Yatala, born into the Shudra caste at the bottom of ancient India's rigid hierarchy, endured systemic oppression and hardship from the start. Orphaned by the traumatic death of his parents under an elephant, he consumed a growth formula developed by his father, a man knowledgeable in medicinal herbs. This resulted in Yatala's massive physical stature. His unnatural size and strength led to exploitation by the Kosala kingdom, which forcibly conscripted him into military service as a human weapon.

Within the Kosala army, Yatala's imposing form was leveraged primarily for combat and intimidation in battles, including those against the Shakya clan. Despite his fearsome appearance and enforced role in warfare, he retained an underlying gentleness and capacity for empathy. This was particularly evident in his interactions with fellow outcasts; a shared background of suffering and caste-based discrimination forged a bond with characters like Tatta, a pariah, highlighting their mutual understanding as marginalized individuals.

Yatala's narrative underscores themes of exploitation and the brutal injustices of the caste system, portraying how societal structures dehumanize and weaponize the oppressed. His physical transformation through the herbal formula symbolizes both the unnatural consequences of such oppression and the distorted paths to survival available to the lower castes. His storyline does not depict a traditional redemption arc. His character remains a fixed representation of systemic victimization throughout the narrative, serving as a critique of social hierarchies and the cyclical nature of violence inflicted upon the vulnerable. No significant evolution or resolution beyond his role as a conscripted soldier is detailed.