← 1.22 Story of Kāma: The loss of his body · Bāla Kāṇḍa · 1.24 Story of Tāṭakā: Birth, marriage and Agastya’s curse →
Bāla Kāṇḍa, sarga 23: Story of Tāṭakā’s forest: Indra’s cleansing and the ruined country
Summary. The Sarayū’s origin and confluence are explained, Indra’s cleansing gives Malada & Karūṣa their names and Tāṭakā’s devastation makes the region impassable
Sequence
- After the morning rites, the munis provide a boat and urge them to depart without missing the proper time → Viśvāmitra and the princes begin crossing (1.23.1–4)
- from midstream, Rāma asks about the tumultuous roar of the water breaking against itself (1.23.5–6)
- Viśvāmitra explains that Brahmā created Lake Mānasa on Kailāsa through his mind, and that the Sarayū flows from it past Ayodhyā → the roar arises from the churning and agitation of the waters as the Sarayū meets the Gaṅgā → the brothers salute both rivers, land on the southern bank, and continue. Entering a dense, frightening forest full of predators and harsh animal cries, Rāma asks about it (1.23.7–15)
- Viśvāmitra recounts how Indra incurred the guilt of brāhmaṇa-killing after slaying Vṛtra and was afflicted with impurity and hunger → the Devas and ṛṣis bathed him with pitchers, depositing his bodily impurities, mala and karūṣa, on this land → relieved and grateful, Indra granted the lands a boon: they would become renowned as Malada and Karūṣa for having borne his bodily impurity → the Devas acclaim Indra’s honoring of the land → the regions flourish for many years, prosperous in wealth and grain (1.23.16–23)
- Tāṭakā, a yakṣiṇī and the shape-changing wife of Sunda and mother of Mārīca, later devastated them → with the strength of a thousand elephants, she now blocks the way ahead (1.23.24–27)
- Viśvāmitra commands Rāma to kill her and restore safety to land that no one dares enter. (1.23.28–30)
Verses 1.23.1–30
1.23.1
tataḥ prabhāte vimale kṛtāhnikam ariṃdamau
viśvāmitraṃ puraskṛtya nadyās tīram upāgatau
Then, when the spotless dawn had come, the two tamers of foes, their morning rites performed, placing Viśvāmitra at the fore, came to the bank of the river.
Words: tataḥ — then; prabhāte — at dawn; vimale — spotless, clear; kṛtāhnikam — the morning rites performed; ariṃdamau — the two tamers of foes; viśvāmitraṃ — Viśvāmitra; puraskṛtya — having placed at the fore; nadyās — of the river; tīram — to the bank; upāgatau — the two came, arrived
1.23.2
te ca sarve mahātmāno munayaḥ saṃśitavratāḥ
upasthāpya śubhāṃ nāvaṃ viśvāmitram athābruvan
And all those great-souled sages of firm vows, having brought up an auspicious boat, then said to Viśvāmitra:
Words: te — those; ca — and; sarve — all; mahātmāno — great-souled; munayaḥ — the sages; saṃśitavratāḥ — of firm vows; upasthāpya — having brought up, made ready; śubhāṃ — auspicious; nāvaṃ — a boat; viśvāmitram — Viśvāmitra; athābruvan — then said
1.23.3
ārohatu bhavān nāvaṃ rājaputrapuraskṛtaḥ
ariṣṭaṃ gaccha panthānaṃ mā bhūt kālasya paryayaḥ
“Let your honour board the boat, with the princes at the fore; go your way unharmed; let there be no lapse of the (proper) time.”
Words: ārohatu — let (him) board; bhavān — your honour; nāvaṃ — the boat; rājaputrapuraskṛtaḥ — with the princes at the fore; ariṣṭaṃ — unharmed, free of mishap; gaccha — go; panthānaṃ — the path, way; mā — let not; bhūt — there be; kālasya — of the time; paryayaḥ — lapse, passing
1.23.4
viśvāmitras tathety uktvā tān ṛṣīn abhipūjya ca
tatāra sahitas tābhyāṃ saritaṃ sāgaraṃ gamām
Viśvāmitra, saying “So be it,” and having honoured those seers, crossed, together with the two, the river that flows to the sea.
