Valmiki Ramayana 1.25.5 — Bala Kanda, Sarga 25, Shloka 5

ताटकावृत्तान्तः

The Account of Tāṭakā and the Royal Duty to Protect

Devanagari script

पितामहस्तु सुप्रीतस्तस्य यक्षपते स्तदा।कन्यारत्नं ददौ राम ताटकां नाम नामत:।।।।

Transliteration

pitāmahas tu suprītas tasya yakṣapate tadā |

kanyāratnaṃ dadau rāma tāṭakāṃ nāma nāmataḥ ||

Translation

ഹേ രാമാ! അപ്പോൾ പിതാമഹനായ ബ്രഹ്മാവ് അത്യന്തം പ്രസന്നനായി, ആ യക്ഷപതിക്കു കന്യാരത്നം ദാനം ചെയ്തു—താടകാ എന്ന നാമത്തിൽ പ്രസിദ്ധയായവളെ.

Word by Word

• pitāmahaḥ: the Grandfather (Brahmā)
• pitāmahaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pitāmaha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (Masculine/पुंलिङ्ग), Prathamā vibhakti (Nominative/प्रथमा) Ekavacana (Singular/एकवचन)

• tu: indeed/but
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (Indeclinable/अव्यय), Virodha/Avadhāraṇa particle (contrast/emphasis)

• suprītaḥ: highly pleased
• suprītaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su + prīta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Kta (PPP/क्त) from √prī (प्री) with upasarga su-; Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• tasya: of him/of that
• tasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Puṃliṅga/Neuter, Ṣaṣṭhī vibhakti (Genitive/षष्ठी) Ekavacana

• yakṣapate: to the lord/king of yakṣas
• yakṣapate: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान/Dative recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yakṣapati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa-samāsa (तत्पुरुष) = yakṣa-pati; Puṃliṅga, Caturthī vibhakti (Dative/चतुर्थी) Ekavacana

• tadā: then
• tadā: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, Kāla-avyaya (temporal adverb)

• kanyāratnaṃ: a jewel of a daughter
• kanyāratnaṃ: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kanyā + ratna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa-samāsa (तत्पुरुष) = kanyā-ratna; Napuṃsaka-liṅga, Dvitīyā vibhakti (Accusative) Ekavacana

• dadau: gave/granted
• dadau: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dā (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ-lakāra (Perfect/लिट्), Prathama-puruṣa, Ekavacana, Parasmaipada

• rāma: O Rāma
• rāma: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Sambodhana (Vocative/सम्बोधन) Ekavacana

• tāṭakāṃ: Tāṭakā
• tāṭakāṃ: Karma (कर्म/Object; apposition to kanyāratnam)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tāṭakā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā vibhakti (Accusative) Ekavacana

• nāma: named
• nāma: Sambandha (Name-marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nāma (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, Nāma-particle

• nāmataḥ: by name
• nāmataḥ: Hetu/Prakāra (हेतु/प्रकार; manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nāmatas (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, Taddhita-avyaya (ablatival adverb/तद्धित-अव्यय) meaning 'by name'

Context

Rama the grandsire Brahma was highly gratified and granted to the king of yakshas, the gem of a daughter by name known asTataka.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Brahmā (Pitāmaha)
• Tāṭakā
• Yakṣas

FAQs

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

Dharma here highlights the idea that power and status (even when divinely granted) carry consequences; lineage and gifts can shape later responsibilities and conflicts.

What is the narrative situation?

Viśvāmitra explains Tāṭakā’s origin: Brahmā, pleased, grants her as an extraordinary daughter to the Yakṣa lord.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Brahmā’s role as a cosmic adjudicator is implied—bestowing boons according to merit and divine order.