Bala Kanda, Sarga 20

तच्छ्रुत्वा राजशार्दूलो विश्वामित्रस्य भाषितम्। मुहूर्तमिव निस्संज्ञस्संज्ञावानिदमब्रवीत्।।1.20.1।।

tacchrutvā rājaśārdūlo viśvāmitrasya bhāṣitam| muhūrtamiva nissaṃjñassaṃjñāvānidamabravīt

On hearing Viswamitra, words the tiger among kings (Dasaratha) lost his senses for a moment and on regaining his consciousness spoke this way.

ऊनषोडशवर्षो मे रामो राजीवलोचन:। न युद्धयोग्यतामस्य पश्यामि सह राक्षसै:।।1.20.2।।

ūnaṣoḍaśavarṣo me rāmo rājīvalocana:| na yuddhayogyatāmasya paśyāmi saha rākṣasai:

"My lotuseyed son Rama is less than sixteen. I do not think he has ability to fight with the rakshasas in a battle.

इयमक्षौहिणी पूर्णा यस्याहं पतिरीश्वर:। अनया संवृतो गत्वा योद्धाऽहं तैर्निशाचरै:।।1.20.3।।

iyamakṣauhiṇī pūrṇā yasyāhaṃ patirīśvara:| anayā saṃvṛto gatvā yoddhā'haṃ tairniśācarai:

Here is the whole akshauhini (army) of which I am the lord and sustainer. Accompanied by the akshauhini I shall engage those rakshsasas in the battle.

इमे शूराश्च विक्रान्ता भृत्या मेऽस्त्रविशारदा:। योग्या रक्षोगणैर्योद्धुं न रामं नेतुमर्हसि।।1.20.4।।

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

These servants of mine are warriors, valiant, powerful and courageous, skilled in the use of weapons and fit to engage multitude of rakshasas in battle. It is not proper to take Rama with you.

अहमेव धनुष्पाणिर्गोप्ता समरमूर्धनि। यावत्प्राणान्धरिष्यामि तावद्योत्स्ये निशाचरै:।।1.20.5।।

ahameva dhanuṣpāṇirgoptā samaramūrdhani| yāvatprāṇāndhariṣyāmi tāvadyotsye niśācarai:

Wielding bow in hand I will protect the sacrifice. As long as my life sustains, I will engage the rakshasas in the battle.

निर्विघ्ना व्रतचर्या सा भविष्यति सुरक्षिता। अहं तत्रागमिष्यामि न रामं नेतुमर्हसि।।1.20.6।।

nirvighnā vratacaryā sā bhaviṣyati surakṣitā| ahaṃ tatrāgamiṣyāmi na rāmaṃ netumarhasi

. I shall go there, protect the sacrifice and see that it is conducted without obstacles. It is not proper to take Rama with you.

बालो ह्यकृतविद्यश्च न च वेत्ति बलाबलम्। न चास्त्रबलसंयुक्तो न च युद्धविशारद:।।1.20.7।। न चासौ रक्षसां योग्य: कूटयुद्धा हि ते ध्रुवम् ।

bālo hyakṛtavidyaśca na ca vetti balābalam| na cāstrabalasaṃyukto na ca yuddhaviśārada: na cāsau rakṣasāṃ yogya: kūṭayuddhā hi te dhruvam |

Rama is still a child, he is not learned in the science of warfare,he does not know the strength and weakness of enemies. He has not acquired as yet the strength of using weapons and is not proficient in warfare. You know certainly those rakshasas are deceitful in battle. And hence he is not qualified to oppose them in the battle succesfully.

विप्रयुक्तो हि रामेण मुहूर्तमपि नोत्सहे।।1.20.8।। जीवितुं मुनिशार्दूल न रामं नेतुमर्हसि।

viprayukto hi rāmeṇa muhūrtamapi notsahe jīvituṃ muniśārdūla na rāmaṃ netumarhasi|

Separated from Rama, I do not like to live even for a moment. O tiger among ascetics, it is not proper to take Rama with you.

यदि वा राघवं ब्रह्मन्नेतुमिच्छसि सुव्रत।।1.20.9।। चतुरङ्गसमायुक्तं मया च सहितं नय।

yadi vā rāghavaṃ brahmannetumicchasi suvrata caturaṅgasamāyuktaṃ mayā ca sahitaṃ naya|

O sage of great vows, O brahman if at all you intend to take Rama with you, take me also along with my army.

षष्टिर्वर्षसहस्राणि जातस्य मम कौशिक।।1.20.10।। दु:खेनोत्पादितश्चायं न रामं नेतुमर्हसि।

ṣaṣṭirvarṣasahasrāṇi jātasya mama kauśika du:khenotpāditaścāyaṃ na rāmaṃ netumarhasi|

O scion of of Kusika family, sixty thousand years have passed since I was born. Rama was born to me after a great deal of suffering. It is not proper to take him with you.

