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[While crossing the river Rama asks "What is this tumultuous sound gushing from the Ganga?"--Viswamitra gives the reply--The trio enter the forest -- Viswamitra narrates the story of Tataka.]

tata: prabhātē vimalē kṛtāhnikamarindamau.

viśvāmitraṅ puraskṛtya nadyāstīramupāgatau৷৷1.24.1৷৷


tata: thereafter, arindamau two destroyers of enemies, vimalē on a pure, prabhātē day-break, kṛtāhnikam by observing daily oblations, viśvāmitram Viswamitra, puraskṛtya ahead of them nadyā: river's, tīram bank, upāgatau arrived.

Thereafter the destroyers of foes, Rama and Lakshmana offering their morning oblations on that bright dawn arrived at the bank of the river (Ganga) with Viswamitra ahead of them.
tē ca sarvē mahātmānō munayassaṅśritavratā:.

upasthāpya śubhāṅ nāvaṅ viśvāmitramathābruvan৷৷1.24.2৷৷


mahātmāna: high-minded, saṅśritavratā: strict observers of vows, tē sarvē all those, munaya: ascetics, śubhām auspicious, nāvam boat, upasthāpya kept ready, atha there after, viśvāmitram addressed Visvamitra, abruvan saying.

All the high-minded ascetics and strict followers of vows secured an auspicious boat for them and addressed Viswamitra, saying:
ārōhatu bhavānnāvaṅ rājaputrapuraskṛta:.

ariṣṭaṅ gaccha panthānaṅ mā bhūtkālaviparyaya:৷৷1.24.3৷৷


bhavān O! Great rishi, rājaputrapuraskṛta: with the princes ahead of you, nāvam boat, ārōhatu you may board it, ariṣṭam devoid of evils, panthānam path, gaccha go, kālaviparyaya: loss of time, mābhūt let not take place.

With the princes ahead of you, board the boat. Tread the safe path. Let there be no loss of time.
viśvāmitrastathētyuktavā tānṛṣīnabhipūjya ca.

tatāra sahitastābhyāṅ saritaṅ sāgaraṅgamām৷৷1.24.4৷৷


viśvāmitra: Visvamitra, tathēti 'so be it', uktvā having said, tān ṛṣīn all those sages, abhipūjya having worshipped, tābhyām by Rama and Lakshmana, sahita: accompanied by, sāgaraṅgamām flowing towards the sea, saritam river Ganga, tatāra crossed.

"Be it so", said Viswamitra and paid respect to all those sages. And accompanied by them (Rama and Lakshmana), crossed the river flowing towards the sea.
tataśśuśrāva vai śabdamatisaṅrambhavardhitam.

madhyamāgamya tōyasya saha rāma:kanīyasā৷৷1.24.5৷৷


tata: then, rāma: Rama, tōyasya of the water, madhyam midst, āgamya having come, atisaṅrambhavardhitam greatly augmented by the speed, śabdam thunderous noise, kanīyasā saha with his younger brother, śuśrāva heard.

As they reached the mid-stream, Rama and his younger brother heard a sound greatly augmented by the speed (of the river).
atha rāmassarinmadhyē papraccha munipuṅgavam.

vāriṇō bhidyamānasya kimayaṅ tumulō dhvani:৷৷1.24.6৷৷


atha thereafter, rāma: Rama, sarinmadhyē in the midst of river, munipuṅgavam best of the sages, prapaccha enquired of, bhidyamānasya bursting, vāriṇa: waters, tumula: tumultuous, ayaṅ dhvani: this sound, kim what?

Rama enquired of Viswamitra, the best of sages, "What is this tumultuous sound bursting out of the waters?"
rāghavasya vacaśśrutvā kautūhalasamanvita:.

kathayāmāsa dharmātmā tasya śabdasya niścayam৷৷1.24.7৷৷


kautūhalasamanvitaḥ filled with curiosity, rāghavasya vaca: Rama's words, śrutvā having heard, dharmātmā righteous minded one, tasya of that, śabdasya relating to that sound, niścayam nature, kathayāmāsa narrated.

At the words of Rama filled with curiosity, the righteous (Viswamitra) narrated the true nature of that sound.
kailāsaparvatē rāma manasā nirmitaṅ sara:.

brahmaṇā naraśārdūla tēnēdaṅ mānasaṅ sara:৷৷1.24.8৷৷


naraśārdūla O! Best among men, rāma Rama, kailāsaparvatē on the mount Kailasa, brahmaṇā by Brahma, sara: lake, manasā by his thought, nirmitam created, tēna for that reason, idaṅ sara: this lake, mānasam is called Manasa.

