Verse 1
मुनेर्वचनमक्लीबं श्रुत्वा नरवरात्मजः । राघवः प्राञ्जलिर्भूत्वा प्रत्युवाच दृढव्रतः ॥
Having heard the firm and fearless words of the sage, Rama, the son of the best of men and firm in his vows, joined his palms and replied.
Verse 2
पितुर्वचननिर्देशात् पितुर्वचनगौरवात् । वचनं कौशिकस्येति कर्तव्यमविशङ्कया ॥
By the command of my father and out of reverence for my father’s word, I shall regard the command of Kaushika as something that must be carried out without hesitation.
Verse 3
अनुशिष्टोऽस्म्ययोध्यायां गुरु मध्ये महात्मना । पित्रा दशरथेनाहं नावज्ञेयं च तद्वचः ॥
In Ayodhya, my great-souled father Dasharatha instructed me among the elders. His word must not be disregarded.
Verse 4
सोऽहं पितुर्वचः श्रुत्वा शासनाद् ब्रह्मवादिनः । करिष्यामि न सन्देहस्ताटकावधमुत्तमम् ॥
Having heard my father’s word and following the command of this knower of Brahman, I shall certainly accomplish the destruction of Tataka.
Verse 5
गोब्राह्मणहितार्थाय देशस्य च हिताय च । तवैवाप्रमेयस्य वचनं कर्तुमुद्यतः ॥
For the welfare of the cows and Brahmanas and for the welfare of this region, I am prepared to carry out your command, O sage of immeasurable power.
Verse 6
एवमुक्त्वा धनुर्मध्ये बद्ध्वा मुष्टिमरिन्दमः । ज्याघोषमकरोत्तीव्रं दिशः शब्देन नादयन् ॥
Having spoken thus, Rama, the destroyer of enemies, grasped the bow firmly and made its bowstring resound loudly, filling all the directions with its sound.
Verse 7
तेन शब्देन वित्रस्तास्ताटकावनवासिनः । ताटका च सुसङ्क्रुद्धा तेन शब्देन मोहिता ॥
By that sound the inhabitants of Tataka’s forest were terrified, and Tataka herself became bewildered and intensely enraged.
Verse 8
तं शब्दमभिनिध्याय राक्षसी क्रोधमूर्च्छिता । श्रुत्वा चाभ्यद्रवत्क्रुद्धा यत्र शब्दो विनिःसृतः ॥
Hearing that sound, the Rakshasi, overcome with anger, rushed toward the place from which the sound had arisen.
Verse 9
तां दृष्ट्वा राघवः क्रुद्धां विकृतां विकृताननाम् । प्रमाणेनातिवृद्धां च लक्ष्मणं सोऽभ्यभाषत ॥
Seeing the enraged and deformed Tataka, whose face was distorted and whose body was enormous, Rama spoke to Lakshmana.
Verse 10
पश्य लक्ष्मण यक्षिण्या भैरवं दारुणं वपुः । भिद्येरन् दर्शनादस्या भीरूणां हृदयानि च ॥
“Look, Lakshmana, at the dreadful and terrible form of this Yakshini. The hearts of timid people would break merely at the sight of her.”
Verse 11
एतां पश्य दुराधर्षां मायाबलसमन्विताम् । विनिवृत्तां करोम्यद्य हृतकर्णाग्रनासिकाम् ॥
“See this formidable woman endowed with magical power. Today I shall make her retreat after cutting off the tips of her ears and her nose.”
Verse 12
न ह्येनामुत्सहे हन्तुं स्त्रीस्वभावेन रक्षिताम् । वीर्यं चास्या गतिं चैव हन्यतामिति मे मतिः ॥
“I do not wish to kill her, since she is protected by her nature as a woman. My intention is to destroy her strength and her ability to move.”
