Kishkindha Kanda, Sarga 24

तां चाश्रुवेगेन दुरासदेन त्वभिप्लुतां शोकमहार्णवेन। पश्यंस्तदा वाल्यनुजस्तरस्वी भ्रातुर्वधेनाप्रतिमेन तेपे4.24.1।।

tāṃ cāśruvegena durāsadena tvabhiplutāṃ śokamahārṇavena| paśyaṃstadā vālyanujastarasvī bhrāturvadhenāpratimena tepe4.24.1||

Sugriva, the unassailable younger brother of Vali, perceiving Tara overwhelmed in the ocean of grief felt agonized for the killing of his brother of incomparable power.

स बाष्पपूर्णेन मुखेन वीक्ष्य क्षणेन निर्विण्णमना मनस्वी। जगाम रामस्य शनैस्समीपं भृत्यैर्वृतसम्परिदूयमानः4.24.2।।

sa bāṣpapūrṇena mukhena vīkṣya kṣaṇena nirviṇṇamanā manasvī| jagāma rāmasya śanaissamīpaṃ bhṛtyairvṛtasamparidūyamānaḥ4.24.2||

Face drenched with tears, highly sensitive Sugriva glanced at Tara for a moment. Pained and depressed at heart, and surrounded by attendants, he slowly approached Rama.

स तं समासाद्य गृहीतचाप मुदात्तमाशीविषतुल्यबाणम्। यशस्विनं लक्षणलक्षिताङ्ग मवस्थितं राघव मित्युवाच4.24.3।।

sa taṃ samāsādya gṛhītacāpa mudāttamāśīviṣatulyabāṇam| yaśasvinaṃ lakṣaṇalakṣitāṅga mavasthitaṃ rāghava mityuvāca4.24.3||

Duly approaching the illustrious Rama, endowed with auspicious signs, who stood with his bow and serpentlike arrows, Sugriva thus submitted:

यथा प्रतिज्ञातमिदं नरेन्द्र कृतं त्वया दृष्टफलं च कर्म। ममाद्य भोगेषु नरेन्द्रपुत्र मनो निवृत्तं सहजीवितेन4.24.4।।

yathā pratijñātamidaṃ narendra kṛtaṃ tvayā dṛṣṭaphalaṃ ca karma| mamādya bhogeṣu narendraputra mano nivṛttaṃ sahajīvitena4.24.4||

'Your majesty you have struck down Vali as promised and the consequences of your action are seen now. O prince, however, my mind is not interested in the enjoyment of pleasures. I have no interest in life.

अस्यां महिष्यां तु भृशं रुदन्त्या पुरे च विक्रोशति दुःखतप्ते। हतेऽग्रजे संशयितेऽङ्गदे च न राम राज्ये रमते मनो मे4.24.5।।

asyāṃ mahiṣyāṃ tu bhṛśaṃ rudantyā pure ca vikrośati duḥkhatapte| hate'graje saṃśayite'ṅgade ca na rāma rājye ramate mano me4.24.5||

'O Rama when the queen (Tara) is weeping, plunged in deep sorrow, the entire city is lamenting in agony, my elder brother is dead and the survival of Angada is uncertain, my mind no longer longs for the enjoyment of the kingdom.

क्रोधादमर्षादतिविप्रधर्षा द्भ्रातुर्वधो मेऽनुमतः पुरस्तात्। हते त्विदानीं हरियूथपेऽस्मिन् सुतीव्रमिक्ष्वाकुकुमार तप्स्ये।।4.24.6।।

krodhādamarṣādativipradharṣā dbhrāturvadho me'numataḥ purastāt| hate tvidānīṃ hariyūthape'smin sutīvramikṣvākukumāra tapsye

'O prince of the Ikshvaku family, the anger due to my exilement and my intolerance of his harsh words, had made the killing of my brother agreeable to me earlier. Now that the leader of the monkey clan is killed I am intensely hurt.

