अहं ते प्रतिजानामि हतौ तौ विद्धि राक्षसौ । अहं वेद्मि महात्मानं रामं सत्यपराक्रमम् ॥१-१९-
I promise you: know that those two demons will be slain. I know Rāma, the great-souled one whose valor is true.
वसिष्ठोऽपि महातेजा ये चेमे तपसि स्थिताः । यदि ते धर्मलाभं च यशश्च परमं भुवि ॥१-१९-
Vasiṣṭha, radiant in ascetic power, and all those who are steadfast in austerity, also know him. If you desire righteousness and supreme fame on earth—
स्थिरमिच्छसि राजेन्द्र रामं मे दातुमर्हसि । यद्यभ्यनुज्ञां काकुत्स्थ ददते तव मन्त्रिणः ॥१-१९-
If you desire steadfastness, O king, you should grant me Rāma; if your ministers, O descendant of Kakutstha, give their approval.
वसिष्ठप्रमुखाः सर्वे ततो रामं विसर्जय । अभिप्रेतमसंसक्तमात्मजं दातुमर्हसि ॥१-१९-
Then, with Vasiṣṭha at their head, let all your counselors consent, and you should give me your son Rāma, who is dear to you and unattached.
दशरात्रं हि यज्ञस्य रामं राजीवलोचनम् । नात्येति कालो यज्ञस्य यथायं मम राघव ॥१-१९-
For the period of the sacrifice is ten nights, and Rāma, lotus-eyed, will not be delayed beyond the time of the sacrifice, O Rāghava, as I have said.
विरराम महातेजा विश्वामित्रो महामतिः । स तन्निशम्य राजेन्द्रो विश्वामित्रवचः शुभम् ॥१-१९-
The great and radiant sage Viśvāmitra fell silent; and hearing those auspicious words of Viśvāmitra, the king of kings—
शोकेन महताविष्टश्चचाल च मुमोह च । लब्धसंज्ञस्तदोत्थाय व्यषीदत भयान्वितः ॥१-१९-
Was seized by great sorrow, trembled, and became faint; regaining his senses, he rose, filled with fear and anxiety.
इति हृदयमनोविदारणं :::मुनिवचनं तदतीव शुश्रुवान् । नरपतिरभवन्महान् महात्मा :::व्यथितमनाः प्रचचाल चासनात् ॥१-१९-
Thus, the king heard those words of the sage, which pierced his heart and mind; that great and noble king, deeply troubled, wavered and rose from his seat.
thumb|विंशः सर्गः श्रूयताम्|center श्रीमद्वाल्मीकियरामायणे बालकाण्डे विंशः सर्गः ॥१-
This is the twentieth sarga. Listen.
तच्छ्रुत्वा राजशार्दूलो विश्वामित्रस्य भाषितम् । मुहूर्तमिव निःसंज्ञः संज्ञावानिदमब्रवीत् ॥१-२०-
Hearing Viśvāmitra’s words, the tiger among kings was for a moment insensible, then, regaining his senses, he spoke these words:
ऊनषोडशवर्षो मे रामो राजीवलोचनः । न युद्धयोग्यतामस्य पश्यामि सह राक्षसैः ॥१-२०-
My Rāma, lotus-eyed, is not yet sixteen years old; I do not see him fit for battle with the Rākṣasas.
इयमक्षौहिणी सेना यस्याहं पतिरीश्वरः । अनया सहितो गत्वा योद्धाहं तैर्निशाचरैः ॥१-२०-
This is my army, an Akṣauhiṇī, over which I am lord and master; with this force I shall go and fight those night-roaming demons.
इमे शूराश्च विक्रान्ता भृत्या मेऽस्त्रविशारदाः । योग्या रक्षोगणैर्योद्धुं न रामं नेतुमर्हसि ॥१-२०-
These servants of mine are valiant and mighty, skilled in the use of weapons; they are fit to fight the hosts of Rākṣasas—you should not take Rāma.
अहमेव धनुष्पाणिर्गोप्ता समरमूर्धनि । यावत् प्राणान् धरिष्यामि तावद् योत्स्ये निशाचरैः ॥१-२०-
I myself, bow in hand, will protect you at the forefront of battle; as long as I have life, I shall fight the night-dwellers.
निर्विघ्ना व्रतचर्या सा भविष्यति सुरक्षिता । अहं तत्र गमिष्यामि न रामं नेतुमर्हसि ॥१-२०-
Your vow will be fulfilled without hindrance and kept safe; I will go there, you should not take Rāma.