Verse 13
एवं ब्रुवाणे रामे तु ताटका क्रोधमूर्च्छिता । उद्यंय बाहूं गर्जन्ती राममेवाभ्यधावत ॥
While Rama was speaking thus, Tataka, overcome with anger, raised her arms, roared, and rushed directly toward Rama.
Verse 14
विश्वामित्रस्तु ब्रह्मर्षिर्हुङ्कारेणाभिभर्त्स्य ताम् । स्वस्ति राघवयोरस्तु जयश्चैवाभ्यभाषत ॥
The Brahmarshi Vishvamitra threatened her with a loud cry and said to Rama and Lakshmana, “May you be safe, and may victory be yours.”
Verse 15
उद्धुन्वाना रजो घोरं ताटका राघवावुभौ । रजोमेघेन महता मुहूर्तं सा व्यमोहयत् ॥
Tataka raised a terrible cloud of dust and, with that great cloud of dust, bewildered both Rama and Lakshmana for a moment.
Verse 16
ततो मायां समास्थाय शिलावर्षेण राघवौ । अवाकिरत्सुमहता ततश्चुक्रोध राघवः ॥
Then, employing her magical power, she showered the two Raghavas with a great rain of stones. Rama became enraged.
Verse 17
शिलावर्षं महत्तस्याः शरवर्षेण राघवः । प्रतिवार्यापधावन्त्याः करौ चिच्छेद पत्रिभिः ॥
Rama stopped her great shower of stones with a shower of arrows and, as she rushed toward them, severed both her arms with arrows.
Verse 18
ततः छिन्नभुजां श्रान्तामभ्याशे परिगर्जतीम् । सौमित्रिरकरोत्क्रोधाद्धृतकर्णाग्रनासिकाम् ॥
Then, when she was exhausted, her arms severed, and roaring nearby, Lakshmana, angered, cut off the tips of her ears and her nose.
Verse 19
कामरूपधरा सा तु कृत्वा रूपाण्यनेकशः । अन्तर्धानं गता यक्षी मोहयन्ती स्वमायया ॥
The Yakshini, capable of assuming whatever form she wished, assumed many forms and disappeared, bewildering them through her magical power.
Verse 20
अश्मवर्षं विमुञ्चन्ती भैरवं विचचार सा । ततो तावश्मवर्षेण कीर्यमाणौ समन्ततः ॥
While moving about terribly, she continued to hurl a shower of stones. Rama and Lakshmana were surrounded on every side by that shower of stones.
Verse 21
दृष्ट्वा गाधिसुतः श्रीमानिदं वचनमब्रवीत् । अलं ते घृणया राम पापैषा दुष्टचारिणी ॥
Seeing this, the illustrious son of Gadhi, Vishvamitra, spoke: “Enough of your compassion, Rama. This sinful woman is evil in her conduct.”
Verse 22
यज्ञविघ्नकरी यक्षी पुरा वर्धेत मायया । वध्यतां तावदेवैषा पुरा सन्ध्या प्रवर्तते ॥
“This Yakshini causes obstacles to sacrifices and quickly regains her strength through magic. She must be slain before evening arrives.”
Verse 23
रक्षांसि सन्ध्याकाले तु दुर्धर्षाणि भवन्ति हि । इत्युक्तः स तु तां यक्षीमश्मवृष्ट्याभिवर्षतीम् ॥
“Indeed, Rakshasas become difficult to overcome at the time of evening.” Thus addressed, Rama faced the Yakshini who was showering stones upon them.
Verse 24
दर्शयन् शब्दवेधित्वं तां रुरोध स सायकैः । सा रुद्धा बाणजालेन मायाबलसमन्विता ॥
Displaying his mastery of striking by sound, Rama restrained her with his arrows. Possessed of magical power, she was blocked by the network of arrows.
Verse 25
अभिदुद्राव काकुत्स्थं लक्ष्मणं च विनेषुदी । तामापतन्तीं वेगेन विक्रान्तामशनिमिव ॥
She rushed toward Rama and Lakshmana, making a terrible noise. She came upon them with great speed like a thunderbolt.
