Bala Kanda — Sarga 26

मुनेर्वचनमक्लीबं श्रुत्वा नरवरात्मजः। राघवः प्राञ्जलिर्भूत्वा प्रत्युवाच दृढव्रतः॥

Hearing those bold words of the ascetic, the son of that foremost of men, Rāghava firm in his vows, with clasped hands answered.

Bala Kanda 26.1

पितुर्वचननिर्देशात् पितुर्वचनगौरवात्। वचनं कौशिकस्येति कर्तव्यमविशङ्कया॥ अनुशिष्टोऽस्म्ययोध्यायां गुरुमध्ये महात्मना। पित्रा दशरथेनाहं नावज्ञेयं हि तद्वचः॥

In accordance with the desire of my sire, and in order to glorify it, I ought fearlessly to do even as Kusika's son says. And having been desired to that end while at Ayodhyā by that high-souled one, my father Dasaratha, in the midst of the spiritual guides, I ought not to pass by your words.

Bala Kanda 26.2

सोऽहं पितुर्वचः श्रुत्वा शासनाद् ब्रह्मवादिनः। करिष्यामि न संदेहस्ताटकावधमुत्तमम्॥

Therefore, commanded by that upholder of the Veda, I, agreeably to my father's mandate, will, without doubt, bring about that welcome event-the death of Tataka.

Bala Kanda 26.3

गोब्राह्मणहितार्थाय देशस्य च हिताय च। तव चैवाप्रमेयस्य वचनं कर्तुमुद्यतः॥

And in the interests of Brāhmaṇas, kine, and celestials, I am ready to act as desired by you of immeasurable energy.

Bala Kanda 26.4

एवमुक्त्वा धनुर्मध्ये बद्ध्वा मुष्टिमरिंदमः। ज्याघोषमकरोत् तीव्र दिशः शब्देन नादयन् ॥ तेन शब्देन विवस्तास्ताटकावनवासिनः। ताटका च सुसंक्रुद्धा तेन शब्देन मोहिता॥

Having said this, that repressor of foes, with clenched fist, twanged his bow-string, filling the ten cardinal points with the sounds. And at those sounds, the dwellers in Tāțakā's forest were filled with perturbation, and Tātakā also amazed at those sounds, became exceedingly wroth.

Bala Kanda 26.5

तं शब्दमभिनिध्याय राक्षसी क्रोधमूर्छिता। श्रुत्वा चाभ्यद्रवत् क्रुद्धा यत्र शब्दो विनिःसृतः॥

And rendered almost insensible by anger, that Räksasī furiously rushed in a main towards the spot whence had come the report.

Bala Kanda 26.6

तां दृष्ट्वा राघवः क्रुद्धां विकृतां विकृताननाम्। प्रमामेनातिवृद्धां च लक्ष्मणं सोऽभ्यभाषत॥

And beholding that frightful one of hideous visage and colossal proportions, transported with rage, Raghu's descendant spoke to Laksmana,9

Bala Kanda 26.7

पश्य लक्ष्मण यक्षिण्या भैरवं दारुणं वपुः। भिद्येरन् दर्शनादस्या भीरूणां हृदयानि च॥

Behold, O Laksmana, the terrible and hideous body of yonder Yakṣiṇī! The sight of her strike terror into the hearts of even the brave.

Bala Kanda 26.8

एतां पश्य दुराधर्षां मायाबलसमन्विताम्। विनिवृत्तां करोम्यद्य हृतकर्णाननासिकाम्॥

Mark! This irrepressible one, possessing all the resources of illusion, will I oppose, and deprive her of ears and nose.

Bala Kanda 26.9

न ह्येनामुत्सहे हन्तुं स्त्रीस्वभावेन रक्षिताम्। वीर्यं चास्या गतिं चैव हन्यामिति हि मे मतिः॥

But I dare not slay her, she being protected by virtue of her feminineness. I intend only to oppose her course, and deprive her of her prowess.

