Sarga 26

Verse 1

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

Having heard the sage’s manly and unflinching words, Rāghava—son of the foremost of men—stood with folded palms and replied, steadfast in his vow.

Verse 2

पितुर्वचननिर्देशात्पितुर्वचनगौरवात्। वचनं कौशिकस्येति कर्तव्यमविशङ्कया।।1.26.2।।

Because it is my father’s command—and because a father’s word must be honored—and because it is also the word of Kauśika (Viśvāmitra), it must be done without hesitation.

Verse 3

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

In Ayodhyā, in the presence of elders and teachers, I was instructed by my great-souled father Daśaratha; indeed, his word must not be disregarded.

Verse 4

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

“Having heard my father’s words, and in obedience to the command of the brahma-knowing sage, I will indeed slay Tāṭakā—there is no doubt.”

Verse 5

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

“For the welfare of cows and brāhmaṇas, and for the happiness of this land, I stand ready to carry out your word, O one of immeasurable power.”

Verse 6

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

Having spoken thus, the foe-destroyer clenched his fist upon the middle of the bow and made a fierce twang of the bowstring, making the directions resound with that sound.

Verse 7

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

At that sound the dwellers of Tāṭakā’s forest were terrified; and Tāṭakā herself, enraged, was also thrown into agitation by that sound.

Verse 8

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

Reflecting on that sound, the rākṣasī—overcome by fury—hearing it, rushed swiftly toward the direction from which the sound had arisen.

Verse 9

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

Seeing her—wrathful, disfigured, with a distorted face, and enormous in stature—Rāghava (Rāma) addressed Lakṣmaṇa.

Verse 10

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

Look, Lakṣmaṇa—see the terrifying, dreadful form of this Yakṣī; at the very sight of her, even the hearts of the timid would split in fear.

Verse 11

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

See her—hard to assail, empowered by the strength of sorcery. Today I will make her turn back, cutting off her ears and the tip of her nose.

Verse 12

न ह्येनामुत्सहे हन्तुं स्त्रीस्वभावेन रक्षिताम्।वीर्यं चास्यां गतिं चापि हनिष्यामीति मे मति:।।1.26.12।।

For I do not wish to slay her—she is shielded by the very condition of being a woman. My judgment is this: I shall destroy her prowess and her power of movement.

Verse 13

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

As Rāma spoke thus, Tāṭakā—overwhelmed by rage—lifted up her arms and, roaring, rushed straight at Rāma.

Verse 14

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

Brahmarṣi Viśvāmitra menaced her with a fierce hunkāra, and declared, “May auspiciousness and victory attend the two Rāghavas (Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa).”

Verse 15

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

Whirling up a dreadful cloud of dust, Tāṭakā bewildered both Rāghavas for a brief moment with that great dust-born delusion.

Verse 16

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

Then, resorting to magic, she showered the two Rāghavas with a massive rain of stones; seeing this, Rāma blazed with anger.

Verse 17

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

Rāma repelled her mighty rain of stones with a rain of arrows; and as she rushed toward him, he severed both her hands with sharp shafts.

Verse 18

ततश्छिन्नभुजां श्रान्तामभ्याशे परिगर्जतीम्।सौमित्रिरकरोत्क्रोधाद्धृतकर्णाग्रनासिकाम्।।1.26.18।।

Then, when she—her arms severed—stood exhausted nearby, roaring, Saumitrī (Lakṣmaṇa), in anger, cut off the tips of her ears and nose.

Verse 19

कामरूपधरा सद्य: कृत्वा रूपाण्यनेकश: ।अन्तर्धानं गता यक्षी मोहयन्तीव मायया ।।1.26.19।।अश्मवर्षं विमुञ्चन्ती भैरवं विचचार ह ।

That yakṣī, able to take any form at will, instantly assumed many shapes and vanished from sight, as though deluding by magic. Then, casting down a fearful rain of stones, she roamed about in a terrifying manner.

Verse 20

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

Then, seeing those two being pelted on all sides by a rain of stones, the illustrious son of Gādhi (Viśvāmitra) spoke these words.

Verse 21

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

“Enough of compassion, O Rāma. This one is sinful and wicked in conduct—a yakṣī who obstructs sacrifices; by her magic she will regain her former strength.”

Verse 22

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

“Let her be slain at once, before dusk sets in; for at twilight the rākṣasas become hard to overcome.”

Verse 23

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

Thus addressed, Rāma then displayed his skill of striking by sound and, with his arrows, checked that yakṣī as she rained down stones.

Verse 24

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

Blocked by a net of arrows, that demoness—endowed with deceptive magical force—rushed at the Kakutstha prince and at Lakṣmaṇa too, roaring aloud.

Verse 25

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

As she charged at speed, advancing like a thunderbolt, he pierced her chest with an arrow; she fell and died.

Verse 26

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

Seeing her slain—terrible in appearance—Indra, lord of the gods, and the other celestials honored the Kakutstha prince, crying, “Well done! Well done!”

Verse 27

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

Then Purandara, the thousand-eyed Indra, exceedingly delighted—and all the gods rejoicing—spoke to Viśvāmitra.

Verse 28

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

“O sage Kauśika, may good be yours. All the gods—together with Indra and the Marut hosts—are gratified by this deed; show your affection and favor toward Rāghava.”

Verse 29

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

“O Brahmarṣi, present to Rāghava the sons of Prajāpati Bhṛśāśva—the weapons whose might is grounded in truth and sustained by ascetic power.”

Verse 30

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

“O Brahmarṣi, he is a fit recipient (of such gifts), steadfast in following you; and great work for the benefit of the gods must be accomplished by this prince.”

Verse 31

एवमुक्त्वा सुरास्सर्वे हृष्टा जग्मुर्यथागतम्।।1.26.31।।विश्वामित्रं पुरस्कृत्य ततस्सन्ध्या प्रवर्तते।

Having spoken thus, all the gods, delighted, returned as they had come; honoring Viśvāmitra before them, then twilight set in.

Verse 32

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

Then the excellent sage, delighted and satisfied by the slaying of Tāṭakā, affectionately kissed Rāma upon the head and spoke these words.

Verse 33

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

“O Rāma, fair to behold, let us stay here tonight; tomorrow at dawn we shall go to my hermitage.”

Verse 34

विश्वामित्रवच: श्रुत्वा हृष्टो दशरथात्मज:।।1.26.34।।उवास रजनीं तत्र ताटकाया वने सुखम्।

Hearing Viśvāmitra’s words, Daśaratha’s son rejoiced and spent the night there happily in Tāṭakā’s forest.

Verse 35

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

That very day, the forest too—freed from its curse—became beautiful and shone like the Caitraratha grove.

Verse 36

निहत्य तां यक्षसुतां स राम:प्रशस्यमानस्सुरसिद्धसङ्घै:।उवास तस्मिन्मुनिना सहैवप्रभातवेलां प्रतिबोध्यमान:।।1.26.36।।

Having slain that Yakṣa’s daughter, Rāma—praised by hosts of gods and siddhas—stayed there with the sage, and at the hour of dawn was awakened (to continue the journey).