गङ्गा–सरयू-सङ्गमः, मलद–करूश-देशकथा, ताटकावनप्रवेशोपदेशः (The Confluence of Gaṅgā and Sarayū; the Tale of Malada–Karūśa; Counsel on Tātakā’s Forest)
बालकाण्ड
At a bright dawn, Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa complete their morning rites and proceed with Viśvāmitra to the riverbank. Ascetics provide an auspicious boat, and the party crosses the Gaṅgā. Midstream, Rāma hears a tumultuous sound; Viśvāmitra explains it as the roar produced at the confluence where Gaṅgā approaches Sarayū, and he instructs Rāma to offer concentrated salutations. The brothers reverently bow to both rivers and reach the southern bank. Seeing an untrodden, dreadful forest filled with ominous animal and bird cries and dense trees, Rāma questions the sage. Viśvāmitra narrates the region’s earlier prosperity—Malada and Karūśa—said to have been fashioned by celestial architects, and recounts Indra’s purification after the Vṛtra episode, whereby the land received a boon and its names. Over time, the yakṣī Tātakā, a formidable shape-shifter and mother of Mārīca, seizes the area and terrorizes its inhabitants, blocking the route. Viśvāmitra commands Rāma to rely on his own strength to remove this ‘thorn’ and restore the country’s safety, framing the task as a dharmic obligation under ascetic authorization.
Verse 1.24.1
तत: प्रभाते विमले कृताह्निकमरिन्दमौ।विश्वामित्रं पुरस्कृत्य नद्यास्तीरमुपागतौ।।1.24.1।।
Then, at the clear and bright dawn, the two foe-subduers—having performed their morning rites—reached the riverbank with Viśvāmitra going before them.
Verse 1.24.2
ते च सर्वे महात्मानो मुनयस्संश्रितव्रता:।उपस्थाप्य शुभां नावं विश्वामित्रमथाब्रुवन्।।1.24.2।।
The gods and the seers—whose wealth was austerity—bathed Indra with water-pitchers, and thereby freed him from his bodily taint.
Verse 1.24.3
आरोहतु भवान्नावं राजपुत्रपुरस्कृत:।अरिष्टं गच्छ पन्थानं मा भूत्कालविपर्यय:।।1.24.3।।
Then, as they reached midstream, Rāma—together with his younger brother—heard a roaring sound, intensified by the river’s violent rush.
Verse 1.24.4
विश्वामित्रस्तथेत्युक्तवा तानृषीनभिपूज्य च।ततार सहितस्ताभ्यां सरितं सागरङ्गमाम्।।1.24.4।।
“O Rāma, no one is able to come into this land in such a state—laid waste by that dreadful, unbearable yakṣiṇī.”
Verse 1.24.5
ततश्शुश्राव वै शब्दमतिसंरम्भवर्धितम्।मध्यमागम्य तोयस्य सह राम:कनीयसा।।1.24.5।।
All this has been told to you—how this forest became so dreadful, and how that yakṣī laid everything waste; even now she has not withdrawn.
Verse 1.24.6
अथ रामस्सरिन्मध्ये पप्रच्छ मुनिपुङ्गवम्।वारिणो भिद्यमानस्य किमयं तुमुलो ध्वनि:।।1.24.6।।
Then, while in the midst of the river, Rāma asked the foremost sage: “What is this tumultuous sound arising from the clashing waters?”
Verse 1.24.7
राघवस्य वचश्श्रुत्वा कौतूहलसमन्वित:।कथयामास धर्मात्मा तस्य शब्दस्य निश्चयम्।।1.24.7।।
Hearing Rāghava’s words, spoken in eager curiosity, the righteous-souled Viśvāmitra explained to him the true source and meaning of that sound.
Verse 1.24.8
कैलासपर्वते राम मनसा निर्मितं सर:।ब्रह्मणा नरशार्दूल तेनेदं मानसं सर:।।1.24.8।।
“O Rāma, tiger among men: on Mount Kailāsa, Brahmā created a lake by the power of his mind; therefore this lake is known as Mānasā (Manasa) Lake.”
Verse 1.24.9
तस्मात्सुस्राव सरसस्सायोध्यामुपगूहते ।सर प्रवृत्ता सरयू: पुण्या ब्रह्मसरश्च्युता।।1.24.9।।
“From that lake a river flowed forth—this sacred stream that embraces Ayodhyā. Since it issues from the lake, it is called Sarayū, and it is holy as it springs from Brahmā’s lake.”
