Hearing the resolute words of the sage Viśvāmitra, Rāma, the son of the illustrious Daśaratha, stood before him with joined palms and unwavering resolve. He replied respectfully, “Out of obedience to my father’s command, and in deference to the authority of your words, O Kauśika, I must undertake this task without hesitation. In Ayodhyā, under the guidance of great teachers and my father Daśaratha himself, I have been well-instructed; his words cannot be disregarded. For the welfare of cows and Brahmins, for the good of the land, and to uphold your profound promise, I am ready to act.” Having spoken thus, Rāma, the subduer of enemies, gripped his bow at its center and drew it, producing a sharp, thunderous twang that echoed in all directions. The sudden sound sent fear into the hearts of the creatures dwelling in Tāṭakā’s forest, and Tāṭakā herself, the fierce demoness, became bewildered and enraged by the noise. Her wrath ignited, Tāṭakā fixed upon the source of the sound and rushed furiously toward it. As she approached, Rāma saw her monstrous, deformed figure, her face terrifying and her size immense. He turned to Lakṣmaṇa and said, “Behold, Lakṣmaṇa, the dreadful form of this yakṣinī! Even the bravest would lose heart at the mere sight of her. See how formidable she is—difficult to subdue, endowed with magical powers. Today, I will render her powerless, depriving her of her ears and nose. I cannot bring myself to kill her, for she is protected by her womanhood; but I will destroy her strength and movement.” As Rāma spoke, Tāṭakā, consumed by rage, raised her arms, let out a thunderous roar, and charged straight at him. Viśvāmitra, the noble sage, rebuked her with a powerful shout and uttered blessings of safety and victory for the sons of Raghu. Tāṭakā then stirred up a terrible cloud of dust, bewildering Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa for a moment. Resorting to her magic, she unleashed a great rain of stones upon them. At this, Rāma’s anger was roused. He met her assault with a shower of arrows, and as she charged, he skillfully cut off her hands with his shafts. Standing nearby, armless, exhausted, and still roaring, Tāṭakā was further disfigured by Lakṣmaṇa, who in anger severed her ears and the tip of her nose. Yet Tāṭakā, adept in illusion, assumed many forms, vanishing and reappearing to confuse the princes. She moved about in terrifying ways, raining down stones. Witnessing this, the illustrious Viśvāmitra spoke: “Enough of your compassion, Rāma. She is wicked and evil-doing. This yakṣinī, once grown powerful through her magic, is a destroyer of sacrifices. She must be slain before dusk falls, for at twilight, demons become difficult to withstand.” Thus instructed, Rāma faced the yakṣī, who continued her assault. Demonstrating his mastery of striking by sound, he blocked her with arrows, restraining her magic. Still, Tāṭakā charged furiously at Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa, rushing upon them like a blazing thunderbolt. At that moment, the gods themselves rejoiced. “Well done, well done!” they exclaimed, honoring Rāma, the scion of the Kakutstha line. Indra, the thousand-eyed lord, spoke with great delight. All the gods, filled with joy, addressed Viśvāmitra: “O sage Kauśika, blessings to you! All the Maruts with Indra are present. We are pleased by this deed. Show affection to Rāghava and reveal to him the sons of Kṛśāśva, the son of Prajāpati, who are true in their valor. O brāhmaṇa, great in austerity, impart this knowledge to Rāghava. He is worthy and devoted to you. A great task for the gods is to be accomplished by this prince.” With these words, the delighted gods departed into the sky. Twilight began to fall, and Viśvāmitra, honored by the gods and pleased by the slaying of Tāṭakā, was filled with joy. He embraced Rāma, blessing him, and said, “O Rāma of auspicious appearance, let us stay here tonight. Tomorrow at dawn, we shall proceed to my hermitage.” Rāma, the son of Daśaratha, rejoiced at the sage’s words. That night, Rāma rested happily in Tāṭakā’s forest. Freed from its curse, the forest shone with newfound beauty, like the celestial Caitraratha grove. Praised by hosts of gods and siddhas for his victory over the yakṣī, Rāma stayed there with the sage, and at dawn, he was awakened. The next morning, the renowned Viśvāmitra smiled warmly at Rāma and addressed him in a sweet voice. “I am pleased with you, O illustrious prince. Out of great affection, I shall give you all the weapons. With these, you will conquer enemies on earth—whether gods, asuras, gandharvas, or serpents—subduing them in battle. I bestow upon you all these divine weapons, O fortunate one. I shall give you the great and divine Daṇḍa-cakra, O Rāghava.