"O tiger among men, Rama. Brahma created out of his mind a lake on mount Kailas and so that lake is called Manasa (Sarovara).
tasmātsusrāva sarasassāyōdhyāmupagūhatē .

sara pravṛttā sarayū: puṇyā brahmasaraścyutā৷৷1.24.9৷৷


tasmāt sarasa: from that Manasa lake, susrāva flowed, sā that river, ayōdhyām Ayodhya, upagūhatē surrounds, sara pravṛttā because it flows from that lake, sarayū: is known as Sarayu, brahmasaraścyutā released from the lake of Brahma, puṇyā sacred.

This river which flows from Manasa Sarovara is, therefore, known as 'Sarayu'. It
surrounds Ayodhya. This sacred river flows from that lake of Brahma.
tasyāyamatulaśśabdō jāhnavīmabhivartatē.

vārisaṅkṣōbhajō rāma praṇāmaṅ niyata:kuru৷৷1.24.10৷৷


jāhnavīm river Ganga, abhivartatē approaches, ayam this, atula: great, śabda: sound, tasyā: that river's, vārisaṅkṣōbhaja: produced when the waters are clashed at their confluence, rāma Rama, niyata: with a concentrated mind, praṇāmam respectful salutations, kuru do.

When Ganga approaches this river (Sarayu), there is a clash of waters and this great noise is produced. Rama, offer respectful salutations here, with a calm mind".
tābhyāṅ tu tāvubhau kṛtvā praṇāmamatidhārmikau.

tīraṅ dakṣiṇamāsādya jagmaturlaghuvikramau৷৷1.24.11৷৷


atidhārmikau both who were exceedingly righteous, tau ubhau both of them, tābhyām to the two rivers, praṇāmam obeisance, kṛtvā having made, dakṣiṇaṅ tīram southern bank, āsādya having reached, laghuvikramau with quick steps, jagmatu: proceeded.

Deeply religious (in nature) they both made obeisance to the two rivers and reached the southern bank and advanced with quick steps.
sa vanaṅ ghōrasaṅkāśaṅ dṛṣṭvā nṛpavarātmaja:.

aviprahatamaikṣvāka: papraccha munipuṅgavam৷৷1.24.12৷৷


aikṣvāka: descendent of Ikshvaku, nṛpavarātmaja: son of best of kings, sa: he, ghōrasaṅkāśam dreadful, aviprahatam untrodden, vanam forest, dṛṣṭvā having seen, munipuṅgavam foremost of ascetics, papraccha asked.

He who was a descendent of Ikshvaku and son of the best of kings, (Dasaratha) having seen that untrodden and dreadful forest asked the foremost of the ascetics:
ahō vanamidaṅ durgaṅ jhillikāgaṇanāditam.

bhairavaiśśapadai: pūrṇaṅ śakuntairdāruṇārutai:৷৷1.24.13৷৷


jhillikāgaṇanāditam having ceaseless sounds of crickets, bhairavai: by the frightful, śvāpadai: ferocious beasts, dāruṇārutai: creating fearful cries, śakuntai: by birds, pūrṇam filled, idam this, vanam forest, durgam inaccessible, ahō what a wonder.

"What a wonder! This inaccessible forest echoes with the (shrill) chirpings of crickets It is filled with ferocious beasts and birds producing fearful sounds.
nānāprakāraiśśakunai rvāśyadbhirbhairavasvanai:.

siṅhavyāghravarāhaiśca vāraṇaiścōpaśōbhitam৷৷1.24.14৷৷


vāśyadbhi: shrieking, bhairavasvanai: frightful sounds, nānāprakārai: by various kinds of, śakunai: birds, siṅhavyāghravarāhai: ca lions, tigers, boars, vāraṇai: ca by elephants, upaśōbhitam shining.

"It resounds with the frightful shricks of various kinds of birds. Lions, tigers, boars and elephants prowl about.
dhavāśvakarṇakakubhairbilvatindukapāṭalai:.

saṅkīrṇaṅ badarībhiśca kinnvētaddāruṇaṅ vanam৷৷1.24.15৷৷


dhavāśvakarṇakakubhai: with Dhava, Ashva, Karna, Kakubha, bilvatindukapāṭalai: with Bilva,Tinduka, Patala, badarībhiśca with Badaris, saṅkīrṇam thronged, ētat dāruṇam this frightening, vanam forest, kiṅ nu what indeed could this be?

This forest jampacked with dhava, ashvakarna, kakubha, bilva, tinduka, patala and badari trees, how frightening this forest could be!"
tamuvāca mahātējā viśvāmitrō mahāmuni:.

śrūyatāṅ vatsa kākutstha! yasyaitaddāruṇaṅ vanam৷৷1.24.16৷৷


mahātējā: highly powerful, mahāmuni: great sage, viśvāmitra: Viswamitra, tam addressing him, uvāca spoke, vatsa O! Child, kākutstha Kakusthsa, ētat dāruṇaṅ vanam this dreadful forest, yasya whose, śrūyatām let it be heard.

