thumb|षड्विंशः सर्गः श्रूयताम्|center श्रीमद्वाल्मीकीयरामायणे बालकाण्डे षड्विंशः सर्गः ॥१-
The twenty-sixth sarga (canto) is to be heard in the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Bāla Kāṇḍa.
मुनेर्वचनमक्लीबं श्रुत्वा नरवरात्मजः । राघवः प्राञ्जलिर्भूत्वा प्रत्युवाच दृढव्रतः ॥१-२६-
Hearing the sage's resolute words, Rāghava, son of the best of men, with joined palms and firm resolve, replied—
पितुर्वचननिर्देशात् पितुर्वचनगौरवात् । वचनं कौशिकस्येति कर्तव्यमविशङ्कया ॥१-२६-
Out of obedience and respect for my father's command, and because of the authority of Kauśika's words, this task must be done without hesitation.
अनुशिष्टोऽस्म्ययोध्यायां गुरुमध्ये महात्मना । पित्रा दशरथेनाहं नावज्ञेयं हि तद्वचः ॥१-२६-१३ सोऽहं पितुर्वचः श्रुत्वा शासनाद् ब्रह्मवादिनः । करिष्यामि न संदेहस्ताटकावधमुत्तमम् ॥१-२६-
I have been instructed in Ayodhyā among great teachers by my father Daśaratha; his words must not be disregarded.
गोब्राह्मणहितार्थाय देशस्य च हिताय च । तव चैवाप्रमेयस्य वचनं कर्तुमुद्यतः ॥१-२६-
For the welfare of cows and Brahmins, for the good of the land, and to fulfill your own unfathomable word, I am now prepared to act.
एवमुक्त्वा धनुर्मध्ये बद्ध्वा मुष्टिमरिन्दमः । ज्याघोषमकरोत् तीव्रं दिशः शब्देन नादयन् ॥१-२६-
Having spoken thus, the subduer of enemies fastened his grip at the center of the bow and produced a sharp twang, resounding through the directions with its sound.
तेन शब्देन वित्रस्तास्ताटकावनवासिनः । ताटका च सुसंक्रुद्धा तेन शब्देन मोहिता ॥१-२६-
Frightened by that sound, the dwellers of Tāṭakā's forest were alarmed, and Tāṭakā herself, greatly enraged, was bewildered by that noise.
तं शब्दमभिनिध्याय राक्षसी क्रोधमूर्छिता । श्रुत्वा चाभ्यद्रवत् क्रुद्धा यत्र शब्दो विनिःसृतः ॥१-२६-
Fixating on that sound, the demoness, overcome with wrath, heard it and, furious, rushed toward the place from which the sound had come.
तां दृष्ट्वा राघवः क्रुद्धां विकृतां विकृताननाम् । प्रमाणेनातिवृद्धां च लक्ष्मणं सोऽभ्यभाषत ॥१-२६-
Seeing her, furious, deformed, with a monstrous face and of immense size, Rāghava spoke to Lakṣmaṇa.
पश्य लक्ष्मण यक्षिण्या भैरवं दारुणं वपुः । भिद्येरन् दर्शनादस्या भीरूणां हृदयानि च ॥१-२६-
Look, Lakṣmaṇa, at the terrifying, dreadful form of this yakṣinī; at the mere sight of her, the hearts of the timid would break.
एतां पश्य दुराधर्षां मायाबलसमन्विताम् । विनिवृत्तां करोम्यद्य हृतकर्णाग्रनासिकाम् ॥१-२६-
See this formidable one, difficult to subdue, endowed with the power of illusion; today I will render her powerless, depriving her of her ears and nose.
न ह्येनामुत्सहे हन्तुं स्त्रीस्वभावेन रक्षिताम् । वीर्यं चास्या गतिं चैव हन्यामिति हि मे मतिः ॥१-२६-
Indeed, I am not able to kill her, as she is protected by her womanly nature; but I intend to destroy her strength and her movement.
एवं ब्रुवाणे रामे तु ताटका क्रोधमूर्छिता । उद्यम्य बाहू गर्जन्ती राममेवाभ्यधावत ॥१-२६-
As Rāma was speaking thus, Tāṭakā, overcome with rage, raised her arms, roaring, and charged straight at Rāma.
विश्वामित्रस्तु ब्रह्मर्षिर्हुंकारेणाभिभर्त्स्य ताम् । स्वस्ति राघवयोरस्तु जयं चैवाभ्यभाषत ॥१-२६-
But Viśvāmitra, the Brāhmin sage, rebuked her with a shout, and uttered blessings of safety and victory for the two sons of Raghu.
