Overwhelmed by grief, Tara, the noble queen, turned to Rama and lamented the unbearable sorrow that had consumed her nature. “Alas,” she cried, “this intolerable sin has destroyed my noble spirit, O best of men. Like gold, pale and burning in the fire, so am I, O Rāghava.” Her anguish was not only for herself, but for the entire clan of mighty monkey chiefs, who, she said, were afflicted because of her. She feared that Angada, her beloved son, was so consumed by grief and sorrow that his life now hung by a thread. Tara’s heart ached for Angada, declaring that while a good and obedient son may be found, nowhere could there be one like him. Nor, she told Rama, could there be a brother so close as Vali. She was convinced that Angada, heroic as he was, would not survive the day, and that his mother would live only for his protection. Without her son, Tara believed, she herself would not endure; this, she said, was certain. In her despair, Tara resolved to enter the blazing fire, longing for the company of her brother and her son. She entrusted the search for Sītā to the foremost monkeys, who would continue to serve Rama’s command. “Your task will surely be accomplished, O prince, even after I am gone,” Tara said, “but know me, who have committed this offense and am unworthy to live, as the destroyer of my lineage, O Rāma.” At that moment, Rama, patient as the earth and protector of the world, looked again and again at Tara, who was plunged in grief and weeping, and became anxious. The ministers and chief counselors, seeing Tara, beautiful-eyed and queen of the monkey-lion, embracing her fallen husband, gently raised her, though her spirit was utterly dejected. As they led her away from Vali’s side, Tara struggled, and saw Rama, holding his bow and arrows, shining with his own splendor like the blazing sun. Rama, whose eyes were beautiful like those of a deer, whose body bore the marks of a great king, and who had never before been seen, was recognized by Kakutstha as foremost among men. Tara, overwhelmed with grief, quickly approached Rama, who was like Indra—difficult to face and of great might. Coming before him, pure in spirit but her body shaken by sorrow, the wise Tara spoke to Rama, who had gained his aim through prowess in battle. “You are immeasurable, difficult to oppose, self-controlled, supremely righteous, your fame undiminished, discerning, patient as the earth, and your eyes are bloodshot like those wounded in battle,” she said. “You, armed with bow and arrows in hand, are mighty and well-built; though you have assumed a human form, you are endowed with a divine body. With the very arrow by which my beloved was slain, strike me as well; slain, I will go to his side, for Vali would not find joy without me, O hero.” Tara’s grief was so deep that she declared, “Even in heaven, Vali will experience sorrow and pallor without me, just as you, separated from the daughter of Videha, would find no joy on the beautiful slopes of the king of mountains. You know well, O prince, that a man deprived of his beloved suffers; knowing this, slay me, so that Vali may not endure the pain of my absence. And if you, O great soul, think that killing a woman is a sin, know that I am his own, so strike me; the slaying of a woman would not apply to you, son of the king of men.” She spoke of the scriptures and the Vedas, saying, “A man’s wives are not distinct from himself; among the wise, no gift is considered greater than the giving of a wife. And you, O hero, will give me, his beloved, to him, considering righteousness; by this act, you will not incur unrighteousness from my death.” Yet Tara pleaded, “You should not kill me, who am afflicted, helpless, and being led away in this state; O king, I will not be able to live long without that wise bull among the monkeys, who roamed the groves of Matanga and wore the finest golden garlands.” Rama, mighty and noble, comforted Tara and spoke words of benefit: “O hero’s wife, do not let your mind waver, for the entire world is governed by the Creator. All the happiness and sorrow that befalls the world is ordained by the Creator; even the three worlds do not transgress the order established by Him, for all are under His control. You will attain supreme happiness, and your son will obtain the heir-apparency; the order established by the Creator is thus, and the wives of heroes do not lament.” Thus comforted by that great-souled, powerful subduer of enemies, Tara, the hero’s wife, with her face resounding with sobs, adorned and beautiful, became silent. Now listen to the twenty-fifth chapter in the glorious Ramayana of Valmiki, in the Kishkindha Kanda. Then Kakutstha, sharing the same grief, consoled Sugriva, Tara, and Angada, together with Lakshmana, and spoke these words: “One does not attain what is best for the departed through grief and lamentation; you ought to accomplish whatever immediate duty is at hand. The ways of the world must be observed; you have already shed your tears. No action can be undertaken beyond its proper time.” He spoke of destiny: “Destiny is the cause in this world; destiny is the means of action. For all beings here, destiny is the cause in all undertakings. No one is the agent of another’s actions, nor is anyone a lord over destiny; the world proceeds according to its own nature, and time is its ultimate refuge. Time does not surpass itself, nor is time diminished; and having reached its own nature, no one transcends it. Time has no kinship, no cause, no might; neither friendship, nor family ties, nor self-will are its reason. Rather, one who sees rightly should recognize the transformation brought by time; righteousness, wealth, and desire are all established in the sequence of time.” He assured them, “From here, Vali has gone to his own nature and attained the fruit of his deeds; through conciliation, gifts, and alliances, the lord of the monkeys is now purified. By adhering to his own duty, that great soul has conquered; having not clung to life, he has attained heaven. This indeed is the highest destiny which the monkey chief has reached; therefore, enough of grief—let what is timely now be attended to.” When Rama had finished speaking, Lakshmana, destroyer of enemy heroes, spoke respectfully to Sugriva, whose mind was overcome: “Sugriva, you should now perform the funeral rites for him, together with Tara and Angada, proceeding to the cremation of Vali. Order that much wood be brought, both dry and fragrant sandalwood, for the sake of Vali’s funeral rites.” Thus, in the midst of sorrow and duty, the noble ones prepared to honor Vali’s memory and fulfill their obligations, guided by Rama’s wisdom and compassion.