When Viśvāmitra, the great sage, approached King Daśaratha to request Rāma’s help in protecting his sacrifice, the king’s heart was torn with anxiety and love for his son. He confessed to the sage, “Rāvaṇa, in battle, drains the strength of even the mightiest. Therefore, I am unable to fight him or his forces. Even with all my power, O best of sages, and even if my sons joined me, we could not withstand in battle one who is like an immortal and skilled in warfare.” With sorrow, Daśaratha continued, “O Brāhmaṇa, I cannot give you my young son, nor can I send the boy, even though my two sons are equal in valor to Sunda and Upasunda. Those two demons, Mārīca and Subāhu, who disrupt your sacrifice, are mighty and well-trained. I cannot give you my son. Instead, with my friends and allies, I myself will go to fight them, or else I will implore you and your kinsmen for help.” Hearing these words, a great anger flared in Viśvāmitra, the son of Kuśika, his wrath blazing like a sacrificial fire fed with ghee. The king’s refusal, spoken to the chief of the twice-born, ignited the sage’s fury. Now, listen to the next sarga of the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa. Hearing Daśaratha’s words, choked with affection, the sage Kauśika, filled with anger, replied, “You gave your word, yet now you wish to abandon your promise. Such a reversal does not befit the house of Raghu, nor your 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 the terror that gripped the world, the great sage Vasiṣṭha, steadfast and virtuous, spoke to Daśaratha: “Born in the line of Ikṣvāku, you are as if Dharma himself incarnate. Steadfast, virtuous, and illustrious—you must not abandon righteousness. Rāghava is renowned in all three worlds for his devotion to righteousness; adhere to your duty, for you should not bear unrighteousness. He who, having promised ‘I will do it,’ fails to act as he has spoken, loses all merit and good deeds; therefore, send Rāma.” Vasiṣṭha reassured the king, “Whether skilled in weapons or not, the Rākṣasas will not be able to harm him, for he is protected by the son of Kuśika, just as nectar is guarded by fire. Viśvāmitra 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.” He continued, “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 these words from Vasiṣṭha, the foremost of the Raghus felt his heart ease and rejoiced. The renowned king gladly approved, in his heart, of Rāghava’s journey with the son of Kuśika. Now, hear the next sarga of the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa. When Vasiṣṭha had spoken thus, King Daśaratha, his face beaming with joy, summoned Rāma together with Lakṣmaṇa. Both sons received auspicious rites from their mother, their father Daśaratha, and the priest Vasiṣṭha, who pronounced sacred blessings and made them ready. Then, deeply pleased, King Daśaratha embraced his son, smelled his head in affection, and entrusted him to the son of Kuśika. At that moment, as Rāma—lotus-eyed—set out with Viśvāmitra, a gentle, dustless breeze began to blow. There was a great shower of flowers, accompanied by the sound of divine drums; conches and drums resounded as the great-souled one set out. Viśvāmitra went ahead, and behind him followed the illustrious Rāma, his hair tied in the warrior’s style, carrying his bow; Saumitri (Lakṣmaṇa) went after him. Both were adorned with quivers and bows in hand, gracing all ten directions, following the great Viśvāmitra like two serpents with three heads. The two, youthful and mighty, followed him as the Aśvins would follow their grandsire, radiant in splendor, flawless in their beauty. The sons of Daśaratha, bow in hand, splendidly adorned, with gauntlets fastened and swords at their sides, followed the son of Kuśika. The two brothers, Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa, youthful and handsome, radiant in their glory, flawless, enhanced the scene as they walked. Like the unthinkable god Sthāṇu, or like the sons of Fire, the two youths went with him; after traveling half a yojana, they reached the southern bank of the Sarayū.