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.]

तामेवं ब्रुवतीं तारां ताराधिपनिभाननाम्।

वाली निर्भर्त्सयामास वचनं चेदमब्रवीत्4.16.1।।


एवम् thus, ब्रुवतीम् speaking, ताराधिपनिभाननाम् Moonlike face, तां ताराम् to such a Tara, वाली Vali, निर्भर्त्सयामास reproached, इदम् these, वचनं च words, अब्रवीत् spoke

To these words of Tara with her Moonlike face, Vali replied reproachfully:
गर्जतोऽस्य च सुसम्भ्रश्च भ्रातुः शत्रोर्विशेषतः।

मर्षयिष्याम्यहं केन कारणेन वरानने4.16.2।।


वरानने O lady with a charming face, भ्रातुः brother, विशेषतः especially, शत्रोः enemy, अस्य his, सुसम्रब्धम् excitement, गर्जतः as he roars, केन कारणेन for what reason, मर्षयिष्यामि 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?
अधर्षितानां शूराणां समरेष्वनिवर्तिनाम्।

धर्षणामर्षणं भीरु मरणादतिरिच्यते4.16.3।।


भीरु O timid lady, समरेषु in combat, अनिवर्तिनाम् for those who do not turn back, अधर्षितानाम् for the invincible, शूराणाम् for heroes, धर्षणामर्षणम् to endure insult, मरणात् more than death, अतिरिच्यते 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.
सोढुं न च समर्थोऽहं युद्धकामस्य संयुगे।

सुग्रीवस्य च सम्रम्भं हीनग्रीवस्य गर्जतः4.16.4।।


अहम् I am, संयुगे in battle, युद्धकामस्य desiring to fight, हीनग्रीवस्य of the weaknecked, गर्जतः who roars, सुग्रीवस्य of Sugriva, सम्रम्भम् flurry, सोढुम् to tolerate, न समर्थः not right

'When the weaknecked Sugriva roars eager to join a duel it is not right on my part to tolerate his arrogance,much less his warcry.
न च कार्यो विषादस्ते राघवं प्रति मत्कृते।

धर्मज्ञश्च कृतज्ञश्च कथं पापं करिष्यति4.16.5।।


मत्कृते for me, राघवं प्रति with respect to Rama, ते to you, विषादः worry, न कार्यः no need, धर्मज्ञश्च for a knower of dharma, कृतज्ञश्च a grateful person, पापम् sin, कथम् how, करिष्यति 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?
निवर्तस्व सह स्त्रीभिः कथं भूयोऽनुगच्छसि।

सौहृदं दर्शितं तारे मयि भक्ति: कृता त्वया4.16.6।।


स्त्रीभिः सह along with women, निवर्तस्व you may return, भूयः again, कथम् how, अनुगच्छसि following, त्वया by you, सौहृदम् concern, दर्शितं (तावत्) shown by you, मयि to me, भक्तिः devotion, कृता 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.
प्रतियोत्स्याम्यहं गत्वा सुग्रीवं जहि सम्भ्रमम्।

दर्पमात्रं विनेष्यामि न च प्राणैर्विमोक्ष्यते4.16.7।।


अहम् I am, गत्वा after going, सुग्रीवम् Sugriva, प्रतियोत्स्यामि will fight accepting his challenge, सम्भ्रमम् anxiety, जहि give up, अस्य his, दर्पमात्रं pride, विनेष्यामि I will subdue, प्राणैः with life, न विमोक्ष्यते not be relieved

'I shall accept the challenge and fight with Sugriva. Give up your anxiety. I will destroy his pride, not his life.
अहं ह्याजौस्थितस्यास्य करिष्यामि यथेप्सितम्।

वृक्षैर्मुष्टिप्रहारैश्च पीडितः प्रतियास्यति4.16.8।।


अहम् I, इति आजौ in the battlefield, स्थितस्य when he stands, अस्य his, यत् whatever, ईप्सितम् desire, करिष्यामि I will do, वृक्षैः by the trees, मुष्टिप्रहारैश्च by hitting with fists, पीडितः hurt, प्रतियास्यति 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.
न मे गर्वितमायस्तं सहिष्यति दुरात्मवान्।

