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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एनां पश्य दुराधर्षां मायाबलसमन्विताम्। विनिवृत्तां करोम्यद्य हृतकर्णाग्रनासिकाम्।।1.26.11।।
Meaning
Watch this formidable, magic-empowered creature — I shall today make her retreat by shearing off the tips of her ears and nose.
न ह्येनामुत्सहे हन्तुं स्त्रीस्वभावेन रक्षिताम्। वीर्यं चास्यां गतिं चापि हनिष्यामीति मे मति:।।1.26.12।।
Meaning
I cannot bring myself to kill her, protected as she is by her womanhood; my intent is only to destroy her strength and mobility.
एवं ब्रुवाणे रामे तु ताटका क्रोधमूर्छिता। उद्यम्य बाहू गर्जन्ती राममेवाभ्यधावत।।1.26.13।।
Meaning
As Rama spoke thus, Tataka, maddened with rage, raised her arms and charged roaring straight at him.
विश्वामित्रस्तु ब्रह्मर्षिर्हुङ्कारेणाभिभर्त्स्यताम्। स्वस्ति राघवयोरस्तु जयं चैवाभ्यभाषत।।1.26.14।।
Meaning
The brahmarishi Vishvamitra rebuked her with a shout, and cried out to the two brothers, 'Be safe, and be victorious.'
उद्धून्वाना रजो घोरं ताटका राघवावुभौ। रजोमोहेन महता मुहूर्तं सा व्यमोहयत्।।1.26.15।।
Meaning
Raising a terrible cloud of dust, Tataka bewildered both Raghavas for a moment with that great blinding storm.
ततो मायां समास्थाय शिलावर्षेण राघवौ। अवाकिरत्सुमहता ततश्चुक्रोध राघव:।।1.26.16।।
Meaning
Then resorting to magic, she showered the two brothers with a massive rain of stones, at which Raghava grew angry.
शिलावर्षं महत्तस्याश्शरवर्षेण राघव:। प्रतिहत्योपधावन्त्या: करौ चिच्छेद पत्रिभि:।।1.26.17।।
Meaning
Raghava countered her great shower of stones with a shower of arrows, and as she rushed on, he severed both her arms with his shafts.
ततश्छिन्नभुजां श्रान्तामभ्याशे परिगर्जतीम्। सौमित्रिरकरोत्क्रोधाद्धृतकर्णाग्रनासिकाम्।।1.26.18।।
Meaning
Then, as she roared nearby, her arms severed and her strength failing, Saumitri in fury cut off the tips of her ears and nose.
कामरूपधरा सद्य: कृत्वा रूपाण्यनेकश:। अन्तर्धानं गता यक्षी मोहयन्तीव मायया।।1.26.19।। अश्मवर्षं विमुञ्चन्ती भैरवं विचचार ह।
Meaning
That shape-shifting yakshi at once assumed many forms and vanished, bewildering them with her magic while unleashing a dreadful rain of stones.
ततस्तावश्मवर्षेण कीर्यमाणौ समन्तत:।।1.26.20।। दृष्ट्वा गाधिसुतश्श्रीमानिदं वचनमब्रवीत्।
Meaning
As the two brothers were pelted on every side by that stone-shower, the glorious son of Gadhi spoke these words.