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.
Jump to a shloka · 21 in this sarga
राक्षसत्वं भजस्वेति मारीचं व्याजहार स:।।1.25.11।।
Meaning
"Become a rakshasa," the blessed sage Agastya declared to Maricha.
अगस्त्य: परमक्रुद्धस्ताटकामपि शप्तवान्।।1.25.11।। पुरुषादी महायक्षी विरूपा विकृतानना। इदं रूपं विहायाथ दारुणं रूपमस्तु ते।।1.25.12।।
Meaning
Agastya, greatly angered, cursed Tataka as well, declaring: abandon this form and become a hideous, misshapen man-eating yakshi, monstrous of face.
सैषा शापकृतामर्षा ताटका क्रोधमूर्छिता। देशमुत्सादयत्येनमगस्त्यचरितं शुभम्।।1.25.13।।
Meaning
Maddened with fury at that curse, Tataka now ravages this very land once sanctified by Agastya's presence.
एनां राघव दुर्वृत्तां यक्षीं परमदारुणाम्। गोब्राह्मणहितार्थाय जहि दुष्टपराक्रमाम्।।1.25.14।।
Meaning
O Raghava, for the sake of cows and brahmins, slay this wicked, terrible yakshi of vile conduct.
न ह्येनां शापसम्स्पृष्टां कश्चिदुत्सहते पुमान्। निहन्तुं त्रिषु लोकेषु त्वामृते रघुनन्दन।।1.25.15।।
Meaning
No man in the three worlds but you, descendant of Raghu, dares to slay one marked by such a curse.
न हि ते स्त्रीवधकृते घृणा कार्या नरोत्तम। चातुर्वण्यहितार्थाय कर्तव्यं राजसूनुना।।1.25.16।।
Meaning
Best of men, you need feel no reluctance over slaying a woman here; a king's son must act for the good of all four social orders.
नृशंसमनृशंसं वा प्रजारक्षणकारणात्। पातकं वा सदोषं वा कर्तव्यं रक्षता सता।।1.25.17।।
Meaning
Whether the act seems cruel or not, whether it appears sinful or blameless, a righteous protector must do what protects his people.
राज्यभारनियुक्तानामेष धर्मस्सनातन:। अधर्म्यां जहि काकुत्स्थ धर्मोह्यस्या न विद्यते।।1.25.18।।
Meaning
This is the eternal duty of those charged with bearing the burden of the kingdom: strike down what is unrighteous, Kakutstha, for righteousness does not reside in her.
श्रूयते हि पुरा शक्रो विरोचनसुतां नृप। पृथिवीं हन्तुमिच्छन्तीं मन्थरामभ्यसूदयत्।।1.25.19।।
Meaning
It is told that of old, Indra slew Manthara, daughter of Virochana, when she sought to destroy the earth.
विष्णुनापि पुरा राम भृगुपत्नी दृढव्रता। अनिन्द्रं लोकमिच्छन्ती काव्यमाता निषूदिता।।1.25.20।।
Meaning
And Vishnu of old, Rama, slew the resolute wife of Bhrigu, mother of Kavya, when she wished to leave the world bereft of Indra.