Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 26, Shloka 21

ताटकावधः

The Slaying of Tāṭakā

Devanagari script

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

Transliteration

alaṃ te ghṛṇayā rāma pāpaiṣā duṣṭacāriṇī | yajñavighnakarī yakṣī purā vardhati māyayā ||1.26.21||

Translation

"Genug des Mitleids, o Rama. Diese Yakshi ist sündhaft und böse; sie behindert Opferzeremonien und wird durch ihre Magie nur noch stärker werden."

Word by Word

• अलम्: enough; stop
• अलम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः; discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: alam (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध/पर्याप्त्यर्थक-निपात (particle meaning 'enough/stop')

• ते: to you / your
• ते: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः; possessive/relational)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular); 'to you/your' (enclitic form)

• घृणया: with compassion
• घृणया: Karana (करणम्; instrument/means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ghṛṇā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• राम: O Rama
• राम: Sambodhana (सम्बोधनम्; address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन (Singular)

• पापा: sinful
• पापा: Karta (कर्ता; subject complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pāpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (adjective) to 'eṣā/duṣṭacāriṇī/yakṣī'

• एषा: this (she)
• एषा: Karta (कर्ता; subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• दुष्टचारिणी: wicked-doer; wicked woman
• दुष्टचारिणी: Karta (कर्ता; apposition to subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: duṣṭa + cāriṇī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); कर्मधारय-समासः (descriptive): 'दुष्टा च सा चारिणी'

• यज्ञविघ्नकरी: obstructor of the sacrifice
• यज्ञविघ्नकरी: Karta (कर्ता; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yajña + vighna + karī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: 'यज्ञस्य विघ्नं करोति'

• यक्षी: yakshi (female yaksha/demoness)
• यक्षी: Karta (कर्ता; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yakṣī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• पुरा: formerly; again/once more (contextual)
• पुरा: Adhikarana (अधिकरणम्; time locus)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: purā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक-क्रियाविशेषण (temporal adverb)

• वर्धति: grows; becomes strong
• वर्धति: Kriya (क्रिया; verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vṛdh (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada)

• मायया: by magic power
• मायया: Karana (करणम्; means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: māyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

Context

"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 ".

Characters & Entities

• Viśvāmitra
• Rāma
• Tāṭakā
• yakṣī
• yajña
• māyā

FAQs

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

Compassion must be guided by discernment; dharma may require firm action against persistent harm, especially when sacred social order (yajña) is attacked.

What is the narrative situation?

Viśvāmitra urges Rāma not to spare Tāṭakā, warning that her magic will restore her power and continue the disruption.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma is being trained in विवेक (viveka, moral discernment): distinguishing mercy from negligence of duty.