Verse 1.24.10
तस्यायमतुलश्शब्दो जाह्नवीमभिवर्तते।वारिसङ्क्षोभजो राम प्रणामं नियत:कुरु।।1.24.10।।
As the Jāhnavī (Gaṅgā) draws near, this incomparable roar arises from the churning clash of waters. Rāma, with a composed mind, offer your reverent salutation.
Verse 1.24.11
ताभ्यां तु तावुभौ कृत्वा प्रणाममतिधार्मिकौ।तीरं दक्षिणमासाद्य जग्मतुर्लघुविक्रमौ।।1.24.11।।
Those two, supremely righteous, having bowed in reverence to both rivers, reached the southern bank and went on swiftly.
Verse 1.24.12
स वनं घोरसङ्काशं दृष्ट्वा नृपवरात्मज:।अविप्रहतमैक्ष्वाक: पप्रच्छ मुनिपुङ्गवम्।।1.24.12।।
Seeing that forest, grim in appearance and seemingly untrodden, the Ikṣvāku prince—the son of the best of kings—questioned the foremost of sages.
Verse 1.24.13
अहो वनमिदं दुर्गं झिल्लिकागणनादितम्।भैरवैश्शपदै: पूर्णं शकुन्तैर्दारुणारुतै:।।1.24.13।।
“Ah! This forest is truly hard to pass—ringing with the incessant chorus of crickets, filled with fearsome beasts, and with birds that cry out harshly.”
Verse 1.24.14
नानाप्रकारैश्शकुनै र्वाश्यद्भिर्भैरवस्वनै:।सिंहव्याघ्रवराहैश्च वारणैश्चोपशोभितम्।।1.24.14।।
“It resounds with the frightful cries of birds of many kinds, and it is populated—indeed made formidable—by lions, tigers, boars, and elephants.”
Verse 1.24.15
धवाश्वकर्णककुभैर्बिल्वतिन्दुकपाटलै:। सङ्कीर्णं बदरीभिश्च किन्न्वेतद्दारुणं वनम्।।1.24.15।।
“Thick with dhava, aśvakarṇa, kakubha, bilva, tinduka, and pāṭala trees, and crowded with badarī as well—what, indeed, is this dreadful forest?”
Verse 1.24.16
तमुवाच महातेजा विश्वामित्रो महामुनि:।श्रूयतां वत्स काकुत्स्थ यस्यैतद्दारुणं वनम्।।1.24.16।।
Then the mighty, radiant sage Viśvāmitra said to him: “Listen, dear child of the Kakutstha line; I shall tell you to whom this dreadful forest belongs.”
Verse 1.24.17
एतौ जनपदौ स्फीतौ पूर्वमास्तां नरोत्तम।मलदाश्च करूशाश्च देवनिर्माणनिर्मितौ।।1.24.17।।
“O best of men, in former times there stood here two flourishing realms—Maladā and Karūśā—fashioned by celestial builders.”
Verse 1.24.18
पुरा वृत्रवधे राम मलेन समभिप्लुतम्।क्षुधा चैव सहस्राक्षं ब्रह्महत्या समाविशत्।।1.24.18।।
“In ancient times, O Rāma, after the slaying of Vṛtra, the thousand-eyed Indra was seized by brahmahatyā—the sin of brahmin-slaying—and he was overwhelmed by impurity and hunger as well.”
Verse 1.24.19
तमिन्द्रं स्नापयन् देवा ऋषयश्च तपोधना:।कलशैस्स्नापयामासुर्मलं चास्य प्रमोचयन्।।1.24.19।।
Then all those great-souled ascetics, steadfast in their vows, had an auspicious boat made ready and addressed Viśvāmitra, saying:
Verse 1.24.20
इह भूम्यां मलं दत्वा दत्वा कारूशमेव च।शरीरजं महेन्द्रस्य ततो हर्षं प्रपेदिरे।।1.24.20।।
Having left here upon this ground the bodily impurity of Mahendra—and his hunger as well—the gods thereafter attained great joy.
Verse 1.24.21
निर्मलो निष्करूशश्च शुचिरिंन्द्रो यदाभवत्।ददौ देशस्य सुप्रीतो वरं प्रभुरनुत्तमम्।।1.24.21।।
When Indra became pure—free from taint and free from hunger—the mighty lord, greatly pleased, granted that region an unsurpassed boon.
