Verse 1
तच्छ्रुत्वा राजशार्दूलो विश्वामित्रस्य भाषितम् । मुहूर्तमिव निःसंज्ञः संज्ञावानिदमब्रवीत् ॥
Having heard the words of Vishvamitra, the tiger among kings, Dasharatha became as if unconscious for a moment. Regaining his awareness, he spoke these words.
Verse 2
ऊनषोडशवर्षो मे रामो राजीवलोचनः । न युद्धयोग्यतामस्य पश्यामि सह राक्षसैः ॥
My lotus-eyed Rama is less than sixteen years old. I do not see him as fit to fight with the Rakshasas.
Verse 3
इयमक्षौहिणी पूर्णा यस्याहं पतिरीश्वरः । अनया सहितो गत्वा योद्धाहं तैर्निशाचरैः ॥
Here is my complete Akshauhini army, of which I am the lord and commander. Accompanied by this army, I shall go and fight those night-roaming Rakshasas.
Verse 4
इमे शूराश्च विक्रान्ता भृत्या मेऽस्त्रविशारदाः । योग्या रक्षोगणैर्योद्धुं न रामं नेतुमर्हसि ॥
These soldiers of mine are brave, powerful, and skilled in the use of weapons. They are fit to fight the hosts of Rakshasas. You should not take Rama.
Verse 5
अहमेव धनुष्पाणिर्गोप्ता समरमूर्धनि । यावत्प्राणान् धरिष्यामि तावद्योत्स्ये निशाचरैः ॥
I myself, with bow in hand, shall protect the sacrifice at the forefront of battle. As long as I possess life, I shall fight the night-roaming Rakshasas.
Verse 6
निर्विघ्ना व्रतचर्या सा भविष्यति सुरक्षिता । अहं तत्रागमिष्यामि न रामं नेतुमर्हसि ॥
The observance of your vow will be protected and will proceed without obstacles. I shall come there myself. You should not take Rama.
Verse 7
बालो ह्यकृतविद्यश्च न च वेत्ति बलाबलम् । न चास्त्रबलसंयुक्तो न च युद्धविशारदः ॥
Rama is still a boy and has not completed his education. He does not yet know the strength and weakness of his opponents. He is not equipped with mastery of weapons, nor is he skilled in warfare.
Verse 8
न चासौ रक्षसां योग्यः कूटयुद्धा हि राक्षसाः । विप्रयुक्तो हि रामेण मुहूर्तमपि नोत्सहे ॥
He is not a match for the Rakshasas, for the Rakshasas fight by deceitful means. I cannot bear to be separated from Rama even for a moment.
Verse 9
जीवितुं मुनिशार्दूल न रामं नेतुमर्हसि । यदि वा राघवं ब्रह्मन् नेतुमिच्छसि सुव्रत ॥
O tiger among sages, I cannot live without Rama. You should not take Rama. But if, O Brahman of excellent vows, you wish to take Raghava—
Verse 10
चतुरङ्गसमायुक्तं मया सह च तं नय । षष्टिवर्षसहस्राणि जातस्य मम कौशिक ॥
—then take him together with me and with my fourfold army. O Kaushika, sixty thousand years have passed since my birth.
Verse 11
कृच्छ्रेणोत्पादितश्चायं न रामं नेतुमर्हसि । चतुर्णामात्मजानां हि प्रीतिः परमिका मम ॥
This son was born to me only after great difficulty. You should not take Rama. I have the greatest affection for all four of my sons.
Verse 12
ज्येष्ठे धर्मप्रधाने च न रामं नेतुमर्हसि । किं वीर्या राक्षसास्ते च कस्य पुत्राश्च के च ते ॥
Rama is the eldest and foremost in righteousness. You should not take him. How powerful are those Rakshasas? Whose sons are they, and who are they?
Verse 13
कथं प्रमाणाः के चैतान् रक्षन्ति मुनिपुङ्गव । कथं च प्रतिकर्तव्यं तेषां रामेण रक्षसाम् ॥
O foremost of sages, what is their size and appearance, and who protects them? How should Rama deal with those Rakshasas?
Verse 14
मामकैर्वा बलैर्ब्रह्मन् मया वा कूटयोधिनाम् । सर्वं मे शंस भगवन् कथं तेषां मया रणे ॥
O Brahman, should those deceitful warriors be confronted by Rama, by my army, or by me? O Lord, tell me everything about how I should face them in battle.
