Dasharatha's Refusal and Vishwamitra's Wrath

Shloka 1 (bala.20.1)

तच्छ्रुत्वा राजशार्दूलो विश्वामित्रस्य भाषितम् । मुहूर्तमिव निस्सज्ञः सज्ञावानिदमब्रवीत् ॥ १ ॥

tacchrutvā rājaśārdūlo viśvāmitrasya bhāṣitam | muhūrtamiva nissajñaḥ sajñāvānidamabravīt

Hearing these words of Vishwamitra, that tiger among kings was for a moment as if senseless; then, regaining his composure, he spoke thus.

Shloka 2 (bala.20.2)

ऊनषोडशवर्षो मे रामो राजीवलोचनः । न युद्धयोग्यतामस्य पश्यामि सह राक्षसैः ॥ २ ॥

ūnaṣoḍaśavarṣo me rāmo rājīvalocanaḥ | na yuddhayogyatāmasya paśyāmi saha rākṣasaiḥ

"My lotus-eyed Rama is not yet sixteen years of age; I do not see in him the fitness to fight with rakshasas.

Shloka 3 (bala.20.3)

इयमक्षौहिणी पूर्णा यस्याहं पतिरीश्वरः । अनया संवृतो गत्वा योद्धाहं तैर्निशाचरैः ॥ ३ ॥

iyamakṣauhiṇī pūrṇā yasyāhaṃ patirīśvaraḥ | anayā saṃvṛto gatvā yoddhāhaṃ tairniśācaraiḥ

Here is my full army, of which I am lord and commander; surrounded by it, I myself shall go and fight those night-wandering demons.

Shloka 4 (bala.20.4)

इमे शूराश्च विक्रान्ता भृत्या मेऽस्त्रविशारदाः । योग्या रक्षोगणैर्योद्धुं न रामं नेतुमर्हसि ॥ ४ ॥

ime śūrāśca vikrāntā bhṛtyā me'straviśāradāḥ | yogyā rakṣogaṇairyoddhuṃ na rāmaṃ netumarhasi

These servants of mine are brave, valorous, and skilled in weaponry, fit to fight the hordes of rakshasas; it is not proper for you to take Rama.

Shloka 5 (bala.20.5)

अहमेव धनुष्पाणिर्गोप्ता समरमूर्धनि । यावत् प्राणान् धरिष्यामि तावद्योत्स्ये निशाचरैः ॥ ५ ॥

ahameva dhanuṣpāṇirgoptā samaramūrdhani | yāvat prāṇān dhariṣyāmi tāvadyotsye niśācaraiḥ

I myself, bow in hand, shall be the protector at the forefront of battle; as long as I hold my life-breath, so long shall I fight those night-wandering demons.

Shloka 6 (bala.20.6)

निर्विघ्ना व्रतचर्या सा भविष्यति सुरक्षिता । अहं तत्रागमिष्यामि न रामं नेतुमर्हसि ॥ ६ ॥

nirvighnā vratacaryā sā bhaviṣyati surakṣitā | ahaṃ tatrāgamiṣyāmi na rāmaṃ netumarhasi

That observance of yours shall thus proceed unhindered and well-protected; I myself shall come there, it is not proper that you should take Rama.

Shloka 7 (bala.20.7)

बालो ह्यकृतविद्यश्च न च वेत्ति बलाबलम् । न चास्त्रबलसंयुक्तो न च युद्धविशारदः ॥ ७ ॥

bālo hyakṛtavidyaśca na ca vetti balābalam | na cāstrabalasaṃyukto na ca yuddhaviśāradaḥ

For he is but a child, not yet fully trained; he does not know how to judge strength and weakness, he is not versed in the power of weapons, nor skilled in warfare.

Shloka 8 (bala.20.8)

न चासौ रक्षसां योग्यः कूटयुद्धा हि ते ध्रुवम् । विप्रयुक्तो हि रामेण मुहूर्तमपि नोत्सहे ॥ ८ ॥

na cāsau rakṣasāṃ yogyaḥ kūṭayuddhā hi te dhruvam | viprayukto hi rāmeṇa muhūrtamapi notsahe

He is no match for those rakshasas, who surely fight by treacherous means. Separated from Rama, I could not bear it even for a moment,

Shloka 9 (bala.20.9)

जीवितुं मुनिशार्दूल न रामं नेतुमर्हसि । यदि वा राघवं ब्रह्मन्नेतुमिच्छसि सुव्रत ॥ ९ ॥

jīvituṃ muniśārdūla na rāmaṃ netumarhasi | yadi vā rāghavaṃ brahmannetumicchasi suvrata

to go on living, O tiger among sages; it is not proper that you take Rama. But, O brahmin of noble vows, if you truly wish to take Raghava,

Shloka 10 (bala.20.10)