चतुर्णामात्मजानां हि प्रीति:परमिका मम।।1.20.11।। ज्येष्ठं धर्मप्रधानं च न रामं नेतुमर्हसि।

caturṇāmātmajānāṃ hi prīti:paramikā mama jyeṣṭhaṃ dharmapradhānaṃ ca na rāmaṃ netumarhasi|

My love for Rama among all my four sons is supreme.It is not proper for you to take Rama, the eldest son whose prime qualification is his virtue.

किंवीर्या राक्षसास्ते च कस्य पुत्राश्च ते च के।।1.20.12।। कथं प्रमाणा: के चैतान्रक्षन्ति मुनिपुङ्गव।

kiṃvīryā rākṣasāste ca kasya putrāśca te ca ke kathaṃ pramāṇā: ke caitānrakṣanti munipuṅgava|

O best of sages, how powerful are those rakshsas? Whose sons are they? Who are they and how huge is their body? Who are protecting them?

कथं च प्रतिकर्तव्यं तेषां रामेण रक्षसाम्।।1.20.13।। मामकैर्वा बलैर्ब्रह्मन्मया वा कूटयोधिनाम्।3

kathaṃ ca pratikartavyaṃ teṣāṃ rāmeṇa rakṣasām māmakairvā balairbrahmanmayā vā kūṭayodhinām|3

O brahman, how to rebuff those deceitful warriors either through Rama or through my army or through me?

सर्वं मे शंस भगवन्कथं तेषां मया रणे।।1.20.14।। स्थातव्यं दुष्टभावानां वीर्योत्सिक्ता हि राक्षसा:।4 तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा विश्वामित्रोऽभ्यभाषत।।1.20.15।।

sarvaṃ me śaṃsa bhagavankathaṃ teṣāṃ mayā raṇe sthātavyaṃ duṣṭabhāvānāṃ vīryotsiktā hi rākṣasā:|4 tasya tadvacanaṃ śrutvā viśvāmitro'bhyabhāṣata

O venerable one, how to fight those wickednatured ones in the battle and stay aginst them? For rakshasas are proud of their prowess". Having heard the words of Dasaratha, Viswamitra said:

सर्वं मे शंस भगवन्कथं तेषां मया रणे।।1.20.14।। स्थातव्यं दुष्टभावानां वीर्योत्सिक्ता हि राक्षसा:।4 तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा विश्वामित्रोऽभ्यभाषत।।1.20.15।।

sarvaṃ me śaṃsa bhagavankathaṃ teṣāṃ mayā raṇe sthātavyaṃ duṣṭabhāvānāṃ vīryotsiktā hi rākṣasā:|4 tasya tadvacanaṃ śrutvā viśvāmitro'bhyabhāṣata

O venerable one, how to fight those wickednatured ones in the battle and stay aginst them? For rakshasas are proud of their prowess". Having heard the words of Dasaratha, Viswamitra said:

पौलस्त्यवंशप्रभवो रावणो नाम राक्षस:। स ब्रह्मणा दत्तवरस्त्रैलोक्यं बाधते भृशम्।।1.20.16।। महाबलो महावीर्यो राक्षसैर्बहुभिर्वृत:।

paulastyavaṃśaprabhavo rāvaṇo nāma rākṣasa:| sa brahmaṇā dattavarastrailokyaṃ bādhate bhṛśam mahābalo mahāvīryo rākṣasairbahubhirvṛta:|

A rakshasa named Ravana, born in the illustrious race of Pulastya, of great strength and prowess and granted a boon by Brahma, accompanied by many rakshasas, is grievously tormenting the three worlds.

श्रूयते हि महावीर्यो रावणो राक्षसाधिप:।।1.20.17।। साक्षाद्वैश्रवणभ्राता पुत्रो विश्रवसो मुने:।

śrūyate hi mahāvīryo rāvaṇo rākṣasādhipa: sākṣādvaiśravaṇabhrātā putro viśravaso mune:|

Ravana, king of rakshasas, is the brother of Kubera and son of ascetic Visravana. He is said to possess great prowess.

यदा स्वयं न यज्ञस्य विघ्नकर्ता महाबल:।।1.20.18।। तेन सञ्चोदितौ द्वौ तु राक्षसौ वै महाबलौ। मारीचश्च सुबाहुश्च यज्ञविघ्नं करिष्यत:।।1.20.19।।

yadā svayaṃ na yajñasya vighnakartā mahābala: tena sañcoditau dvau tu rākṣasau vai mahābalau| mārīcaśca subāhuśca yajñavighnaṃ kariṣyata:

Although endowed with great strength, Ravana, by himself, never created impediments to the sacrifice. But two rakshasas by name Maricha and Subahu are incited by him to cause obstacles".

यदा स्वयं न यज्ञस्य विघ्नकर्ता महाबल:।।1.20.18।। तेन सञ्चोदितौ द्वौ तु राक्षसौ वै महाबलौ। मारीचश्च सुबाहुश्च यज्ञविघ्नं करिष्यत:।।1.20.19।।

yadā svayaṃ na yajñasya vighnakartā mahābala: tena sañcoditau dvau tu rākṣasau vai mahābalau| mārīcaśca subāhuśca yajñavighnaṃ kariṣyata:

Although endowed with great strength, Ravana, by himself, never created impediments to the sacrifice. But two rakshasas by name Maricha and Subahu are incited by him to cause obstacles".

