Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 26, Shloka 2

ताटकावधः

The Slaying of Tāṭakā

Devanagari script

पितुर्वचननिर्देशात्पितुर्वचनगौरवात्।

वचनं कौशिकस्येति कर्तव्यमविशङ्कया।।1.26.2।।

Transliteration

pitur vacananirdeśāt pitur vacanagauravāt | vacanaṃ kauśikasya iti kartavyam aviśaṅkayā ||1.26.2||

Translation

Dahil ito ay utos ng aking ama, bilang paggalang sa kanyang salita, at dahil ito rin ay utos ni Kausika, dapat itong gawin nang walang pag-aalinlangan.

Word by Word

• पितुः: of (my) father
• पितुः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन

• वचननिर्देशात्: from the instruction of (his) words
• वचननिर्देशात्: हेतु/अपादान (Cause/Source; Ablative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचन + निर्देश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘वचनस्य निर्देशः’); पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/5th), एकवचन

• पितुः: of father
• पितुः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन

• वचनगौरवात्: from respect for (his) words
• वचनगौरवात्: हेतु/अपादान (Cause/Source; Ablative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचन + गौरव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘वचनस्य गौरवम्’); नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग (गौरव-शब्दः नपुंसकप्रायः), पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/5th), एकवचन

• वचनम्: the command/words
• वचनम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• कौशिकस्य: of Kauśika (Viśvāmitra)
• कौशिकस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कौशिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन

• इति: thus/‘as’
• इति: वाक्य-सम्बन्ध (Quotation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; इति-प्रयोगः (quotative particle)

• कर्तव्यम्: should be done
• कर्तव्यम्: विधेय (Predicate necessity)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: कृत्य-प्रत्ययान्त (तव्यत्) कृदन्त; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन; विधेय (predicative) ‘to be done/ought to be done’

• अविशङ्कया: without hesitation
• अविशङ्कया: करण (Instrument/means; adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अविशङ्का (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषण-भावे (adverbial instrumental)

Context

"As I have to fulfill the command of my father and honour his words and the instruction of Kausika (Viswamitra), I shall execute it (kill Tataka) without hesitation.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Viśvāmitra
• Daśaratha (implied by 'father')

FAQs

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

Dharma is fidelity to rightful authority and to truth: honoring a father’s command and a guru-like sage’s instruction without wavering.

What is the narrative situation?

Before or during the Tāṭakā episode, Rāma states his resolve to act, grounding it in obedience to his father and to Viśvāmitra.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s steadfastness (dhṛti) and commitment to satya—doing what duty requires, not what is emotionally easy.