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[Sri Rama kills Tataka]

munērvacanamaklībaṅ śrutvā naravarātmaja:.

rāghava: prāñjalirbhūtvā pratyuvāca dṛḍhavrata:৷৷1.26.1৷৷


dṛḍhavrata: a man firm in his vows, naravarātmaja: the son of the foremost of men, rāghava: Rama, aklībam determined, manly and bold, munē: ascetic's, vacanam words, śrutvā having listened, prāñjali:bhūtvā with folded palms, pratyuvāca replied.

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:
piturvacananirdēśātpiturvacanagauravāt.

vacanaṅ kauśikasyēti kartavyamaviśaṅkayā৷৷1.26.2৷৷


pitu: of my sire, vacananirdēśāt to fulfil the words of command, pitu: of my sire's, vacanagauravāt to honour his words, kauśikasya Kausika's, vacanam iti the words as such, aviśaṅkayā without hesitation, kartavyam fit to be done.

anuśiṣṭō.smyayōdhyāyāṅ gurumadhyē mahātmanā.

pitrā daśarathēnāhaṅ nāvajñēyaṅ hi tadvaca:৷৷1.26.3৷৷


ayōdhyāyām in Ayodhya, gurumadhyē in the presence of elders, mahātmanā by the magnanimous, pitrā father, daśarathēna by Dasaratha, aham I, anuśiṣṭa: asmi have been ordered, tadvaca: his words, nāvajñēyaṅ hi cannot be disobeyed(turned down).

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.
sō.haṅ piturvacaśśrutvā śāsanādbrahmavādina:.

kariṣyāmi na sandēhastāṭakāvadhamuttamam৷৷1.26.4৷৷


sa: aham such as I am, pitu: father's, vaca: words, śrutvā having heard, brahmavādina: of the man endowed with the knowledge of vedas, śāsanāt in accordance with the command, uttamam the welcoming act, tāṭakāvadham slaying of Tataka, kariṣyāmi I shall perform, sandēha: na no doubt.

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.
gōbrāhmaṇahitārthāya dēśasyāsya sukhāya ca.

tava caivāpramēyasya vacanaṅ kartumudyata:৷৷1.26.5৷৷


gōbrāhmaṇahitārthāya for the welfare of cows and brahmins, asya dēśasya this country's, sukhāya ca for the happiness, apramēyasya of the man possessing boundless energy, tava your, vacanam words, kartum to perform, udyata: I am prepared.

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".
ēvamuktvā dhanurmadhyē badhvā muṣṭimarindama:.

jyāśabdamakarōttīvraṅ diśaśśabdēna nādayan৷৷1.26.6৷৷


arindama: destroyer of enemies, ēvam uktvā having spoken thus, dhanurmadhyē in the middle of the bow, muṣṭim the fist, badvā clinching, śabdēna with sounds, diśa: ten cardinal directions, nādayan sounding, tīvram severe, jyāśabdam with twanging sounds of the bow-string, akarōt performed.

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 bow-string.
tēna śabdēna vitrastāstāṭakāvanavāsina:.

tāṭakā ca susaṅkruddhā tēna śabdēna mōhitā৷৷1.26.7৷৷


tāṭakāvanavāsina: all the beings living in that Tataka forest, tēna śabdēna with that sound, vitrastā: were terrified, tāṭakā ca Tataka also, tēna śabdēna by that sound, susaṅkruddhā was furious with anger, mōhitā amazed.

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

śrutvā cābhyadravadvēgādyataśśabdō vinissṛta:৷৷1.26.8৷৷


rākṣasī rakshasi, taṅ śabdam that sound, śratvā having heard, krōdhamūrchitā infatuated with anger, abhinidhyāya thought for a while, yata: from which direction, śabda: sound, vinissṛta: originated(in that direction), vēgāt speedily, abhyadravat rushed.

Hearing that sound, the demoness thought for a while and senseless with anger rushed in the direction where the sound had come from.
tāṅ dṛṣṭvā rāghava: kruddhāṅ vikṛtāṅ vikṛtānanām.

pramāṇēnātivṛddhāṅ ca lakṣmaṇaṅ sō.bhyabhāṣata৷৷1.26.9৷৷


sa:rāghava: Rama, kruddhām full of wrath, vikṛtām disfigured, vikṛtānanām with distorted face, pramāṇēna in size, ativṛddhāṅ ca gigantic, tāṅ dṛṣṭvā having seen her, lakṣmaṇam addressing Lakshmana, abhyabhāṣata spoke.

