānarēśvaram lord of monkeys, sugrīvaṅ Sugriva, hīyamānam waning (in strength), apaśyat observed

Raghava perceived that the monkey king Sugriva whose strength was waning was looking again and again in all directions (seeking help).
tatō rāmō mahātējā ārtaṅ dṛṣṭvā harīśvaram.

śaraṅ ca vīkṣatē vīrō vālinō vadhakāraṇāt 4.16.32৷৷


tataḥ then, mahātējāḥ brilliant, vīraḥ hero, rāmaḥ Rama, harīśvaram king of monkeys, ārtam distress, dṛṣṭvā after seeing, vālinaḥ Vali's, vadhakāraṇāt in order to kill, śaram arrow, vīkṣatē looked for

Finding the king of the monkeys in distress, the heroic, brilliant Rama looked for an arrow in order to kill Vali.
tatō dhanuṣi sandhāya śaramāśīviṣōpamam.

purayāmāsa taccāpaṅ kālacakramivāntakaḥ4.16.33৷৷


tataḥ then, āśīviṣōpamam poisonous like a snake, śaram arrow, dhanuṣi at the bow, sandhāya having fixed, antakaḥ lord of death, kālacakramiva like the wheel of death, tat cāpam that bow, purayāmāsa stretched at fully.

Rama then fixed an arrow which resembled a venomous snake, on to his bow looking like the very death-wheel of Yama and stretched it fully.
tasya jyātalaghōṣēṇa trastāḥ patrarathēśvarāḥ.

pradudruvurmṛgāścaiva yugānta iva mōhitāḥ4.16.34৷৷


tasya his, jyātalaghōṣēṇa by the twang of the bowstring, trastāḥ terrified, patrarathēśvarāḥ winged and feathered birds, mṛgāścaiva like animals, yugāntē at the time of dissolution, mōhitāḥ iva as though frightened, pradudruvuḥ ran in all directions.

As if scared by the twang of the bowstring, winged and feathered birds and animals ran frightened in different directions.
muktastu vajranirghōṣa: pradīptāśanisannibhaḥ.

rāghavēṇa mahābāṇō vālivakṣasi pātitaḥ4.16.35৷৷


rāghavēṇa by Rama, muktaḥ released, vajranirghōṣaḥ sounding like the thunderbolt, pradīptāśanisannibhaḥ like blazing lightning, mahābāṇaḥ mighty arrow, vālivakṣasi into the chest of Vali, pātitaḥ pierced

As Rama shot the mighty arrow, it went like a blazing lightning with a thunderous sound and pierced into the chest of Vali.
tatastēna mahātējā vīyauṭatsiktaḥ kapīśvaraḥ.

vēgēnābhihatō vālī nipapāta mahītalē4.16.36৷৷


tataḥ then, mahātējāḥ powerful, vīyautsaktaḥ proud of his strength, kapīśvaraḥ king of monkeys,
vālī Vali, tēna by such, vēgēna with speed, abhihataḥ was hit, mahītalē on the earth, nipapāta fell down

Then the powerful monkey king Vali, who was proud of his might, fell down on earth, struck by the fast flying arrow.
indradhvaja ivōddhūtaḥ paurṇamāsyāṅ mahītalē.

āśvayuksamayē māsi gataśrīkō vicētanaḥ4.16.37৷৷


āśvayuksamayē in the month of Aswayuja, māsi in a month, paurṇamāsyām on the full Moon day, mahītalē on the earth, uddhūtaḥ was thrown down, indradhvaja iva like Indra's staff, vālī Vali, gataśrīkō lost his brilliance, vicētanaḥ fell unconscious

Vali fell lustreless on the ground. He was thrown down unconscious like the banner (hoisted in honour) of Indra on the fullmoon day of Aswayuja month.
narōttamaḥ kālayugāntakōpamaṅ

śarōttamaṅ kāñcanarūpyabhuṣitam.

sasarja dīptaṅ tamamitramardanaṅ

sadhūmamagniṅ mukhatō yathā haraḥ4.16.38৷৷


narōttamaḥ distinguished among men, kālayugāntakōpamam like the destroyer of the world, kāñcanarūpyabhāṣitam adorned with gold and silver, dīptam glittering, amitramardanam that which can crush the enemy, taṅ śarōttamam that best of arrows, haraḥ Hara (Rudra), mukhataḥ from the mouth, sadhūmam with smoke, agnim iva like fire, sasarja released

The arrow of Rama, distinguished among men, adorned with silver and gold, which could crush the enemy shone like fire and smoke emitted from the mouth of Rudra at the time of dissolution (at the end of the aeon).
athōkṣitaśśōṇitatōyavisravai-

ssupuṣpitāśōka ivānilōddhataḥ.

vicētanō vāsavasūnurāhavē

vibhraṅśitēndradhvajavatkṣitiṅ gataḥ4.16.39৷৷


atha then, vāsavasūnuḥ son of Indra (Vali), āhavē in the combat, śōṇitatōyavisravaiḥ with blood flowing, ukṣitaḥ drenched, anilōddhataḥ blown by the wind, supuṣpitāśōka iva like the fully blossomed Asoka tree, vicētanaḥ without consciousness, suvibhraṅśitēndradhvajavat like Indra's flag post falling, kṣitim on the ground, gataḥ fallen

While Indra's son (Vali) fell unconscious on the ground, drenched in blood flowing, like a fully bloomed Asoka tree shaken down by the wind, he looked like Indra's flag fallen.
ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē kiṣkindhākāṇḍē ṣōḍaśassargaḥ৷৷
Thus ends the sixteenth sarga of Kishkindakanda of the Holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.