“Om Sri Lakshmi Narashimhan Nahama”
Valmiki Ramayana – Bala Kanda – Chapter 25
How Tataka Married Sunda and Gave Birth to Maareecha
Summary
Sage Vishvamitra narrates the birth, marriage and curse of female demon Tataka, and bids Rama to eliminate her menace [threat] without any hesitation of killing a female, for she is atrocious [extremely wicked, brutal, or cruel] towards the society.
Chapter [Sarga] 25 in Detail
atha tasya aprameyasya muner vacanam uttamam |
shrutvaa purusa shaarduulah pratyuvaaca shubhaam giram || 1-25-1
On hearing the worthy words of that sage with inestimable [incapable of being estimated or computed] power, then the manly-tiger Rama replied him with estimable words. [1-25-1]
alpa viiryaa yadaa yaksii shruuyate munipungava |
katham naaga sahasrasya dhaarayati abalaa balam || 1-25-2
"It is said that Yakshas strength is trivial [ordinary], and this is an yakshii, more so a female, how then this yakshii frail [physically weak] by her femininity can exert the strength of a thousand elephants? [1-25-2]
iti uktam vacanam shrutvaa raaghavasya amita ojasaa |
harsayan shlakshnayaa vacaa sa lakshmanam arindamam || 1-25-3
vishvaamitro.abraviit vaakyam shrinu yena balotkataa |
vara daana kritam viiryam dhaarayati abalaa balam || 1-25-4
On hearing the sentence of Raghava with illimitable [measureless] dynamism, Vishvamitra said this sentence to the enemy subduer [to bring under control] Rama along with Lakshmana, cheering them up with his pleasant words, "Listen by which a female became outstanding by jeer strength... she assumes strength by the bestowal [to put to use] of a boon. [1- 25-3, 4]
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Valmiki Ramayana – Bala Kanda – Chapter 25 puurvam aasiit mahaa yaksah suketur naama viiryavaan |
anapatyah shubhaacaarah sa ca tepe mahat tapah || 1-25-5
"Once there was a formidable [impressive] Yaksha named Suketu, but he was childless, and he who had devout [serious and earnest] conduct performed a great asceticism. [1-25-5]
pitaamahah tu supriitah tasya yaksapateh tadaa |
kanyaa ratnam dadau raama taatakaam naama naamatah || 1-25-6
"Gladdening at his asceticism Rama, then the Forefather Brahma gave him a gemlike daughter who is renowned by the name of Tataka. [1-25-6]
dadau naaga sahasrasya balam ca asyaah pitaamahah |
na tu eva putram yaksaaya dadau ca asau mahaayashaah || 1-25-7
"Forefather Brahma also gave the strength of a thousand elephants to her, but he that highly remarkable Brahma did not give a son to that Yaksha, anticipating male to be more hazardous. [1-25-7]
taam tu baalaam vivardhantiim ruupa yauvana shaaliniim |
jambha putraaya sundaaya dadau bhaaryaam yashasviniim || 1-25-8
"When that bright girl is growing up into a youthful beauty her father Suketu gave her to Jambha's son Sunda as wife. [1-25-8]
kasyacit tu atha kaalasya yaksii putram vyajaayata |
maariicam naama durdharsam yah shaapaat raaksasoabhavat ||1-25-9
"Then after sometime that yakshii Tataka delivered an indomitable son named Maareecha, who by curse became a demon. [1-25-9]
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Valmiki Ramayana – Bala Kanda – Chapter 25 sunde tu nihate raama saa agastyam risi sattamam |
taatakaa saha putrena pradharsayitum icchati || 1-25-10
"But when Sunda is eliminated by sage Agastya's curse, she that Tataka wished to retaliate [to get revenge] that eminent sage along with her son Maareecha. [1-25-10]
bhakshaartham jaata sa.mrambhaa garjanti saa abhyadhaavata |
aapatantim tu taam dristwaa agastyo bhagavaan risih || 1-25-11
raaksasatvam bhajasva iti maariicam vyaajahaara sah |
"With desperation [loss of hope] brewing in her she roaringly rushed towards the sage as though to eat him away, and on seeing her rushing along with her son Maareecha towards him, the godly saint Agastya firstly cursed Maareecha saying, 'you will attain demon-hood.' [1-25-11, 12a]
agastyah parama amarsah taatakaam api shaptavaan || 1-25-12
purusaadii mahaayaksii viruupaa vikrita aananaa |
