When Viśvāmitra requested that Rāma accompany him to protect his sacrifice, King Daśaratha was overcome with anguish. He pleaded with the sage, “Separated from Rāma, I cannot bear to live even for a moment, though I wish to go on living. Please, do not take Rāma away from me. For nine thousand years, O Kauśika, I have endured great suffering, and only with great difficulty have I begotten these four sons. Among them, Rāma, whose eyes are like lotuses, is the most cherished. Without him, the other three sons too would not be able to endure life. “It is this very Rāma whom you wish to take to confront the rākṣasas. Know that if I am deprived of my son, I shall be as good as dead. My affection for all four sons is supreme, but since my eldest is righteous and beloved, you should not take Rāma from me. If, O sage, you desire to destroy the host of night-wandering demons, then take with you my army, equipped in all four divisions, and let me go with you as well. “Tell me, what is the strength of these rākṣasas? Whose sons are they, what are they like, and what is their size? Describe them to me clearly. How should these rākṣasas be struck down—by Rāma, by my forces, or by me, O brāhmaṇa—since they are masters of deceitful warfare? Venerable one, tell me everything—how I must stand firm in battle against these wicked beings, for the rākṣasas are indeed swollen with might. “It is said that there is a mighty hero named Rāvaṇa, a rākṣasa, who is the brother of Vaiśravaṇa and the son of the sage Viśravas. If that evil-minded one should indeed cause an obstacle in your sacrifice, then in battle we will not be able to withstand that wicked soul. At different times, O brāhmaṇa, those endowed with great power and might arise among beings, and in time they also dissolve. But at this present time, against enemies like Rāvaṇa, we are not able to stand before them; such is the decree of fate. “Therefore, knower of dharma, show favor to my son and to me, who am of little fortune, for you alone are our supreme deity. Not even the gods, dānavas, gandharvas, yakṣas, monkeys, or serpents are able to fight Rāvaṇa—what, then, can men do in battle? He takes the strength of those possessing great valor and of the nectar-eaters; therefore, we are not able to contend with him in battle, even with boons. This is another age that has rendered good people feeble; even Rāghava is dispirited, worn down by old age. “Or, O Brahman, tell me about Lavaṇa, the slayer of sacrifices, the son of Madhu, renowned among the gods—where will I send my son? But if you do not wish this, O Brahman, then I am subject to your will; otherwise, I do not see any lasting victory for myself.” Having spoken these gentle words, Daśaratha, filled with fear and tossed about by the doubts of the sages, could not arrive at any decision, like a great soul lost in the waves of the ocean. Hearing these words, filled with affection and emotion, the sage Kauśika’s anger flared. He replied to the king, “Having pledged, ‘I will do it,’ you now wish to abandon your vow. Though you are a lion in courage, you desire to become a deer. Such reversal is not fitting for the house of the Raghavas; black rays never arise from the cool-rayed moon. If you are not able, O king, I will depart as I came. O descendant of Kakutstha, be happy with your relatives, though your vow is unfulfilled.” As the great-souled Viśvāmitra’s anger mounted, the entire earth trembled, and the gods themselves were seized by fear. Perceiving that the sage—the friend of the world—was overtaken by wrath, the steadfast and wise Vasiṣṭha spoke gently, “You, born in the lineage of the Ikṣvākus, are another embodiment of Dharma itself. Daśaratha, you are illustrious and adorned with virtues in all the three worlds. Being prudent and steadfast in your vows, you ought not to abandon righteousness. You should act according to the words of the sage, lord of the three worlds. “Renowned everywhere, famed through righteousness, you should adhere to your own duty; you ought not to forsake dharma. Having promised, ‘I will do it,’ O king, if you do not fulfill it, the merit of your sacrifices and good deeds will fall away; therefore, send Rāma. Protected by the lion among men, just as nectar is guarded by fire, whether he is armed or not, the rākṣasas will not be able to harm him. “Even though you are born in the Ikṣvāku lineage and are Daśaratha himself, if you do not uphold your word, who else will uphold it? Living beings do not abandon the boundaries set by your conduct; you should not forsake that here. “This is dharma embodied, the foremost among the powerful; supreme in intellect, and the ultimate among those devoted to austerity. He knows all the weapons in the three worlds, among both moving and unmoving beings; no other man knows this, nor will anyone ever know. Neither divine sages, immortals, demons, nor nāgas, yakṣas, or gandharvas, O king, are equal to him. “A weapon, exceedingly difficult to overcome, was formerly given to him by Bhṛśāśva when he obtained the kingdom. The sons of Bhṛśāśva, comparable to the offspring of Prajāpati, followed him—heroes, radiant, and possessing great might. Jayā and Suprabhā, both daughters of Dakṣa, of slender waist—of these two, the offspring, a hundred, were exceedingly difficult to conquer. Jayā, having obtained a boon long ago, gave birth to fifty sons; they were imperishable, able to assume any form at will, for the destruction of the armies of the asuras.” Thus, the elders and sages counseled Daśaratha, guiding him with wisdom and urging him to uphold his word, for the welfare of the world and the fulfillment of dharma.