Bala Kanda, Sarga 26

मुनेर्वचनमक्लीबं श्रुत्वा नरवरात्मज:। राघव: प्राञ्जलिर्भूत्वा प्रत्युवाच दृढव्रत:।।1.26.1।।

munervacanamaklībaṃ śrutvā naravarātmaja:| rāghava: prāñjalirbhūtvā pratyuvāca dṛḍhavrata:

After listening to the manly command of ascetic Viswamitra, Rama, of the lineage of Raghu, the son of the foremost of men and firm in determination, replied with folded palms:

पितुर्वचननिर्देशात्पितुर्वचनगौरवात्। वचनं कौशिकस्येति कर्तव्यमविशङ्कया।।1.26.2।।

piturvacananirdeśātpiturvacanagauravāt| vacanaṃ kauśikasyeti kartavyamaviśaṅkayā

"As I have to fulfill the command of my father and honour his words and the instruction of Kausika (Viswamitra), I shall execute it (kill Tataka) without hesitation.

अनुशिष्टोऽस्म्ययोध्यायां गुरुमध्ये महात्मना। पित्रा दशरथेनाहं नावज्ञेयं हि तद्वच:।।1.26.3।।

anuśiṣṭo'smyayodhyāyāṃ gurumadhye mahātmanā| pitrā daśarathenāhaṃ nāvajñeyaṃ hi tadvaca:

In Ayodhya in the presence of elders and spiritual masters (of Dasaratha's court), I have been ordered by my magnanimous father to act according to your instructions and his words cannot be disobeyed.

सोऽहं पितुर्वचश्श्रुत्वा शासनाद्ब्रह्मवादिन:। करिष्यामि न सन्देहस्ताटकावधमुत्तमम्।।1.26.4।।

so'haṃ piturvacaśśrutvā śāsanādbrahmavādina:| kariṣyāmi na sandehastāṭakāvadhamuttamam

As per the words of my father and the command of Viswamitra, who has the knowledge of the Brahman, I shall execute the welcome act of killing Tataka.

गोब्राह्मणहितार्थाय देशस्यास्य सुखाय च। तव चैवाप्रमेयस्य वचनं कर्तुमुद्यत:।।1.26.5।।

gobrāhmaṇahitārthāya deśasyāsya sukhāya ca| tava caivāprameyasya vacanaṃ kartumudyata:

For the welfare of cows and brahmins and also for the good of this country, I am ready to perform such acts as commanded by you of boundless energy".

एवमुक्त्वा धनुर्मध्ये बध्वा मुष्टिमरिन्दम:। ज्याशब्दमकरोत्तीव्रं दिशश्शब्देन नादयन्।।1.26.6।।

evamuktvā dhanurmadhye badhvā muṣṭimarindama:| jyāśabdamakarottīvraṃ diśaśśabdena nādayan

Rama, the destroyer of enemies having said so clinched the middle of the bow with his fist and filled the ten quarters with the resounding twanging of the bowstring.

तेन शब्देन वित्रस्तास्ताटकावनवासिन:। ताटका च सुसंक्रुद्धा तेन शब्देन मोहिता।।1.26.7।।

tena śabdena vitrastāstāṭakāvanavāsina:| tāṭakā ca susaṃkruddhā tena śabdena mohitā

The dwellers of the Tataka forest were terrified by the sound (of the bow). Tataka, was might angry and amazed.

तं शब्दमभिनिध्याय राक्षसी क्रोधमूर्छिता। श्रुत्वा चाभ्यद्रवद्वेगाद्यतश्शब्दो विनिस्सृत:।।1.26.8।।

taṃ śabdamabhinidhyāya rākṣasī krodhamūrchitā| śrutvā cābhyadravadvegādyataśśabdo vinissṛta:

Hearing that sound, the demoness thought for a while and senseless with anger rushed in the direction where the sound had come from.

तां दृष्ट्वा राघव: क्रुद्धां विकृतां विकृताननाम्। प्रमाणेनातिवृद्धां च लक्ष्मणं सोऽभ्यभाषत।।1.26.9।।

tāṃ dṛṣṭvā rāghava: kruddhāṃ vikṛtāṃ vikṛtānanām| pramāṇenātivṛddhāṃ ca lakṣmaṇaṃ so'bhyabhāṣata

Filled with wrath Rama saw Tataka, disfigured with a distorted face and gigantic in size. Turning to Lakshmana he said :

पश्य लक्ष्मण यक्षिण्या भैरवं दारुणं वपु:। भिद्येरन् दर्शनादस्या भीरूणां हृदयानि च।।1.26.10।।

paśya lakṣmaṇa yakṣiṇyā bhairavaṃ dāruṇaṃ vapu:| bhidyeran darśanādasyā bhīrūṇāṃ hṛdayāni ca

"O Lakshmana, behold, the sight of the dreadful hideous body of this yakshini will break timid hearts.