Bala Kanda 26.10

एवं ब्रुवाणे रामे तु ताटका क्रोधमूर्च्छिता। उद्यम्य बाहुं गर्जन्ती राममेवाभ्यधावत॥

As Rāma was speaking thus, Tāțakā, deprived of sense through ire, uttering roars, with uplifted arms rushed against him.

Bala Kanda 26.11

विश्वामित्रस्तु ब्रह्मर्षिहुँकारेणाभिभय॑ ताम्। स्वस्ति राघवयोरस्तु जयं चैवाभ्यभाषत॥

And thereat the Brahmarsi, Visvāmitra, uttering a roar, upbraided her, and said, Svasti!* May victory attend the descendants of Raghu! *A particle of benediction, indeclinable.

Bala Kanda 26.12

उद्धन्वाना रजो घोरं ताटका राघवावुभौ। रजोमेघेन महता मुहूर्तं सा व्यमोहयत्॥

And raising thick clouds of dust, Tāțakā instantly bewildered both the descendants of Raghu.

Bala Kanda 26.13

ततो मायां समांस्थाय शिलावर्षेण राघवौ। अवाकिरत् सुमहतां ततश्चक्रोध राघवः॥

And then by help of illusion, she began to pour upon them a mighty shower of crags. And thereat Raghu's descendant was wroth.

Bala Kanda 26.14

शिलावर्षं महत् तस्याः शरवर्षेण राघवः। प्रतिवार्योपधावन्त्याः करौ चिच्छेद पत्रिभिः॥

And resisting that mighty shower of crags by vollies of shafts, Rāghava with arrows cut off her hands.

Bala Kanda 26.15

ततश्छिन्नभुजां श्रान्तामभ्याशे परिगर्जतीम्। सौमित्रिरकरोत् क्रोधाद्धतकर्णाग्रनासिकाम्॥

And with the fore-parts of her arms lopped off, as she was roaring before them, Sumitra's son waxing wroth deprived her of her ears and nose.

Bala Kanda 26.16

कामरूपधरा सा तु कृत्वा रूपाण्यनेकशः। अन्तर्धानं गता यक्षी मोहयन्ती स्वमायया॥

Thereupon that one capable of assuming forms at will, began to assume various shapes; and to vanish from sight, bewildering her antagonists with her illusory displays.

Bala Kanda 26.17

अश्मवर्षं विमुञ्चन्ती भैरवं विचचार सा। ततस्तावश्मवर्षेण कीर्यमाणौ समन्ततः॥ दृष्ट्वा गाधिसुतः श्रीमानिदं वचनमब्रवीत्। अलं ते घृणया राम पापैषा दुष्ट्वारिणी॥ यज्ञविघ्नकरी यक्षी पुरा वर्धेत मायया। वध्यतां तावदेवैषा पुरा संध्या प्रवर्तते॥ रक्षांसि संध्याकाले तु दुर्धर्षाणि भवन्ति हि।

Terribly ranging the field, the Yakṣī showered crags upon her antagonists. And beholding them enveloped on all sides by that craggy downpour, the auspicious son of Gadhi spoke these words-O Rāma, renounce your antipathy. This one of wicked ways is exceedingly impious. And this sacrifice-disturbing Yakși will, by virtue of her power of illusion, come to increase more and more in energy. Do you, therefore, against the arrival of dusk, slay her! The Rākṣasas are incapable of being controlled when evening sets in.

Bala Kanda 26.18

इत्युक्तः स तु तां यक्षीमश्मवृष्टयाभिवर्षिणीम् ॥ दर्शयशब्दवेधित्वं तां रुरोध स सायकैः।

Thus addressed, Rāma, displaying his skill in aiming by sounds, enveloped with arrows that Yakṣī showering crags.

