Verse 1
तच्छ्रुत्वा राजसिंहस्य वाक्यमद्भुतविस्तरम् । हृष्टरोमा महातेजा विश्वामित्रोऽभ्यभाषत ॥
Having heard these wonderful and detailed words of King Dasharatha, the lion among kings, the greatly radiant Vishvamitra, with his hair standing on end with joy, spoke.
Verse 2
सदृशं राजशार्दूल तवैतद्भुवि नान्यथा । महावंशप्रसूतस्य वसिष्ठव्यपदेशिनः ॥
O tiger among kings, these words are befitting of you and no one else, for you are born in a great lineage and instructed by Vashishtha.
Verse 3
यत्तु मे हृद्गतं वाक्यं तस्य कार्यस्य निश्चयम् । कुरूष्व राजशार्दूल भव सत्यप्रतिश्रवः ॥
O tiger among kings, I shall tell you what is in my heart. Make your decision concerning that task and remain true to your promise.
Verse 4
अहं नियममातिष्ठे सिध्यर्थं पुरुषर्षभ । तस्य विघ्नकरौ द्वौ तु राक्षसौ कामरूपिणौ ॥
O best among men, I have undertaken a religious observance for the successful completion of my sacrifice. Two Rakshasas, capable of assuming forms according to their will, are causing obstacles to it.
Verse 5
व्रते मे बहुशश्चीर्णे समाप्त्यां राक्षसाविमौ । मारीचश्च सुबाहुश्च वीर्यवन्तौ सुशिक्षितौ ॥ समांसरुधिरौघेण वेदिं तामभ्यवर्षताम् ॥
When my religious observance is nearing completion, these two powerful and well-trained Rakshasas, Maricha and Subahu, pour streams of flesh and blood upon the sacrificial altar.
Verse 6
अवधूते तथाभूते तस्मिन्नियमनिश्चये । कृतश्रमो निरुत्साहस्तस्माद्देशादपाक्रमे ॥
When that religious observance is thus disrupted, after having exerted myself for it, I become discouraged and depart from that place.
Verse 7
न च मे क्रोधमुत्स्रष्टुं बुद्धिर्भवति पार्थिव । तथा भूता हि सा चर्या न शापस्तत्र मुच्यते ॥
O King, my mind does not permit me to release my anger, for during such an observance I cannot utter a curse.
Verse 8
स्वपुत्रं राजशार्दूल रामं सत्यपराक्रमम् । काकपक्षधरं शूरं ज्येष्ठं मे दातुमर्हसि ॥
O tiger among kings, it is proper for you to entrust to me your eldest son Rama, the brave one, true to his valor, and still wearing the locks of youthful hair.
Verse 9
शक्तो ह्येष मया गुप्तो दिव्येन स्वेन तेजसा । राक्षसा ये विकर्तारस्तेषामपि विनाशने ॥
Protected by me and by his own divine power, Rama is capable of destroying even those Rakshasas who are causing obstacles.
Verse 10
श्रेयश्चास्मै प्रदास्यामि बहुरूपं न संशयः । त्रयाणामपि लोकानां येन ख्यातिं गमिष्यति ॥
I shall bestow upon him many blessings, without doubt, through which he shall attain fame in all the three worlds.
Verse 11
न च तौ राममासाद्य शक्तौ स्थातुं कथञ्चन । न च तौ राघवादन्यो हन्तुमुत्सहते पुमान् ॥
Those two Rakshasas will not be able to withstand Rama in any way. No man other than Raghava will have the courage to destroy them.
Verse 12
वीर्योत्सिक्तौ हि तौ पापौ कालपाशवशं गतौ । रामस्य राजशार्दूल न पर्याप्तौ महात्मनः ॥
Those two wicked ones, proud of their strength, have already come under the noose of death. O tiger among kings, they are no match for the great-souled Rama.
Verse 13
न च पुत्रकृतस्नेहं कर्तुमर्हसि पार्थिव । अहं ते प्रतिजानामि हतौ तौ विद्धि राक्षसौ ॥
O King, you should not allow your affection for your son to cause hesitation. I assure you that those two Rakshasas will be destroyed. Know this with certainty.
Verse 14
अहं वेद्मि महात्मानं रामं सत्यपराक्रमम् । वसिष्ठोऽपि महातेजा ये चेमे तपसि स्थिताः ॥
I know the great-souled Rama, whose valor is founded upon truth. The greatly radiant Vashishtha and these other sages devoted to austerity also know him.
Verse 15
यदि ते धर्मलाभं च यशश्च परमं भुवि । स्थितमिच्छसि राजेन्द्र रामं मे दातुमर्हसि ॥
O king of kings, if you desire the gain of righteousness and everlasting supreme fame upon the earth, it is proper for you to give Rama to me.
Verse 16
यदिह्यनुज्ञां काकुत्स्थ ददते तव मन्त्रिणः । वसिष्ठप्रमुखाः सर्वे ततो रामं विसर्जय ॥
O Kakutstha, if all your counsellors, headed by Vashishtha, give their consent, then send Rama with me.
Verse 17
अभिप्रेतमसंसक्तमात्मजं दातुमर्हसि । दशरात्रं हि यज्ञस्य रामं राजीवलोचनम् ॥
You should send your beloved son, the lotus-eyed Rama, without hesitation, for the ten nights of my sacrifice.
Verse 18
नात्येति कालो यज्ञस्य यथाऽयं मम राघव । तथा कुरुष्व भद्रं ते मा च शोके मनः कृथाः ॥
O Raghava, act in such a way that the appointed time of my sacrifice is not delayed. May good be upon you, and do not allow your mind to fall into grief.
Verse 19
इत्येवमुक्त्वा धर्मात्मा धर्मार्थसहितं वचः । विरराम महातेजा विश्वामित्रो महामुनिः ॥
Having spoken these words concerning righteousness and purpose, the righteous and greatly radiant sage Vishvamitra, the great ascetic, became silent.
Verse 20
स तन्निशम्य राजेन्द्रो विश्वामित्रवचश्शुभम् । शोकमभ्यगमत्तीव्रं व्यषीदत भयान्वितः ॥
Hearing these auspicious words of Vishvamitra, the king among kings was overcome by intense grief and became despondent, filled with fear.
Verse 21
इति हृदयमनोविदारणं मुनिवचनं तदतीव शुश्रुवान् । नरपतिरभवन्महांस्तदा व्यथितमना: प्रचचाल चासनात् ॥
Having heard those words of the sage that pierced his heart and mind, the great king became deeply distressed and shaken, and he moved from his seat.
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीय आदिकाव्ये बालकाण्डे एकोनविंशः सर्गः ॥
Thus ends the nineteenth Sarga of Bala Kanda of the Valmiki Ramayana, the first epic composed by Sage Valmiki.