एनां पश्य दुराधर्षां मायाबलसमन्विताम्। विनिवृत्तां करोम्यद्य हृतकर्णाग्रनासिकाम्।।1.26.11।।

enāṃ paśya durādharṣāṃ māyābalasamanvitām| vinivṛttāṃ karomyadya hṛtakarṇāgranāsikām

See, she is unassailable because of the strength gained through black magic. I shall cut off her ears and the tip of her nose and make her turn away.

न ह्येनामुत्सहे हन्तुं स्त्रीस्वभावेन रक्षिताम्। वीर्यं चास्यां गतिं चापि हनिष्यामीति मे मति:।।1.26.12।।

na hyenāmutsahe hantuṃ strīsvabhāvena rakṣitām| vīryaṃ cāsyāṃ gatiṃ cāpi haniṣyāmīti me mati:

By virtue of being a woman, she is protected. I am not inclined to slay her but take away her prowess and power of motion".

एवं ब्रुवाणे रामे तु ताटका क्रोधमूर्छिता। उद्यम्य बाहू गर्जन्ती राममेवाभ्यधावत।।1.26.13।।

evaṃ bruvāṇe rāme tu tāṭakā krodhamūrchitā| udyamya bāhū garjantī rāmamevābhyadhāvata

While Rama was still speaking, Tataka, incensed with fury rushed with her uplifted arms towards him roaring.

विश्वामित्रस्तु ब्रह्मर्षिर्हुङ्कारेणाभिभर्त्स्यताम्। स्वस्ति राघवयोरस्तु जयं चैवाभ्यभाषत।।1.26.14।।

viśvāmitrastu brahmarṣirhuṅkāreṇābhibhartsyatām| svasti rāghavayorastu jayaṃ caivābhyabhāṣata

Brahmarshi Viswamitra threatened her with hunkara (menacing sound), uttering, "Auspices to the Raghavas (Rama and Lakshmana) be aupicousness and success" victorious.

उद्धून्वाना रजो घोरं ताटका राघवावुभौ। रजोमोहेन महता मुहूर्तं सा व्यमोहयत्।।1.26.15।।

uddhūnvānā rajo ghoraṃ tāṭakā rāghavāvubhau| rajomohena mahatā muhūrtaṃ sā vyamohayat

Tataka raising a cloud of frightening dust left the descendants of Raghu bewildered quite for a moment.

ततो मायां समास्थाय शिलावर्षेण राघवौ। अवाकिरत्सुमहता ततश्चुक्रोध राघव:।।1.26.16।।

tato māyāṃ samāsthāya śilāvarṣeṇa rāghavau| avākiratsumahatā tataścukrodha rāghava:

Then invoking the power of magic, she showered extensive rain of boulders on both the descendants of Raghu. Rama was enraged at this.

शिलावर्षं महत्तस्याश्शरवर्षेण राघव:। प्रतिहत्योपधावन्त्या: करौ चिच्छेद पत्रिभि: ।।1.26.17।।

śilāvarṣaṃ mahattasyāśśaravarṣeṇa rāghava:| pratihatyopadhāvantyā: karau ciccheda patribhi:

Rama retaliated that mighty rain of rocks with a volley of arrows. While she was advancing towards him, he cut off her hands.

ततश्छिन्नभुजां श्रान्तामभ्याशे परिगर्जतीम्। सौमित्रिरकरोत्क्रोधाद्धृतकर्णाग्रनासिकाम्।।1.26.18।।

tataśchinnabhujāṃ śrāntāmabhyāśe parigarjatīm| saumitrirakarotkrodhāddhṛtakarṇāgranāsikām

When she was tired and roaring in a nearby place with her hands chopped off, Lakshmana cut off her ears and the tip of her nose in indignation.