कृतं तारे सहांयत्वं सौहृदं दर्शितं मयि4.16.9।।


दुरात्मवान् an evilminded one, मे my, गर्वितम् pride, अयस्तम् hard strokes, न सहिष्यति will not tolerate, तारे O Tara, सहायत्वम् helpful attitude, कृतम् to do, मयि for me, सौहृदम् affection, दर्शितम् you have shown

'That evilminded 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)
शापिताऽपि मम प्राणैर्निवर्तस्व जयेन च।

अहं जित्वा निवर्तिष्ये तमहं भ्रातरं रणे4.16.10।।


मम my, प्राणैः with life, शापिता अपि even a vow on my life, जयेन on victory, निवर्तस्व I will return, अहम् I, रणे in encounter, तं भ्रातरम् that brother, जित्वा after winning, अहम् I, निवर्तिष्ये 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.
तं तु तारा परिष्वज्य वालिनं प्रियवादिनी।

चकार रुदती मन्दं दक्षिणा सा प्रदक्षिणम्4.16.11।।


प्रियवादिनी a lady pleasant in speech, दक्षिणा a compliant, सा तारा that Tara, तं वालिनम् that Vali, परिष्वज्य having embraced, मन्दम् faintly रुदती weeping, प्रदक्षिणम् circumambulated, चकार went

Pleasing in her words, Tara then embraced Vali and sobbing, circumambulated Vali in compliance (to his advice).
ततः स्वस्त्ययनं कृत्वा मन्त्रविद्विजयैषिणी।

अन्तःपुरं सह स्त्रीभिः प्रविष्टा शोकमोहिता4.16.12।।


ततः then, मन्त्रवित् a lady wellversed in mantras, विजयैषिणी a lady who wished victory, स्वस्त्ययनम् hailing, कृत्वा uttering, शोकमोहिता overwhelmed with sorrow, स्त्रीभिः सह along with women, अन्तःपुरम् inner apartments, प्रविष्टा entered

The wise counsellor, Tara bade him farewell, wishing him victory and then, overwhelmed with sorrow, entered the inner apartment followed by the womenfolk.
प्रविष्टायां तु तारायां सह स्त्रीभिस्स्वमालयम्।

नगरान्निर्ययौ क्रुद्धो महासर्प इव श्वसन्4.16.13।।


तारायाम् when Tara, स्त्रीभिस्सह along with women, स्वम् her, आलयम् abode, प्रविष्टायाम् after she entered, कुद्दः angry , महासर्प इव like a huge serpent, श्वसन् breathing, नगरात् from the city, निर्ययौ came out.

After Tara and other women returned to their abode, Vali departed from the city, hissing like a huge angry cobra.
स निश्श्वस्य महातेजा वाली परमरोषणः।

सर्वतश्चारयन् दृष्टिं शत्रुदर्शनकाङ्क्षया4.16.14।।


महातेजा: brilliant, वाली Vali, परमरोषणः very angrily, विश्श्वस्य breathing heavily, शत्रुदर्शनराङ्क्षया with a desire to see the enemy, सर्वतः in all directions, दृष्टिम् sight, चारयन् sending.

The mighty Vali, breathing heavily, looked around to find where his enemy was.
स ददर्श ततश्श्रीमान् सुग्रीवं हेमपिङ्गलम्।

सुसंवीतमवष्टब्धं दीप्यमानमिवानलम्4.16.15।।


ततः then, श्रीमान् lustrous, सः he, हेमपिङ्गलम् of red gold complexion, सुसंवीतम् ready to combat, अवष्टब्धम् steady, दीप्यमानम् glowing bright, अनलम् इव like fire, सुग्रीवम् Sugriva, ददर्श saw

There Vali saw Sugriva in lustrous, red gold complexion standing ready for a combat steady like glowing fire.
स तं दृष्ट्वा महावीर्यं सुग्रीवं पर्यवस्थितम्।

गाढं परिदधे वासो वाली परमरोषण:4.16.16।।


परमरोषण: in mighty rage, महावीर्यं great hero, सः वाली Vali, पर्यवस्थितम् standing firmly तं सुग्रीवम् Sugriva, दृष्ट्वा on seeing, वासः (upper) cloth, गाढम् tightly, परिदधे tied up

