Once home to many sages and forest dwellers, now the forest was deserted because of the terror caused by a demoness, Tadaka, and her son, Mareecha, who had a hundred elephants also to do their bidding. Vishwamitra told the princes to be alert as the rakshasas were stronger at night and would attack any time without warning. He asked the princes to kill them as soon as possible. Rama strung his bow and the twang of the string echoed all over the forest. Tadaka, Mareecha’s mother, heard it and responded to the challenge immediately, charging out of the trees to attack Rama and Lakshmana. A fierce combat followed till an arrow from Rama’s bow tore into Tadaka, killing her on the spot. Mareecha and Subahu followed to avenge Tadaka’s death. Subahu was killed immediately. Mareecha was flung miles away by the force of the attack by the brothers, not daring to return.
Slaying Tadaka