कामरूपधरा सद्य: कृत्वा रूपाण्यनेकश: । अन्तर्धानं गता यक्षी मोहयन्तीव मायया ।।1.26.19।। अश्मवर्षं विमुञ्चन्ती भैरवं विचचार ह ।

kāmarūpadharā sadya: kṛtvā rūpāṇyanekaśa: | antardhānaṃ gatā yakṣī mohayantīva māyayā aśmavarṣaṃ vimuñcantī bhairavaṃ vicacāra ha |

Capable of assuming forms at will, that yakshini intending to delude the princes through her power of magic, vanished from the sight. She then assumed various forms and released a rain of rocks. And started moving about frightfully.

ततस्तावश्मवर्षेण कीर्यमाणौ समन्तत:।।1.26.20।। दृष्ट्वा गाधिसुतश्श्रीमानिदं वचनमब्रवीत्।

tatastāvaśmavarṣeṇa kīryamāṇau samantata: dṛṣṭvā gādhisutaśśrīmānidaṃ vacanamabravīt|

On seeing them hit and thrown about by a rain of stones from all sides, the auspicious son of Gadhi, (Viswamitra) spoke these words:

अलं ते घृणया राम पापैषा दुष्टचारिणी।।1.26.21।। यज्ञविघ्नकरी यक्षी पुरावर्धति मायया।

alaṃ te ghṛṇayā rāma pāpaiṣā duṣṭacāriṇī yajñavighnakarī yakṣī purāvardhati māyayā|

"O Rama she does not deserve any more compassion. This yakshini who is sinful, wicked and obstructor of sacrifice will regain her strength by her magical powers ".

वध्यतां तावदेवैषा पुरा सन्ध्या प्रवर्तते।।1.26.22।। रक्षांसि सन्ध्याकालेषु दुर्धर्षाणि भवन्ति वै।

vadhyatāṃ tāvadevaiṣā purā sandhyā pravartate rakṣāṃsi sandhyākāleṣu durdharṣāṇi bhavanti vai|

Kill her, for dusk is fast approaching. During evening the strength of rakshasas tends to increase and they become unassailable".

इत्युक्तस्तु तदा यक्षी अश्मवृष्ट्याभिवर्षतीम्।।1.26.23।। दर्शयन् शब्दवेधित्वं तां रुरोध स सायकै:।

ityuktastu tadā yakṣī aśmavṛṣṭyābhivarṣatīm darśayan śabdavedhitvaṃ tāṃ rurodha sa sāyakai:|

Addressed thus (by Viswamitra), Rama attacked her exhibiting his skill in targetting her by the sound and prevented with arrows the yakshini from showering stones.

सा रुद्धा शरजालेन मायाबलसमन्विता।।1.26.24।। अभिदुद्राव काकुत्स्थं लक्ष्मणं च विनेदुषी।

sā ruddhā śarajālena māyābalasamanvitā abhidudrāva kākutsthaṃ lakṣmaṇaṃ ca vineduṣī|

. Prevented by a multitude of arrows, she with her magical powers, advanced towards Rama and Lakshmanaroaring.

तामापतन्तीं वेगेन विक्रान्तामशनीमिव।।1.26.25।। शरेणोरसि विव्याथ सा पपात ममार च।

tāmāpatantīṃ vegena vikrāntāmaśanīmiva śareṇorasi vivyātha sā papāta mamāra ca|

Her chest pierced with an arrow, she rushing menacingly towards them like a thunderbolt fell down dead.

तां हतां भीमसङ्काशां दृष्ट्वा सुरपतिस्तदा।।1.26.26।। साधु साध्विति काकुत्स्थं सुराश्च समपूजयन्।

tāṃ hatāṃ bhīmasaṅkāśāṃ dṛṣṭvā surapatistadā sādhu sādhviti kākutsthaṃ surāśca samapūjayan|

Having seen the slain yakshini of terrible appearance, Indra and other celestials worshipped Rama, exclaiming "well done, well done ".

उवाच परमप्रीत स्सहस्राक्ष: पुरन्दर:।।1.26.27।। सुराश्च सर्वे संहृष्टा विश्वामित्रमथाब्रुवन्।

uvāca paramaprīta ssahasrākṣa: purandara: surāśca sarve saṃhṛṣṭā viśvāmitramathābruvan|

Then exceedingly pleased the thousandeyed Indra and all other delighted celestials said to Viswamitra:

मुने कौशिक भद्रं ते सेन्द्रास्सर्वे मरुद्गणा:।।1.26.28।। तोषिता: कर्मणाऽनेन स्नेहं दर्शय राघवे।

mune kauśika bhadraṃ te sendrāssarve marudgaṇā: toṣitā: karmaṇā'nena snehaṃ darśaya rāghave|

"O ascetic Kausika, may prosperity be to you All devatas have been gratified by this act (of Rama) and have expressed their love for Rama.