Filled with wrath Rama saw Tataka, disfigured with a distorted face and gigantic in
size. Turning to Lakshmana he said :
paśya lakṣmaṇa yakṣiṇyā bhairavaṅ dāruṇaṅ vapu:.

bhidyēran darśanādasyā bhīrūṇāṅ hṛdayāni ca৷৷1.26.10৷৷


lakṣmaṇa O! Lakshmana, yakṣiṇyā: yakshini's, bhairavam dreadful, dāruṇam hideous, vapu: body,paśya behold, asyā: her, darśanāt from the appearance, bhīrūṇām of the timid, hṛdayāni hearts, bhidyēran will break.

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

vinivṛttāṅ karōmyadya hṛtakarṇāgranāsikām৷৷1.26.11৷৷


durādharṣām unassailable, māyābalasamanvitāma endowed with strength gained through black magic, ēnām her, hṛtakarṇāgranāsikām deprive her of ears and tip of nose, vinivṛttām turned away, adya now, karōmi I shall do, paśya see.

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.
na hyēnāmutsahē hantuṅ strīsvabhāvēna rakṣitām.

vīryaṅ cāsyāṅ gatiṅ cāpi haniṣyāmīti mē mati:৷৷1.26.12৷৷


strīsvabhāvēna by virtue of being a woman, rakṣitām is protected, ēnāṅ hantum to slay her, na utsahē I am not inclined, asyām in her, vīryam prowess, gatiṅ cāpi power of motion, haniṣyāmīti I will destroy, thus, mē mati: this is my opinion.

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".
ēvaṅ bruvāṇē rāmē tu tāṭakā krōdhamūrchitā.

udyamya bāhū garjantī rāmamēvābhyadhāvata৷৷1.26.13৷৷


rāmē when Rama, ēvam in this manner, bruvāṇē was speaking thus, tāṭakā Tataka, krōdhamūrchitā infatuated with anger, bāhū both her arms, udyamya uplifting, rāmamēva towards Rama, garjantī roaring, abhyadhāvata rushed.

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

svasti rāghavayōrastu jayaṅ caivābhyabhāṣata৷৷1.26.14৷৷


brahmarṣi: Brahmarshi, viśvāmitrastu Visvamitra, tām her, huṅkārēṇa with a Hunkara (menacing sound), abhibhartsya threatened, rāghavayō: for Rama and Lakshmana, svasti astu May there be aupicousness, jayaṅcaiva victory also, abhyabhāṣata spoke.

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

rajōmōhēna mahatā muhūrtaṅ sā vyamōhayat৷৷1.26.15৷৷


sā tāṭakā that Tataka, ghōram fearful, raja: dust, uddhūnvānā throwing up, rāghavau ubhau both Rama and Lakshmana, muhūrtam for a moment, mahatā with a great, rajōmōhēna with dust employed to confound them, vyamōhayat bewildered.

Tataka raising a cloud of frightening dust left the descendants of Raghu bewildered quite for a moment.
tatō māyāṅ samāsthāya śilāvarṣēṇa rāghavau.

avākiratsumahatā tataścukrōdha rāghava:৷৷1.26.16৷৷


tata: then, māyām the power of magic, samāsthāya assuming, sumahatā with an extensive śilāvarṣēṇa with rain of boulders, rāghavau on both Rama and Lakshmana, avākirat showered, tata: then, rāghava: Rama, cukrōdha was filled with wrath.

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

pratihatyōpadhāvantyā: karau cicchēda patribhi: ৷৷1.26.17৷৷


rāghava: Rama, tasyā: her, mahat mighty, śilāvarṣam rain of rocks, śaravarṣēṇa with volleys of arrows, pratihatya retaliating, upadhāvantyā: while she was running towards him, karau both her hands, patribhi: with arrows, cicchēda cut off.

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

saumitrirakarōtkrōdhāddhṛtakarṇāgranāsikām৷৷1.26.18৷৷


tata: then, chinnabhujām with her hands chopped, śrāntām tired, abhyāśē in the nearby place, parigarjatīm roaring, saumitri: Lakshmana, krōdhāt with indignation, hṛtakarṇāgranāsikām akarōt cut off her ears and nose.

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.
kāmarūpadharā sadya: kṛtvā rūpāṇyanēkaśa: .

antardhānaṅ gatā yakṣī mōhayantīva māyayā ৷৷1.26.19৷৷

aśmavarṣaṅ vimuñcantī bhairavaṅ vicacāra ha .


antardhānaṅ gatā vanishing from the sight, yakṣī that yakshi, mōhayantīva as if deluding, māyayā with the power of magic, kāmarūpadharā capable of assuming forms at will , sadya: immediately, anēkaśa: in various ways, rūpāṇi forms , kṛtvā having assumed, aśmavarṣam rain of heavy rocks, vimuñcantī releasing, bhairavam frightfully, vicacāra ha moving about.