Verse 26
शरेणोरसि विव्याध सा पपात ममार च । तां हतां भीमसङ्काशां दृष्ट्वा सुरपतिस्तदा ॥
Rama struck her in the chest with an arrow. She fell and died. Seeing the terrifying Tataka slain, Indra, the lord of the gods—
Verse 27
साधु साध्विति काकुत्स्थं सुराश्चाप्यभिपूजयन् । उवाच परमप्रीतः सहस्राक्षः पुरन्दरः ॥
—together with the gods, praised Rama, saying, “Well done! Well done!” The thousand-eyed Purandara, greatly pleased, then spoke.
Verse 28
सुराश्च सर्वे संहृष्टा विश्वामित्रमथाब्रुवन् । मुने कौशिक भद्रं ते सह इन्द्राः सर्वे मरुद्गणाः ॥
All the gods, greatly delighted, addressed Vishvamitra: “O sage Kaushika, may you be blessed. Indra and all the hosts of the Maruts are pleased.”
Verse 29
तोषिताः कर्मणानेन स्नेहं दर्शय राघवे । प्रजापतेः कृशाश्वस्य पुत्रान्सत्यपराक्रमान् ॥
“By this deed they have been pleased. Show your affection toward Raghava and bestow upon him the sons of Prajapati Krishashva, who possess true valor.”
Verse 30
तपोबलभृतो ब्रह्मन् राघवाय निवेदय । पात्रभूतश्च ते ब्रह्मन् तवानुगमने रतः ॥
“O Brahman, reveal to Raghava those who possess the power gained through austerity. Rama is worthy of receiving them and is devoted to following you.”
Verse 31
कर्तव्यं सुमहत्कर्म सुराणां राजसूनुना । एवमुक्त्वा सुराः सर्वे जग्मुर्हृष्टा विहायसम् ॥
“A great deed for the gods is to be accomplished by this prince.” Having spoken thus, all the gods, greatly pleased, departed through the sky.
Verse 32
विश्वामित्रं पूजयन्तस्ततः सन्ध्या प्रवर्तते । ततो मुनिवरः प्रीतस्ताटकावधतोषितः ॥
While honoring Vishvamitra, they departed, and evening came. Then the foremost of sages, pleased by the destruction of Tataka—
Verse 33
मूर्ध्नि राममुपाघ्राय इदं वचनमब्रवीत् । इहाद्य रजनीं राम वसाम शुभदर्शन ॥
—kissed Rama on the head and spoke: “O Rama of auspicious appearance, we shall stay here tonight.”
Verse 34
श्वः प्रभाते गमिष्यामस्तदाश्रमपदं मम । विश्वामित्रस्य वचः श्रुत्वा हृष्टो दशरथात्मजः ॥
“Tomorrow at dawn we shall go to my hermitage.” Hearing the words of Vishvamitra, Rama, the son of Dasharatha, became pleased.
Verse 35
उवास रजनीं तत्र ताटकाया वने सुखम् । मुक्तशापं वनं तच्च तस्मिन्नेव तदाहनि ॥
He spent the night there happily in Tataka’s forest. On that very day, the forest was freed from its curse.
Verse 36
रमणीयं विबभ्राज यथा चैत्ररथं वनम् । निहत्य तां यक्षसुतां स रामः प्रशस्यमानः सुरसिद्धसङ्घैः । उवास तस्मिन् मुनिना सहैव प्रभातवेलां प्रतिबोध्यमानः ॥
The forest became beautiful and shone like the celestial Chaitraratha forest. Having slain the daughter of the Yaksha, Rama was praised by hosts of gods and Siddhas and remained there with the sage, awaiting the dawn.
इति वाल्मीकि रामायणे आदिकाव्ये बालकाण्डे षड्विंशः सर्गः ॥
Thus ends the twenty-sixth Sarga of Bala Kanda of the Valmiki Ramayana, the first epic composed by Sage Valmiki.