Tataka's Tragic Transformation
Balakanda - Sarga 25
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Balakanda - Sarga 25
Dive into the Ramayana's tale of Tataka, a yaksha blessed with elephantine strength, whose tragic fall leads Rama to confront the nature of duty and righteousness.
After hearing the excellent words of Viswamitra, a sage with unimaginable powers, Rama, the greatest among men, replied gently:
"O best of ascetics, I've heard that yakshas (nature spirits) have little strength. How can a woman possess the power of a thousand elephants?"
Viswamitra answered, "Listen, and I'll explain how she gained this extraordinary strength through a boon (divine gift)."
Long ago, there lived a powerful yaksha named Suketu.
Childless, Suketu performed intense penance, following virtuous practices.
Pleased with Suketu's devotion, Pitamaha (Brahma, the creator god) granted him a daughter.
This daughter, named Tataka, received the strength of a thousand elephants from Pitamaha.
However, Brahma did not give Suketu a son.
As Tataka grew, she blossomed with youth and beauty.
Suketu gave Tataka in marriage to Sunda, son of Jharjha.
After some time, Tataka gave birth to a son named Maricha.
Maricha later became a rakshasa (demon) due to a curse, despite his yaksha parentage.
After Sunda was killed, Tataka, along with her son, wanted to attack the sage Agastya. She rushed towards him, roaring, intending to devour him. Seeing her approach, the venerable sage Agastya:
Cursed Maricha to become a rakshasa (demon)
Cursed Tataka, transforming her appearance:
She became disfigured
Her face turned hideous
She became a man-eater
Enraged by the curse, Tataka lost her senses to anger. She began ravaging the sacred land where Agastya had walked.
Viswamitra urged Rama, "O Rama (Raghava), for the welfare of the brahmins (priests) and cows, slay this wicked and extremely cruel yakshini (female yaksha) with her vile prowess."
He explained:
No man in the three worlds, except Rama, could kill this curse-afflicted yakshini.
Rama shouldn't feel pity about slaying a woman.
As a prince, Rama's duty was to serve the interests of the four orders of society.
Whether an act seems cruel or not, sinful or faulty, a virtuous protector must do what safeguards his subjects.
This is the eternal law for those burdened with royal duty.
Tataka knows no dharma (righteousness), so she must be killed.
Viswamitra provided examples from the past:
Indra (Shakra) slew Manthara, daughter of Virochana, who intended to destroy the earth.
Vishnu destroyed Kavya, mother of Shukracharya and wife of sage Bhrigu, who wanted to create a world without Indra.
Many other great men have killed unrighteous women for the common good.
Thus ends the twenty fifth sarga (chapter) of Balakanda (The Book of Youth) of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.