कार्यम् अण्व् अपि काले तु कृतम् एत्य् उपकारताम् । महद् अप्य् उपकारेण रिक्तताम् एत्य् अकालतः
Even a small act, when done at the right time, becomes beneficial; but even a great act, if untimely, becomes fruitless.
इत्य् एवम् उक्त्वा धर्मात्मा धर्मार्थसहितं वचः । विरराम महातेजा विश्वामित्रो मुनीश्वरः
Having thus spoken these words, imbued with righteousness and purpose, the illustrious sage Viśvāmitra fell silent.
श्रुत्वा वचो मुनिवरस्य महाप्रभावस् तूष्णीम् अतिष्ठद् उपपन्नम् इदं स वक्तुम् । नो युक्तियुक्तकथनेन विनैति तोषं धीमान् अपूरितमनोऽभिमतश् च लोकः
Hearing the words of the eminent sage, the mighty one stood silently, for it was fitting to do so; for even with reasoning speech, satisfaction does not arise in the wise whose wishes are unfulfilled, nor in the world.
तच् छ्रुत्वा राजशार्दूलो विश्वामित्रस्य भाषितम् । मुहूर्तम् आसीन् निश्चेष्टस् सदैन्यं चेदम् अब्रवीत्
Hearing Viśvāmitra's words, the tiger among kings sat motionless for a moment, filled with sorrow, and then spoke as follows.
ऊनषोडशवर्षो ऽयं रामो राजीवलोचनः । न युद्धयोग्यताम् अस्य पश्यामि सह राक्षसैः
This lotus-eyed Rama is not yet sixteen years old; I do not see him fit for battle with the rakshasas.
इयम् अक्षौहिणी पूर्णा यस्याः पतिर् अहं प्रभो । तया परिवृतो युद्धं दास्यामि पिशिताशिनाम्
This full akshauhini is mine, O Lord, and I am its master; surrounded by it, I will give battle to the flesh-eaters.
इमे हि शूरा विक्रान्ता भृत्या अस्त्रविशारदाः । अहं चैषां धनुष्पाणिर् गोप्ता समरमूर्धनि
These are valiant and courageous servants, skilled in weapons; and I, holding the bow, am their protector at the forefront of war.
एभिस् सह तवारीणां महेन्द्रमहताम् अपि । ददामि युद्धं मत्तानां करिणाम् इव केसरी
With these, I offer battle even to your enemies as mighty as Mahendra; like a lion among intoxicated elephants.
बालो रामस् त्व् अनीकेषु न जानाति बलाबलम् । अन्तःपुराद् ऋते दृष्टा नानेनान्या रणावनिः
Young Rama, in the ranks, does not know strength or weakness; except for the inner chambers, he has not seen any other battlefield.
न चास्त्रैः परमैर् युक्तो न च युद्धविशारदः । न भटभ्रूकुटीनां च तज्ज्ञस् समरमूर्धसु
He is not equipped with supreme weapons, nor is he skilled in warfare; nor does he know the fierce frowns of warriors in the heat of battle.
केवलं पुष्पषण्डेषु नगरोपवनेषु च । उद्यानवनकुञ्जेषु सदैव परिशीलितः
He has only ever been accustomed to flower gardens, city groves, and the thickets of parks and woods.
विहर्तुम् एष जानाति सह राजकुमारकैः । कीर्णपुष्पोपकारासु स्वकास्व् अजिरभूमिषु
He knows how to play with the royal princes, in his own courtyards adorned with scattered flowers.
अद्य त्व् अतितरां ब्रह्मन् मम भाग्यविपर्ययात् । हिमेनेवाहतः पद्मस् सम्पन्नो हरितः कृशः
Today, O Brahman, by a reversal of my fortune, I am like a lotus struck by frost: once flourishing and green, now withered and frail.
नात्तुम् अन्नानि शक्नोति न विहर्तुं गृहावनौ । अन्तःखेदपरीतात्मा तूष्णीं तिष्ठति केवलम्
He cannot eat food, nor enjoy himself at home or outdoors; his heart is overwhelmed with inner distress, and he sits in silence, doing nothing.
सदारस् सहभृत्यो ऽहं तत्कृते मुनिनायक । शरदीव पयोवाहो नूनं निस्सहतां गतः
With my wife and attendants, O chief of sages, I too have become utterly helpless on his account, like a raincloud in autumn.