श्रेयोऽद्य मन्ये मम शैलमुख्ये तस्मिन्निवासश्चिरमृश्यमूके। यथा तथा वर्तयतस्स्ववृत्त्या नेमं निहत्य त्रिदिवस्य लाभः4.24.7।।

śreyo'dya manye mama śailamukhye tasminnivāsaściramṛśyamūke| yathā tathā vartayatassvavṛttyā nemaṃ nihatya tridivasya lābhaḥ4.24.7||

'I now feel dwelling long on the great mountain Rishyamuka as usual and somehow eking out a livelihood is preferable to attaining heaven as a sequel to the death of my brother.

न त्वां जिघांसामि चरेति यन्मा मयं महात्मा मतिमानुवाच। तस्यैव तद्राम वचोऽनुरूप मिदं पुनः कर्म च मेऽनुरूपम्4.24.8।।

na tvāṃ jighāṃsāmi careti yanmā mayaṃ mahātmā matimānuvāca| tasyaiva tadrāma vaco'nurūpa midaṃ punaḥ karma ca me'nurūpam4.24.8||

'O Rama when the wise, highsouled Vali said to me, 'I do not like to kill you in this place be gone from here', his words reflected his nobility. This action of mine (killing of Vali) is, on the other hand, in consonance with my nature.

भ्राता कथं नाम महागुणस्य भ्रातुर्वधं राघव रोचयेत। राज्यस्य दुःखस्य च वीर सारं विचिन्तयन्कामपुरस्कृतऽस्सन्4.24.9।।

bhrātā kathaṃ nāma mahāguṇasya bhrāturvadhaṃ rāghava rocayeta| rājyasya duḥkhasya ca vīra sāraṃ vicintayankāmapuraskṛta'ssan4.24.9||

'O Rama prompted by passion, without thinking of the difference between obtaining the kingdom to satisfy one's desire and the consequent grief, which brother would be willing to kill his virtuous elder brother?

वधो हि मे मतो नासीत्स्वमाहात्म्याव्यतिक्रमात्। ममाऽसीद्बुद्धिदौरात्म्यात्प्राणहारी व्यतिक्रमः4.24.10।।

vadho hi me mato nāsītsvamāhātmyāvyatikramāt| mamā'sīdbuddhidaurātmyātprāṇahārī vyatikramaḥ4.24.10||

'The idea of killing me was not acceptable to his noble nature, while my wicked thought caused his death.

द्रुमशाखावभग्नोऽहं मुहुर्तं परिनिष्टनन्। सान्त्वयित्वा त्वनेनोक्तो न पुनः कर्तुमर्हसि4.24.11।।

drumaśākhāvabhagno'haṃ muhurtaṃ pariniṣṭanan| sāntvayitvā tvanenokto na punaḥ kartumarhasi4.24.11||

'When my brother hit me with the branch of a tree I screamed for a while. But he pacified me and said it was improper and he would not repeat it.

भ्रातृत्वमार्यभावश्च धर्मश्चानेन रक्षितः। मया क्रोधश्च कामश्च कपित्वं च प्रदर्शितम्4.24.12।।

bhrātṛtvamāryabhāvaśca dharmaścānena rakṣitaḥ| mayā krodhaśca kāmaśca kapitvaṃ ca pradarśitam4.24.12||

'Thus while nobility, a feeling of respect,brotherliness and duty was shown to me by my brother, I exhibited wrath, passion and frivolity, the nature of the monkey.

अचिन्तनीयं परिवर्जनीय मनीप्सनीयं स्वनवेक्षणीयम्। प्राप्तोऽस्मि पाप्मानमिमं नरेन्द्र भ्रातुर्वधात्त्वाष्ट्रवधादिवेन्द्र:4.24.13।।

acintanīyaṃ parivarjanīya manīpsanīyaṃ svanavekṣaṇīyam| prāpto'smi pāpmānamimaṃ narendra bhrāturvadhāttvāṣṭravadhādivendra:4.24.13||

'O king just as Indra committed sin by killing Tvashta, I have reaped the sin by killing my brorther which is unthinkable, avoidable, undesirable and ignoble.

पाप्मानमिन्द्रस्य मही जलं च वृक्षाश्च कामं जगृहुः स्त्रियश्च। को नाम पाप्मानमिमं क्षमेत शाखामृगस्य प्रतिपत्तुमिच्छेत्।।4.24.14।।

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

'Trees owned the sin of Indra and it was shared by the earth, water and women voluntarily.But who is there to pardon a monkey and own the sin?