चतुरंगसमायुक्तं मया सह च तं नय । षष्टिर्वर्षसहस्राणि जातस्य मम कौशिक ॥ १० ॥

caturaṃgasamāyuktaṃ mayā saha ca taṃ naya | ṣaṣṭirvarṣasahasrāṇi jātasya mama kauśika

then take him accompanied by my army of four divisions, and along with me too. O Kaushika, sixty thousand years have passed since my birth,

Shloka 11 (bala.20.11)

कृच्छ्रेणोत्पादितश्चायं न रामं नेतुमर्हसि । चतुर्णामात्मजानां हि प्रीतिः परमिका मम ॥ ११ ॥

kṛcchreṇotpāditaścāyaṃ na rāmaṃ netumarhasi | caturṇāmātmajānāṃ hi prītiḥ paramikā mama

and this son was obtained only after much hardship; it is not proper that you take Rama. Of my four sons, I have the deepest affection,

Shloka 12 (bala.20.12)

ज्येष्ठे धर्मप्रधाने च न रामं नेतुमर्हसि । किं वीर्या राक्षसास्ते च कस्य पुत्राश्च के च ते ॥ १२ ॥

jyeṣṭhe dharmapradhāne ca na rāmaṃ netumarhasi | kiṃ vīryā rākṣasāste ca kasya putrāśca ke ca te

for my eldest, foremost in righteousness, it is not proper that you take Rama. What is the might of those rakshasas? Whose sons are they, and who exactly are they?

Shloka 13 (bala.20.13)

कथं प्रमाणाः के चैतान् रक्षन्ति मुनिपुंगव । कथं च प्रतिकर्तव्यं तेषां रामेण रक्षसाम् ॥ १३ ॥

kathaṃ pramāṇāḥ ke caitān rakṣanti munipuṃgava | kathaṃ ca pratikartavyaṃ teṣāṃ rāmeṇa rakṣasām

What is their size, and who, O foremost of sages, protects them? And how must Rama deal in retaliation with those rakshasas,

Shloka 14 (bala.20.14)

मामकैर्वा बलैर्ब्रह्मन् मया वा कूटयोधिनाम् । सर्वं मे शंस भगवन् कथं तेषां मया रणे ॥ १४ ॥

māmakairvā balairbrahman mayā vā kūṭayodhinām | sarvaṃ me śaṃsa bhagavan kathaṃ teṣāṃ mayā raṇe

with my forces, O brahmin, or by myself, against those deceitful warriors? Tell me all this, O holy one, how am I to fight them in battle,

Shloka 15 (bala.20.15)

स्थातव्यं दुष्टभावानां वीर्योत्सिक्ता हि राक्षसाः । तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा विश्वामित्रोऽभ्यभाषत ॥ १५ ॥

sthātavyaṃ duṣṭabhāvānāṃ vīryotsiktā hi rākṣasāḥ | tasya tadvacanaṃ śrutvā viśvāmitro'bhyabhāṣata

how one must stand against those of evil intent, for the rakshasas are arrogant in their might." Hearing these words of his, Vishwamitra replied.

Shloka 16 (bala.20.16)

पौलस्त्यवंशप्रभवो रावणो नाम राक्षसः । स ब्रह्मणा दत्तवरस्त्रैलोक्यं बाधते भृशम् ॥ १६ ॥

paulastyavaṃśaprabhavo rāvaṇo nāma rākṣasaḥ | sa brahmaṇā dattavarastrailokyaṃ bādhate bhṛśam

"There is a rakshasa named Ravana, born in the line of Pulastya; granted a boon by Brahma, he sorely oppresses the three worlds.

Shloka 17 (bala.20.17)

महाबलो महावीर्यो राक्षसैर्बहुभिर्वृतः । श्रूयते च महाराजा रावणो राक्षसाधिपः ॥ १७ ॥

mahābalo mahāvīryo rākṣasairbahubhirvṛtaḥ | śrūyate ca mahārājā rāvaṇo rākṣasādhipaḥ

We hear that this Ravana, lord of the rakshasas, is a great king, of immense strength and valour, surrounded by many rakshasas,

Shloka 18 (bala.20.18)

साक्षाद्वैश्रवणभ्राता पुत्रो विश्रवसो मुनेः । यदा न खलु यज्ञस्य विघ्नकर्ता महाबलः ॥ १८ ॥

sākṣādvaiśravaṇabhrātā putro viśravaso muneḥ | yadā na khalu yajñasya vighnakartā mahābalaḥ

he is indeed the brother of Vaishravana, and the son of the sage Vishrava. Now, that mighty Ravana himself does not personally come to obstruct the sacrifice;

Shloka 19 (bala.20.19)

तेन संचोदितौ तौ तु राक्षसौ च महाबलौ । मारीचश्च सुबाहुश्च यज्ञविघ्नं करिष्यतः ॥ १९ ॥

tena saṃcoditau tau tu rākṣasau ca mahābalau | mārīcaśca subāhuśca yajñavighnaṃ kariṣyataḥ

it is at his instigation that those two mighty rakshasas, Maricha and Subahu, come to disrupt the sacrifice."