Words: viśvāmitras — Viśvāmitra; tathety — ‘so be it,’ thus; uktvā — having said; tān — those; ṛṣīn — seers; abhipūjya — having honoured; ca — and; tatāra — crossed; sahitas — together; tābhyāṃ — with the two; saritaṃ — the river; sāgaraṃgamām — flowing to the ocean
1.23.5
atha rāmaḥ sarinmadhye papraccha munipuṅgavam
vāriṇo bhidyamānasya kim ayaṃ tumulo dhvaniḥ
Then Rāma, in mid-river, asked the bull among sages: “What is this tumultuous sound of the water being cleft?”
Words: atha — then; rāmaḥ — Rāma; sarinmadhye — in the middle of the river; papraccha — asked; munipuṅgavam — the bull among sages; vāriṇo — of the water; bhidyamānasya — being cleft, split; kim — what; ayaṃ — this; tumulo — tumultuous; dhvaniḥ — sound, roar
1.23.6
rāghavasya vacaḥ śrutvā kautūhala samanvitam
kathayām āsa dharmātmā tasya śabdasya niścayam
Hearing Rāghava's speech, filled with curiosity, the righteous one explained the cause of that sound.
Words: rāghavasya — of Rāghava; vacaḥ — speech; śrutvā — having heard; kautūhala — curiosity; samanvitam — filled with, accompanied by; kathayām āsa — related, explained; dharmātmā — the righteous one; tasya — of that; śabdasya — of the sound; niścayam — the ascertainment, cause
1.23.7
kailāsaparvate rāma manasā nirmitaṃ saraḥ
brahmaṇā naraśārdūla tenedaṃ mānasaṃ saraḥ
“On Mount Kailāsa, O Rāma, a lake was fashioned by the mind of Brahmā, O tiger among men; hence this is (called) the Mānasa lake.
Words: kailāsaparvate — on Mount Kailāsa; rāma — O Rāma; manasā — by the mind; nirmitaṃ — fashioned, made; saraḥ — a lake; brahmaṇā — by Brahmā; naraśārdūla — O tiger among men; tenedaṃ — hence this; mānasaṃ — the Mānasa (mind-born); saraḥ — lake
1.23.8
tasmāt susrāva sarasaḥ sāyodhyām upagūhate
saraḥpravṛttā sarayūḥ puṇyā brahmasaraścyutā
From that lake it flowed forth, and it embraces Ayodhyā — the holy Sarayū, issuing from the lake, fallen from Brahmā's lake.
Words: tasmāt — from that; susrāva — flowed forth; sarasaḥ — from the lake; sāyodhyām — and it, Ayodhyā; upagūhate — embraces, encircles; saraḥpravṛttā — proceeding from the lake; sarayūḥ — the Sarayū; puṇyā — holy; brahmasaraścyutā — fallen from Brahmā's lake
1.23.9
tasyāyam atulaḥ śabdo jāhnavīm abhivartate
vārisaṃkṣobhajo rāma praṇāmaṃ niyataḥ kuru
This incomparable sound of it, born of the churning of the waters, advances toward the Jāhnavī (Gaṅgā); make your reverent salutation, O Rāma, with self-control.
Words: tasyāyam — this of it; atulaḥ — incomparable; śabdo — sound; jāhnavīm — toward the Jāhnavī (Gaṅgā); abhivartate — advances, rushes toward; vārisaṃkṣobhajo — born of the churning of the waters; rāma — O Rāma; praṇāmaṃ — salutation, reverence; niyataḥ — self-controlled, reverent; kuru — make, do
1.23.10
tābhyāṃ tu tāv ubhau kṛtvā praṇāmam atidhārmikau
tīraṃ dakṣiṇam āsādya jagmatur laghuvikramau
And the two, both exceedingly righteous, having made salutation to the two (rivers), reached the southern bank and went on with nimble stride.
