Srimad Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa | Bāla Kāṇḍa ~ Sarga 26 of 77

On hearing the words of that unfaltering sage about demoness Tataka, Raghava, best man’s son who is firm in his vows, reverently adjoining his palms replied the sage. [1-26-1] .

“Upon my father’s order, upon my honour to my father’s word, and looking upon this as the word of sage Kushi’s son, my mentor, this task is definitely to be implemented. [1-26-2]

The third consideration is ‘teacher’s words’ itarairapi guru shaasane sati avishankayaa dharmyam api tad uktam avashyam kartavyam iti suucitam – dharmaakuutam itarairapi guru ??sane sati avi?ankay? dharmyam api tad uktam ava?yam kartavyam iti s?citam – dharm?k?tam hence, Rama cannot be heedless of the words of both his father and teacher. .

“What my great souled father Dasharatha directed me to do among elders in Ayodhya, that word too cannot be disregarded. [1-26-3]

Dasharatha bade Rama to do whatever assigned by Vishvamitra. Here Vishvamitra is assigning something ambiguous. Hence the dilemma between two instructions of two elderly people, and thus scriptures and practise confuse the young. .

“Such as I am, I will undertake the primary duty of eliminating Tataka, according as the follower of father’s words, and according to the instruction of a Brahma scholar, such as your are, without a doubt. [1-26-4]

Here Rama is in the same predicament as Arjuna in Maha Bharata. Arjuna’s dilemma is to kill his own relatives, where Rama’s is to kill a female at this juncture. What Krishna preaches in entire Bhagavad Gita is told in nutshell by sage Vishvamitra, i.e., ‘do your duty as a Kshatriya, the ruling class, and protect virtue and eradicate vice, whether it is in the form of females or relatives.’ atha vishvaamitro guruH – tasya vacanam avicaareNa kartavyam – evam sati dasharathena api – kasushiko yad vadati tat kartavyam – iti anushiSTo raamaH ekasya guror vacanam anullanghaniiyam – guru dvaya anushiSTam vacaH katham parihartum shakyata iti – strii vadha niSedhe satya api taaDakaa vadham angiikR^itavaan – dharmaakuutam .

“I am ready to effectuate the bidding of an inestimable sage like you, for the welfare of cows and Brahmans, and for the advantage of this province.” So said Rama to sage Vishvamitra. [1-26-5] .

Saying thus, Rama, the enemy-destroyer, clenched his left fist on the handgrip in the middle of the bow, and with the right he made a thunderous sound of the bowstring making all the directions to blast. [1-26-6] .

By that sound the inhabitants of Tataka forest are startled, and even Tataka is stupefied by that sound, and she is intolerably infuriated at it. [1-26-7] .

She who is convulsed in anger to hear that sound gave attention to the direction wherefrom it emerged and she rancorously rushed thereto. [1-26-8] .

Raghava on seeing that monstrous-looking demoness with a distorted face and who by proportions is very gigantic, furthermore infuriated, spoke to Lakshmana. [1-26-9] .

“Lakshmana, see that yakshii’s grisly and ghastly physique, seeing which hearts of cowards are prone to burst. [1-26-10] .

” She is unstoppable and has magical powers, is’t, you may see now how I will make her to readily retreat by lopping off her ears and the tip of nose. [1-26-11] .

“As it is her feminineness is protecting her, and I too I do not really attempt to kill her, but I intend to terminate her impudence and mobility. [1-26-12] .

While Rama is still speaking that way, convulsed in anger Tataka roaringly rushed towards Rama alone, swinging her arms. [1-26-13] .

But the Brahma-sage Vishvamitra daunted sounded her off and said to Rama and Lakshmana, “let you be safe, and be victorious.” [1-26-14] .

Flinging up dreadful dust on those two Raghavaa-s, Tataka baffled them for a while with a massive cloud of dust. [1-26-15] .

Then taking hold of witchery she inundated both the Raghava-s with highly torrential stone rain, by which Rama became indignant. [1-26-16] .

On forestalling her effusive stone storming with his arrow storm, Rama even mutilated both of her arms with arrows while she rushed towards them. [1-26-17] .

With her arms severed and fatigued she started to roar extremely at the nearby, and then provoked Lakshmana made her to loose her ears and the tip of nose by cutting them off. [1-26-18] .

Rama while being eulogised by the groups of celestials and liberated Souls for complete elimination of yaksha’s daughter, namely Tataka, stayed there along with the sage only to be awakened by the next day?s sunrise. [1-26-36] .