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?
स तु वीर्यवतां वीर्यमादत्ते युधि रावणः । तेन चाहं न शक्तोऽस्मि संयोद्धुं तस्य वा बलैः ॥१-२०-
Rāvaṇa, in battle, takes the strength of the mighty. Therefore, I am unable to fight him or his forces.
सबलो वा मुनिश्रेष्ठ सहितो वा ममात्मजैः । कथमप्यमरप्रख्यं संग्रामाणामकोविदम् ॥१-२०-
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.
बालं मे तनयं ब्रह्मन् नैव दास्यामि पुत्रकम् । अथ कालोपमौ युद्धे सुतौ सुन्दोपसुन्दयोः ॥१-२०-
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.
यज्ञविघ्नकरौ तौ ते नैव दास्यामि पुत्रकम् । मारीचश्च सुबाहुश्च वीर्यवन्तौ सुशिक्षितौ ॥१-२०-
Those two, Mārīca and Subāhu, who disrupt the sacrifice, are mighty and well-trained; I will not give my son.
तयोरन्यतरं योद्धुं यास्यामि ससुहृद्गणः । अन्यथा त्वनुनेष्यामि भवन्तं सहबान्धवः ॥१-२०-
With my friends and allies, I myself will go to fight one of them; otherwise, I will implore you, along with your kinsmen.
इति नरपतिजल्पनात् द्विजेन्द्रं :::कुशिकसुतं सुमहान् विवेश मन्युः । सुहुत इव मखेऽग्निराज्यसिक्तः :::समभवदुज्ज्वलितो महर्षिवह्निः ॥१-२०-
Thus, from the king's words to the chief of twice-born, a great anger entered the son of Kuśika, like fire well kindled and brightened with ghee in a sacrifice, the fire of the great sage blazed forth.
thumb|एकविंशः सर्गः श्रूयताम्|center श्रीमद्वाल्मीकियरामायणे बालकाण्डे एकविंशः सर्गः ॥१-
Listen to the twenty-first sarga in the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Bālakāṇḍa.
तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं तस्य स्नेहपर्याकुलाक्षरम् । समन्युः कौशिको वाक्यं प्रत्युवाच महीपतिम् ॥१-२१-
Hearing those words, choked with affection, the sage Kauśika, filled with anger, replied to the king.
पूर्वमर्थं प्रतिश्रुत्य प्रतिज्ञां हातुमिच्छसि । राघवाणामयुक्तोऽयं कुलस्यास्य विपर्ययः ॥१-२१-
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.
यदीदं ते क्षमं राजन् गमिष्यामि यथागतम् । मिथ्याप्रतिज्ञः काकुत्स्थ सुखी भव सुह्द्वृतः ॥१-२१-
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.
तस्य रोषपरीतस्य विश्वामित्रस्य धीमतः । चचाल वसुधा कृत्स्ना देवानां च भयं महत् ॥१-२१-
As the wise Viśvāmitra was seized by anger, the entire earth trembled, and great fear arose among the gods.
त्रस्तरूपं तु विज्ञाय जगत्सर्वं महानृषिः । नृपतिं सुव्रतो धीरो वसिष्ठो वाक्यमब्रवीत् ॥१-२१-
Perceiving that the whole world was struck with terror, the great sage Vasiṣṭha, steadfast and virtuous, spoke to the king.
इक्ष्वाकूणां कुले जातः साक्षाद् धर्म इवापरः । धृतिमान् सुव्रतः श्रीमान् न धर्मं हातुमर्हसि ॥१-२१-
Born in the line of Ikṣvāku, you are as if Dharma himself incarnate; steadfast, virtuous, and illustrious—you should not abandon righteousness.
त्रिषु लोकेषु विख्यातो धर्मात्मा इति राघवः । स्वधर्मं प्रतिपद्यस्व नाधर्मं वोढुमर्हसि ॥१-२१-
Rāghava is renowned in all three worlds as one devoted to righteousness; adhere to your own duty, for you should not bear unrighteousness.
प्रतिश्रुत्य करिष्येति उक्तं वाक्यमकुर्वतः । इष्टापूर्तवधो भूयात् तस्माद् रामं विसर्जय ॥१-२१-
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.
कृतास्त्रमकृतास्त्रं वा नैनं शक्ष्यन्ति राक्षसाः । गुप्तं कुशिकपुत्रेण ज्वलनेनामृतं यथा ॥१-२१-
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.
एष विग्रहवान् धर्म एष वीर्यवतां वरः । एष विद्याधिको लोके तपसश्च परायणम् ॥१-२१-
He is righteousness embodied, foremost among the mighty, surpassing all in knowledge, and wholly devoted to austerity.
एषोऽस्त्रान् विविधान् वेत्ति त्रैलोक्ये सचराचरे । नैनमन्यः पुमान् वेत्ति न च वेत्स्यन्ति केचन ॥१-२१-
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.
न देवा नर्षयः केचिन्नामरा न च राक्षसाः । गन्धर्वयक्षप्रवराः सकिन्नरमहोरगाः ॥१-२१-
Neither gods, nor sages, nor immortals, nor Rākṣasas, nor the foremost Gandharvas, Yakṣas, Kinnaras, or great serpents know them.
सर्वास्त्राणि कृशाश्वस्य पुत्राः परमधार्मिकाः । कौशिकाय पुरा दत्ता यदा राज्यं प्रशासति ॥१-२१-
All the weapons, whose sons were supremely righteous, were once given to Kauśika by Kṛśāśva when he ruled the kingdom.
तेऽपि पुत्राः कृशाश्वस्य प्रजापतिसुतासुताः । नैकरूपा महावीर्या दीप्तिमन्तो जयावहाः ॥१-२१-
Those sons of Kṛśāśva, born of the daughters of Prajāpati, were of diverse forms, great strength, radiant, and bringers of victory.
जया च सुप्रभा चैव दक्षकन्ये सुमध्यमे । ते सुवातेऽस्त्रशस्त्राणि शतं परमभास्वरम् ॥१-२१-
Jayā and Suprabhā, O slender-waisted daughter of Dakṣa, gave birth to a hundred shining weapons and missiles.
पञ्चाशतं सुताँल्लेभे जया लब्धवरा वरान् । वधायासुरसैन्यानामप्रमेयानुरूपिणः ॥१-२१-
Jayā, having obtained boons, bore fifty sons, immeasurable in might, for the destruction of the armies of the Asuras.