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.
tatastāvaśmavarṣēṇa kīryamāṇau samantata:৷৷1.26.20৷৷

dṛṣṭvā gādhisutaśśrīmānidaṅ vacanamabravīt.


tata: then, samantata:on all sides, aśmavarṣēṇa with rain of stones, kīryamāṇau being thrown out, tau Rama and Lakshmana, dṛṣṭvā having seen, śrīmān auspicious, gādhisuta: son of Gadhi, idaṅ vacanam these words, abravīt spoke.

On seeing them hit and thrown about by a rain of stones from all sides, the auspicious son of Gadhi, (Viswamitra) spoke these words:
alaṅ tē ghṛṇayā rāma pāpaiṣā duṣṭacāriṇī৷৷1.26.21৷৷

yajñavighnakarī yakṣī purāvardhati māyayā.


rāma Rama, tē to you, ghṛṇayā out of compassion, alam enough, pāpā sinful, duṣṭacāriṇī wicked woman, yajñavighnakarī obstructor of sacrifice, ēṣā yakṣī this yakshi, māyayā by magic power, purāvardhati will regain with strength.

"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 ".
vadhyatāṅ tāvadēvaiṣā purā sandhyā pravartatē৷৷1.26.22৷৷

rakṣāṅsi sandhyākālēṣu durdharṣāṇi bhavanti vai.


sandhyā Dusk, purā pravartatē is approaching, tāvadēva before that time, ēṣā vadhyatām she may be killed, sandhyākālēṣu during evening time, rakṣāṅsi rakshasas, durdharṣāṇi bhavanti vai become unassailable.

Kill her, for dusk is fast approaching. During evening the strength of rakshasas tends to increase and they become unassailable".
ityuktastu tadā yakṣī aśmavṛṣṭyābhivarṣatīm৷৷1.26.23৷৷

darśayan śabdavēdhitvaṅ tāṅ rurōdha sa sāyakai:.


iti in this manner, ukta: addressed, sa: Rama, tadā then, śabdavēdhitvam skill in targetting the object by the sound, darśayan exhibiting, aśmavṛṣṭyā with rain of stones, abhivarṣatīm showering, tām yakṣīm that yakshi, sāyakai: with arrows, rurōdha prevented.

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.
sā ruddhā śarajālēna māyābalasamanvitā৷৷1.26.24৷৷

abhidudrāva kākutsthaṅ lakṣmaṇaṅ ca vinēduṣī.


śarajālēna with multitude of arrows, ruddhā prevented, māyābalasamanvitā possessed of magical powers, sā that female demon, vinēduṣī roaring, kākutstham Rama, lakṣmaṇaṅ ca also Lakshmana, abhidudrāva advanced.
.
Prevented by a multitude of arrows, she with her magical powers, advanced towards Rama and Lakshmana-roaring.
tāmāpatantīṅ vēgēna vikrāntāmaśanīmiva৷৷1.26.25৷৷

śarēṇōrasi vivyātha sā papāta mamāra ca.


vikrāntām advancing powerully, aśanīmiva like to a thunderbolt, vēgēna with speed, āpatantīm approaching, tām her, śarēṇa with arrow, urasi in the chest, vivyātha pierced, sā papāta she fell down, mamāra ca also died.

Her chest pierced with an arrow, she rushing menacingly towards them like a thunderbolt fell down dead.
tāṅ hatāṅ bhīmasaṅkāśāṅ dṛṣṭvā surapatistadā৷৷1.26.26৷৷

sādhu sādhviti kākutsthaṅ surāśca samapūjayan.


tadā then, surapati: Indra, surāśca other celestial beings, hatām slain, bhīmasaṅkāśām of terrible appearance, tāṅ dṛṣṭvā having seen her, sādhu sādhu iti" well done, well done" saying so, kākutstham Rama, samapūjayan worshipped.

Having seen the slain yakshini of terrible appearance, Indra and other celestials worshipped Rama, exclaiming "well done, well done ".
uvāca paramaprīta ssahasrākṣa: purandara:৷৷1.26.27৷৷

surāśca sarvē saṅhṛṣṭā viśvāmitramathābruvan.


atha then, sahasrākṣa: the thousand-eyed, purandara: Devendra, paramaprīta: was exceedingly pleased, uvāca said, sarvē all, surāśca celestial beings, saṅhṛṣṭā: were delighted, viśvāmitram addressing Viswamitra, abruvan spoke.

Then exceedingly pleased the thousand-eyed Indra and all other delighted celestials said to Viswamitra:
munē kauśika bhadraṅ tē sēndrāssarvē marudgaṇā:৷৷1.26.28৷৷

tōṣitā: karmaṇā.nēna snēhaṅ darśaya rāghavē.


kauśikamunē O! Ascetic Kausika, tē to you, bhadram may prosperity be to you, sēndrā: together with Indra, sarvē all, marudgaṇā: devatas, anēna karmaṇā by this act of Rama, tōṣitā: have been gratified, rāghavē towards Rama, snēham friendship, darśaya show.

