← 1.17 Birth and upbringing of the princes; Viśvāmitra’s arrival · Bāla Kāṇḍa · 1.19 Daśaratha’s resistance: The army offered in Rāma’s place →
Bāla Kāṇḍa, sarga 18: Viśvāmitra’s request: Rāma’s protection of the sacrifice
Summary. Viśvāmitra asks for Rāma to protect his sacrifice from Mārīca & Subāhu, promising the prince’s safety and advancement
Sequence
- Viśvāmitra praises Daśaratha's promise and asks him to keep it (1.18.1–3)
- he explains that Mārīca and Subāhu repeatedly ruin his observance at its completion by raining flesh and blood on the altar → the observance forbids him from answering with a curse (1.18.4–7)
- he requests Rāma, still wearing the sidelocks of boyhood, to kill them under his protection (1.18.8–9)
- he promises blessings and worldwide fame, insisting that the rākṣasas cannot withstand Rāma and that he, Vasiṣṭha, and the other ṛṣis know Rāma's true strength (1.18.10–14)
- with the advisers' agreement, Daśaratha should release his son for the sacrifice's ten nights and not let the appointed time pass (1.18.15–18)
- Viśvāmitra falls silent → frightened and deeply distressed, Daśaratha reels from his seat. (1.18.19–20)
Verses 1.18.1–20
1.18.1
tac chrutvā rājasiṃhasya vākyam adbhutavistaram
hṛṣṭaromā mahātejā viśvāmitro 'bhyabhāṣata
Hearing that wondrously expansive speech of the lion among kings, the great-splendoured Viśvāmitra, his hair bristling with delight, replied:
Words: tac — that; chrutvā — having heard; rājasiṃhasya — of the lion among kings; vākyam — speech; adbhutavistaram — wondrously expansive; hṛṣṭaromā — his hair bristling (with delight); mahātejā — of great splendour; viśvāmitro — Viśvāmitra; 'bhyabhāṣata — replied, spoke
1.18.2
sadṛśaṃ rājaśārdūla tavaitad bhuvi nānyataḥ
mahāvaṃśaprasūtasya vasiṣṭhavyapadeśinaḥ
This is worthy of you, O tiger among kings — sprung from a great line and guided by Vasiṣṭha — and of none other on earth.
Words: sadṛśaṃ — worthy, befitting; rājaśārdūla — O tiger among kings; tavaitad — this of yours; bhuvi — on earth; nānyataḥ — not from any other; mahāvaṃśaprasūtasya — of one sprung from a great line; vasiṣṭhavyapadeśinaḥ — having Vasiṣṭha as (spiritual) guide
1.18.3
yat tu me hṛdgataṃ vākyaṃ tasya kāryasya niścayam
kuruṣva rājaśārdūla bhava satyapratiśravaḥ
But as for the word that is in my heart, carry out the resolve of that task, O tiger among kings; be true to your promise.
Words: yat — which; tu — but; me — of me, my; hṛdgataṃ — gone into the heart; vākyaṃ — word; tasya — of that; kāryasya — of the task; niścayam — the resolve, settled purpose; kuruṣva — carry out, do; rājaśārdūla — O tiger among kings; bhava — be, become; satyapratiśravaḥ — true to your promise
1.18.4
ahaṃ niyamam ātiṣṭha siddhyarthaṃ puruṣarṣabha
tasya vighnakarau dvau tu rākṣasau kāmarūpiṇau
I am engaged in an observance for the sake of accomplishment, O bull among men; but there are two rākṣasas, able to change form at will, who obstruct it.
Words: ahaṃ — I; niyamam — an observance, vow; ātiṣṭha — undertake, am engaged in; siddhyarthaṃ — for the sake of accomplishment; puruṣarṣabha — O bull among men; tasya — of it; vighnakarau — the two obstructors; dvau — two; tu — but; rākṣasau — two rākṣasas; kāmarūpiṇau — able to take any form
1.18.5
vrate me bahuśaś cīrṇe samāptyāṃ rākṣasāv imau
mārīcaś ca subāhuś ca vīryavantau suśikṣitau
tau māṃsarudhiraugheṇa vediṃ tām abhyavarṣatām
When my observance has been performed many times, at its completion these two rākṣasas — Mārīca and Subāhu, mighty and well-trained — rain down upon that altar a flood of flesh and blood.
Words: vrate — the observance (loc. abs.); me — my; bahuśaś — many times; cīrṇe — performed (loc. abs.); samāptyāṃ — at the completion; rākṣasāv — the two rākṣasas; imau — these two; mārīcaś — Mārīca; ca — and; subāhuś — Subāhu; ca — and; vīryavantau — mighty; suśikṣitau — well-trained; tau — the two; māṃsarudhiraugheṇa — with a flood of flesh and blood; vediṃ — the altar; tām — that; abhyavarṣatām — rained down upon (the two)
1.18.6
avadhūte tathā bhūte tasmin niyamaniścaye
kṛtaśramo nirutsāhas tasmād deśād apākrame
When my settled observance has thus been dashed to pieces, my labour wasted and my zeal gone, I withdraw from that region.
