Valmiki Ramayana 1.26.32: Bala Kanda, Sarga 26, Shloka 32
ताटकावधः
The Slaying of Tāṭakā
Spoken by Viśvāmitra to RamaSetting: Tāṭakā-vana (site of Tāṭakā’s slaying)Post-battle pause before night halt
ततो मुनिवरः प्रीतस्ताटकावधतोषितः ॥३२॥
मूर्ध्नि राममुपाघ्राय इदं वचनमब्रवीत् ।
tato munivaraḥ prītas tāṭakāvadhatoṣitaḥ ||32||
mūrdhni rāmam upāghrāya idaṃ vacanam abravīt |
फिर बड़े रिशी खुश थे। ताड़का मारी गई थी, इसलिए उनका दिल भरा। राम के सिर पे प्यार से किस किया। फिर यह बात बोली।
Sandhi Notes
- Sandhi resolution: मुनिवर: → मुनिवरः
- प्रीतस्ताटकावधतोषित: → प्रीतः ताटकावधतोषितः
- राममुपाघ्राय → रामम् उपाघ्राय
- इदं वचनमब्रवीत् → इदम् वचनम् अब्रवीत्
Then, the best of ascetics Viswamitra rejoiced over the death of Tataka, kissed the forehead of Rama (fondly) and spoke these words:
The teaching
Righteous action, when performed under a competent guide and for protection of the innocent, is affirmed by the guru’s grace; affection and approval seal the deed as dharmic rather than merely violent.
- Ethical theme
- Kṣātra-dharma under brāhma-anuśāsana (warrior duty guided by sage)
For your practice
Model of guru-bhakti and receptivity to blessing; encourages humility after success and dedication of action to dharma.
Mood and themes
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism), with Adbhuta (wonder)
- Mood
- Triumphant, affectionate, consecratory
Themes
- Dharma
- Satya
- Itihasa
- Ethics
- Guru-śiṣya
- Protection of society
Guru’s touch/blessing as transmission of confidence and clarity (sattva) after decisive action; the disciple becomes an instrument aligned with dharma.
The primacy of ācārya-anugraha for right action and knowledge (ācāryavān puruṣo veda—echo in spirit).
Sāyankāla
- Vishwamitra and Rama
- Guru’s affectionate blessing; approval after disciple’s deed (mūrdhni upāghrāya)
- Rama and Tataka
- Slayer vs. rākṣasī obstructing yajña/forest order (implied by ‘tāṭakā-vadha’)
- Vishwamitra and Tataka
- Protector of ascetic order vs. disruptor; satisfaction at her removal
Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa 1.25-26 (Tāṭakā episode culmination); Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa 1.27 (bestowal of divine missiles/astrāṇi soon after in the narrative arc)
Guru’s blessing motifs across Itihāsa-Purāṇa (e.g., elders blessing heroes before/after feats—general parallel)
Earlier in Bālakāṇḍa: Viśvāmitra’s insistence on Rāma’s capability and dharmic necessity of the act
Anuṣṭup (śloka)
Joyful
Uplifted udatta emphasis on ‘prītaḥ’ and soft cadence on ‘abravīt’
FAQs
Dharma is affirmed through the guru’s approval of a righteous act done for the protection of the innocent; the affectionate blessing indicates that force, when used under lawful guidance for public welfare, can be dhārmic.
After Tāṭakā is slain, Viśvāmitra expresses satisfaction and blesses Rāma, preparing to give further instructions.
Rāma’s obedience and readiness to act under righteous counsel, and Viśvāmitra’s role as a discerning guru who blesses proper action.
Ask anything about this verse
Answers come straight from the texts, with the shlokas they draw on. Ask in your own words.
A free sign-in with Google or Apple keeps your chat saved across web and the app.
Read Valmiki Ramayana in the Vedapath app
Scan the QR code to open this directly in the app, with word-by-word meanings, Sanskrit recitation where available, and more.
