Sarga 25: The Origin of Tataka
Tataka Utpatti
Vishvamitra recounts how the yakshi Tataka gained her monstrous strength through a boon, was cursed by Agastya into a man-eating demoness, and now ravages the land; he urges Rama, citing precedents of Manthara and Bhrigu's wife, that slaying her is his righteous duty despite her being female.
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अथ तस्याप्रमेयस्य मुनेर्वचनमुत्तमम्। श्रुत्वा पुरुषशार्दूल: प्रत्युवाच शुभां गिरम्।।1.25.1।।
Meaning
Hearing the sage's excellent words, the tiger among men replied with a fitting question.
अल्पवीर्या यदा यक्षाश्श्रूयन्ते मुनिपुङ्गव। कथन्नागसहस्रस्य धारयत्यबला बलम्।।1.25.2।।
Meaning
Rama asked how, if yakshas are known to be of little strength, this female could possess the might of a thousand elephants.
विश्वामित्रोऽब्रवीद्वाक्यं शृण येन बलोत्तरा। वरदानकृतं वीर्यं धारयत्यबला बलम्।।1.25.3।।
Meaning
Vishvamitra said: listen, and I will tell you by what boon she gained her extraordinary strength.
पूर्वमासीन्महायक्षस्सुकेतुर्नाम वीर्यवान्। अनपत्यश्शुभाचारस्स च तेपे महत्तप:।।1.25.4।।
Meaning
Long ago there lived a mighty and virtuous yaksha named Suketu, who, childless, performed great austerities.
पितामहस्तु सुप्रीतस्तस्य यक्षपते स्तदा। कन्यारत्नं ददौ राम ताटकां नाम नामत:।।1.25.5।।
Meaning
Pleased with him, Brahma the grandsire granted this lord of yakshas a jewel of a daughter, named Tataka.
ददौ नागसहस्रस्य बलं चास्या: पितामह:। नत्वेव पुत्रं यक्षाय ददौ ब्रह्मा महायशा:।।1.25.6।।
Meaning
Brahma, the glorious one, gave her the strength of a thousand elephants, since he had no son to give it to instead.
तां तु जातां विवर्धन्तीं रूपयौवनशालिनीम्। झर्झपुत्राय सुन्दाय ददौ भार्यां यशस्विनीम्।।1.25.7।।
Meaning
As she grew into a woman radiant with youth and beauty, she was given in marriage to Sunda, son of Jvarjva, as his glorious wife.
कस्यचित्त्वथ कालस्य यक्षी पुत्रमजायत। मारीचं नाम दुर्धर्षं यश्शापाद्राक्षसोऽभवत्।।1.25.8।।
Meaning
In time this yakshi bore a son, the formidable Maricha, who through a curse later became a rakshasa.
सुन्दे तु निहते राम सागस्त्यमृषिसत्तमम्। ताटका सह पुत्रेण प्रधर्षयितुमिच्छति।।1.25.9।।
Meaning
After Sunda was slain, Tataka, with her son, sought to attack the great sage Agastya.
भक्षार्थं जातसंरम्भा गर्जन्ती साभ्यधावत। आपतन्तीं तु तां दृष्ट्वा अगस्त्यो भगवानृषि:।।1.25.10।।
Meaning
Enraged and roaring, she rushed forward meaning to devour him; seeing her charge, the blessed sage Agastya cursed Maricha to become a rakshasa.