Words: avadhūte — dashed down, ruined (loc. abs.); tathā — thus; bhūte — having become (loc. abs.); tasmin — that; niyamaniścaye — settled observance, firm vow; kṛtaśramo — having (vainly) laboured; nirutsāhas — dispirited, zeal gone; tasmād — from that; deśād — from the region; apākrame — I withdraw, depart
1.18.7
na ca me krodham utsraṣṭuṃ buddhir bhavati pārthiva
tathābhūtā hi sā caryā na śāpas tatra mucyate
And my mind does not incline to loose forth wrath, O king; for such is that observance that no curse may be uttered therein.
Words: na — not; ca — and; me — my; krodham — wrath; utsraṣṭuṃ — to loose forth, discharge; buddhir — the mind, inclination; bhavati — becomes, is; pārthiva — O king; tathābhūtā — of such a nature; hi — for; sā — that; caryā — observance, discipline; na — not; śāpas — a curse; tatra — therein; mucyate — is loosed, uttered
1.18.8
svaputraṃ rājaśārdūla rāmaṃ satyaparākramam
kākapakṣadharaṃ śūraṃ jyeṣṭhaṃ me dātum arhasi
You should give me your own son, O tiger among kings — Rāma of true valour, the heroic eldest, still wearing the side-locks of boyhood.
Words: svaputraṃ — your own son; rājaśārdūla — O tiger among kings; rāmaṃ — Rāma; satyaparākramam — of true valour; kākapakṣadharaṃ — wearing the side-locks (of a boy); śūraṃ — heroic; jyeṣṭhaṃ — the eldest; me — to me; dātum — to give; arhasi — you should, ought
1.18.9
śakto hy eṣa mayā gupto divyena svena tejasā
rākṣasā ye vikartāras teṣām api vināśane
For, guarded by me and by his own divine splendour, he is capable even of the destruction of those rākṣasas who work mischief.
Words: śakto — capable; hy — for; eṣa — this one; mayā — by me; gupto — guarded, protected; divyena — by divine; svena — own; tejasā — by splendour; rākṣasā — the rākṣasas; ye — who; vikartāras — doers of mischief, marauders; teṣām — of them; api — even; vināśane — in the destruction
1.18.10
śreyaś cāsmai pradāsyāmi bahurūpaṃ na saṃśayaḥ
trayāṇām api lokānāṃ yena khyātiṃ gamiṣyati
And I will bestow on him blessing of many kinds, no doubt — by which he will attain renown throughout all three worlds.
Words: śreyaś — blessing, good; cāsmai — and to him; pradāsyāmi — I will bestow; bahurūpaṃ — of many kinds; na — not; saṃśayaḥ — doubt; trayāṇām — of the three; api — even, indeed; lokānāṃ — of the worlds; yena — by which; khyātiṃ — renown, fame; gamiṣyati — will attain, go to
1.18.11
na ca tau rāmam āsādya śaktau sthātuṃ kathaṃ cana
na ca tau rāghavād anyo hantum utsahate pumān
Those two, encountering Rāma, will in no way be able to stand their ground; nor is there any man other than Rāghava who can venture to slay them.
Words: na — not; ca — and; tau — those two; rāmam — Rāma; āsādya — having encountered, met; śaktau — able (the two); sthātuṃ — to stand, hold ground; kathaṃ — in any way; cana — at all (indef.); na — not; ca — and; tau — them (two); rāghavād — than Rāghava; anyo — other; hantum — to slay; utsahate — dares, ventures; pumān — a man
1.18.12
vīryotsiktau hi tau pāpau kālapāśavaśaṃ gatau
rāmasya rājaśārdūla na paryāptau mahātmanaḥ
For those two wicked ones, puffed up with might and fallen under the noose of Death, are no match for the great-souled Rāma, O tiger among kings.
Words: vīryotsiktau — puffed up with might (the two); hi — for; tau — those two; pāpau — the two wicked ones; kālapāśavaśaṃ — under the sway of Death's noose; gatau — gone, fallen (the two); rāmasya — for Rāma; rājaśārdūla — O tiger among kings; na — not; paryāptau — a match, equal (the two); mahātmanaḥ — for the great-souled one
1.18.13
na ca putrakṛtaṃ snehaṃ kartum arhasi pārthiva
ahaṃ te pratijānāmi hatau tau viddhi rākṣasau
And you must not indulge the fondness felt for a son, O king; I give you my pledge — know those two rākṣasas as already slain.
