Sarga 26

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

After listening to the manly command of ascetic Viswamitra, Rama, of the lineage of Raghu, the son o...

पितुर्वचननिर्देशात्पितुर्वचनगौरवात्। वचनं कौशिकस्येति कर्तव्यमविशङ्कया।।1.26.2।।

"As I have to fulfill the command of my father and honour his words and the instruction of Kausika (...

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

In Ayodhya in the presence of elders and spiritual masters (of Dasaratha's court), I have been order...

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

As per the words of my father and the command of Viswamitra, who has the knowledge of the Brahman, ...

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

For the welfare of cows and brahmins and also for the good of this country, I am ready to perform su...

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

Rama, the destroyer of enemies having said so clinched the middle of the bow with his fist and fille...

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

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

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

Hearing that sound, the demoness thought for a while and senseless with anger rushed in the directi...

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

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

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

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

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

See, she is unassailable because of the strength gained through black magic. I shall cut off her ear...

न ह्येनामुत्सहे हन्तुं स्त्रीस्वभावेन रक्षिताम्। वीर्यं चास्यां गतिं चापि हनिष्यामीति मे मति:।।1.26....

By virtue of being a woman, she is protected. I am not inclined to slay her but take away her prowes...

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

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

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

Brahmarshi Viswamitra threatened her with hunkara (menacing sound), uttering, "Auspices to the Ragha...

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

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

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

Then invoking the power of magic, she showered extensive rain of boulders on both the descendants of...

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

Rama retaliated that mighty rain of rocks with a volley of arrows. While she was advancing towards h...

ततश्छिन्नभुजां श्रान्तामभ्याशे परिगर्जतीम्। सौमित्रिरकरोत्क्रोधाद्धृतकर्णाग्रनासिकाम्।।1.26.18।।

When she was tired and roaring in a nearby place with her hands chopped off, Lakshmana cut off her e...

कामरूपधरा सद्य: कृत्वा रूपाण्यनेकश: । अन्तर्धानं गता यक्षी मोहयन्तीव मायया ।।1.26.19।। अश्मवर्षं विम...

Capable of assuming forms at will, that yakshini intending to delude the princes through her power o...

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

On seeing them hit and thrown about by a rain of stones from all sides, the auspicious son of Gadhi...

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

"O Rama she does not deserve any more compassion. This yakshini who is sinful, wicked and obstructor...

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

Kill her, for dusk is fast approaching. During evening the strength of rakshasas tends to increase a...

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

Addressed thus (by Viswamitra), Rama attacked her exhibiting his skill in targetting her by the soun...

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

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

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

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

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

Having seen the slain yakshini of terrible appearance, Indra and other celestials worshipped Rama, e...

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

Then exceedingly pleased the thousandeyed Indra and all other delighted celestials said to Viswamit...

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

"O ascetic Kausika, may prosperity be to you All devatas have been gratified by this act (of Rama) a...

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

"O Brahmarshi, you may offer to Rama, the sons of Prajapati Brishasva who are the weapons bestowed ...

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

"O Brahmarshi following you with firmness of mind, Rama is worthy to receive the weapons. He who is ...

एवमुक्त्वा सुरास्सर्वे हृष्टा जग्मुर्यथागतम्।।1.26.31।। विश्वामित्रं पुरस्कृत्य ततस्सन्ध्या प्रवर्तत...

Having said these words, the celestials were pleased. They honoured Viswamitra and returned to their...

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

Then, the best of ascetics Viswamitra rejoiced over the death of Tataka, kissed the forehead of Rama...

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

"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।

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

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

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

निहत्य तां यक्षसुतां स राम: प्रशस्यमानस्सुरसिद्धसङ्घै:। उवास तस्मिन्मुनिना सहैव प्रभातवेलां प्रतिबोध...

Rama having killed the daughter of yaksha was praised by multitudes of devatas and siddhas. He staye...