Bal Kanda
Narration
Vishvamitra said, “Raghunandan, this is a story from ancient times. There was a great Yaksha named Suketu, famous by that name. He was very powerful and virtuous, but he had no children. So he performed severe austerities.
O Shri Ram, Brahmaji was very pleased with the penance of Yaksha-king Suketu. He granted Suketu a daughter, a precious jewel of a child, and her name was Tataka. Brahmaji himself gave that girl the strength of a thousand elephants. But that glorious Pitamaha did not give the Yaksha a son.
Slowly, that Yaksha girl grew up, and as she grew, she became beautiful in form and youth. At that age, Suketu gave his illustrious daughter in marriage to Jambha’s son, Sunda.
Some time later, that Yakshi Tataka gave birth to a son named Maricha, who became a Rakshasa because of Sage Agastya’s curse.
Shri Ram, it was Agastya himself who cursed Tataka’s husband, Sunda, and caused his death. After he was killed, Tataka, along with her son, set out with the desire to kill the sage Agastya as well. Enraged, roaring to devour the sage, she rushed toward him.
Seeing her coming, the revered Agastya said to Maricha, “Abandon your divine birth and take on the nature of a Rakshasa.” Then the rishi, filled with intense indignation, cursed Tataka as well: “Become a man-eating Rakshasi with a terrifying face. You may be a great Yakshi, but now you will quickly lose this form and become dreadful.”
Because of this curse, Tataka’s fury grew even more. Overcome with rage, she went mad with anger and began laying waste to the beautiful land where Agastya lived in those days.
Raghunandan, to protect cows and Brahmins, kill this wicked, violent, and extremely dreadful Yakshika.
O hero who brings joy to the Raghu lineage, in all three worlds there is no man other than you who is capable of killing this cursed Tataka. Best among men, do not show pity by thinking of her as a woman. Even a prince must not turn away if he has to kill a woman for the welfare of the four varnas. A king who protects his people must perform any act—cruel or gentle, sinful or faulty—if it is needed for the safeguarding of his subjects. He must always remember this. For those who carry the burden of ruling a kingdom, this is their eternal duty.
O descendant of Kakutstha, Tataka is extremely sinful; she does not have even a trace of righteousness in her. Therefore, kill her.
O lord, it is said that in ancient times, Varochana’s daughter Manthara desired to destroy the entire earth. When Indra came to know of her intention, he killed her.
O Shri Ram, in ancient times, Shukracharya’s mother and Bhrigu’s devoted wife wanted to make the three worlds empty of Indra. Knowing this, Lord Vishnu killed them. They—and many other great, high-minded princes—have slain sinful women.
O lord, therefore you too, by my command, abandoning both compassion and aversion, kill this Rakshasi.”