Bala Kanda - The Youthful Majesties
Chapter 26
Elimination of demoness
TATaka
Introduction
Rama encounters his first problem-female demoness Tataka, also called as Taadaka, and eliminates her at the orders of sage Vishvamitra. This is a crucial test put to Rama by Vishvamitra in ascertaining whether Rama is the follower of dharma through elder men's orders or not. Rama eradicates Tataka basing on his own self-confidence.
मुनेर् वचनम् अक्लीबम् श्रुत्वा नरवरात्मजः |
राघवः प्राञ्जलिः भूत्वा प्रत्युवाच दृढव्रतः || १-२६-१
राघवः प्राञ्जलिः भूत्वा प्रत्युवाच दृढव्रतः || १-२६-१
1. dhR^iDha vrataH = one who has firm vows [Rama]; nara vara aatmajaH = among people, the best one, son of; Raghava; a kliibam = without, fear - unfaltering; muneH vachanam shrutvaa = sage's, words, on hearing; praanjaliH bhuutva = adjoining palms, on becoming; prati uvaacha = replied.
On hearing the words of that unfaltering sage about demoness Tataka, Raghava, best man's son who is firm in his vows, reverently adjoining his palms replied the sage. [1-26-1]
पितुर् वचन निर्देशात् पितुर् वचन गौरवात् |
वचनम् कौशिकस्य इति कर्तव्यम् अविशङ्कया || १-२६-२
वचनम् कौशिकस्य इति कर्तव्यम् अविशङ्कया || १-२६-२
2. pituH vachana nirdeshaat = [by my] father's, words, of order; pituH vachana gauravaat = [my] father's, words, honouring; kaushikasya vachanam iti = sage's son [Vishvamitra,] word, thus as [deeming this as my mentor's word]; a vi shankaya = without, further, doubt - definitely; kartavyam = [Tataka's elimination is to ] be implemented.
"Upon my father's order, upon my honour to my father's word, and looking upon this as the word of sage Kushi's son, my mentor, this task is definitely to be implemented. [1-26-2]
The third consideration is 'teacher's words' itarairapi guru shaasane sati avishankayaa dharmyam api tad uktam avashyam kartavyam iti suucitam - dharmaakuutamhence, Rama cannot be heedless of the words of both his father and teacher.
अनुशिष्टो अस्मि अयोध्यायाम् गुरु मध्ये महात्मना |
पित्रा दशरथेन अहम् न अवज्ञेयम् च तद् वचः || १-२६-३
पित्रा दशरथेन अहम् न अवज्ञेयम् च तद् वचः || १-२६-३
3. ayodhyaayaam = in Ayodhya; guru madhye = teachers [elders,] among; mahaatmanaa pitraa dasharathena = by great soul, by father, Dasharatha;anushiSTaH asmi = directed, I am; tat vachaH na avaj~neyam ca = that, word, cannot, to be disregarded, too.
"What my great souled father Dasharatha directed me to do among elders in Ayodhya, that word too cannot be disregarded. [1-26-3]
Dasharatha bade Rama to do whatever assigned by Vishvamitra. Here Vishvamitra is assigning something ambiguous. Hence the dilemma between two instructions of two elderly people, and thus scriptures and practise confuse the young.
सोऽहम् पितुर्वचः श्रुत्वा शासनाद् ब्रह्म वादिनः |
करिष्यामि न संदेहः ताटका वधम् उत्तमम् || १-२६-४
करिष्यामि न संदेहः ताटका वधम् उत्तमम् || १-२६-४
4. saH aham pituH vachaH shrutvaa = such as I am, father's, words, having heard ? as a follower; brahma vaadinaH = Brahma, scholar ? such as you are;shaashanaat = by your instruction; uttamam taaTaka vadham kariSyaami = best [primary duty,] Tataka's, elimination, I wish to undertake; na sandehaH = without, doubt.
"Such as I am, I will undertake the primary duty of eliminating Tataka, according as the follower of father's words, and according to the instruction of a Brahma scholar, such as your are, without a doubt. [1-26-4]
Here Rama is in the same predicament as Arjuna in Maha Bharata. Arjuna's dilemma is to kill his own relatives, where Rama's is to kill a female at this juncture. What Krishna preaches in entire Bhagavad Gita is told in nutshell by sage Vishvamitra, i.e., 'do your duty as a Kshatriya, the ruling class, and protect virtue and eradicate vice, whether it is in the form of females or relatives.' atha vishvaamitro guruH - tasya vacanam avicaareNa kartavyam - evam sati dasharathena api - kasushiko yad vadati tat kartavyam - iti anushiSTo raamaH ekasya guror vacanam anullanghaniiyam - guru dvaya anushiSTam vacaH katham parihartum shakyata iti - strii vadha niSedhe satya api taaDakaa vadham angiikR^itavaan - dharmaakuutam
गो ब्राह्मण हितार्थाय देशस्य च हिताय च |
तव चैव अप्रमेयस्य वचनम् कर्तुम् उद्यतः || १-२६-५
तव चैव अप्रमेयस्य वचनम् कर्तुम् उद्यतः || १-२६-५
5. go braahmaNa hitaarthaaya = cows, and Brahmans, for welfare of; asya deshasya hitaaya cha = this, province's, for advantage, also; aprameyasya = one who has inestimable power [Vishvamitra]; tava vachanam kartum = your, word [bidding,] to effectuate; udyataH = I am ready.
"I am ready to effectuate the bidding of an inestimable sage like you, for the welfare of cows and Brahmans, and for the advantage of this province." So said Rama to sage Vishvamitra. [1-26-5]
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