Words: tābhyāṃ — to the two (rivers); tu — and; tāv — those two; ubhau — both; kṛtvā — having made; praṇāmam — salutation; atidhārmikau — the two exceedingly righteous; tīraṃ — the bank; dakṣiṇam — southern; āsādya — having reached; jagmatur — the two went; laghuvikramau — of nimble stride (the two)
1.23.11
sa vanaṃ ghorasaṃkāśaṃ dṛṣṭvā nṛpavarātmajaḥ
aviprahatam aikṣvākaḥ papraccha munipuṃgavam
That son of the best of kings, the Ikṣvāku prince, seeing a forest of dreadful aspect, untrodden, asked the bull among sages:
Words: sa — he; vanaṃ — the forest; ghorasaṃkāśaṃ — of dreadful aspect; dṛṣṭvā — having seen; nṛpavarātmajaḥ — son of the best of kings; aviprahatam — untrodden, desolate; aikṣvākaḥ — the Ikṣvāku descendant; papraccha — asked; munipuṃgavam — the bull among sages
1.23.12
aho vanam idaṃ durgaṃ jhillikāgaṇanāditam
bhairavaiḥ śvāpadaiḥ kīrṇaṃ śakuntair dāruṇāravaiḥ
“Ah, this forest is impassable, resounding with swarms of crickets, strewn with fearsome beasts of prey and with birds of dreadful cries;
Words: aho — ah!; vanam — the forest; idaṃ — this; durgaṃ — impassable, hard to cross; jhillikāgaṇanāditam — resounding with swarms of crickets; bhairavaiḥ — fearsome; śvāpadaiḥ — with beasts of prey; kīrṇaṃ — strewn, filled; śakuntair — with birds; dāruṇāravaiḥ — of dreadful cries
1.23.13
nānāprakāraiḥ śakunair vāśyadbhir bhairavasvanaiḥ
siṃhavyāghravarāhaiś ca vāraṇaiś cāpi śobhitam
adorned with birds of various kinds crying in fearful notes, and with lions, tigers, boars, and elephants too;
Words: nānāprakāraiḥ — of various kinds; śakunair — with birds; vāśyadbhir — crying, screeching; bhairavasvanaiḥ — of fearful notes; siṃhavyāghravarāhaiś — with lions, tigers and boars; ca — and; vāraṇaiś — with elephants; cāpi — and also; śobhitam — adorned, graced
1.23.14
dhavāśvakarṇakakubhair bilvatindukapāṭalaiḥ
saṃkīrṇaṃ badarībhiś ca kiṃ nv idaṃ dāruṇaṃ vanam
thick with dhava, aśvakarṇa, and kakubha trees, with bilva, tinduka, and pāṭala, and with jujubes — what, then, is this dreadful forest?”
Words: dhavāśvakarṇakakubhair — with dhava, aśvakarṇa and kakubha trees; bilvatindukapāṭalaiḥ — with bilva, tinduka and pāṭala trees; saṃkīrṇaṃ — crowded, dense; badarībhiś — with jujube trees; ca — and; kiṃ — what; nv — then, indeed; idaṃ — this; dāruṇaṃ — dreadful; vanam — forest
1.23.15
tam uvāca mahātejā viśvāmitro mahāmuniḥ
śrūyatāṃ vatsa kākutstha yasyaitad dāruṇaṃ vanam
The greatly splendoured great sage Viśvāmitra said to him: “Listen, my child Kākutstha, whose this dreadful forest is.
Words: tam — to him; uvāca — said; mahātejā — of great splendour; viśvāmitro — Viśvāmitra; mahāmuniḥ — the great sage; śrūyatāṃ — let it be heard; vatsa — my child; kākutstha — O Kākutstha; yasyaitad — whose this; dāruṇaṃ — dreadful; vanam — forest
1.23.16
etau janapadau sphītau pūrvam āstāṃ narottama
maladāś ca karūṣāś ca devanirmāṇa nirmitau
These two territories were formerly flourishing, O best of men — Malada and Karūṣa — fashioned by the making of the gods.
Words: etau — these two; janapadau — two territories, countries; sphītau — flourishing, prosperous (the two); pūrvam — formerly; āstāṃ — the two were; narottama — O best of men; maladāś — Malada; ca — and; karūṣāś — Karūṣa; ca — and; devanirmāṇa — by divine making; nirmitau — fashioned (the two)
1.23.17
purā vṛtravadhe rāma malena samabhiplutam
kṣudhā caiva sahasrākṣaṃ brahmahatyā yadāviśat
Of old, at the slaying of Vṛtra, O Rāma, when the guilt of brahmin-murder entered the Thousand-eyed one (Indra), he was flooded over with impurity and with hunger.
Words: purā — of old; vṛtravadhe — at the slaying of Vṛtra; rāma — O Rāma; malena — with impurity, filth; samabhiplutam — flooded over, overwhelmed; kṣudhā — with hunger; caiva — and; sahasrākṣaṃ — the Thousand-eyed (Indra); brahmahatyā — the guilt of brahmin-murder; yadāviśat — when it entered
1.23.18
tam indraṃ snāpayan devā ṛṣayaś ca tapodhanāḥ
kalaśaiḥ snāpayām āsur malaṃ cāsya pramocayan
The gods and the seers rich in austerity, bathing that Indra, bathed him with pitchers and released his impurity.