On seeing the great hero Sugriva standing firmly, the enraged Vali tied his upper cloth (around his loin) tightly.
स वाली गाढसंवीतो मुष्टिमुद्यम्य वीर्यवान्।

सुग्रीवमेवाभिमुखो ययौ योद्धुं कृतक्षणः4.16.17।।


गाढसंवीतः with cloth tied tightly, वीर्यवान् brave, सः वाली Vali, मुष्टिम् fist, उद्यम्य advanced towards, योद्धुम् for combat, कृतक्षणः waiting for the moment impatiently, सुग्रीवम् Sugriva, अभिमुखः towards, ययौ went

Vali tied up his cloth tightly, raised his fist and advanced towards Sugriva, ready for the encounter.
श्लिष्टं मुष्टिं समुद्यम्य संरब्धतरमागतः।

सुग्रीवोऽपि समुद्दिश्य वालिनं हेममालिनम्4.16.18।।


सुग्रीवः Sugriva, अपि also, श्लिष्टम् firmly closed, मुष्टिम् fist, समुद्यम्य lifting up, हेममालिम् adorned with gold necklace, वालिनम् Vali, समुद्दिश्य directing towards, संरब्धतरम् more impatiently, आगतः reached

Sugriva also lifted his fist firmly and advanced more impatiently towards Vali adorned with a golden necklace.
तं वाली क्रोधताम्राक्षस्सुग्रीवं रणपण्डितम्।

आपतन्तं महावेगमिदं वचनमब्रवीत्4.16.19।।


वाली Vali, क्रोधताम्राक्षः whose eyes red in anger, रणपण्डितम् expert in warfare, महावेगम् of great speed, आपतन्तम् pouncing upon, तं सुग्रीवम् him Sugriva, इदं वचनम् these words, अब्रवीत् spoke

While Sugriva, expert in combat, advanced swiftly to pounce upon (his enemy), Vali whose eyes turned red in anger said:
एष मुष्टिर्मयाबद्धो गाढस्सन्निहिताङ्गुलिः।

मया वेगविमुक्तस्ते प्राणानादाय यास्यति4.16.20।।


सन्निसताङ्गुलिः closely held fingers, गाढः tight, एषः this, बद्धः महान् clenched and big. मुष्टिः fist, मया by me, वेगविमुक्तः hit with formidable speed, ते your, प्राणान् life, आदाय on taking out, यास्यति will move away

एवमुक्तस्तु सुग्रीवः क्रुद्धो वालिनमब्रवीत्।

तवैव चा हरन्प्राणान्मुष्टिः पततु मूर्धनि4.16.21।।


एवम् in that way, उक्तः सुग्रीवः Sugriva having been addressed, क्रुद्धः angry, वालिनम् Vali, अब्रवीत् said, एषः thus, मुष्टिः fist, तव your, प्राणान् life, हरन् take, मूर्धनि on your forehead, पततु let it hit

This infuriated Sugriva who, looking at Vali, said 'This fist of mine will draw your life out, hitting your forehead'.
ताडितस्तेन सङ्कृद्धस्समभिक्रम्य वेगितः।

अभवच्छोणितोद्गारी सोत्पीड इव पर्वतः4.16.22।।


वेगितः speedily, समभिक्रम्य encountered him, तेन by him, ताडितः struck, सङ्कृद्धः enraged, शोणितोद्गारी rivulets of blood, सोत्पेडः flowing, पर्वतः इव like a mountain, अभवत् appeared

Struck by Vali, enraged Sugriva encountered Vali more aggresively. His body drenched in blood seemed a mountain with rivulets of blood flowing.
सुग्रीवेण तु निस्सङ्गं सालमुत्पाट्य तेजसा।

गात्रेष्वभिहतो वाली वज्रेणेव महागिरिः4.16.23।।


सुग्रीवेण तु by Sugriva also, तेजसा with vigour, निस्सङ्गम् pulled out, सालम् sala tree, उत्पाट्य uprooted, वज्रेण with the thunderbolt, महागिरिः इव like a huge mountain, गात्रेषु on the body, अभिहतः 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.
स तु वाली प्रचलितस्सालताडनविह्वलः।