Viswamitra, the great sage radiating energy addressing Rama said, "O child of kakusthsa dynasty I shall tell you whose dreadful forest this is. Listen"!
ētau janapadau sphītau pūrvamāstāṅ narōttama!.

maladāśca karūśāśca dēvanirmāṇanirmitau৷৷1.24.17৷৷


narōttama O! Best among men, pūrvam formerly, dēvanirmāṇanirmitau built by celestial architects, maladāśca Malada, karūśā: ca and also Karusha, sphītau large and prosperous, ētau janapadau these two cities, āstām existed.

O best among men, formerly these two large and prosperous cities called Malada and Karusha built by celestial architects existed.
purā vṛtravadhē rāma! malēna samabhiplutam.

kṣudhā caiva sahasrākṣaṅ brahmahatyā samāviśat৷৷1.24.18৷৷


rāma O! Rama, purā in ancient times, vṛtravadhē at the time of destruction of Vritrasura, malēna by impurity, kṣudhā caiva by hunger also, samabhiplutam overpowered, sahasrākṣam Indra, brahmahatyā sin arising out of slaying Brahmin, samāviśat attacked.

O Rama, in ancient times after killing Vritrasura, Indra was overpowered by the sin of slaying a brahmin and was affected by impurity and hunger.
tamindraṅ snāpayan dēvā ṛṣayaśca tapōdhanā:.

kalaśaissnāpayāmāsurmalaṅ cāsya pramōcayan৷৷1.24.19৷৷


tam indram Indra, dēvā: devatas, snāpayan while bathing him, tapōdhanā: sages possessing asceticism as wealth, ṛṣayaśca rishis, kalaśai: with water-pitchers, snāpayāmāsu: bathed him, asya malam his impurities, pramōcayan liberated.

Devas and rishis endowed with the wealth of asceticism bathed Indra with the (consecrated) waters (brought from all rivers) from the pitchers and got him cleansed of impurities.
iha bhūmyāṅ malaṅ datvā datvā kārūśamēva ca.

śarīrajaṅ mahēndrasya tatō harṣaṅ prapēdirē৷৷1.24.20৷৷


mahēndrasya Mahendra's, śarīrajam born from the body, malam taint and impurity, iha here, bhūmyām at this place, dattvā having left, kārūśamēva ca hunger also, dattvā having left, tata: there after, harṣam joy, prapēdirē obtained.

With the hunger and the taint and impurity from the body of Mahendra removed at this place, the devas rejoiced.
nirmalō niṣkarūśaśca śuciriṅndrō yadābhavat.

dadau dēśasya suprītō varaṅ prabhuranuttamam৷৷1.24.21৷৷


indra: Indra, yadā when, nirmala: removed of his impurities, niṣkarūśaśca unaffected by hunger, śuci: abhavat became pure, prabhu: all powerful lord, suprīta: highly pleased, dēśasya for that region, anuttamam excellent, varam boon, dadau gave.

Cleansed of his impurities and his hunger gone, Indra once again became pure. All-powerful Indra highly pleased gave an excellent boon to that region.
imau janapadau sphītau khyātiṅ lōkē gamiṣyata:.

maladāśca karūśāśca mamāṅgamaladhāriṇau৷৷1.24.22৷৷


mama my, aṅgamaladhāriṇau bearing impurities of my body, imau these, janapadau places, sphītau becoming prosperous, maladāśca Malada, karūśāśca and Karusha, lōkē in this world, khyātim fame, gamiṣyata: will attain.

Indra blessed the place saying, 'Having absorbed impurities of my body, let these places be extremely fertile and prosperous and let this be renowned throughout this world as Malada and Karusha'.
sādhu sādhviti taṅ dēvā: pākaśāsanamabruvan.

dēśasya pūjāṅ tāṅ dṛṣṭvā kṛtāṅ śakrēṇa dhīmatā৷৷1.24.23৷৷


dhīmatā by the wise, śakrēṇa by Indra, kṛtām performed, tām dēśasya of that land, pūjām honour, dṛṭvā having seen, dēvā: gods, sādhu sādhu iti 'Well, Well', taṅ pākaśāsanam adddressing Indra, abruvan said.

Having seen the honour bestowed on that land by the wise Indra, the gods said to him, 'Well done, Well done'.
ētau janapadau sphītau dīrghakālamarindama.

maladāśca karūśāśca muditau dhanadhānyata:৷৷1.24.24৷৷


arindama O! Destroyer of enemies, maladāśca Malada, karūśāśca and Karusha, sphītau prosperous, ētau these, janapadau townships, dīrghakālam for a long time, dhanadhānyata: with the harvest of corn and wealth, muditau rejoiced.

