रामायणम् — बालकाण्डे चतुर्विंशः सर्गः

अथ तस्याप्रमेयस्य मुनेर्वचनमुत्तमम् ।
श्रुत्वा पुरुषशार्दूलः प्रत्युवाच शुभां गिरम् ॥

Summary AI Having heard the excellent words of the immeasurable sage, Rāma, the tiger among men, replied with auspicious words.

M N Dutt Hearing this excellent speech of that ascetic of immeasurable energy, that foremost of men answered him in these happy words,

१.२४.२

अल्पवीर्या यदा यक्षाः श्रूयन्ते मुनिपुंगव ।
कथं नागसहस्रस्य धारयत्यबला बलम् ॥

Summary AI O best of sages, since Yakṣas are said to possess little strength, how does this woman possess the strength of a thousand elephants?

M N Dutt O best of ascetics, I have heard that the Yakşa race is endowed with but small prowess. How can then that one of the weaker sex possess the strength of a thousand elephants?

१.२४.३

विश्वामित्रोऽब्रवीद्वाक्यं शृणु येन बलोत्तरा ।
वरदानकृतं वीर्यं धारयत्यबला बलम् ॥

Summary AI Viśvāmitra replied, "Listen to how this woman possesses the strength and prowess granted by a boon."

M N Dutt Hearing this speech that was uttered by Rāghava of immeasurable energy, Viśvāmitra, delighting with his amiable words that subduer of foes, Rāma, and Laksmana, said, Do you listen as to the means whereby attaining terrible strength, that one belonging to the weaker sex has come to possess strength and prowess by virtue of a boon.

१.२४.४

पूर्वमासीन्महायक्षः सुकेतुर्नाम वीर्यवान् ।
अनपत्यः शुभाचारः स च तेपे महत्तपः ॥

Summary AI Formerly, there was a powerful Mahāyakṣa named Suketu. Childless and of virtuous conduct, he performed intense penance.

M N Dutt In former times there was a mighty and exceedingly powerful Yaksa, named Suketu. And he had no issue. And he was of pure practices, and used to perform rigid austerities.

१.२४.५

पितामहस्तु सुप्रीतस्तस्य यक्षपतेस्तदा ।
कन्यारत्नं ददौ राम ताटकां नाम नामतः ॥

Summary AI O Rāma, the Progenitor (Brahmā), being well-pleased, then gave that Yakṣa lord a jewel of a daughter named Tāṭakā.

M N Dutt And, O Rāma, the Grand-sire endowed her with that lord of Yakşas, conferred upon him a gem of a daughter, by name Tāțakā.

१.२४.६

ददौ नागसहस्रस्य बलं चास्याः पितामहः ।
न त्वेव पुत्रं यक्षाय ददौ ब्रह्मा महायशाः ॥

Summary AI The Progenitor also gave her the strength of a thousand elephants; however, the illustrious Brahmā did not grant the Yakṣa a son.

M N Dutt And the Grand-sire endowed her with the strength of a thousand elephants; yet that illustrious one did not bestow a son on that Yaksa.

१.२४.७

तां तु जातां विवर्धन्तीं रूपयौवनशालिनीम् ।
जम्भपुत्राय सुन्दाय ददौ भार्यां यशस्विनीम् ॥

Summary AI When she grew up, endowed with beauty and youth, he gave that illustrious woman as a wife to Sunda, the son of Jambha.

M N Dutt When she had grown, and attained youth and beauty, he gave that famous damsel to Jambha's son, Sunda, for wife.

१.२४.८

कस्यचित्त्वथ कालल्स्य यक्षी पुत्रं व्यजायत ।
मारीचं नाम दुर्धर्षं यः शापाद्राक्षसोऽभवत् ॥

Summary AI After some time, the Yakṣī gave birth to an invincible son named Mārīca, who became a Rākṣasa due to a curse.

M N Dutt After a length of time, that Yakṣī gave birth to a son, named Mārīca, possessed of irrepressible energy, him who became a Rākṣasa in consequence of a curse.

१.२४.९

सुन्दे तु निहते राम अगस्त्यमृषिसत्तमम् ।
ताटका सह पुत्रेण प्रधर्षयितुमिच्छति ॥

Summary AI O Rāma, once Sunda was killed, Tāṭakā, along with her son, desired to assault the best of sages, Agastya.

M N Dutt O Rāma, when Sunda had been destroyed, Tat akā along with her son, set her heart upon afflicting that excellent saint Agastya.

