Táḍaká
Role: spirit · First appears: Book I, Canto 26 · The Forest Of Tádaká
In Book I, Canto 26, Táḍaká, whose strength exceeded that of a thousand elephants, was married to Sunda and gave birth to Márícha. She had long distressed the realms of Malaja and Karúsha as a constant plague. In Canto 27, the account tells how Brahmá bestowed her on childless Suketu with a thousand elephants’ strength, and how she was given as bride to Sunda. Agastya cursed her to take a fearful man-eating form.
In Canto 28, Lakshmaṇ severed her ears and nose as she thundered near. Ráma struck her in the heart with an arrow, and she fell dead; her death freed the grove from its curse.
Relationship record
Life events
- Táḍaká was wed to Sunda.(Book I, Canto 26 · The Forest Of Tádaká)
- With: Sunda
- “Táḍaká, wearing shapes at will, Whose mighty strength, exceeding vast, A thousand elephants, surpassed, Was to fierce Sunda, lord and head Of all the demon armies, wed.”
- Táḍaká gave birth to Márícha.(Book I, Canto 26 · The Forest Of Tádaká)
- With: Márícha
- “From her, Lord Indra’s peer in might Giant Márícha sprang to light:”
- Táḍaká distressed the two realms as a constant plague.(Book I, Canto 26 · The Forest Of Tádaká · 📍 Malaja and Karúsha)
- “And she, a constant plague and pest, These two fair realms has long distressed.”
- Brahmá bestowed Táḍaká on childless Suketu with the strength of a thousand elephants.(Book I, Canto 27 · The Birth Of Tádaká)
- Táḍaká was given to Sunda as a bride.(Book I, Canto 27 · The Birth Of Tádaká)
- With: Sunda
- “That maid in beauty’s youthful pride Was given to Sunda for a bride.”
- Táḍaká bore a son named Márícha.(Book I, Canto 27 · The Birth Of Tádaká)
- With: Márícha
- “Her son, Márícha was his name,”
- Agastya cursed Táḍaká to take a fearful man-eating form.(Book I, Canto 27 · The Birth Of Tádaká)
- With: Agastya
- “And then, by mighty anger swayed, On Táḍaká this curse he laid: ‘Thy present form and semblance quit, And wear a shape thy mood to fit; Changed form and feature by my ban, A fearful thing that feeds on man.’”
- Ráma struck Táḍaká in the heart with an arrow, and she died.(Book I, Canto 28 · The Death Of Tádaká · 📍 Táḍaká’s wild wood)
- With: Ráma
- “When Ráma smote her with a dart, Shaped like a crescent, to the heart. Sore wounded by the shaft that came With lightning speed and surest aim, Blood spouting from her mouth and side, She fell upon the earth and died.”
- Lakshmaṇ severed Táḍaká’s ears and nose.(Book I, Canto 28 · The Death Of Tádaká)
- With: Lakshmaṇ
- “As Táḍaká still thundered near Thus maimed by Ráma’s blows, Lakshmaṇ in fury severed sheer The monster’s ears and nose.”
- Táḍaká’s death freed the grove from its curse.(Book I, Canto 28 · The Death Of Tádaká)
- With: Ráma
- “And the grove shone that happy day, Freed from the curse that on it lay, Like Chaitraratha fair and gay.”
Book I, Canto 26 · The Forest Of Tádaká
- married with Sunda “Was to fierce Sunda, lord and head Of all the demon armies, wed.”
- child: Márícha “From her, Lord Indra’s peer in might Giant Márícha sprang to light:”
Book I, Canto 27 · The Birth Of Tádaká
- parent: Suketu “Childless was he, and free from crime In rites austere he passed his time. The mighty Sire was pleased to show His favour, and a child bestow. Táḍaká named, most fair to see,”
- married with Sunda “That maid in beauty’s youthful pride Was given to Sunda for a bride.”
- child: Márícha “Her son, Márícha was his name, A giant, through a curse, became.”
- enemies with Agastya “And then, by mighty anger swayed, On Táḍaká this curse he laid: ‘Thy present form and semblance quit, And wear a shape thy mood to fit; Changed form and feature by my ban, A fearful thing that feeds on man.’”
- enemies with Ráma “Go, Ráma, smite this monster dead, The wicked plague, of power so dread,”
Book I, Canto 28 · The Death Of Tádaká
- enemies with Ráma “When Ráma smote her with a dart, Shaped like a crescent, to the heart.”
- enemies with Lakshmaṇ “Lakshmaṇ in fury severed sheer The monster’s ears and nose.”
- enemies with Viśvámitra “Her, rushing on, the seer assailed With a loud cry of hate;”
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Extracted from the original text of The Rámáyan of Válmíki. Made with Rho MD.