Shloka 10

ताटकावधः

The Slaying of Tāṭakā

Devanagari script

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

Transliteration

paśya lakṣmaṇa yakṣiṇyā bhairavaṃ dāruṇaṃ vapuḥ |

bhidyeran darśanād asyā bhīrūṇāṃ hṛdayāni ca ||

Translation

লক্ষ্মণ, দেখো—এই যক্ষিণীর ভয়ংকর, দারুণ রূপ; একে দেখামাত্রই ভীরুদের হৃদয়ও ভয়ে বিদীর্ণ হয়ে যাবে।

Word by Word

• पश्य: see/behold
• पश्य: क्रिया (Command)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• लक्ष्मण: O Lakṣmaṇa
• लक्ष्मण: सम्बोधन (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक्ष्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन

• यक्षिण्याः: of the yakṣiṇī
• यक्षिण्याः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यक्षिणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन

• भैरवम्: terrible
• भैरवम्: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भैरव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण of वपुः

• दारुणम्: hideous, dreadful
• दारुणम्: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दारुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण of वपुः

• वपुः: body/form
• वपुः: कर्म (Object of पश्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वपुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• भिद्येरन्: would split/break
• भिद्येरन्: क्रिया (Potential action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भिद् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्-लकार (Optative/Potential), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद

• दर्शनात्: from the sight
• दर्शनात्: हेतु/अपादान (Cause; ‘from seeing’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दर्शन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/5th), एकवचन

• अस्याः: of her
• अस्याः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• भीरूणाम्: of the timid
• भीरूणाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (also used as adjective), षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• हृदयानि: hearts
• हृदयानि: कर्ता (Subject of भिद्येरन्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृदय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Coordination)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

Context

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

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa
• Tāṭakā (Yakṣī/Yakṣiṇī)

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

Dharma in action requires clear-eyed recognition of danger without surrendering to fear—courage supports protection of the innocent and the ascetic order.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa behold Tāṭakā directly; Rāma alerts Lakṣmaṇa to her terrifying appearance.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s composure and fearlessness—he assesses the threat calmly while guiding his brother.