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
देवदानवगन्धर्वा यक्षा: पतगपन्नगा:। न शक्ता रावणं सोढुं किं पुनर्मानवा युधि।।1.20.22।।
Meaning
"Gods, danavas, gandharvas, yakshas, birds, and serpents cannot withstand Ravana — how then could men in battle?"
स हि वीर्यवतां वीर्यमादत्ते युधि राक्षस:। तेन चाहं न शक्तोऽस्मि संयोद्धुं तस्य वा बलै:।।1.20.23।। सबलो वा मुनिश्रेष्ठ सहितो वा ममात्मजै:।
Meaning
"That rakshasa saps the valor of even the valorous in battle — therefore I am not able to fight him, whether with my forces or my sons, O foremost sage."
कथमप्यमरप्रख्यं सङ्ग्रामाणामकोविदम्। बालं मे तनयं ब्रह्मन् नैव दास्यामि पुत्रकम्।।1.20.24।।
Meaning
"How then could I possibly give up my young son, unversed in warfare though godlike in form, O brahmin? I shall not give up my little boy."
अथ कालोपमौ युध्दे सुतौ सुन्दोपसुन्दयो:।।1.20.25।। यज्ञविघ्नकरौ तौ ते नैव दास्यामि पुत्रकम्।
Meaning
"Those sons of Sunda and Upasunda, deadly as death itself in battle, who obstruct your sacrifice — I shall not give up my little boy."
मारीचश्च सुबाहुश्च वीर्यवन्तौ सुशिक्षितौ। तयोरन्यतरेणाहं योध्दा स्यां ससुहृद्गण:।।1.20.26।।
Meaning
"Maricha and Subahu are valiant and well-trained — I myself, with my company of friends, would fight either one of the two."
इति नरपतिजल्पनाद्द्विजेन्द्रं कुशिकसुतं सुमहान्विवेश मन्यु:। सुहुत इव मखेऽग्निराज्यसिक्त स्समभवदुज्ज्वलितो महर्षिवह्नि:।।1.20.27।।
Meaning
At the king's incongruous speech, great anger entered the foremost brahmin, son of Kushika, and that sage blazed up like sacrificial fire fed with ghee.