नार्हामि सम्मानमिमं प्रजानां न यौवराज्यं कुत एव राज्यम्। अधर्मयुक्तं कुलनाशयुक्त मेवंविधं राघव कर्म कृत्वा4.24.15।।

nārhāmi sammānamimaṃ prajānāṃ na yauvarājyaṃ kuta eva rājyam| adharmayuktaṃ kulanāśayukta mevaṃvidhaṃ rāghava karma kṛtvā4.24.15||

'O Rama having acted in an unrighteous manner, which destroys the clan, I am not fit to accept the respect of people nor the status of a prince regent, what to speak of kingship?

पापस्य कर्ताऽस्मि विगर्हितस्य क्षुद्रस्य लोकापकृतस्य चैव। शोको महान्मामभिवर्ततेऽयं वृष्टेर्यथा निम्नमिवाम्बुवेगः4.24.16।।

pāpasya kartā'smi vigarhitasya kṣudrasya lokāpakṛtasya caiva| śoko mahānmāmabhivartate'yaṃ vṛṣṭeryathā nimnamivāmbuvegaḥ4.24.16||

'I have committed a sin which is condemned by the world. This intense grief has engulfed me just as the flow of rain water inundates the lowlying area when it rains.

सोदर्यघातापरगात्रवालः सन्तापहस्ताक्षिशिरोविषाणः। एनोमयो मामभिहन्ति हस्ती दृप्तो नदीकूलमिव प्रवृद्धः।।4.24.17।।

sodaryaghātāparagātravālaḥ santāpahastākṣiśiroviṣāṇaḥ| enomayo māmabhihanti hastī dṛpto nadīkūlamiva pravṛddhaḥ

'The elephant of sin (hanging heavily on me) has a tail of treacherous killing of one's own brother, which has resulted in deep sorrow in the form of a trunk, eyes, head and tusks.This elephant is striking at me as he would strike the bank of a river when he grows strong and gets puffed up with the pride of energy. (The idea of a proud elephant striking at the target is superimposed on the sin committed by Sugriva.The animal's tail is the killing of a brother. Sugriva's remorse spreads all over the body trunk, eyes, head and tusks of the animal. As a proud elephant strikes at the river bank the sin is striking at Sugriva to destroy him. The Rupaka here is perfect and total).

अंहो बतेदं नृवराविषह्यं निवर्तते मे हृदि साधुवृत्तम्। विवर्णमग्नौ परितप्यमानं किट्टं यथा राघव जातरूपम्4.24.18।।

aṃho batedaṃ nṛvarāviṣahyaṃ nivartate me hṛdi sādhuvṛttam| vivarṇamagnau paritapyamānaṃ kiṭṭaṃ yathā rāghava jātarūpam4.24.18||

'O distinguished Rama this anxiety is unbearable for me. My good behaviour is relegated to the back of my heart unable to bear the sin, just like the dirt surfaces pushing the bright colour of gold when burnt in fire.

महाबलानां हरियूथपाना मिदं कुलं राघव मन्निमित्तम्। अस्याङ्गदप्यापि च शोकतापा दर्धस्थितप्राणमितीव मन्ये।।4.24.19।।

mahābalānāṃ hariyūthapānā midaṃ kulaṃ rāghava mannimittam| asyāṅgadapyāpi ca śokatāpā dardhasthitaprāṇamitīva manye

'O Rama this race of mighty monkey chiefs is as though reduced to a halfdead state because of my action and the grief of Angada.

सुतस्सुलभ्यस्सुजनस्सुवश्यः कुतस्तु पुत्रस्सदृशोऽङ्गदेन। न चापि विद्येत स वीर देशो यस्मिन्भवेत्सोदरसन्निकर्षः4.24.20।।

sutassulabhyassujanassuvaśyaḥ kutastu putrassadṛśo'ṅgadena| na cāpi vidyeta sa vīra deśo yasminbhavetsodarasannikarṣaḥ4.24.20||

'One can find easily a son who is controllable and accessible in need but it is difficult to find a good son like Angada, who is virtuous and mighty and who is respectful to parents. O warrior (Rama), there is no place where I can get a brother like Vali. (A brother cannot be made. His relationship is natural. Rama stresses the same subhashita in Yuddhakanda when Lakshmana swooned).