गुरुभारसमाक्रान्तो नौ सार्थ इव सागरे4.16.24।।


सालताडनविह्वलः hurt by the blows of the sala tree, सः he, वाली तु Vali also, सागरे in the ocean, गुरुभारसमाक्रान्तः heavily loaded, सार्थ trader's, नौः ship, इव like, प्रचलितः 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.
तौ भीमबलविक्रान्तौ सुपर्णसमवेगिनौ।

प्रवृद्धौ घोरवपुषौ चन्द्रसूर्याविवाम्बरे।

परस्परममित्रघ्नौ च्छिद्रान्वेषणतत्परौ4.16.25।।


भीमबलविक्रान्तौ of terrific strength, सुपर्णसमवेगिनौ both as fast as Suparna (Garuda), घोरवपुषौ both of fierce appearance, परस्परम् each other, छिद्रान्वेषणतत्परौ both searching the weak points of the other, अमित्रघ्नौ both striking and trying to win over the other, तौ both, अम्बरे in the sky, चन्द्रसूर्याविव like Sun and Moon, प्रवृद्धौ 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.
ततोऽवर्धत वाली तु बलवीर्यसमन्वितः।

सूर्यपुत्रो महावीर्यस्सुग्रीवः परिहीयते4.16.26।।


ततः then, बलवीर्यसमन्वितः endowed with strength and valour, वाली Vali, अवर्धत he grew, महावीर्यः mighty, सूर्यपुत्रः Sun's son, सुग्रीवः Sugriva, परिहीयते becomes weak

In a short while Vali, endowed with great strength, gained the upper hand and Sugriva, son of the Sungod, was losing ground .
वालिना भग्नदर्पस्तु सुग्रीवो मन्दविक्रमः।

वालिनं प्रति सामर्षो दर्शयामास लाघवम्4.16.27।।


वालिना by Vali, भग्नदर्पः pride crushed, सुग्रीवः Sugriva, मन्दविक्रमः diminished in strength, सामर्षः anguished, वालिनं प्रति towards Vali, लाघवम् shrewdness, दर्शयामास displayed

With his strength waning and pride crushed, Sugriva, anguished, exhibited shrewdness.
वृक्षैः स्सशाखै स्सशिखैर्वज्रकोटिनिभैर्नखैः4.16.28।।

मुष्टिभिर्जानुभिः पद्भिर्बाहुभिश्च पुनः पुनः।

तयोर्युद्धमभूद्घोरं वृत्रवासवयोरिव4.16.29।।


तयोः both, वृक्षैः with trees, सशाखैः with branches, शिखरैः with tops, वज्रकोटिनिभैः by those hard as tips of thunderbolts, नखैः with nails, मुष्टिभिः with fists, पद्भिः with feet, जानुभिः with knees, वृत्रवासवयोरिव like Vritra and Indra, पुनः पुनः again and again, घोरम् terrible, युद्धम् combat, अभूत् 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.
तौ शोणिताक्तौ युध्येतां वानरौ वनचारिणौ।

मेघाविव महाशब्दै स्तर्जमानौ परस्परम्4.16.30।।


वनचारिणौ wanderers of the forest, तौ both of them, वानरौ monkeys, शोणिताक्तौ both with blood stains, परस्परम् at each other, महाशब्दैः producing loud sound, मेघाविव like two clouds, तर्जमानौ pointing at each other, युध्येताम् clashed

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

वीक्षमाणं दिशश्चैव राघवस्स मुहुर्मुहुः4.16.31।।


अथ then, सः राघवः Rama, मुहुर्मुहुः again and again, दिशः different directions, वीक्षमाणम् glancing, वानरेश्वरम् lord of monkeys, सुग्रीवं Sugriva, हीयमानम् waning (in strength), अपश्यत् observed

Raghava perceived that the monkey king Sugriva whose strength was waning was looking again and again in all directions (seeking help).
ततो रामो महातेजा आर्तं दृष्ट्वा हरीश्वरम्।

शरं च वीक्षते वीरो वालिनो वधकारणात् 4.16.32।।


ततः then, महातेजाः brilliant, वीरः hero, रामः Rama, हरीश्वरम् king of monkeys, आर्तम् distress, दृष्ट्वा after seeing, वालिनः Vali's, वधकारणात् in order to kill, शरम् arrow, वीक्षते looked for

Finding the king of the monkeys in distress, the heroic, brilliant Rama looked for an arrow in order to kill Vali.
ततो धनुषि सन्धाय शरमाशीविषोपमम्।

पुरयामास तच्चापं कालचक्रमिवान्तकः4.16.33।।


ततः then, आशीविषोपमम् poisonous like a snake, शरम् arrow, धनुषि at the bow, सन्धाय having fixed, अन्तकः lord of death, कालचक्रमिव like the wheel of death, तत् चापम् that bow, पुरयामास stretched at fully.

