Sarga 20: Dasaratha's Reluctance
Dasharatha Anichha
Dasaratha protests that Rama, not yet sixteen, is too young and untrained to fight Ravana's demons Maricha and Subahu, and offers to go himself with his army instead; Vishvamitra grows angry at his refusal.
Jump to a shloka · 26 in this sarga
षष्टिर्वर्षसहस्राणि जातस्य मम कौशिक।।1.20.10।। दु:खेनोत्पादितश्चायं न रामं नेतुमर्हसि।
Meaning
"Sixty thousand years have passed since my birth, O Kaushika, and this son was begotten only with great difficulty — you should not take Rama."
चतुर्णामात्मजानां हि प्रीति: परमिका मम।।1.20.11।। ज्येष्ठं धर्मप्रधानं च न रामं नेतुमर्हसि।
Meaning
"My supreme affection rests upon my four sons; he is the eldest, foremost in righteousness — you should not take Rama."
किंवीर्या राक्षसास्ते च कस्य पुत्राश्च ते च के।।1.20.12।। कथं प्रमाणा: के चैतान्रक्षन्ति मुनिपुङ्गव।
Meaning
"What is the valor of these rakshasas, and whose sons are they? Who are they, and who protects them, O foremost sage?"
कथं च प्रतिकर्तव्यं तेषां रामेण रक्षसाम्।।1.20.13।। मामकैर्वा बलैर्ब्रह्मन्मया वा कूटयोधिनाम्।
Meaning
"And how should those rakshasas be countered — by Rama, or by my own forces, or by me myself against those treacherous fighters?"
सर्वं मे शंस भगवन्कथं तेषां मया रणे।।1.20.14।। स्थातव्यं दुष्टभावानां वीर्योत्सिक्ता हि राक्षसा:। तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा विश्वामित्रोऽभ्यभाषत।।1.20.15।।
Meaning
"Tell me everything, O lord, how I must stand against them in battle — for those wicked, valor-swollen rakshasas." Hearing his words, Vishvamitra replied.
पौलस्त्यवंशप्रभवो रावणो नाम राक्षस:। स ब्रह्मणा दत्तवरस्त्रैलोक्यं बाधते भृशम्।।1.20.16।। महाबलो महावीर्यो राक्षसैर्बहुभिर्वृत:।
Meaning
"There is a rakshasa named Ravana, born of the Paulastya line, who, granted a boon by Brahma, greatly oppresses the three worlds, mighty and valorous, surrounded by many rakshasas."
श्रूयते हि महावीर्यो रावणो राक्षसाधिप:।।1.20.17।। साक्षाद्वैश्रवणभ्राता पुत्रो विश्रवसो मुने:।
Meaning
"It is said that the greatly valorous Ravana, lord of rakshasas, is the very brother of Kubera and son of the sage Vishravas."
यदा स्वयं न यज्ञस्य विघ्नकर्ता महाबल:।।1.20.18।। तेन सञ्चोदितौ द्वौ तु राक्षसौ वै महाबलौ। मारीचश्च सुबाहुश्च यज्ञविघ्नं करिष्यत:।।1.20.19।।
Meaning
"Since that mighty one does not himself obstruct the sacrifice, he has instigated two mighty rakshasas, Maricha and Subahu, to cause the disruption instead."
इत्युक्तो मुनिना तेन राजोवाच मुनिं तदा। न हि शक्तोऽस्मि सङ्ग्रामे स्थातुं तस्य दुरात्मन:।।1.20.20।।
Meaning
Thus addressed by the sage, the king then said to him: "I am not able to withstand that evil-minded one in battle."
स त्वं प्रसादं धर्मज्ञ कुरुष्व मम पुत्रके। मम चैवाल्पभाग्यस्य दैवतं हि भवान्गुरु:।।1.20.21।।
Meaning
"O knower of righteousness, show grace toward my little son and toward me, of little fortune — you are indeed my deity and preceptor."