Shloka 1.25.10

ताटकावृत्तान्तः — The Account of Tāṭakā and the Royal Duty to Protect

Devanagari script

भक्षार्थं जातसंरम्भा गर्जन्ती साभ्यधावत।0आपतन्तीं तु तां दृष्ट्वा अगस्त्यो भगवानृषि:।।।।राक्षसत्वं भजस्वेति मारीचं व्याजहार स:। 1

Transliteration

bhakṣārthaṃ jāta-saṃrambhā garjantī sābhyadhāvata | āpatantīṃ tu tāṃ dṛṣṭvā agastyo bhagavān ṛṣiḥ | rākṣasatvaṃ bhajasveti mārīcaṃ vyājahāra saḥ || 1.25.10 ||

Translation

Roaring, roused by the urge to devour, she rushed forward. Seeing her charging, the venerable sage Agastya spoke to Mārīca: “Assume the state and nature of a rākṣasa.”

Context

Roaring, she rushed with excitement to devour him. The venerable rishi Agastya saw her approaching him and cursed Maricha to assume form of a demoness.

Characters & Entities

• Agastya
• Mārīca
• Rākṣasa (demon-nature)

FAQs

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

Unchecked aggression leads to moral and existential downfall; dharma warns that predatory intent invites consequences, especially when directed against the righteous.

What is the narrative situation?

Viśvāmitra recounts an earlier episode: Agastya confronts an attacker and pronounces a transformative curse upon Mārīca.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Agastya’s ascetic potency and protective severity—using spiritual authority to restrain adharma.