यद्यङ्गदो वीरवरार्ह जीवेत् जीवेच्छ माता परिपालनार्थम्। विना तु पुत्रं परितापदीना तारा न जीवेदिति निश्चितं मे4.24.21।।

yadyaṅgado vīravarārha jīvet jīveccha mātā paripālanārtham| vinā tu putraṃ paritāpadīnā tārā na jīvediti niścitaṃ me4.24.21||

If the mighty Angada were to live, his mother would live on to care for him; but it is my firm conviction that, bereft of her son, the grief-stricken Tara would not survive.

सोऽहं प्रवेक्ष्याम्यतिदीप्तमग्निं भ्रात्रा च पुत्रेण च सख्यमिच्छन्। इमे विचेष्यन्ति हरिप्रवीरा स्सीतां निदेशे तव वर्तमानाः4.24.22।।

so'haṃ pravekṣyāmyatidīptamagniṃ bhrātrā ca putreṇa ca sakhyamicchan| ime viceṣyanti haripravīrā ssītāṃ nideśe tava vartamānāḥ4.24.22||

'I am a sinner. I desire to enter the blazing fire (for atonement) in order to maintain friendship with my brother and son. At your command these vanara leaders will go round and search for Sita.

कृत्स्नं तु ते सेत्स्यति कार्यमेत न्मय्यप्रतीते मनुजेन्द्रपुत्र कुलस्य हन्तारमजीवनार्हं रामानुजानीहि कृतागसं माम्4.24.23।।

kṛtsnaṃ tu te setsyati kāryameta nmayyapratīte manujendraputra kulasya hantāramajīvanārhaṃ rāmānujānīhi kṛtāgasaṃ mām4.24.23||

'O prince Rama even if I am dead the entire task of yours, will be accomplished by the vanara race. I have ruined the whole race. I am sinful and not fit to live. Permit me (to enter fire).

इत्येवमार्तस्य रघुप्रवीरः श्रुत्वा वचो वाल्यनुजस्य तस्य। सञ्जातबाष्पः परवीरहन्ता रामो मुहूर्तं विमना बभूव4.24.24।।

ityevamārtasya raghupravīraḥ śrutvā vaco vālyanujasya tasya| sañjātabāṣpaḥ paravīrahantā rāmo muhūrtaṃ vimanā babhūva4.24.24||

Rama, the hero of the Raghu dynasty, a destroyer of the enemy heroes, was moved to tears. He lost composure for a moment when he heard Sugriva's lament.

तस्मिन् क्षणेऽभीक्ष्णमवेक्ष्यमाणः क्षितिक्षमावान्भुवनस्य गोप्ता। रामो रुदन्तीं व्यसने निमग्नां समुत्सुकः सोऽथ ददर्श ताराम्4.24.25।।

tasmin kṣaṇe'bhīkṣṇamavekṣyamāṇaḥ kṣitikṣamāvānbhuvanasya goptā| rāmo rudantīṃ vyasane nimagnāṃ samutsukaḥ so'tha dadarśa tārām4.24.25||

In that moment, Rama,the protector of the world, tolerant like the earth, beheld Tara plunged in grief, looking at him again and again and weeping.

तां चारुनेत्रां कपिसिंहनाथां पतिं समाश्लिष्य तदा शयानाम्। उत्थापयामासुरदीनसत्त्वां मन्त्रिप्रधानाः कपिवीरपत्नीम्4.24.26।।

tāṃ cārunetrāṃ kapisiṃhanāthāṃ patiṃ samāśliṣya tadā śayānām| utthāpayāmāsuradīnasattvāṃ mantripradhānāḥ kapivīrapatnīm4.24.26||

The foremost ministers of Vali lifted up the beautifuleyed, noble Tara, wife of the monkey hero clinging to the body of her husband, a lion among monkeys.