"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.
prajāpatērbhṛśāśvasya putrān satyaparākramān৷৷1.26.29৷৷

tapōbalabhṛtō brahman rāghavāya nivēdaya.


brahman O! Brahmarshi, prajāpatē: Prajapati's, bhṛśāśvasya Brishaswas', putrān sons, satyaparākramān men of truthful prowess, tapōbalabhṛtaḥ men endowed with ascetic energy, rāghavāya for Rama, nivēdaya offer.

"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".
pātrabhūtaśca tē brahmaṅstavānugamanē dhṛta:৷৷1.26.30৷৷

kartavyaṅ ca mahatkarma surāṇāṅ rājasūnunā.


brahman O! Brahmarshi, tava anugamanē in following you, dhṛta: firm, tē to you, pātrabhūta:ca worthy to receive, rājasūnunā by this prince, surāṇām for the benefit of celestial beings, mahat many, karma task, kartavyaṅ ca have to be accomplished.

"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".
ēvamuktvā surāssarvē hṛṣṭā jagmuryathāgatam৷৷1.26.31৷৷

viśvāmitraṅ puraskṛtya tatassandhyā pravartatē.


ēvam in this manner, uktvā having said these words, surā: celestial beings, sarvē all, hṛṣṭā: were pleased, viśvāmitram Visvamitra, puraskṛtya having honoured him, yathāgatam from where they had come from, jagmu: returned, tata: then, sandhyā dusk, pravartatē commences(ed).

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.
tatō munivara: prītastāṭakāvadhatōṣita:৷৷1.26.32৷৷

mūrdhni rāmamupāghrāya idaṅ vacanamabravīt.


tata: then, munivara: best of ascetics, prīta: rejoiced, tāṭakāvadhatōṣita: pleased with slaying of Tataka , rāmam Rama, mūrdhni on the head, upāghrāya having smelt fondly , idaṅ vacanam this word, abravīt spoke.

Then, the best of ascetics Viswamitra rejoiced over the death of Tataka, kissed the forehead of Rama (fondly) and spoke these words:
ihādya rajanīṅ rāma vasēma śubhadarśana৷৷1.26.33৷৷

śva: prabhātē gamiṣyāmastadāśramapadaṅ mama.


śubhadarśana O! Auspicious looking one, rāma Rama, adya today, rajanīm this night, iha here, vasēma we will live, śva: tomorrow, prabhātē in the morning, mama my, tat āśramapadam that hermitage, gamiṣyāma: we shall proceed.

"O auspicious-looking Rama! tonight we shall stay here. Tomorrow morning we proceed to my hermitage".
viśvāmitravaca: śrutvā hṛṣṭō daśarathātmaja:৷৷1.26.34৷৷

uvāsa rajanīṅ tatra tāṭakāyā vanē sukham.


viśvāmitravaca: words of Visvamitra, śrutvā having heard, daśarathātmaja: son of Dasaratha, hṛṣṭa: rejoiced, tatra there, tāṭakāyā: Tataka's, vanē in the forest, sukham happily, rajanīm night, uvāsa lived.

Having heard the words of Viswamitra, Rama rejoiced and rested happily that night in the Tataka forest .
muktaśāpaṅ vanaṅ tacca tasminnēva tadāhani৷৷1.26.35৷৷

ramaṇīyaṅ vibabhrāja yathā caitrarathaṅ vanam.


tadā then, tasmin ahani ēva on that day itself, tat vanaṅ ca that forest also, muktaśāpam freed from the curse, caitraratham known as Chitraratha, vanam forest, yathā the samemanner, ramaṇīyam charming, vibabhrāja shone.

Freed from the curse from that day that forest looked charming and shone like Chitraratha Kubera's (garden).
nihatya tāṅ yakṣasutāṅ sa rāma:

praśasyamānassurasiddhasaṅghai:.

uvāsa tasminmuninā sahaiva

prabhātavēlāṅ pratibōdhyamāna:৷৷1.26.36৷৷


sa: rāma: that Rama, tāṅ yakṣasutām that daughter of that yaksha, nihatya having slain, surasiddhasaṅghai: by the multitude of devatas and siddhas, praśasyamāna: having been praised, muninā saha along with sage, Visvamitra, tasminnēva in the same forest, prabhātavēlām at the first glimpse of dawn, pratibōdhyamāna: having been awakened, uvāsa lived.

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).
ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē bālakāṇḍē ṣaḍviṅśassarga:৷৷7
Thus ends the twentysixth sarga of Balakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.