Words: tam — that; indraṃ — Indra; snāpayan — bathing; devā — the gods; ṛṣayaś — the seers; ca — and; tapodhanāḥ — rich in austerity; kalaśaiḥ — with pitchers; snāpayām āsur — bathed; malaṃ — impurity, filth; cāsya — and his; pramocayan — released, cast off
1.23.19
iha bhūmyāṃ malaṃ dattvā dattvā kāruṣam eva ca
śarīrajaṃ mahendrasya tato harṣaṃ prapedire
Having deposited here on this land the impurity (mala) and the karūṣa (offal), body-born of great Indra, they then attained joy.
Words: iha — here; bhūmyāṃ — on the land; malaṃ — impurity; dattvā — having deposited, placed; dattvā — having deposited; kāruṣam — the karūṣa (offal, filth); eva — indeed; ca — and; śarīrajaṃ — body-born; mahendrasya — of great Indra; tato — then; harṣaṃ — joy; prapedire — attained, obtained
1.23.20
nirmalo niṣkarūṣaś ca śucir indro yadābhavat
dadau deśasya suprīto varaṃ prabhur anuttamam
When Indra became free of impurity, free of karūṣa, and pure, the lord, well pleased, granted the region an unsurpassed boon:
Words: nirmalo — free of impurity; niṣkarūṣaś — free of karūṣa; ca — and; śucir — pure; indro — Indra; yadābhavat — when he became; dadau — gave, granted; deśasya — to the region; suprīto — well pleased; varaṃ — a boon; prabhur — the lord; anuttamam — unsurpassed
1.23.21
imau janapadau sthītau khyātiṃ loke gamiṣyataḥ
maladāś ca karūṣāś ca mamāṅgamaladhāriṇau
“These two territories, established, shall attain fame in the world — Malada and Karūṣa — as bearers of the impurity from my body.”
Words: imau — these two; janapadau — two territories; sthītau — established (the two); khyātiṃ — fame, renown; loke — in the world; gamiṣyataḥ — the two will attain; maladāś — Malada; ca — and; karūṣāś — Karūṣa; ca — and; mamāṅgamaladhāriṇau — bearers of the impurity of my body (the two)
1.23.22
sādhu sādhv iti taṃ devāḥ pākaśāsanam abruvan
deśasya pūjāṃ tāṃ dṛṣṭvā kṛtāṃ śakreṇa dhīmatā
“Well done, well done!” said the gods to that chastiser of Pāka (Indra), seeing that honour done to the region by the wise Śakra.
Words: sādhu — well done; sādhv — well done; iti — thus; taṃ — to that; devāḥ — the gods; pākaśāsanam — the chastiser of Pāka (Indra); abruvan — said; deśasya — of the region; pūjāṃ — honour; tāṃ — that; dṛṣṭvā — having seen; kṛtāṃ — done; śakreṇa — by Śakra; dhīmatā — the wise
1.23.23
etau janapadau sthītau dīrghakālam ariṃdama
maladāś ca karūṣāś ca muditau dhanadhānyataḥ
These two territories flourished for a long time, O tamer of foes — Malada and Karūṣa — prosperous in wealth and grain.
Words: etau — these two; janapadau — two territories; sthītau — established (the two); dīrghakālam — for a long time; ariṃdama — O tamer of foes; maladāś — Malada; ca — and; karūṣāś — Karūṣa; ca — and; muditau — rejoicing, prospering (the two); dhanadhānyataḥ — in wealth and grain
1.23.24
kasya cit tv atha kālasya yakṣī vai kāmarūpiṇī
balaṃ nāgasahasrasya dhārayantī tadā hy abhūt
But after some time there arose a yakṣī who could take any form at will, wielding the strength of a thousand elephants.
Words: kasya — of some; cit — some (indef.); tv — but; atha — then; kālasya — of time; yakṣī — a yakṣī (female yakṣa); vai — indeed; kāmarūpiṇī — able to take any form; balaṃ — the strength; nāgasahasrasya — of a thousand elephants; dhārayantī — holding, wielding; tadā — then; hy — indeed; abhūt — arose, came to be
1.23.25
tāṭakā nāma bhadraṃ te bhāryā sundasya dhīmataḥ
mārīco rākṣasaḥ putro yasyāḥ śakraparākramaḥ
Tāṭakā by name — blessings on you — the wife of the wise Sunda, whose son is the rākṣasa Mārīca, of prowess like Śakra's.