बालो ह्यकृतविद्यश्च न च वेत्ति बलाबलम् । न चास्त्रबलसंयुक्तो न च युद्धविशारदः ॥१-२०-
He is a boy, untrained in knowledge, and does not know strength or weakness; he is not endowed with the power of weapons, nor is he skilled in battle.
न चासौ रक्षसां योग्यः कूटयुद्धा हि राक्षसाः । विप्रयुक्तो हि रामेण मुहूर्तमपि नोत्सहे ॥१-२०-
He is not fit to face the Rākṣasas, for the Rākṣasas fight deceitfully; separated from Rāma, I cannot endure even for a moment.
जीवितुं मुनिशार्दूल न रामं नेतुमर्हसि । यदि वा राघवं ब्रह्मन् नेतुमिच्छसि सुव्रत ॥१-२०-
To live, O best of sages, I cannot bear to be without Rāma; but if you, O noble one, wish to take Rāghava—
चतुरङ्गसमायुक्तं मया सह च तं नय । षष्टिर्वर्षसहस्राणि जातस्य मम कौशिक ॥१-२०-
Then take him with me, accompanied by a fourfold army; O Kauśika, I am already sixty thousand years old.
कृच्छ्रेणोत्पादितश्चायं न रामं नेतुमर्हसि । चतुर्णामात्मजानां हि प्रीतिः परमिका मम ॥१-२०-
He was obtained with great difficulty; you should not take Rāma. Of my four sons, my affection for him is supreme.
ज्येष्ठे धर्मप्रधानेच न रामं नेतुमर्हसि । किंवीर्या राक्षसास्ते च कस्य पुत्राश्च के च ते ॥१-२०-
You should not take Rāma, who is the eldest and foremost in righteousness. What is the power of those Rākṣasas, whose sons are they, and who are they?
कथं प्रमाणाः के चैतान् रक्षन्ति मुनिपुंगव । कथं च प्रतिकर्तव्यं तेषां रामेण रक्षसाम् ॥१-२०-
How strong are they, and who protects them, O best of sages? And how should Rāma oppose those Rākṣasas?
मामकैर्वा बलैर्ब्रह्मन् मया वा कूटयोधिनाम् । सर्वं मे शंस भगवन् कथं तेषां मया रणे ॥१-२०-
Should I, with my own forces or with deceitful warriors, confront them in battle, O revered one? Tell me everything, how I should face them in war.
स्थातव्यं दुष्टभावानां वीर्योत्सिक्ता हि राक्षसाः । तस्य तद् वचनं श्रुत्वा विश्वामित्रोऽभ्यभाषत ॥१-२०-
One must stand firm against those of wicked intent, for the Rākṣasas are exceedingly proud of their strength. Hearing these words, Viśvāmitra spoke.
पौलस्त्यवंशप्रभवो रावणो नाम राक्षसः । स ब्रह्मणा दत्तवरस्त्रैलोक्यं बाधते भृशम् ॥१-२०-
There is a Rākṣasa named Rāvaṇa, born in the lineage of Paulastya. Granted a boon by Brahmā, he greatly troubles the three worlds.
महाबलो महावीर्यो राक्षसैर्बहुभिर्वृतः । श्रूयते च महाराज रावणो राक्षसाधिपः ॥१-२०-
He is immensely powerful and mighty, surrounded by many Rākṣasas. It is said, O great king, that Rāvaṇa is the lord of the Rākṣasas.
साक्षाद्वैश्रवणभ्राता पुत्रो विश्रवसो मुनेः । यदा न खलु यज्ञस्य विघ्नकर्ता महाबलः ॥१-२०-
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.
तेन संचोदितौ तौ तु राक्षसौ सुमहाबलौ । मारीचश्च सुबाहुश्च यज्ञविघ्नं करिष्यतः ॥१-२०-
Urged by him, two Rākṣasas of immense strength—Mārīca and Subāhu—are set to disrupt the sacrifice.
स त्वं प्रसादं धर्मज्ञ कुरुष्व मम पुत्रके । मम चैवाल्पभाग्यस्य दैवतं हि भवान् गुरुः ॥१-२०-
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.
देवदानवगन्धर्वा यक्षाः पतगपन्नगाः । न शक्ता रावणं सोढुं किं पुनर्मानवा युधि ॥१-२०-
Gods, Dānavas, Gandharvas, Yakṣas, birds, and serpents are unable to withstand Rāvaṇa; how much less, then, can humans face him in battle?