O Destroyers of enemies! these prosperous townships, Malada and Karusha looked cheerful with (bumper) crops and wealth for a long time.
kasyacittvatha kālasya yakṣī vai kāmarūpiṇī.

balaṅ nāgasahasrasya dhārayantī tadā hyabhūt৷৷1.24.25৷৷

tāṭakā nāma bhadraṅ tē bhāryā sundasya dhīmata:. 2

mārīcō rākṣasa: putrō yasyāśśakraparākrama:৷৷1.24.26৷৷


atha thereafter, kasyacitkālasya after a lapse of some time, kāmarūpiṇī capable of assuming forms at will, nāgasahasrasya of a thousand elephants, balam strength of, dhārayantī possessing, tāṭakā nāma yakṣī yakshi known as Tataka, dhīmata: of the intelligent, sundasya Sunda's, bhāryā wife, śakraparākrama: possessed of the power of Indra, mārīca: rakshasa known as Maricha, yasyā: whose, putra: son, abhūt became known, bhadraṅ tē May prosperity greet you.

Then, after a lapse of several years, O gentle one! a terrible yakshini by name Tataka,
wife of intelligent Sunda, capable of assuming different forms at will, possessed of the strength of a thousand elephants and mother of a rakshasa known as Maricha armed with the power of Indra took possession of this place.
vṛttabāhurmahāvīryō vipulāsya tanurmahān.

rākṣasō bhairavākārō nityaṅ trāsayatē prajā:৷৷1.24.27৷৷


vṛttabāhu: one who has round arms, mahāvīrya: a highly energetic, vipulāsyatanu: having large face and huge body, mahān gigantic, bhairavākāra: having dreadful form, rākṣasa: rakshasa, nityam always, prajā: inhabitants, trāsayatē frightens.

The arms (of Maricha) are round and strong. He is highly energetic. He has a large face and a huge body. In appearance, he is gigantic and possesses a dreadful form. That rakshasa always threatened the inhabitants.
imau janapadau nityaṅ vināśayati rāghava.

maladāṅśca karūśāṅśca tāṭakā duṣṭacāriṇī৷৷1.24.28৷৷


rāghava O! Rama, duṣṭacāriṇī a woman with wicked deeds, tāṭakā Tataka, maladāṅśca Malada, karūśāṅśca Karusha, imau janapadau these two townships, nityam always, vināśayati destroys .

"O Rama! that wicked than Tataka carried on her depredations at regular intervals in these locations, Malada and Karusha.
sēyaṅ panthānamāvṛtya vasatyadhyardhayōjanē.

ata ēva na gantavyaṅ tāṭakāyā vanaṅ yata:৷৷1.24.29৷৷


sā such, iyam thisTataka, panthānam the path, āvṛtya obstructing, adhyardhayōjanē at one and half yojanas distance, vasati living, yata: for which reason, tāṭakāyā: Tataka, vanam forest, ata ēva for that reason, na gantavyam one should not traverse.

Tataka lives at a distance of one and a half yojanas from here obstructing the path.
Since Tataka dwells in this forest, no one comes here (because of fears).
svabāhubalamāśritya jahīmāṅ duṣṭacāriṇīm.

manniyōgādimaṅ dēśaṅ kuru niṣkaṇṭakaṅ puna:৷৷1.24.30৷৷


svabāhubalam strength of your own arms, āśritya employing, duṣṭacāriṇīm this one of wicked deeds, imām her, jahi slay,manniyōgāt by my order, imaṅ dēśam this country, puna: again, niṣkaṇṭakam devoid of that thorn, kuru do it (make it habitable).

"By the strength of your arms slay this one of wicked deeds. Comply with my orders and make this country safe (and habitable).
na hi kaścidimaṅ dēśaṅ śaknōtyāgantumīdṛśam.

yakṣiṇyā ghōrayā rāma utsāditamasahyayā৷৷1.24.31৷৷


rāma O! Rama, ghōrayā by the dreadful, asahyayā by the intolerable, yakṣiṇyā yakshini, utsāditam destroyed, īdṛśam such, imam dēśam this country, āgantum to approach, kaścit any one, na śaknōti is not capable.

O Rama! none dare approach this country ravaged by such dreadful, intolerable yakshini.
ētattē sarvamākhyātaṅ yathaitaddāruṇaṅ vanam.

yakṣyā cōtsāditaṅ sarvamadyāpi na nivartatē৷৷1.24.32৷৷


ētat vanam this forest, sarvam entirely, dāruṇam cruel, yakṣyā by the yakshi, yathā in such a manner, utsāditam ruined, adyāpi even now, yathā in a manner, na nivartatē does not go back, ētat sarvam all this, tē to you, ākhyātam has been told.

You have been told the manner in which this fierce forest is entirely ruined by that cruel yakshini. Tell now she has not left this place".
ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē bālakāṇḍē caturviṅśatissarga:৷৷
Thus ends the twentyfourth sarga of Balakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.