Words: tāṭakā — Tāṭakā; nāma — by name; bhadraṃ — blessings, good; te — to you; bhāryā — the wife; sundasya — of Sunda; dhīmataḥ — the wise; mārīco — Mārīca; rākṣasaḥ — a rākṣasa; putro — son; yasyāḥ — of whom, whose; śakraparākramaḥ — of Śakra-like prowess
1.23.26
imau janapadau nityaṃ vināśayati rāghava
maladāṃś ca karūṣāṃś ca tāṭakā duṣṭacāriṇī
Tāṭakā of evil ways constantly lays waste these two territories, O Rāghava — Malada and Karūṣa.
Words: imau — these two; janapadau — two territories; nityaṃ — constantly; vināśayati — lays waste, destroys; rāghava — O Rāghava; maladāṃś — Malada; ca — and; karūṣāṃś — Karūṣa; ca — and; tāṭakā — Tāṭakā; duṣṭacāriṇī — of evil conduct
1.23.27
seyaṃ panthānam āvārya vasaty atyardhayojane
ata eva ca gantavyaṃ tāṭakāyā vanaṃ yataḥ
She, blocking the path, dwells at a distance of a yojana and a half; and for that very reason we must go on, for the forest of Tāṭakā lies ahead.
Words: seyaṃ — she, this one; panthānam — the path; āvārya — having blocked, obstructed; vasaty — dwells; atyardhayojane — at a yojana and a half; ata — from this; eva — for this very (reason); ca — and; gantavyaṃ — must be gone, traversed; tāṭakāyā — of Tāṭakā; vanaṃ — the forest; yataḥ — whence, since
1.23.28
svabāhubalam āśritya jahīmāṃ duṣṭacāriṇīm
manniyogād imaṃ deśaṃ kuru niṣkaṇṭakaṃ punaḥ
Relying on the strength of your own arms, slay this evil-doer; at my command make this region free of thorns once more.
Words: svabāhubalam — the strength of your own arms; āśritya — having relied on, resorted to; jahīmāṃ — slay this; duṣṭacāriṇīm — the evil-doer; manniyogād — at my command; imaṃ — this; deśaṃ — region; kuru — make; niṣkaṇṭakaṃ — free of thorns, free of trouble; punaḥ — again, once more
1.23.29
na hi kaś cid imaṃ deśaṃ śakroty āgantum īdṛśam
yakṣiṇyā ghorayā rāma utsāditam asahyayā
For no one is able to come to such a region, laid desolate by the terrible, unbearable yakṣī, O Rāma.
Words: na — not; hi — for; kaś — anyone; cid — at all (indef.); imaṃ — this; deśaṃ — region; śakroty — is able; āgantum — to come to; īdṛśam — such; yakṣiṇyā — by the yakṣī; ghorayā — terrible; rāma — O Rāma; utsāditam — laid desolate, destroyed; asahyayā — unbearable, insufferable
1.23.30
etat te sarvam ākhyātaṃ yathaitad daruṇaṃ vanam
yakṣyā cotsāditaṃ sarvam adyāpi na nivartate
All this I have told you — how this forest became dreadful, and how it was wholly laid waste by the yakṣī, and even now does not return to its former state.
Words: etat — this; te — to you; sarvam — all; ākhyātaṃ — told, related; yathaitad — how this; daruṇaṃ — dreadful; vanam — forest; yakṣyā — by the yakṣī; cotsāditaṃ — and laid waste; sarvam — wholly, all; adyāpi — even now; na — not; nivartate — turns back, recovers
← 1.22 Story of Kāma: The loss of his body · Bāla Kāṇḍa · 1.24 Story of Tāṭakā: Birth, marriage and Agastya’s curse →
Composed by Maharṣi Vālmīki, the ādikavi of the ādikāvya: the first poet of the first poem. Sanskrit: The Vālmīki-Rāmāyaṇa: Critical Edition, Oriental Institute, Baroda, 1960–1975 (gen. eds. G. H. Bhatt, U. P. Shah); IAST from GRETIL (Göttingen). Translation and word glosses: Claude Opus 4.6–4.7; summaries and sequences: ChatGPT Astra (machine-made). Numbering follows the Critical Edition, not the vulgate (e.g. Gita Press, valmikiramayan.net), so sarga and verse numbers can differ from those editions.
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