Verse 15
स्थातव्यं दुष्टभावानां वीर्योत्सिक्ता हि राक्षसाः । तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा विश्वामित्रोऽभ्यभाषत ॥
Those Rakshasas are wicked and proud of their strength. Having heard these words of Dasharatha, Vishvamitra replied.
Verse 16
पौलस्त्यवंशप्रभवो रावणो नाम राक्षसः । स ब्रह्मणा दत्तवरस्त्रैलोक्यं बाधते भृशम् ॥
A Rakshasa named Ravana, born in the lineage of Pulastya, is greatly troubling the three worlds. He has received a boon from Brahma.
Verse 17
महाबलो महावीर्यो राक्षसैर्बहुभिर्वृतः । श्रूयते च महाराज रावणो राक्षसाधिपः ॥
He is exceedingly powerful and mighty, and is surrounded by many Rakshasas. O great king, it is heard that Ravana is the lord of the Rakshasas.
Verse 18
साक्षाद्वैश्रवणभ्राता पुत्रो विश्रवसो मुनेः । यदा न खलु यज्ञस्य विघ्नकर्ता महाबलः ॥
He is the direct brother of Vaishravana and the son of the sage Vishrava. Yet this mighty one does not himself cause obstacles to sacrifices.
Verse 19
तेन संचोदितौ तौ तु राक्षसौ च महाबलौ । मारीचश्च सुबाहुश्च यज्ञविघ्नं करिष्यतः ॥
Instigated by him, two mighty Rakshasas, Maricha and Subahu, cause obstacles to sacrifices.
Verse 20
इत्युक्तो मुनिना तेन राजा वाचमुवाच ह । न हि शक्तोऽस्मि संग्रामे स्थातुं तस्य दुरात्मनः ॥
Thus addressed by the sage, the king spoke: “I am not capable of standing in battle against that wicked Ravana.”
Verse 21
स त्वं प्रसादं धर्मज्ञ कुरुष्व मम पुत्रके । मम चैवाल्पभाग्यस्य दैवतं हि भवान् गुरुः ॥
O knower of righteousness, show compassion toward my son. You are the deity and teacher of one as unfortunate as I am.
Verse 22
देवदानवगन्धर्वा यक्षाः पतगपन्नगाः । न शक्ताः रावणं सोढुं किं पुनर्मानवा युधि ॥
Gods, Danavas, Gandharvas, Yakshas, birds, and Nagas are unable to withstand Ravana in battle. What then can be said of human beings?
Verse 23
स तु वीर्यवतां वीर्यमादत्ते युधि रावणः । तेन चाहं न शक्तोऽस्मि संयोद्धुं तस्य वा बलैः ॥
Ravana takes away the strength of powerful warriors in battle. Therefore, I am unable to fight him or his forces.
Verse 24
सबलो वा मुनिश्रेष्ठ सहितो वा ममात्मजैः । कथमन्यमरप्रख्यम् संग्रामाणामकोविदम् ॥
O foremost of sages, whether with my army or together with my sons, how could I send one who is like a god but inexperienced in warfare?
Verse 25
बालं मे तनयं ब्रह्मन् नैव दास्यामि पुत्रकम् । अथ कालोपमौ युद्धे सुतौ सुन्दोपसुन्दयोः ॥
O Brahman, I cannot give my young son. Those two, the sons of Sunda and Upasunda, are like Death itself in battle.
Verse 26
यज्ञविघ्नकरौ तौ ते नैव दास्यामि पुत्रकम् । मारीचश्च सुबाहुश्च वीर्यवन्तौ सुशिक्षितौ ॥
Those two who cause obstacles to your sacrifice—I cannot give my son to them. Maricha and Subahu are powerful and well-trained.
Verse 27
तयोरन्यतरं योद्धुं यास्यामि ससुहृद्गणः । अन्यथा त्वनुनेष्यामि भवन्तं सह बान्धवैः ॥
I shall go with my friends and forces to fight one of those two. Otherwise, together with my relatives, I shall plead with you to excuse me.
इति नरपतिजल्पनाद्द्विजेन्द्रं कुशिकसुतं सुमहान्विवेश मन्युः । सुहुत इव मखेऽग्निराज्यसिक्तः समभवदुज्ज्वलितो महर्षिवह्निः ॥
Hearing the words of the king, great anger entered Vishvamitra, the foremost of sages and son of Kushika. The great sage blazed like the sacrificial fire into which clarified butter had been well offered.
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीये आदिकाव्ये बालकाण्डे विंशः सर्गः ॥
Thus ends the twentieth Sarga of Bala Kanda of the Valmiki Ramayana, the first epic composed by Sage Valmiki.