Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 25, Shloka 9

ताटकावृत्तान्तः

The Account of Tāṭakā and the Royal Duty to Protect

Devanagari script

सुन्दे तु निहते राम सागस्त्यमृषिसत्तमम्।ताटका सह पुत्रेण प्रधर्षयितुमिच्छति।।।।

Transliteration

sunde tu nihate rāma sāgastyam ṛṣisattamam |

tāṭakā saha putreṇa pradharṣayitum icchati ||

Translation

罗摩啊，当苏达被杀后，塔塔卡便与其子一同企图袭击最杰出的圣人阿加斯提亚。

Word by Word

• sunde: when/after Sunda (was)
• sunde: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Locative; time-condition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sunda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Saptamī vibhakti (Locative/सप्तमी) Ekavacana

• tu: then/indeed
• tu: Sambandha (particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, emphasis/contrast particle

• nihate: killed
• nihate: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण; locative absolute)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ni + han (धातु) + nihata (कृदन्त)
• Form: Kta (PPP/क्त) from √han (हन्) with upasarga ni-; Puṃliṅga, Saptamī vibhakti (Locative) Ekavacana; locative absolute with sunde

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

• sā: she
• sā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Strīliṅga, Prathamā vibhakti Ekavacana

• agastyam: Agastya
• agastyam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: agastya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā vibhakti (Accusative) Ekavacana

• ṛṣisattamam: the best of sages
• ṛṣisattamam: Karma (कर्म; appositive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṛṣi + sattama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa-samāsa = ṛṣi-sattama; Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā vibhakti Ekavacana; in apposition to agastyam

• tāṭakā: Tāṭakā
• tāṭakā: Karta (कर्ता; apposition to sā)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tāṭakā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā vibhakti Ekavacana

• saha: with
• saha: Sahakāraka (सहकारक/Accompaniment marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: saha (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, Sahārtha (postposition 'with'/सहार्थ) governing instrumental

• putreṇa: with (her) son
• putreṇa: Sahakāraka (सहकारक/Accompaniment)
• Type: Noun
• Root: putra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā vibhakti (Instrumental) Ekavacana

• pradharṣayitum: to attack
• pradharṣayitum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/Purpose)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra + dhṛṣ (धातु)
• Form: Tumun-anta (Infinitive/तुमुन्), from √dhṛṣ (धृष्) with upasarga pra-; 'to attack/assault'

• icchati: desires
• icchati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: iṣ (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (Present), Prathama-puruṣa, Ekavacana, Parasmaipada

Context

O Rama when Sunda died Tataka along with her son wanted to attack Agastya, the best of sages.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Tāṭakā
• Sunda
• Mārīca (implied as son)
• Agastya

FAQs

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

Dharma demands safeguarding sages and spiritual practice; aggression against a ṛṣi is framed as a grave adharmic act that warrants resistance.

What is the narrative situation?

After Sunda’s death, Tāṭakā and her son plan to attack Agastya, escalating their hostility toward the ascetic order.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Agastya’s spiritual eminence is highlighted (ṛṣisattama), implying the virtue of tapas and sanctity that must be protected.