Sarga 26: The Death of Tataka
Tataka Vadha
Rama, honoring his father's and Vishvamitra's word, twangs his bow to summon Tataka; after she assails the brothers with dust and stone through her magic, Rama and Lakshmana maim her, and Rama slays her with an arrow to the heart, freeing the forest from her curse.
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मुनेर्वचनमक्लीबं श्रुत्वा नरवरात्मज:। राघव: प्राञ्जलिर्भूत्वा प्रत्युवाच दृढव्रत:।।1.26.1।।
Meaning
Hearing the sage's unfaltering words, the firm-vowed son of the best of kings replied with joined palms.
पितुर्वचननिर्देशात्पितुर्वचनगौरवात्। वचनं कौशिकस्येति कर्तव्यमविशङ्कया।।1.26.2।।
Meaning
By my father's command, out of respect for his word, and honoring it as the word of Kaushika's son, this task must be done without hesitation.
अनुशिष्टोऽस्म्ययोध्यायां गुरुमध्ये महात्मना। पित्रा दशरथेनाहं नावज्ञेयं हि तद्वच:।।1.26.3।।
Meaning
My great-souled father Dasharatha instructed me before the elders in Ayodhya; that word of his too cannot be disregarded.
सोऽहं पितुर्वचश्श्रुत्वा शासनाद्ब्रह्मवादिन:। करिष्यामि न सन्देहस्ताटकावधमुत्तमम्।।1.26.4।।
Meaning
Having heard my father's word and the command of this speaker of Brahman, I shall without doubt accomplish the excellent slaying of Tataka.
गोब्राह्मणहितार्थाय देशस्यास्य सुखाय च। तव चैवाप्रमेयस्य वचनं कर्तुमुद्यत:।।1.26.5।।
Meaning
For the welfare of cows and brahmins, for the happiness of this land, and to fulfill your own inestimable word, I stand ready to act.
एवमुक्त्वा धनुर्मध्ये बध्वा मुष्टिमरिन्दम:। ज्याशब्दमकरोत्तीव्रं दिशश्शब्देन नादयन्।।1.26.6।।
Meaning
So saying, the foe-queller gripped the bow's middle and drew the string, making a sharp twang that filled every direction with sound.
तेन शब्देन वित्रस्तास्ताटकावनवासिन:। ताटका च सुसंक्रुद्धा तेन शब्देन मोहिता।।1.26.7।।
Meaning
At that sound the forest-dwellers of Tataka's wood were terrified, and Tataka herself, enraged, was startled by it.
तं शब्दमभिनिध्याय राक्षसी क्रोधमूर्छिता। श्रुत्वा चाभ्यद्रवद्वेगाद्यतश्शब्दो विनिस्सृत:।।1.26.8।।
Meaning
On hearing that sound, the rakshasi, maddened with fury, rushed swiftly toward the place whence it had come.
तां दृष्ट्वा राघव: क्रुद्धां विकृतां विकृताननाम्। प्रमाणेनातिवृद्धां च लक्ष्मणं सोऽभ्यभाषत।।1.26.9।।
Meaning
Seeing her enraged, misshapen, monstrous form of huge proportions, Raghava spoke to Lakshmana.
पश्य लक्ष्मण यक्षिण्या भैरवं दारुणं वपु:। भिद्येरन् दर्शनादस्या भीरूणां हृदयानि च।।1.26.10।।
Meaning
Behold, Lakshmana, this yakshi's dreadful and terrible body — the mere sight of it could split the hearts of the timid.