सा विस्फुरन्ती परिरभ्यमाणा भर्तुस्सकाशादपनीयमाना। ददर्श रामं शरचापपाणिं स्वतेजसा सूर्यमिव ज्वलन्तम्4.24.27।।

sā visphurantī parirabhyamāṇā bhartussakāśādapanīyamānā| dadarśa rāmaṃ śaracāpapāṇiṃ svatejasā sūryamiva jvalantam4.24.27||

While Tara was clinging to her husband and struggling, and was being removed from there, she saw effulgent Rama holding bow and arrows glittering like the Sun.

सुसंवृतं पार्थिपलक्षणैश्च तं चारुनेत्रं मृगशाबनेत्रा। अदृष्टपूर्वं पुरुषप्रधान मयं स काकुत्स्थ इति प्रजज्ञे4.24.28।।

susaṃvṛtaṃ pārthipalakṣaṇaiśca taṃ cārunetraṃ mṛgaśābanetrā| adṛṣṭapūrvaṃ puruṣapradhāna mayaṃ sa kākutstha iti prajajñe4.24.28||

The fawneyed Tara saw the magnificent man of Kakutstha family endowed with all royal marks and beautiful eyes, whom she had never seen before and knew he was Rama.

तस्येन्द्रकल्पस्य दुरासदस्य महानुभावस्य समीपमार्या। आर्ताऽतितूर्णं व्यसनाभिपन्ना जगाम तारा परिविह्वलन्ती4.24.29।।

tasyendrakalpasya durāsadasya mahānubhāvasya samīpamāryā| ārtā'titūrṇaṃ vyasanābhipannā jagāma tārā parivihvalantī4.24.29||

The noble Tara, desperate, agonised, totally shaken up quickly went near the magnanimous Rama, who was like Indraunapproachable.

सा तं समासाद्य विशुद्धसत्त्वा शोकेन सम्भ्रान्तशरीरभावा। मनस्विनी वाक्यमुवाच तारा रामं रणोत्कर्षणलब्धलक्षम्4.24.30।।

sā taṃ samāsādya viśuddhasattvā śokena sambhrāntaśarīrabhāvā| manasvinī vākyamuvāca tārā rāmaṃ raṇotkarṣaṇalabdhalakṣam4.24.30||

Wise Tara, baffled out of grief and agitated, with pure consciousness, approached Rama, eminent in warfare who could hit the target. And spoke:

त्वमप्रमेयश्च दुरासदश्च जितेन्द्रियश्चोत्तमधार्मिकश्च। अक्षय्यकीर्तिश्च विचक्षणश्च क्षितिक्षमावान्क्षतजोपमाक्षः4.24.31।।

tvamaprameyaśca durāsadaśca jitendriyaścottamadhārmikaśca| akṣayyakīrtiśca vicakṣaṇaśca kṣitikṣamāvānkṣatajopamākṣaḥ4.24.31||

'You are immeasurable, unassailable, self controlled, and best among the righteous. Your fame never diminishes. You have great sense of discrimination. You are known to possess forbearance like the mother earth. Your eyes are redcornered (which is a sign of valour).

त्वमात्तबाणासनबाणपाणि र्महाबलस्संहननोपपन्नः। मनुष्यदेहाभ्युदयं विहाय दिव्येन देहाभ्युदयेन युक्तः।।4.24.32।।

tvamāttabāṇāsanabāṇapāṇi rmahābalassaṃhananopapannaḥ| manuṣyadehābhyudayaṃ vihāya divyena dehābhyudayena yuktaḥ

'You are wielding bow and arrows. You possess mighty human limbs that have the power to destroy the enemy .You have assumed a divine human body.

येनैक बाणेन हतः प्रियो मे तेनैव मां त्वं जहि सायकेन। हता गमिष्यामि समीपमस्य न मामृते राम रमेत वाली4.24.33।।

yenaika bāṇena hataḥ priyo me tenaiva māṃ tvaṃ jahi sāyakena| hatā gamiṣyāmi samīpamasya na māmṛte rāma rameta vālī4.24.33||

'O warrior kill me by the same single arrow with which you killed my beloved lord,Vali. I will join him after death as he will not be happy without me.

