King Daśaratha found himself at a crossroads, having given his word to the sage Viśvāmitra that his son Rāma would accompany him, but now hesitating to fulfill that promise. Viśvāmitra, his voice stern and unwavering, reminded the king that forsaking one's word was unworthy of the noble house of Raghu and the illustrious lineage to which Daśaratha belonged. "If this is your decision, O King," he declared, "I shall depart as I came. Be happy and well-regarded, though you have broken your promise, O descendant of Kakutstha." As the wise sage's anger grew, the earth itself trembled, and fear gripped the gods. Sensing the terror that had seized the world, the venerable sage Vasiṣṭha, steadfast and virtuous, spoke gently to Daśaratha. "Born in the line of Ikṣvāku, you embody Dharma itself. Steadfast, virtuous, and illustrious—you must not abandon righteousness. Rāghava is renowned throughout the three worlds for his devotion to righteousness; remain true to your duty, for unrighteousness should not stain you." Vasiṣṭha continued, "He who promises 'I will do it' and then fails to act destroys his own merit and good deeds. Therefore, send Rāma. Whether skilled in weapons or not, the Rākṣasas cannot 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 weapons of 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, nor great serpents know these weapons. 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 diverse in form, great in strength, radiant, and victorious. Jayā and Suprabhā, O slender-waisted daughter of Dakṣa, gave birth to a hundred shining weapons and missiles. Jayā, blessed with boons, bore fifty sons of immeasurable might, destined to destroy the armies of the Asuras. Suprabhā too gave birth to fifty fierce and unconquerable sons, named the 'Destroyers,' mighty and difficult to overcome. The son of Kuśika knows all these weapons well and, being learned in righteousness, can even create new ones." "For this sage, knower of righteousness and great-souled, nothing—past or future—is unknown. Endowed with such power, the illustrious and radiant Viśvāmitra, of great renown, O King, you should not doubt Rāma's departure." Hearing these words from Vasiṣṭha, Daśaratha, the foremost of the Raghus, felt his mind ease. Joy blossomed within him, and he gladly approved, in his heart, of Rāma's journey with the son of Kuśika. Now begins the twenty-second sarga of the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Bālakāṇḍa. When Vasiṣṭha had finished speaking, King Daśaratha, his face radiant with joy, summoned Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa. Rāma received auspicious rites from his mother, his father Daśaratha, and the priest Vasiṣṭha, with sacred blessings pronounced, preparing him for the journey. Deeply pleased, Daśaratha embraced his son, smelled his head in affection, and entrusted him to Viśvāmitra. As Rāma, lotus-eyed and noble, departed with Viśvāmitra, a gentle, dustless breeze began to blow. A shower of flowers rained down, accompanied by the sound of divine drums; conches and drums resounded as the great-souled Rāma set out. Viśvāmitra led the way, and behind him followed Rāma, his hair tied in the warrior's style, carrying his bow, with Saumitri (Lakṣmaṇa) following after. Both brothers, adorned with quivers and bows in hand, graced all ten directions, following Viśvāmitra like two serpents with three heads. Youthful and mighty, they followed the sage as the radiant Aśvins would follow their grandsire, flawless in their beauty. With bows in hand, splendidly adorned, gauntlets fastened, and swords at their sides, the sons of Daśaratha followed the son of Kuśika, enhancing the scene with their radiance. Like the unthinkable god Sthāṇu, or the sons of Fire, the two youths accompanied Viśvāmitra. After traveling half a yojana, they reached the southern bank of the Sarayū river. There, Viśvāmitra addressed Rāma with gentle words: "Take water, my child, so that the proper time is not lost. Receive from me the collection of mantras—Bala and Atibala. With these, you will never know fatigue, fever, or any change in your appearance. Nor will mischievous spirits overpower you, whether you are asleep or careless; on earth, there is no one equal to you in strength of arms. In all the three worlds, O Rāma, there will be none your equal as you recite Bala and Atibala." "O sinless one, in good fortune, generosity, wisdom, clarity of intellect, or in answering and replying, there is no equal to you in the world. When this dual knowledge is attained, none shall be your equal; for Bala and Atibala are indeed the mothers of all knowledge. O Rama, best among men, hunger and thirst will not afflict you when you have learned Bala and Atibala, O descendant of Raghu. Take up these two sciences, O delight of the Raghu lineage, for the protection of all people. When these two are studied, fame will arise on earth; these sciences, endowed with brilliance, are indeed the daughters of the grandsire." Thus, Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa, blessed and prepared, set out with Viśvāmitra, their journey marked by auspicious signs and divine blessings, ready to fulfill their dharma and protect the world.