ईदृशो ऽसौ सुतो बाल आधिना विवशीकृतः । कथं ददामि तं तुभ्यं योद्धुं सह निशाचरैः
Such is my son, a mere boy, rendered powerless by sorrow—how can I give him to you to fight against the night-dwelling demons?
अपि बालाङ्गनासङ्गाद् अपि साधो सुधारसात् । राज्याद् अपि सुखायैष पुत्रस्नेहो महामते
O wise one, the love for a son brings happiness greater than that from the company of young women, from the taste of nectar, or even from sovereignty.
ये दुरन्ता महारम्भास् त्रिषु लोकेषु खेददाः । पुत्रस्नेहेन सन्तो ऽपि कुर्वते ते न संश्रयम्
Even those who are content do not undertake the most difficult and exhausting endeavors in the three worlds, but for the sake of love for a son, they do not hesitate.
असवो ऽथ धनं दारास् त्यज्यन्ते मानवैस् सुखम् । न पुत्रा मुनिशार्दूल स्वभावो ह्य् एष जन्तुषु
People may easily give up their lives, wealth, or wives, O best of sages, but not their sons—such is the nature of living beings.
राक्षसाः क्रूरकर्माणः कूटयुद्धविशारदाः । रामस् तान् योधयत्व् इत्थम् उक्तिर् एवातिदुस्सहा
The very thought that Rama should fight those demons—cruel in deed and skilled in deceitful warfare—is utterly unbearable.
विप्रयुक्तो हि रामेण मुहूर्तम् अपि नोत्सहे । जीवितुं जीविताकाङ्क्षी न रामं नेतुम् अर्हसि
Separated from Rāma, I cannot endure to live even for a moment, though I desire life; you should not take Rāma away.
नववर्षसहस्राणि मम यातानि कौशिक । दुःखेनोत्पादितास् त्व् एते चत्वारः पुत्रका मया
Nine thousand years have passed for me, O Kauśika, in suffering; and with difficulty I have begotten these four sons.
प्रधानभूतस् तेष्व् एषु रामः कमललोचनः । तं विना ते त्रयो ऽप्य् अन्ये धारयन्ति न जीवितम्
Among these, Rāma, lotus-eyed, is foremost; without him, the other three also cannot sustain life.
स एव रामो भवता नीयते राक्षसान् प्रति । यदि तत् पुत्रहीनं त्वं मृतम् एवाशु विद्धि माम्
It is this very Rāma whom you are taking to confront the rākṣasas; know that if I am deprived of my son, I will soon be as good as dead.
चतुर्णाम् आत्मजानां हि प्रीतिर् अत्र हि मे परा । ज्येष्ठं धर्ममयं तस्मान् न रामं नेतुम् अर्हसि
Indeed, my affection for these four sons is supreme; therefore, as the eldest is righteous, you should not take Rāma.
निशाचरबलं हन्तुं मुने यदि तवेप्सितम् । चतुरङ्गसमायुक्तं मया सह बलं नय
If, O sage, you desire to destroy the host of night-wandering demons, then take with you an army equipped in four divisions, along with me.
किंवीर्या राक्षसास् ते तु कस्य पुत्राः कथं च ते । कियत्प्रमाणाः के चैते इति वर्णय मे स्फुटम्
What is the strength of those rākṣasas? Whose sons are they, and what are they like? What is their size, and who are they? Describe them to me clearly.
कथं तेन प्रहर्तव्यं तेषां रामेण रक्षसाम् । मामकैर् वा बलैर् ब्रह्मन् मया वा कूटयोधिनाम्
How should those rākṣasas be struck by Rāma, or by my forces, or by me, O brāhmaṇa, since they are masters of deceitful warfare?
सर्वं मे शंस भगवन् यथा तेषां मया रणे । स्थातव्यं दुष्टसत्त्वानां वीर्योत्सिक्ता हि राक्षसाः
O venerable one, tell me everything—how I must stand firm in battle against those wicked beings, for the rākṣasas are indeed swollen with might.
श्रूयते हि महावीरो रावणो नाम राक्षसः । साक्षाद् वैश्रवणभ्राता पुत्रो विश्रवसो मुनेः
It is said that there is a mighty hero named Rāvaṇa, a rākṣasa, who is directly the brother of Vaiśravaṇa and the son of the sage Viśravas.