Shloka 20 (bala.20.20)

इत्युक्तो मुनिना तेन राजोवाच मुनिं तदा । न हि शक्तोऽस्मि संग्रामे स्थातुं तस्य दुरात्मनः ॥ २० ॥

ityukto muninā tena rājovāca muniṃ tadā | na hi śakto'smi saṃgrāme sthātuṃ tasya durātmanaḥ

Thus addressed by the sage, the king then said to him: "I am indeed not able to stand in battle against that evil-minded Ravana.

Shloka 21 (bala.20.21)

स त्वं प्रसादं धर्मज्ञ कुरुष्व मम पुत्रके । मम चैवाल्पभाग्यस्य दैवतं हि भवान् गुरुः ॥ २१ ॥

sa tvaṃ prasādaṃ dharmajña kuruṣva mama putrake | mama caivālpabhāgyasya daivataṃ hi bhavān guruḥ

You, O knower of righteousness, show your grace upon my little son, and upon me too, a man of little fortune; you, my guru, are indeed as a god to me.

Shloka 22 (bala.20.22)

देवदानवगंधर्वा यक्षाः पतगपन्नगाः । न शक्ता रावणं सोढुं किं पुनर्मानवा युधि ॥ २२ ॥

devadānavagaṃdharvā yakṣāḥ patagapannagāḥ | na śaktā rāvaṇaṃ soḍhuṃ kiṃ punarmānavā yudhi

Gods, danavas, gandharvas, yakshas, birds, and serpents are not able to withstand Ravana in battle, how then could mere humans?

Shloka 23 (bala.20.23)

स तु वीर्यवतां वीर्यमादत्ते युधि रावणः । तेन चाहं न शक्तोऽस्मि संयोद्धुं तस्य वा बलैः ॥ २३ ॥

sa tu vīryavatāṃ vīryamādatte yudhi rāvaṇaḥ | tena cāhaṃ na śakto'smi saṃyoddhuṃ tasya vā balaiḥ

For that Ravana, in battle, saps away the very valour of the valiant; therefore neither I, nor my forces, are capable of fighting him,

Shloka 24 (bala.20.24)

सबलो वा मुनिश्रेष्ठ सहितो वा ममात्मजैः । कथमप्यमरप्रख्यं संग्रामाणामकोविदम् ॥ २४ ॥

sabalo vā muniśreṣṭha sahito vā mamātmajaiḥ | kathamapyamaraprakhyaṃ saṃgrāmāṇāmakovidam

whether with my army, O foremost of sages, or together with my sons. My child, godlike in appearance, is quite untrained in the ways of battle,

Shloka 25 (bala.20.25)

बालं मे तनयं ब्रह्मन्नैव दास्यामि पुत्रकम् । अथ कालोपमौ युद्धे सुतौ सुन्दोपसुन्दयोः ॥ २५ ॥

bālaṃ me tanayaṃ brahmannaiva dāsyāmi putrakam | atha kālopamau yuddhe sutau sundopasundayoḥ

and, O brahmin, I will not give up this child, my little son, in any way. Moreover, those two, terrible as death itself in battle, are like the sons of Sunda and Upasunda,

Shloka 26 (bala.20.26)

यज्ञविघ्नकरौ तौ ते नैव दास्यामि पुत्रकम् । मारीचश्च सुबाहुश्च वीर्यवन्तौ सुशिक्षितौ ॥ २६ ॥

yajñavighnakarau tau te naiva dāsyāmi putrakam | mārīcaśca subāhuśca vīryavantau suśikṣitau

those two who obstruct your sacrifice, I will not give up my son to face them. Maricha and Subahu are both mighty and well-trained;

Shloka 27 (bala.20.27)

तयोरन्यतरं योद्धुं यास्यामि ससुहृद्गणः । अन्यथा त्वनुनेष्यामि भवन्तं सह बान्धवैः ॥ २७ ॥

tayoranyataraṃ yoddhuṃ yāsyāmi sasuhṛdgaṇaḥ | anyathā tvanuneṣyāmi bhavantaṃ saha bāndhavaiḥ

I myself, with my company of friends, shall go to fight either of the two. Otherwise, together with my kinsmen, I shall entreat you to pardon me."

Shloka 28 (bala.20.28)

इति नरपतिजल्पनाद्द्विजेन्द्रं कुशिकसुतं सुमहान् विवेश मन्युः । सुहुत इव मखेऽग्निराज्यसिक्तः समभवदुज्वलितो महर्षिवह्निः ॥ २८ ॥

iti narapatijalpanāddvijendraṃ kuśikasutaṃ sumahān viveśa manyuḥ | suhuta iva makhe'gnirājyasiktaḥ samabhavadujvalito maharṣivahniḥ

At these words of the king, great fury entered into that foremost of brahmins, the son of Kushika; and the great sage blazed up like the sacrificial fire, when clarified butter, well-offered, is poured upon it in the rite.