Sarga 24: The Forest of Tataka
Tataka Vana
Crossing the Ganga, Rama and Lakshmana reach a dreadful forest; Vishvamitra tells how these once-prosperous lands were ruined by the yakshini Tataka, and commands Rama to kill her and free the land.
Jump to a shloka · 31 in this sarga
ताभ्यां तु तावुभौ कृत्वा प्रणाममतिधार्मिकौ। तीरं दक्षिणमासाद्य जग्मतुर्लघुविक्रमौ।।1.24.11।।
Meaning
Having offered their salutations to both rivers, the two most righteous ones swiftly reached the southern bank and went onward.
स वनं घोरसङ्काशं दृष्ट्वा नृपवरात्मज:। अविप्रहतमैक्ष्वाक: पप्रच्छ मुनिपुङ्गवम्।।1.24.12।।
Meaning
Seeing a forest of fearsome appearance, the noble king's son, of Ikshvaku's line, asked the foremost sage.
अहो वनमिदं दुर्गं झिल्लिकागणनादितम्। भैरवैश्शपदै: पूर्णं शकुन्तैर्दारुणारुतै:।।1.24.13।।
Meaning
"Ah, this impenetrable forest resounds with swarms of crickets, filled with fearsome cries and birds of dreadful calls."
नानाप्रकारैश्शकुनैर्वाश्यद्भिर्भैरवस्वनै:। सिंहव्याघ्रवराहैश्च वारणैश्चोपशोभितम्।।1.24.14।।
Meaning
"Adorned with birds of many kinds shrieking with fearsome cries, and with lions, tigers, boars, and elephants."
धवाश्वकर्णककुभैर्बिल्वतिन्दुकपाटलै:। सङ्कीर्णं बदरीभिश्च किन्न्वेतद्दारुणं वनम्।।1.24.15।।
Meaning
"Dense with dhava, ashvakarna, bilva, tinduka, patala, and badari trees — what dreadful forest is this?"
तमुवाच महातेजा विश्वामित्रो महामुनि:। श्रूयतां वत्स काकुत्स्थ यस्यैतद्दारुणं वनम्।।1.24.16।।
Meaning
The greatly resplendent sage Vishvamitra replied to him: "Listen, my child, whose is this dreadful forest."
एतौ जनपदौ स्फीतौ पूर्वमास्तां नरोत्तम। मलदाश्च करूशाश्च देवनिर्माणनिर्मितौ।।1.24.17।।
Meaning
"O best of men, these two prosperous lands, Malada and Karusha, were once fashioned by the gods themselves."
पुरा वृत्रवधे राम मलेन समभिप्लुतम्। क्षुधा चैव सहस्राक्षं ब्रह्महत्या समाविशत्।।1.24.18।।
Meaning
"O Rama, long ago after slaying Vritra, the guilt of killing a brahmin, together with hunger, overcame the thousand-eyed Indra."
तमिन्द्रं स्नापयन् देवा ऋषयश्च तपोधना:। कलशैस्स्नापयामासुर्मलं चास्य प्रमोचयन्।।1.24.19।।
Meaning
The gods and ascetic sages bathed Indra, pouring water from their vessels to cleanse away his impurity.
इह भूम्यां मलं दत्वा दत्वा कारूशमेव च। शरीरजं महेन्द्रस्य ततो हर्षं प्रपेदिरे।।1.24.20।।
Meaning
Having deposited Indra's bodily impurity and hunger upon this land, they then rejoiced greatly.