ताटकावृत्तान्तः
The Account of Tāṭakā and the Royal Duty to Protect
अगस्त्य: परमक्रुद्धस्ताटकामपि शप्तवान्।।1.25.11।।पुरुषादी महायक्षी विरूपा विकृतानना।इदं रूपं विहायाथ दारुणं रूपमस्तु ते।।1.25.12।।
puruṣādī mahā-yakṣī virūpā vikṛtānanā | idaṃ rūpaṃ vihāyātha dāruṇaṃ rūpam astu te || 1.25.12 ||
“Maging mangangain ng tao, O dakilang yakṣī, pangit ang anyo at kasuklam-suklam ang mukha. Iwan mo ang anyong ito; mula ngayon, maging iyo ang kakila-kilabot na anyo.”
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'.
Adharma deforms identity: the verse frames moral corruption as leading to a dreadful state, warning that violent intent reshapes one’s nature.
The content of Agastya’s curse is stated: Tāṭakā is condemned to a terrifying, predatory existence.
The ascetic’s truth-bearing speech (satya-vāk): words of a realized sage are depicted as decisive and reality-shaping.