Verse 1.24.22
इमौ जनपदौ स्फीतौ ख्यातिं लोके गमिष्यत:।मलदाश्च करूशाश्च ममाङ्गमलधारिणौ।।1.24.22।।
Let these two provinces, bearing the impurities from my own body, become flourishing and attain fame in the world—as Maladā and Karūṣa.
Verse 1.24.23
साधु साध्विति तं देवा: पाकशासनमब्रुवन्।देशस्य पूजां तां दृष्ट्वा कृतां शक्रेण धीमता।।1.24.23।।
Seeing that honor bestowed upon the land by wise Śakra, the gods said to Pākaśāsana (Indra), “Well done! Well done!”
Verse 1.24.24
एतौ जनपदौ स्फीतौ दीर्घकालमरिन्दम।मलदाश्च करूशाश्च मुदितौ धनधान्यत:।।1.24.24।।
O subduer of enemies, these two flourishing provinces—Maladā and Karūṣa—remained for a long time joyful, rich in wealth and grain.
Verse 1.24.25
कस्यचित्त्वथ कालस्य यक्षी वै कामरूपिणी।बलं नागसहस्रस्य धारयन्ती तदा ह्यभूत्।।1.24.25।। ताटका नाम भद्रं ते भार्या सुन्दस्य धीमत:। 2मारीचो राक्षस: पुत्रो यस्याश्शक्रपराक्रम:।।1.24.26।।
After some time, there arose a yakṣī who could assume forms at will, bearing the strength of a thousand elephants. She was named Tāṭakā—may auspiciousness be yours—the wife of the wise Sunda, and the mother of the rākṣasa Mārīca, whose prowess was like that of Śakra.
Verse 1.24.26
कस्यचित्त्वथ कालस्य यक्षी वै कामरूपिणी।बलं नागसहस्रस्य धारयन्ती तदा ह्यभूत्।।1.24.25।। ताटका नाम भद्रं ते भार्या सुन्दस्य धीमत:। 2मारीचो राक्षस: पुत्रो यस्याश्शक्रपराक्रम:।।1.24.26।।
A rākṣasa with rounded, powerful arms—great in energy, broad-faced and huge-bodied—terrifying in form, continually tormented the people.
Verse 1.24.27
वृत्तबाहुर्महावीर्यो विपुलास्य तनुर्महान्।राक्षसो भैरवाकारो नित्यं त्रासयते प्रजा:।।1.24.27।।
In former times there lived a powerful great Yakṣa named Suketu. Childless yet of pure conduct, he undertook great austerity (tapas).
Verse 1.24.28
इमौ जनपदौ नित्यं विनाशयति राघव।मलदांश्च करूशांश्च ताटका दुष्टचारिणी।।1.24.28।।
“Revered sir, with the princes leading the way, please board the boat. Proceed along a path free from danger; let there be no delay of time.”
Verse 1.24.29
सेयं पन्थानमावृत्य वसत्यध्यर्धयोजने।अत एव न गन्तव्यं ताटकाया वनं यत:।।1.24.29।।
Viśvāmitra, saying “So be it,” honored those sages; then, accompanied by the two princes, he crossed the river that flows toward the ocean.
Verse 1.24.30
स्वबाहुबलमाश्रित्य जहीमां दुष्टचारिणीम्।मन्नियोगादिमं देशं कुरु निष्कण्टकं पुन:।।1.24.30।।
Then, in the middle of the river, Rāma asked the best of sages: “What is this tumultuous sound, as though the waters are splitting apart?”
Verse 1.24.31
न हि कश्चिदिमं देशं शक्नोत्यागन्तुमीदृशम्।यक्षिण्या घोरया राम उत्सादितमसह्यया।।1.24.31।।
“O Rāghava, that wicked-doing Tāṭakā continually devastates these two regions—Malada and Karūśa.”
Verse 1.24.32
एतत्ते सर्वमाख्यातं यथैतद्दारुणं वनम्।यक्ष्या चोत्सादितं सर्वमद्यापि न निवर्तते।।1.24.32।।
“She blocks the roadway and dwells about a yojana and a half from here. For this very reason, people do not pass through—since it is Tāṭakā’s forest.”
Verse 1.24.33
“Relying on the strength of your own arms, slay this wicked-doer. By my command, make this land once more free of thorns—safe and unhindered.”