Sarga 19: Vishvamitra's Request
Vishvamitra Yachana
Vishvamitra explains that the demons Maricha and Subahu keep defiling his sacrifice, and asks Dasaratha to send young Rama to destroy them, promising to protect and glorify him. The stunned king nearly faints at the request.
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तच्छ्रुत्वा राजसिंहस्य वाक्यमद्भुतविस्तरम्। हृष्टरोमा महातेजा विश्वामित्रोऽभ्यभाषत।।1.19.1।।
Meaning
Hearing the lion-king's wondrous and eloquent words, the greatly resplendent Vishvamitra, his hair standing on end with joy, replied.
सदृशं राजशार्दूल तवैतद्भुवि नान्यथा। महावंशप्रसूतस्य वसिष्ठव्यपदेशिन:।।1.19.2।।
Meaning
"O tigerly king, this speech befits you and none other, born as you are of a great lineage and instructed by Vashishtha."
यत्तु मे हृद्गतं वाक्यं तस्य कार्यस्य निश्चयम्। कुरूष्व राजशार्दूल भव सत्यप्रतिश्रव:।।1.19.3।।
Meaning
"Now hear the matter that is in my heart, and resolve upon it, O tigerly king — be true to your word."
अहंनियममातिष्ठे सिध्यर्थं पुरुषर्षभ। तस्य विघ्नकरौ द्वौ तु राक्षसौ कामरूपिणौ।।1.19.4।।
Meaning
"O best of men, I am observing a sacrificial vow to attain success, but two shape-shifting rakshasas obstruct it."
व्रते मे बहुशश्चीर्णे समाप्त्यां राक्षसाविमौ। मारीचश्च सुबाहुश्च वीर्यवन्तौ सुशिक्षितौ।।1.19.5।।
Meaning
"After I have long observed the vow, as it nears completion, these two valiant and well-trained demons, Maricha and Subahu, drench the altar with streams of flesh and blood."
समांसरुधिरौघेण वेदिं तामभ्यवर्षताम्।।1.19.6।।
Meaning
"They drenched the altar with a torrent of flesh and blood."
अवधूते तथाभूते तस्मिन्नियमनिश्चये।।1.19.6।। कृतश्रमो निरुत्साहस्तस्माद्देशादपाक्रमे।
Meaning
"When the ritual is thus ruined, exhausted and dispirited, I must abandon that place."
न च मे क्रोधमुत्स्रष्टुं बुद्धिर्भवति पार्थिव।।1.19.7।। तथा भूता हि सा चर्या न शापस्तत्र मुच्यते।
Meaning
"Nor, O king, does my mind allow me to unleash my anger, for such conduct during a sacrifice permits no curse to be uttered."
स्वपुत्रं राजशार्दूल रामं सत्यपराक्रमम्।।1.19.8।। काकपक्षधरं शूरं ज्येष्ठं मे दातुमर्हसि।
Meaning
"O tigerly king, you should give me your own truthful and valiant eldest son Rama, the hero whose locks fall like a raven's wing."
शक्तो ह्येष मया गुप्तो दिव्येन स्वेन तेजसा।।1.19.9।। राक्षसा ये विकर्तारस्तेषामपि विनाशने।
Meaning
"Protected by me with my own divine radiance, he is capable of destroying those marauding rakshasas."