प्रजापतेर्भृशाश्वस्य पुत्रान् सत्यपराक्रमान्।।1.26.29।। तपोबलभृतो ब्रह्मन् राघवाय निवेदय।

prajāpaterbhṛśāśvasya putrān satyaparākramān tapobalabhṛto brahman rāghavāya nivedaya|

"O Brahmarshi, you may offer to Rama, the sons of Prajapati Brishasva who are the weapons bestowed with the power that comes from truth and ascetic energy".

पात्रभूतश्च ते ब्रह्मंस्तवानुगमने धृत:।।1.26.30।। कर्तव्यं च महत्कर्म सुराणां राजसूनुना।

pātrabhūtaśca te brahmaṃstavānugamane dhṛta: kartavyaṃ ca mahatkarma surāṇāṃ rājasūnunā|

"O Brahmarshi following you with firmness of mind, Rama is worthy to receive the weapons. He who is a prince has to accomplish many such great tasks for the benefit of the celestials".

एवमुक्त्वा सुरास्सर्वे हृष्टा जग्मुर्यथागतम्।।1.26.31।। विश्वामित्रं पुरस्कृत्य ततस्सन्ध्या प्रवर्तते।

evamuktvā surāssarve hṛṣṭā jagmuryathāgatam viśvāmitraṃ puraskṛtya tatassandhyā pravartate|

Having said these words, the celestials were pleased. They honoured Viswamitra and returned to their abodes from where they had come. And then dusk set in.

ततो मुनिवर: प्रीतस्ताटकावधतोषित:।।1.26.32।। मूर्ध्नि राममुपाघ्राय इदं वचनमब्रवीत्।

tato munivara: prītastāṭakāvadhatoṣita: mūrdhni rāmamupāghrāya idaṃ vacanamabravīt|

Then, the best of ascetics Viswamitra rejoiced over the death of Tataka, kissed the forehead of Rama (fondly) and spoke these words:

इहाद्य रजनीं राम वसेम शुभदर्शन।।1.26.33।। श्व: प्रभाते गमिष्यामस्तदाश्रमपदं मम।

ihādya rajanīṃ rāma vasema śubhadarśana śva: prabhāte gamiṣyāmastadāśramapadaṃ mama|

"O auspiciouslooking Rama tonight we shall stay here. Tomorrow morning we proceed to my hermitage".

विश्वामित्रवच: श्रुत्वा हृष्टो दशरथात्मज:।।1.26.34।। उवास रजनीं तत्र ताटकाया वने सुखम्।

viśvāmitravaca: śrutvā hṛṣṭo daśarathātmaja: uvāsa rajanīṃ tatra tāṭakāyā vane sukham|

Having heard the words of Viswamitra, Rama rejoiced and rested happily that night in the Tataka forest .

मुक्तशापं वनं तच्च तस्मिन्नेव तदाहनि।।1.26.35।। रमणीयं विबभ्राज यथा चैत्ररथं वनम्।

muktaśāpaṃ vanaṃ tacca tasminneva tadāhani ramaṇīyaṃ vibabhrāja yathā caitrarathaṃ vanam|

Freed from the curse from that day that forest looked charming and shone like Chitraratha Kubera's (garden).

निहत्य तां यक्षसुतां स राम: प्रशस्यमानस्सुरसिद्धसङ्घै:। उवास तस्मिन्मुनिना सहैव प्रभातवेलां प्रतिबोध्यमान:।।1.26.36।।

nihatya tāṃ yakṣasutāṃ sa rāma: praśasyamānassurasiddhasaṅghai:| uvāsa tasminmuninā sahaiva prabhātavelāṃ pratibodhyamāna:

Rama having killed the daughter of yaksha was praised by multitudes of devatas and siddhas. He stayed in the same forest with the sage. At the first glimpse of dawn, he was awakened by the sage (Viswamitra). इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीय आदिकाव्ये बालकाण्डे षड्विंशस्सर्ग:।।7 Thus ends the twentysixth sarga of Balakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.