As Rama, the illustrious descendant of Ikshvaku, journeyed through the wilderness, he turned to the eminent sage Vishvamitra with curiosity and concern. “O revered sage,” he asked, “this forest is truly formidable, filled with the ceaseless clamor of crickets. It teems with fierce beasts and birds whose harsh cries echo all around, and the air is pierced by the dreadful shrieks of many kinds of birds. Everywhere I look, I see lions, tigers, boars, and elephants moving among the dhava, ashvakarna, kakubha, bilva, tinduka, and patala trees. There are even jujube trees mixed in. Why is this forest so dreadful and fearsome?” Vishvamitra, radiant with immense energy, turned to Rama and said, “Listen, O child of the Kakutstha lineage, and I will tell you why this forest has become so dreadful. Long ago, this very place was home to two prosperous regions called Malada and Karusha, created by the gods themselves. After Indra, the slayer of Vritra, achieved victory, he was overwhelmed by impurity. Hunger and the sin of Brahma-hatya entered into Indra, the thousand-eyed lord. The gods and ascetic sages, seeing him thus afflicted, bathed him with sacred waters in golden vessels, washing away his impurity here on this earth. The impurity and the residue known as Karusha were deposited at this very spot. From Indra’s body, these substances were born, and once the impurity was removed, the gods rejoiced as Indra was restored to his former glory. Pleased, Indra granted this land a supreme boon: these two regions, Malada and Karusha, would become famous throughout the world. The gods praised the land, saying, ‘Well done! Well done!’ for it had borne the impurity of the king of the heavens. For a long time, Malada and Karusha flourished, rich in wealth and grain, and their people lived in joy. But in time, a terrible yakshini of changing form came to trouble these lands. She was possessed of the strength of a thousand elephants; her name was Tataka, wife of the wise Sunda. Her son was Maricha, a rakshasa of great might, with rounded arms, a great head, a broad mouth, and a massive body. This terrifying rakshasa constantly frightens the people and brings ruin to these two regions. Tataka, wicked in her ways, devastates Malada and Karusha. She dwells blocking this very path, half a yojana from here. Therefore, Rama, you must enter Tataka’s forest and, relying on your own strength, destroy this wicked one. By my command, make this region safe once more, for as it stands, no one dares to come here. This land has been laid waste by the fierce and intolerable yakshini, and all that I have told you is the reason why this forest remains so dreadful and ruined even now.” Having heard the sage’s words, Rama, the tiger among men, replied with auspicious speech: “O foremost among sages, it is said that this yakshini is of little strength. How is it that one so weak bears the power of a thousand elephants?” Vishvamitra, delighted by Rama’s question, spoke gently to Rama and Lakshmana. “Hear now how Tataka came to possess such power. Once there was a great yaksha named Suketu, mighty and virtuous, but childless. He performed great austerities, and the lord of the yakshas, pleased with his devotion, granted him a jewel among daughters—Tataka. To her, he gave the strength of a thousand elephants, though he did not bless Suketu with a son. As Tataka grew, beautiful and youthful, she was given in marriage to Sunda, the illustrious son of Jambha. In time, Tataka gave birth to a son named Maricha, who, by a curse, became a rakshasa of fearsome power. When Sunda was slain, Tataka, driven by hunger and rage, attacked the eminent sage Agastya together with her son. Roaring in fury, she charged at the sage. Seeing her approach, Agastya spoke to Maricha, ‘Assume the form of a rakshasa!’ Filled with great anger, Agastya also cursed Tataka: ‘O great yakshini, devourer of men, monstrous and deformed of face, abandon your present form and take on a dreadful appearance!’ Transformed by the curse and seized by wrath, Tataka, overwhelmed by anger, began to devastate this region, once sanctified by Agastya. O Raghava, for the welfare of cows and Brahmanas, you must slay this wicked and terrible yakshini, Tataka, whose evil deeds are great. No man in the three worlds but you, O delight of the Raghus, is able to kill her, for she is empowered by a curse. O best of men, do not hesitate to slay a woman in this case; for the welfare of the four orders, a prince must act. For the protection of the people, whether an act seems cruel or not, sinful or otherwise, the protector must always do what is necessary. This is the eternal duty of those who bear the burden of kingship. Slay the unrighteous one, O descendant of Kakutstha, for there is no righteousness in her. It is heard, O king, that in ancient times even Indra slew Manthara, daughter of Virocana, when she sought to destroy the earth. Thus, Rama, all has been told to you about this dreadful forest, and the origins of Tataka’s power and wickedness. Now, fulfill your duty as protector and restore peace to this land.