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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श्रेयश्चास्मै प्रदास्यामि बहुरूपं न संशय:।।1.19.10।। त्रयाणामपि लोकानां येन ख्यातिं गमिष्यति।
Meaning
"I shall also bestow upon him blessings of many kinds, without doubt, by which he will gain renown in all three worlds."
न च तौ राममासाद्य शक्तौ स्थातुं कथञ्चन।।1.19.11।। न च तौ राघवादन्यो हन्तुमुत्सहते पुमान्।
Meaning
"Those two cannot withstand Rama in any way, nor can any man other than Raghava dare to slay them."
वीर्योत्सिक्तौ हि तौ पापौ कालपाशवशं गतौ।।1.19.12।। रामस्य राजशार्दूल न पर्याप्तौ महात्मन:।
Meaning
"Those two sinners, swollen with their own might and already bound by death's noose, O tigerly king, are no match for the great-souled Rama."
न च पुत्रकृतस्नेहं कर्तुमर्हसि पार्थिव।।1.19.13।। अहं ते प्रतिजानामि हतौ तौ विद्धि राक्षसौ।
Meaning
"O king, you must not let a father's affection sway you — I promise you, consider those rakshasas already slain."
अहं वेद्मि महात्मानं रामं सत्यपराक्रमम्।।1.19.14।। वसिष्ठोऽपि महातेजा ये चेमे तपसि स्थिता:।
Meaning
"I know that great-souled and truthful Rama's valor, and so does the resplendent Vashishtha and these others rooted in austerity here."
यदि ते धर्मलाभं च यशश्च परमं भुवि।।1.19.15।। स्थितमिच्छसि राजेन्द्र रामं मे दातुमर्हसि।
Meaning
"If you desire enduring righteous merit and supreme renown on earth, O lord of kings, you should give me Rama."
यदिह्यनुज्ञां काकुत्स्थ ददते तव मन्त्रिण:।।1.19.16।। वसिष्ठप्रमुखा: सर्वे ततो रामं विसर्जय।
Meaning
"If your ministers, headed by Vashishtha, give their consent, then let Rama go with me."
अभिप्रेतमसंसक्तमात्मजं दातुमर्हसि।।1.19.17।। दशरात्रं हि यज्ञस्य रामं राजीवलोचनम्।
Meaning
"You should give your beloved son, the lotus-eyed Rama, without hesitation, for just ten nights of the sacrifice."
नात्येति कालो यज्ञस्य यथाऽयं मम राघव।।1.19.18।। तथा कुरुष्व भद्रं ते मा च शोके मन: कृथा:।
Meaning
"Let not the appointed time of my sacrifice pass by unfulfilled — do this, and may good fortune be with you; let not your heart grieve."
इत्येवमुक्त्वा धर्मात्मा धर्मार्थसहितं वच:।।1.19.19।। विरराम महातेजा विश्वामित्रो महामुनि:।
Meaning
Having spoken these righteous and meaningful words, the greatly resplendent sage Vishvamitra fell silent.