idam ruupam vihaayaashu daarunam ruupam astu te || 1-25-13
"Highly infuriated [furious] sage Agastya even cursed Tataka saying, 'forthwith divested [free] of this form of a beautiful female, oh, great yakshii, you shall become a man eater with your form distorted [twisted], face contorted [deformed], and shape monstrous.' [1-25-12b, 13]
saisaa shaapa kritaam arsaa taatakaa krodha muurchitaa |
desham utsaadayati enam agastyaa caritam shubham || 1-25-14
"Frenzied by the curse and convulsed [agitated violently] in fury she that Tataka is thus vandalizing [damaging] this auspicious province, in which sage Agastya once sauntered [to walk about in an idle or leisurely manner]. [1-25-14]
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Valmiki Ramayana – Bala Kanda – Chapter 25 enaam raaghava durvrittaam yaksiim parama daarunaam |
go braahmana hitaarthaaya jahi dusta paraakramaam || 1-25-15
"She that highly atrocious [wicked] one is with horrific behavior and malefic [desire to cause pain, injury, or distress to another] valor, hence you shall eliminate this yakshii for the welfare of Brahmans and cows. [1-25-15]
na hi enaam shaapa sa.msristaam kashcit utsahate pumaan |
nihantum trisu lokesu tvaam rite raghu nandana || 1-25-16
"Excepting you there is none to eliminate her who is indomitably sheathed [buried] in a curse, oh, Raghu's legatee [one to whom a legacy is bequeathed], and none in the three worlds can possibly brave her. [1-25-16]
na hi te strii vadha krite ghrinaa kaaryaa narottama |
caatur varnya hitaarthaam hi kartavyam raaja suununaa || 1-25-17
"Compassion regarding the elimination of a female is inappropriate, oh, best one among men, since a prince has to effectuate it intending the welfare of four categories of society. [1-25- 17]
nrisha.msam anrisha.msam vaa prajaa rakshana kaaranaat |
paatakam vaa sadosam vaa kartavyam rakshataa sadaa || 1-25-18
"For the reason of protecting people, a protector always has to execute such deed, either it is ruthless or humane, sinful or vilifying [evil in nature]. [1-25-18]
raajya bhaara niyuktaanaam esa dharmah sanaatanah |
adharmyaam jahi kaakutstha dharmo hi asyaam na vidyate || 1-25-19
"To the nominee who bears the burden of kingdom this is the age-old duty, and hence oh, Rama, the legatee of Kakutstha, eliminate this infamy [disgrace], as goodness is in evident in her, isn't it. [1-25-19]
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Valmiki Ramayana – Bala Kanda – Chapter 25 shruuyate hi puraa shakro virocana sutaam nripa |
prithiviim hantum icchantiim mantharaam abhyasuudayat || 1-25-20
"Oh, Rama, the protector of people, we have heard that Indra once eliminated Manthara, the daughter of Virochana, when she wished to annihilate [to destroy] earth, haven't we. [1-25-20]
visnunaa ca puraa raama bhrigu patnii pativrataa |
anindram lokam icchantii kaavyamaataa nisuuditaa || 1-25-21
"And Rama, once Vishnu wiped out even the wife of sage Bhrigu and sage Shukracarya's mother when she wished the world to become one without a governing factor, namely Indra. [1- 25-21]
etaih ca anyaih ca bahubhii raajaputraih mahaatmabhih |
adharma sahitaa naaryo hataah purusasattamaih |
tasmaad enaam ghrinaam tyaktvaa jahi mat shaasanaan nripa || 1-25-22
"Oh, prince, these great souls and many other celebrated personalities have eliminated females who deported themselves with unrighteousness, and hence, oh, Rama, the protector of people, by my decree you leave off compassion and eliminate her." Thus said sage Vishvamitra to Rama regarding Tataka's elimination. [1-25-22]
iti vaalmiiki raamaayane aadikaavye baala kaande pa.nchavi.mshah sargah ||
Thus, this is the 25th chapter in Bala Kanda of Valmiki Ramayana, the First Epic poem of India.
Sriman Moola Rama Vijayate
References
Desiraju Hanumanta Rao. (1998). Balakanda - Book Of Youthful Majesties.
Merriam-Webster. (2007). At http://www.m-w.com.
Reference.com. (2007). At http://www.reference.com.
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