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 ||
“اے عظیم یَکشِنی، آدم خور بن جا—تو بدصورت اور بھیانک چہرے والی ہے۔ اس روپ کو چھوڑ دے؛ اب سے تیرا روپ ہولناک ہو۔”
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.