Bala Kanda 26.19

सा रुद्धा बाणजालेन मायाबलसमन्विता॥ अभिदुद्राव काकुत्स्थं लक्ष्मणं च विनेदुषी। तामापतन्ती वेगेन विक्रान्तामशनीमिव ॥ शरेणोरसि विव्याध सा पपात ममार च।

Being thus hemmed in with a network of shafts, she possessed of the powers of illusion, rushed against Kākutstha and Lakşmaņa, uttering terrible roars. And as that Yaksi, in prowess like to a thunder-bolt, was rushing on, Rāma pierced her chest with arrows, and thereat she dropped down and died.

Bala Kanda 26.20

तां हतां भीमसंकाशां दृष्ट्वा सुरपतिस्तदा॥ साधु साध्विति काकुत्स्थं सुराश्चाप्यभिपूजयन्।

Upon seeing that grim-visaged one slain, the lord of the celestials together with the celestials themselves honouring Kākutstha, exclaimed Well, Well!.

Bala Kanda 26.21

उवाच परमप्रीतः सहस्राक्षः पुरन्दरः॥ सुराश्च सर्वे संहृष्टा विश्वामित्रमथाब्रुवन्।

And exceedingly pleased, the thousand-eyed Purandara, together with the delighted deities, said to Viśvāmitra.

Bala Kanda 26.22

मुने कौशिक भद्रं ते सेन्द्राः सर्वे मरुद्गणाः॥ तोषिताः कर्मणानेन स्नेहं दर्शय राघवे। प्रजापतेः कृशाश्वस्य पुत्रान् सत्यपराक्रमान्॥ तपोबलभृतो ब्रह्मन् राघवाय निवेदय।

O ascetic, O Kusika's son, good betide you! all the Maruts with Indra at their head, have been gratified with this act (of Rāma's). Do you, O Brāhmaṇa, confer upon Raghu's descendant the sons of Prajāpati Kțśāśva, of true prowess, and charged with ascetic energy.

Bala Kanda 26.23

पात्रभूतश्च ते ब्रह्मस्तवानुगमने रतः॥ कर्तव्यं सुमहत् कर्म सुराणां राजसूनुना।

And ever following you, he, O Brāhmaṇa, is fit to receive them of you. And this son of the king is to accomplish a mighty task in the interests of the celestials.

Bala Kanda 26.24

एवमुक्त्वा सुराः सर्वे जग्मुर्हष्टा विहायसम्॥ विश्वामित्रं पूजयन्तस्ततः संध्या प्रवर्तते।

Saying this, the deities, having paid homage to Viśvāmitra, joyfully entered the celestial regions.

Bala Kanda 26.25

ततो मुनिवरः प्रीतस्ताटकावधतोषितः।३२।। मूर्ध्नि राममुपाघ्राय इदं वचनमब्रवीत्।

And now came evening on, when that best of ascetics, gratified at the destruction of Tāțakā, smelt Rāma's crown and said these words,

Bala Kanda 26.26

इहाद्य रजनी राम वसाम शुभदर्शन ॥ श्वः प्रभाते गमिष्यामस्तदाश्रमपदं मम।

Here, O Rāma of gracious presence, shall we pass the night; and morrow morning, went to that hermitage of mine.

Bala Kanda 26.27

विश्वामित्रवचः श्रुत्वा हृष्टो दशरथात्मजः॥ उवास रजनी तत्र ताटकाया वने सुखम्।

Hearing Visvāmitra's words, Dasaratha's son, glad at heart, happily passed that night in the forest of Tāțakā.

Bala Kanda 26.28

मुक्तशापं वनं तच्च तस्मिन्नेव तदाहनि। रमणीयं विबभ्राज यथा चैत्ररथं वनम्॥

And being thus freed from all disturbances, from that day forth that forest appeared charming, even like to the forest of Caitraratha.

Bala Kanda 26.29

निहत्य तो यक्षसुतां स रामः प्रशस्यमानः सुरसिद्धसंघैः। उवास तस्मिन् मुनिना सहैव प्रभातवेलां प्रतिबोध्यमानः॥

Having thus slain the Yakşa's daughter, Rāma, eulogised by celestials and Siddhas, spent there that night with the saint, being awakened by the latter at the break of day.

Bala Kanda 26.30