१.२४.१०

राक्षसत्वं भजस्वेति मारीचं व्याजहार सः ।
अगस्त्यः परमक्रुद्धस्ताटकामपि शप्तवान् ॥

Summary AI Extremely enraged, Agastya commanded Mārīca to assume the state of a Rākṣasa and also cursed Tāṭakā.

१.२४.११

पुरुषादी महायक्षी विरूपा विकृतानना ।
इदं रूपमपहाय दारुणं रूपमस्तु ते ॥

Summary AI He cursed her, saying, "Relinquishing this form, may you become a man-eating Mahāyakṣī with a deformed and hideous face."

M N Dutt And, in exceeding wrath, he also cursed Tataka. And, O mighty Yaksi, since in frightful guise with a frightful face you have desired to eat up a human being, do you immediately leave this (your original) shape, and become of a terrible form!

१.२४.१२

सैषा शापकृतामर्षा ताटका क्रोधमूर्छिता ।
देशमुत्सादयत्येनमगस्त्यचरितं शुभम् ॥

Summary AI Overwhelmed by rage due to the curse, this Tāṭakā is destroying this beautiful region frequented by Agastya.

M N Dutt Thus cursed by Agastya, Tățakā, overwhelmed with rage, lays waste this fair region, where Agastya carry on his austerities.

१.२४.१३

एनां राघव दुर्वृत्तां यक्षीं परमदारुणाम् ।
गोब्राह्मणहितार्थाय जहि दुष्टपराक्रमाम् ॥

Summary AI O Rāghava, for the welfare of cows and Brāhmaṇas, slay this wicked, extremely terrible Yakṣī of evil prowess.

M N Dutt Do you, O descendant of Raghu, for the welfare of Brāhmaṇas and kine, slay this exceedingly terrible Yakṣī of wicked ways and vile prowess!

१.२४.१४

न ह्येनां शापसंसृष्टां कश्चिदुत्सहते पुमान् ।
निहन्तुं त्रिषु लोकेषु त्वामृते रघुनन्दन ॥

Summary AI O descendant of Raghu, except for you, no man in the three worlds dares to slay her, who is afflicted by a curse.

M N Dutt Nor, O son of Raghu, does any one in the three worlds, save, you, dare to slay this Yaksi joined with a curse.

१.२४.१५

न हि ते स्त्रीवधकृते घृणा कार्या नरोत्तम ।
चातुर्वर्ण्यहितार्थाय कर्तव्यं राजसूनुना ॥

Summary AI O best of men, you should not feel any compassion regarding the killing of a woman; a prince must act for the welfare of the four orders of society.

M N Dutt Nor should you, O best of men, shrink from slaying a woman; for even this should be accomplished by a prince in the interests of the four orders.

१.२४.१६

राज्यभारनियुक्तानामेष धर्मः सनातनः ।
अधर्म्यां जहि काकुत्स्थ धर्मो ह्यस्या न विद्यते ॥

Summary AI This is the eternal duty of those entrusted with the burden of kingship. O Kākutstha, slay this unrighteous woman, for no virtue exists in her.

M N Dutt Of those engaged in the onerous task of government, even this is the eternal rule of conduct. Do you, O Kākutstha, slay this impious one; for she know no righteousness!

१.२४.१७

श्रूयते हि पुरा शक्रो विरोचनसुतां नृप ।
पृथिवीं हन्तुमिच्छन्तीं मन्थरामभ्यसूदयत् ॥

Summary AI O King, it is heard that in ancient times, Śakra killed Mantharā, the daughter of Virocana, who desired to destroy the earth.

M N Dutt We hear, O king, that in days of yore, ſakra slew Virocana's daughter, Mantharā, who had intended to destroy the earth.

१.२४.१८

विष्णुना च पुरा राम भृगुपत्नी दृढव्रता ।
अनिन्द्रं लोकमिच्छन्ती काव्यमाता निषूदिता ॥

Summary AI O Rāma, in the past, even the wife of Bhṛgu and mother of Kāvya, though firm in vows, was slain by Viṣṇu for wishing the world to be without Indra.

M N Dutt And formerly, O Rama, Visnu destroyed Kāvya's mother, the devoted wife of Bhrgu, who had set her heart upon annihilating the world, deprived of sleep (through fear of her.)

१.२४.१९

एतैश्चान्यैश्च बहुभी राजपुत्रमहात्मभिः ।
अधर्मनिरता नार्यो हताः पुरुषसत्तमैः ॥

Summary AI By these and many other high-souled princes and best of men, women devoted to unrighteousness have been slain.

M N Dutt By these as well as innumerable princesforemost of men have wicked women been slain. Therefore, O king, renouncing antipathy, do you, by my command, slay this one!

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