स्वर्गेऽपि पद्मामलपत्रनेत्र स्समेत्य सम्प्रेक्ष्य च मामपश्यन्। न ह्येष उच्चावचताम्रचूडा विचित्रवेषाप्सरसोऽभजिष्यत्।।4.24.34।।

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

'If Vali with eyes of clear petals of a lotus does not see me in heaven, he may not join the wonderfully dressed apsarasas adorned with different kinds of red flowers in their hair.

स्वर्गेऽपि शोकं च विवर्णतां च मया विना प्राप्प्यति वीर वाली। रम्ये नगेन्द्रस्य तटावकाशे विदेहकन्यारहितो यथा त्वम्4.24.35।।

svarge'pi śokaṃ ca vivarṇatāṃ ca mayā vinā prāppyati vīra vālī| ramye nagendrasya taṭāvakāśe videhakanyārahito yathā tvam4.24.35||

'O Rama Vali will experience sorrow and become pale bereft of me even in heaven just as you are filled with sorrow even on a delightful mountain slope bereft of princess of Videha.

त्वं वेत्थ यावद्वनिताविहीनः प्राप्नोति दुःखं पुरुषः कुमारः। तत्त्वं प्रजानन् जहि मां न वाली दुःखं ममादर्शनजं भजेत4.24.36।।

tvaṃ vettha yāvadvanitāvihīnaḥ prāpnoti duḥkhaṃ puruṣaḥ kumāraḥ| tattvaṃ prajānan jahi māṃ na vālī duḥkhaṃ mamādarśanajaṃ bhajeta4.24.36||

'You are aware of the grief of a young man separated from his wife. Kill me so that I can go to Vali. Let not Vali experience the sorrow of not seeing me.

यच्चापि मन्येत भवान्महात्मा स्त्रीघातदोषो न भवेत्तु मह्यम्। आत्मेयमस्येति च मां जहि त्वं न स्त्रीवधस्स्यान्मनुजेन्द्रपुत्र।।4.24.37।।

yaccāpi manyeta bhavānmahātmā strīghātadoṣo na bhavettu mahyam| ātmeyamasyeti ca māṃ jahi tvaṃ na strīvadhassyānmanujendraputra

'O prince as you are great, you might think of the blemish of killing a woman. Since Tara is Vali's soul, you may kill me. It will not amount to killing a woman.(You will only be killing the soul of Vali by killing Tara).

शास्त्रप्रयोगाद्विविधाच्च वेदा दात्माह्यनन्यः पुरुषस्य दाराः। दाराप्रदानान्नहि दानमन्य त्प्रदृश्यते ज्ञानवतां हि लोके4.24.38।।

śāstraprayogādvividhācca vedā dātmāhyananyaḥ puruṣasya dārāḥ| dārāpradānānnahi dānamanya tpradṛśyate jñānavatāṃ hi loke4.24.38||

'The sacred texts as well as Vedic statements declare that wife is an inseparable part of the husband's soul. To the learned, there is no greater offering in the world than restoring the wife to her husband. You will not beget any sin by killing me.

त्वं चापि मां तस्य मम प्रियस्य प्रदास्य से धर्ममवेक्ष्य वीर अनेन दानेन न लप्स्यसे त्व मधर्मयोगं मम वीर घातात्4.24.39।।

tvaṃ cāpi māṃ tasya mama priyasya pradāsya se dharmamavekṣya vīra anena dānena na lapsyase tva madharmayogaṃ mama vīra ghātāt4.24.39||

'O gallant prince if you give me away to my dear lord, carefully considering dharma, you will not be committing any adharma by killing me since it will be an offering.

