King Daśaratha, overwhelmed by concern and love for his son, addressed the sage Viśvāmitra with earnestness. “Let me accompany you with my fourfold army, O Kauśika,” he pleaded, “for I am already sixty thousand years old. Rāma was obtained with great difficulty; you must not take him. Among my four sons, my affection for Rāma is supreme.” The king’s voice trembled as he continued, “You should not take Rāma, my eldest, who is foremost in righteousness. Tell me, what is the power of those Rākṣasas? Whose sons are they, and who are they?” He pressed further, “How strong are they, O best of sages? Who protects them, and how should Rāma oppose them? Should I confront them in battle with my own forces or with cunning warriors, O revered one? Please tell me everything—how I should face them in war. One must stand firm against those of wicked intent, for the Rākṣasas are exceedingly proud of their strength.” Hearing these words, Viśvāmitra began to explain. “There is a Rākṣasa named Rāvaṇa, born in the lineage of Paulastya. Granted a boon by Brahmā, he greatly troubles the three worlds. He is immensely powerful and mighty, surrounded by many Rākṣasas. It is said, O great king, that Rāvaṇa is the lord of the Rākṣasas. He is the brother of Vaiśravaṇa and the son of the sage Viśravas. Yet he himself does not directly disrupt the sacrifice, O mighty one. Urged by him, two Rākṣasas of immense strength—Mārīca and Subāhu—are set to disrupt the sacrifice.” Daśaratha, desperate, implored, “Therefore, O knower of righteousness, show favor to my son. For I am of little fortune, and you, revered one, are like a deity to me. Gods, Dānavas, Gandharvas, Yakṣas, birds, and serpents are unable to withstand Rāvaṇa; how much less, then, can humans face him in battle? Rāvaṇa, in battle, takes the strength of the mighty. Therefore, I am unable to fight him or his forces. Even with my own strength, O best of sages, or together with my sons, I could in no way withstand in battle one who is like an immortal and skilled in warfare.” He declared firmly, “O Brāhmaṇa, I will not give my young son, nor will I give the boy, even though my two sons are equal to Sunda and Upasunda in battle. Those two, Mārīca and Subāhu, who disrupt the sacrifice, are mighty and well-trained; I will not give my son. With my friends and allies, I myself will go to fight one of them; otherwise, I will implore you, along with your kinsmen.” As the king’s words reached the chief of the twice-born, a great anger kindled in the heart of Viśvāmitra, the son of Kuśika. Like fire brightened with ghee in a sacrifice, the sage’s wrath blazed forth. Now begins the twenty-first sarga in the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Bālakāṇḍa. Hearing Daśaratha’s words, choked with affection, the sage Kauśika, filled with anger, replied to the king. “Having previously given your word, you now wish to abandon your promise; such a reversal does not befit the house of Raghu, nor this noble lineage. If this is your decision, O King, I shall depart as I came; O descendant of Kakutstha, be happy and well-regarded, though you have broken your promise.” As the wise Viśvāmitra was seized by anger, the entire earth trembled, and great fear arose among the gods. Perceiving that the whole world was struck with terror, the great sage Vasiṣṭha, steadfast and virtuous, spoke to the king. “Born in the line of Ikṣvāku, you are as if Dharma himself incarnate; steadfast, virtuous, and illustrious—you should not abandon righteousness. Rāghava is renowned in all three worlds as one devoted to righteousness; adhere to your own duty, for you should not bear unrighteousness. He who, having promised ‘I will do it,’ fails to act as he has spoken, incurs the destruction of his merit and good deeds; therefore, send Rāma. “Whether skilled in weapons or not, the Rākṣasas will not be able to harm him, for he is protected by the son of Kuśika, as nectar is guarded by fire. He is righteousness embodied, foremost among the mighty, surpassing all in knowledge, and wholly devoted to austerity. He alone knows the various weapons in all the three worlds, among moving and unmoving beings; no other man knows them, nor will any come to know. Neither gods, nor sages, nor immortals, nor Rākṣasas, nor the foremost Gandharvas, Yakṣas, Kinnaras, or great serpents know them. “All the weapons, whose sons were supremely righteous, were once given to Kauśika by Kṛśāśva when he ruled the kingdom. Those sons of Kṛśāśva, born of the daughters of Prajāpati, were of diverse forms, great strength, radiant, and bringers of victory. Jayā and Suprabhā, O slender-waisted daughter of Dakṣa, gave birth to a hundred shining weapons and missiles. Jayā, having obtained boons, bore fifty sons, immeasurable in might, for the destruction of the armies of the Asuras. Suprabhā too gave birth to fifty sons, fierce and unconquerable, named the ‘Destroyers,’ mighty and difficult to overcome. “The son of Kuśika knows all these weapons properly, and, being learned in righteousness, is able to create new ones as well. For this foremost sage, knower of righteousness and great-souled, O Rāghava, nothing—past or future—is unknown. Thus endowed with such power, the illustrious and radiant Viśvāmitra—of great renown—O King, you should not harbor any doubt regarding Rāma’s departure.” Hearing the sage’s words, the foremost of the Raghus, King Daśaratha, his mind now at ease, rejoiced; the renowned king gladly approved, in his heart, of Rāghava’s journey with the son of Kuśika.