इत्युक्तो मुनिना तेन राजोवाच मुनिं तदा। न हि शक्तोऽस्मि सङ्ग्रामे स्थातुं तस्य दुरात्मन:।।1.20.20।।

ityukto muninā tena rājovāca muniṃ tadā| na hi śakto'smi saṅgrāme sthātuṃ tasya durātmana:

Informed in this manner by sage Viswamitra, king Dasaratha addressed the sage, saying, "I am not competent enough to stand before those evilminded rakshasas in the batlle".

स त्वं प्रसादं धर्मज्ञ कुरुष्व मम पुत्रके। मम चैवाल्पभाग्यस्य दैवतं हि भवान्गुरु:।।1.20.21।।

sa tvaṃ prasādaṃ dharmajña kuruṣva mama putrake| mama caivālpabhāgyasya daivataṃ hi bhavānguru:

"You are the knower of righteousness. Extend your favour to my little son and also to me for I am so who is unfortunate. You are verily my spiritual preceptor and god.

देवदानवगन्धर्वा यक्षा:पतगपन्नगा:। न शक्ता रावणं सोढुं किं पुनर्मानवा युधि।।1.20.22।।

devadānavagandharvā yakṣā:patagapannagā:| na śaktā rāvaṇaṃ soḍhuṃ kiṃ punarmānavā yudhi

Gods, danavas, gandharvas, yakshas, birds and great serpents cannot withstand Ravana in battle. What are men to him? (They are no match to him).

स हि वीर्यवतां वीर्यमादत्ते युधि राक्षस:। तेन चाहं न शक्तोऽस्मि संयोद्धुं तस्य वा बलै:।।1.20.23।। सबलो वा मुनिश्रेष्ठ सहितो वा ममात्मजै:।

sa hi vīryavatāṃ vīryamādatte yudhi rākṣasa:| tena cāhaṃ na śakto'smi saṃyoddhuṃ tasya vā balai: sabalo vā muniśreṣṭha sahito vā mamātmajai:|

That rakshasa pulls out warriors' prowess in the battle. O foremost of ascetics Either with forces or with my sons it is not possible for me to engage him or his forces in battle.

कथमप्यमरप्रख्यं सङ्ग्रामाणामकोविदम्। बालं मे तनयं ब्रह्मन् नैव दास्यामि पुत्रकम्।।1.20.24।।

kathamapyamaraprakhyaṃ saṅgrāmāṇāmakovidam| bālaṃ me tanayaṃ brahman naiva dāsyāmi putrakam

O brahman although my son resembles the celestials he is not experienced in warfare. On no account shall I spare him.

अथ कालोपमौ युध्दे सुतौ सुन्दोपसुन्दयो:।।1.20.25।। यज्ञविघ्नकरौ तौ ते नैव दास्यामि पुत्रकम्।

atha kālopamau yudhde sutau sundopasundayo: yajñavighnakarau tau te naiva dāsyāmi putrakam|

Further the sons of Sunda and Upasunda by name Maricha and Subahu are causing obstacles to your sacrifice. They resemble the god of death, Yama. I shall never part with my son.

मारीचश्च सुबाहुश्च वीर्यवन्तौ सुशिक्षितौ। तयोरन्यतरेणाहं योध्दा स्यां ससुहृद्गण:।।1.20.26।।

mārīcaśca subāhuśca vīryavantau suśikṣitau| tayoranyatareṇāhaṃ yodhdā syāṃ sasuhṛdgaṇa:

Maricha and Subahu not only possess prowess but also are experienced in warfare. Together with my group of friends I can combat with one of the two".

इति नरपतिजल्पनाद्द्विजेन्द्रं कुशिकसुतं सुमहान्विवेश मन्यु:। सुहुत इव मखेऽग्निराज्यसिक्त स्समभवदुज्ज्वलितो महर्षिवह्नि:।।1.20.27।।

iti narapatijalpanāddvijendraṃ kuśikasutaṃ sumahānviveśa manyu:| suhuta iva makhe'gnirājyasikta ssamabhavadujjvalito maharṣivahni:

Having heard the statements of the king the son of Kusika, Viswamitra who was like Indra among the ascetics was seized by great anger. As though fire in the form of maharshi blazed like the sacrificial fire into which oblations of clarified butter have been poured. ।। iऋफफछफौ चफळउफp८फउफफऋफhफॊ खफफऔउफळE१ळऋफ फबn८E१फखऋफॊ अफफऔफE१फhbॊ६ भखफघफजजफMफऩ ityढऍ डrंmadraचऍ vmंkंya ikyऍ bakङऍ viनडassargaध৷৷ Thus ends the twentieth sarga of Balakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.