आर्तामनाथामपनीयमाना मेवं विधामर्हसि मां निहन्तुम्। अहं हि मातङ्गविलासगामिना प्लवङ्गमानामृषभेण धीमता4.24.40।। विना वरार्होत्तमहेममालिना चिरं न शक्ष्यामि नरेन्द्र जीवितुम्। इत्येवमुक्तस्तु विभुर्महात्मा तारां समाश्वास्य हितं बभाषे4.24.41।।

ārtāmanāthāmapanīyamānā mevaṃ vidhāmarhasi māṃ nihantum| ahaṃ hi mātaṅgavilāsagāminā plavaṅgamānāmṛṣabheṇa dhīmatā4.24.40|| vinā varārhottamahemamālinā ciraṃ na śakṣyāmi narendra jīvitum| ityevamuktastu vibhurmahātmā tārāṃ samāśvāsya hitaṃ babhāṣe4.24.41||

'O king it is proper on your part to kill me as I am in great distress. I am a helpless orphan torn away from her husband.O king I will not live long without the wise leader of monkeys who walked majestically like an elephant and wore the choicest golden necklace'. Implored by Tara this way, the great soul, Rama, lord of the earth said to Tara these words of consolation:

आर्तामनाथामपनीयमाना मेवं विधामर्हसि मां निहन्तुम्। अहं हि मातङ्गविलासगामिना प्लवङ्गमानामृषभेण धीमता4.24.40।। विना वरार्होत्तमहेममालिना चिरं न शक्ष्यामि नरेन्द्र जीवितुम्। इत्येवमुक्तस्तु विभुर्महात्मा तारां समाश्वास्य हितं बभाषे4.24.41।।

ārtāmanāthāmapanīyamānā mevaṃ vidhāmarhasi māṃ nihantum| ahaṃ hi mātaṅgavilāsagāminā plavaṅgamānāmṛṣabheṇa dhīmatā4.24.40|| vinā varārhottamahemamālinā ciraṃ na śakṣyāmi narendra jīvitum| ityevamuktastu vibhurmahātmā tārāṃ samāśvāsya hitaṃ babhāṣe4.24.41||

'O king it is proper on your part to kill me as I am in great distress. I am a helpless orphan torn away from her husband.O king I will not live long without the wise leader of monkeys who walked majestically like an elephant and wore the choicest golden necklace'. Implored by Tara this way, the great soul, Rama, lord of the earth said to Tara these words of consolation:

मा वीरभार्ये विमतिं कुरुष्व लोको हि सर्वो विहितो विधात्रा। तं चैव सर्वं सुखदुःखयोगं लोकोऽब्रवीत्तेन कृतं विधात्रा।।4.24.42।।

mā vīrabhārye vimatiṃ kuruṣva loko hi sarvo vihito vidhātrā| taṃ caiva sarvaṃ sukhaduḥkhayogaṃ loko'bravīttena kṛtaṃ vidhātrā

'O wife of a valiant warrior Do not lose heart. The entire world is controlled by the creator. People maintain that joy and sorrow are foreordained.

त्रयोऽहि लोका विहितं विधानं नातिक्रमन्ते वशगा हि तस्य। प्रीतिं परां प्राप्स्यसि तां तथैव पुत्रस्तु ते प्राप्स्यति यौवराज्यम्। धात्रा विधानं विहितं तथैव न शूरपत्नयः परिदेवयन्ति4.24.43।।

trayo'hi lokā vihitaṃ vidhānaṃ nātikramante vaśagā hi tasya| prītiṃ parāṃ prāpsyasi tāṃ tathaiva putrastu te prāpsyati yauvarājyam| dhātrā vidhānaṃ vihitaṃ tathaiva na śūrapatnayaḥ paridevayanti4.24.43||

Even the three worlds, being under his sway, do not transgress the destined course; you shall gain that supreme happiness and your son the heir-apparency, for so the Creator has ordained, and the wives of warriors do not lament.

आश्वासिता तेन तु राघवेण प्रभावयुक्तेन परन्तपेन। सा वीरपत्नी ध्वनता मुखेन सुवेषरूपा विरराम तारा4.24.44।।

āśvāsitā tena tu rāghaveṇa prabhāvayuktena parantapena| sā vīrapatnī dhvanatā mukhena suveṣarūpā virarāma tārā4.24.44||

Consoled by the influential Rama, scorcher of enemies, Tara the charming wife of a warrior, stopped wailing aloud. इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीय आदिकाव्ये किष्किन्धाकाण्डे चतुर्विंशस्सर्गः।। Thus ends the twentyfourth sarga in Kishkindakanda of the Holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.