Rama then fixed an arrow which resembled a venomous snake, on to his bow looking like the very deathwheel of Yama and stretched it fully.
तस्य ज्यातलघोषेण त्रस्ताः पत्ररथेश्वराः।

प्रदुद्रुवुर्मृगाश्चैव युगान्त इव मोहिताः4.16.34।।


तस्य his, ज्यातलघोषेण by the twang of the bowstring, त्रस्ताः terrified, पत्ररथेश्वराः winged and feathered birds, मृगाश्चैव like animals, युगान्ते at the time of dissolution, मोहिताः इव as though frightened, प्रदुद्रुवुः ran in all directions.

As if scared by the twang of the bowstring, winged and feathered birds and animals ran frightened in different directions.
मुक्तस्तु वज्रनिर्घोष: प्रदीप्ताशनिसन्निभः।

राघवेण महाबाणो वालिवक्षसि पातितः4.16.35।।


राघवेण by Rama, मुक्तः released, वज्रनिर्घोषः sounding like the thunderbolt, प्रदीप्ताशनिसन्निभः like blazing lightning, महाबाणः mighty arrow, वालिवक्षसि into the chest of Vali, पातितः pierced

As Rama shot the mighty arrow, it went like a blazing lightning with a thunderous sound and pierced into the chest of Vali.
ततस्तेन महातेजा वीयौटत्सिक्तः कपीश्वरः।

वेगेनाभिहतो वाली निपपात महीतले4.16.36।।


ततः then, महातेजाः powerful, वीयौत्सक्तः proud of his strength, कपीश्वरः king of monkeys,
वाली Vali, तेन by such, वेगेन with speed, अभिहतः was hit, महीतले on the earth, निपपात fell down

Then the powerful monkey king Vali, who was proud of his might, fell down on earth, struck by the fast flying arrow.
इन्द्रध्वज इवोद्धूतः पौर्णमास्यां महीतले।

आश्वयुक्समये मासि गतश्रीको विचेतनः4.16.37।।


आश्वयुक्समये in the month of Aswayuja, मासि in a month, पौर्णमास्याम् on the full Moon day, महीतले on the earth, उद्धूतः was thrown down, इन्द्रध्वज इव like Indra's staff, वाली Vali, गतश्रीको lost his brilliance, विचेतनः 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.
नरोत्तमः कालयुगान्तकोपमं

शरोत्तमं काञ्चनरूप्यभुषितम्।

ससर्ज दीप्तं तममित्रमर्दनं

सधूममग्निं मुखतो यथा हरः4.16.38।।


नरोत्तमः distinguished among men, कालयुगान्तकोपमम् like the destroyer of the world, काञ्चनरूप्यभाषितम् adorned with gold and silver, दीप्तम् glittering, अमित्रमर्दनम् that which can crush the enemy, तं शरोत्तमम् that best of arrows, हरः Hara (Rudra), मुखतः from the mouth, सधूमम् with smoke, अग्निम् इव like fire, ससर्ज 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).
अथोक्षितश्शोणिततोयविस्रवै

स्सुपुष्पिताशोक इवानिलोद्धतः।

विचेतनो वासवसूनुराहवे

विभ्रंशितेन्द्रध्वजवत्क्षितिं गतः4.16.39।।


अथ then, वासवसूनुः son of Indra (Vali), आहवे in the combat, शोणिततोयविस्रवैः with blood flowing, उक्षितः drenched, अनिलोद्धतः blown by the wind, सुपुष्पिताशोक इव like the fully blossomed Asoka tree, विचेतनः without consciousness, सुविभ्रंशितेन्द्रध्वजवत् like Indra's flag post falling, क्षितिम् on the ground, गतः 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.
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीय आदिकाव्ये किष्किन्धाकाण्डे षोडशस्सर्गः।।
Thus ends the sixteenth sarga of Kishkindakanda of the Holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.