उद्धुन्वाना रजो घोरं ताटका राघवावुभौ । रजोमेघेन महता मुहूर्तं सा व्यमोहयत् ॥१-२६-
Tāṭakā stirred up a terrible cloud of dust, bewildering both sons of Raghu for a moment with that great dust storm.
ततो मायां समास्थाय शिलावर्षेण राघवौ । अवाकिरत् सुमहता ततश्चुक्रोध राघवः ॥१-२६-
Then, resorting to her magic, she showered the sons of Raghu with a great rain of stones; at this, Rāghava became angry.
शिलावर्षं महत् तस्याः शरवर्षेण राघवः । प्रतिवार्योपधावन्त्याः करौ चिच्छेद पत्रिभिः ॥१-२६-
Rāghava countered her great stone shower with a rain of arrows, and as she charged forward, he cut off her hands with his shafts.
ततश्च्छिन्नभुजां श्रान्तामभ्याशे परिगर्जतीम् । सौमित्रिरकरोत् क्रोधाद्धृतकर्णाग्रनासिकाम् ॥१-२६-
Then, as she stood nearby, armless, exhausted, and roaring, Saumitri, in anger, cut off her ears and the tip of her nose.
कामरूपधरा सा तु कृत्वा रूपाण्यनेकशः । अन्तर्धानं गता यक्षी मोहयन्ती स्वमायया ॥१-२६-
That yakṣinī, able to assume any form at will, took on many shapes and vanished, confusing them with her magic.
अश्मवर्षं विमुञ्चन्ती भैरवं विचचार सा १-२६-
She moved about in a terrifying manner, releasing a shower of stones.
दृष्ट्वा गाधिसुतः श्रीमानिदं वचनमब्रवीत् । अलं ते घृणया राम पापैषा दुष्टचारिणी ॥१-२६-
Seeing this, the illustrious son of Gādhi spoke these words: 'Enough of your compassion, Rāma; she is wicked and evil-doing.'
यज्ञविघ्नकरी यक्षी पुरा वर्धेत मायया । वध्यतां तावदेवैषा पुरा संध्या प्रवर्तते ॥१-२६-
'This yakṣinī, who once grew powerful through magic, is a destroyer of sacrifices; let her be slain before dusk sets in.'
रक्षांसि संध्याकाले तु दुर्धर्षाणि भवन्ति हि । इत्युक्तः स तु तां यक्षीमश्मवृष्ट्याभिवर्षणीम् ॥१-२६-
At twilight, the demons indeed become difficult to withstand. Thus instructed, he faced that yakṣī who was showering stones.
दर्शयञ्शब्दवेधित्वं तां रुरोध स सायकैः । सा रुद्धा बाणजालेन मायाबलसमन्विता ॥१-२६-
Demonstrating his skill in striking by sound, he blocked her with arrows. She, endowed with magical power, was restrained by the barrage of arrows.
अभिदुद्राव काकुत्स्थं लक्ष्मणं च विनेषुदी । तामापतन्तीं वेगेन विक्रान्तामशनीमिव ॥१-२६-
She charged furiously at Kākutstha and Lakṣmaṇa, rushing upon them like a blazing thunderbolt.
साधु साध्विति काकुत्स्थं सुराश्चाप्यभिपूजयन् । उवाच परमप्रीतः सहस्राक्षः पुरन्दरः ॥१-२६-
The gods honored Kākutstha, exclaiming, 'Well done, well done!' And Indra, the thousand-eyed lord, spoke with great delight.
सुराश्च सर्वे संहृष्टा विश्वामित्रमथाब्रुवन् । मुने कौशिक भद्रं ते सेन्द्राः सर्वे मरुद्गणाः ॥१-२६-
All the gods, rejoicing, then said to Viśvāmitra: 'O sage Kauśika, blessings to you! All the Maruts with Indra are here.'
तोषिताः कर्मणानेन स्नेहं दर्शय राघवे । प्रजापतेः कृशाश्वस्य पुत्रान् सत्यपराक्रमान् ॥१-२६-
'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.'
तपोबलभृतो ब्रह्मन् राघवाय निवेदय । पात्रभूतश्च ते ब्रह्मंस्तवानुगमने रतः ॥१-२६-
'O brāhmaṇa, who bears the power of austerity, impart this to Rāghava. He is worthy and devoted to following you, O brāhmaṇa.'
कर्तव्यं सुमहत् कर्म सुराणां राजसूनुना । एवमुक्त्वा सुराः सर्वे जग्मुर्हृष्टा विहायसम् ॥१-२६-
'A great task for the gods is to be accomplished by the prince. Having spoken thus, all the gods, delighted, departed into the sky.'