ताटकावृत्तान्तः — The Account of Tāṭakā and the Royal Duty to Protect
अगस्त्य: परमक्रुद्धस्ताटकामपि शप्तवान्।।।।पुरुषादी महायक्षी विरूपा विकृतानना।इदं रूपं विहायाथ दारुणं रूपमस्तु ते।।।।
agastyaḥ paramakruddhas tāṭakām api śaptavān || 1.25.11 ||
Agastya, exceedingly enraged, also cursed Tāṭakā.
Mighty angry, Agastya cursed Tataka saying, 'Abandon this form of a great yakshini and assume the terrible figure of a rakshasi, a cannibal with distorted appearance and a hideous countenance'.
Dharma sometimes requires firm restraint of destructive forces; spiritual authority is portrayed as acting to protect the world from harm.
The account turns from Mārīca to Tāṭakā: Agastya’s anger results in a curse that changes her condition.
Agastya’s uncompromising defense of order when faced with violent disruption.