Words: na — not; ca — and; putrakṛtaṃ — occasioned by a son; snehaṃ — fondness, affection; kartum — to make, indulge; arhasi — you ought; pārthiva — O king; ahaṃ — I; te — to you; pratijānāmi — promise, pledge; hatau — slain (the two); tau — those two; viddhi — know; rākṣasau — rākṣasas (the two)
1.18.14
ahaṃ vedmi mahātmānaṃ rāmaṃ satyaparākramam
vasiṣṭho 'pi mahātejā ye ceme tapasi sthitāḥ
I know the great-souled Rāma of true valour, and so does Vasiṣṭha of great splendour, and these others who abide in austerity.
Words: ahaṃ — I; vedmi — know; mahātmānaṃ — the great-souled; rāmaṃ — Rāma; satyaparākramam — of true valour; vasiṣṭho — Vasiṣṭha; 'pi — also; mahātejā — of great splendour; ye — who; ceme — and these; tapasi — in austerity; sthitāḥ — abide, are established
1.18.15
yadi te dharmalābhaṃ ca yaśaś ca paramaṃ bhuvi
sthiram icchasi rājendra rāmaṃ me dātum arhasi
If you desire the gaining of dharma and the highest, lasting fame on earth, O king of kings, you should give me Rāma.
Words: yadi — if; te — for you; dharmalābhaṃ — the gaining of dharma; ca — and; yaśaś — fame; ca — and; paramaṃ — highest; bhuvi — on earth; sthiram — lasting, firm; icchasi — you desire; rājendra — O king of kings; rāmaṃ — Rāma; me — to me; dātum — to give; arhasi — you should
1.18.16
yady abhyanujñāṃ kākutstha dadate tava mantriṇaḥ
vasiṣṭha pramukhāḥ sarve tato rāmaṃ visarjaya
If your counsellors, O Kākutstha, with Vasiṣṭha at their head, all give their consent, then send Rāma forth.
Words: yady — if; abhyanujñāṃ — consent, permission; kākutstha — O Kākutstha (descendant of Kakutstha); dadate — give; tava — your; mantriṇaḥ — the counsellors; vasiṣṭha — Vasiṣṭha; pramukhāḥ — having at the head, foremost; sarve — all; tato — then; rāmaṃ — Rāma; visarjaya — send forth, dispatch
1.18.17
abhipretam asaṃsaktam ātmajaṃ dātum arhasi
daśarātraṃ hi yajñasya rāmaṃ rājīvalocanam
You should give up, without reluctance, your beloved son, the lotus-eyed Rāma, for the ten nights of the sacrifice.
Words: abhipretam — beloved, desired; asaṃsaktam — unattached, without clinging; ātmajaṃ — (your) son; dātum — to give; arhasi — you should; daśarātraṃ — for the ten nights; hi — indeed; yajñasya — of the sacrifice; rāmaṃ — Rāma; rājīvalocanam — the lotus-eyed
1.18.18
nātyeti kālo yajñasya yathāyaṃ mama rāghava
tathā kuruṣva bhadraṃ te mā ca śoke manaḥ kṛthāḥ
Let the time of my sacrifice not slip past, as it now stands, O Rāghava; act accordingly — blessings on you — and do not give your mind to sorrow.
Words: nātyeti — does not slip past; kālo — the time; yajñasya — of the sacrifice; yathāyaṃ — as this (now stands); mama — my; rāghava — O Rāghava; tathā — so, accordingly; kuruṣva — act, do; bhadraṃ — blessing, good; te — to you; mā — do not; ca — and; śoke — on grief; manaḥ — the mind; kṛthāḥ — set, make
1.18.19
ity evam uktvā dharmātmā dharmārthasahitaṃ vacaḥ
virarāma mahātejā viśvāmitro mahāmuniḥ
Having spoken thus, these words fraught with dharma and profit, the righteous, greatly splendoured, great sage Viśvāmitra fell silent.
Words: ity — thus; evam — thus, so; uktvā — having spoken; dharmātmā — the righteous one; dharmārthasahitaṃ — fraught with dharma and profit; vacaḥ — speech, words; virarāma — fell silent, ceased; mahātejā — of great splendour; viśvāmitro — Viśvāmitra; mahāmuniḥ — the great sage
1.18.20
iti hṛdayamanovidāraṇaṃ munivacanaṃ tad atīva śuśruvān
narapatir agamad bhayaṃ mahad vyathitamanāḥ pracacāla cāsanāt
Having heard that speech of the sage, so exceedingly rending to heart and mind, the king fell into great fear and, his mind distressed, reeled up from his seat.
Words: iti — thus; hṛdayamanovidāraṇaṃ — rending to heart and mind; munivacanaṃ — the speech of the sage; tad — that; atīva — exceedingly; śuśruvān — having heard; narapatir — the king; agamad — went to, fell into; bhayaṃ — fear; mahad — great; vyathitamanāḥ — his mind distressed; pracacāla — reeled, staggered; cāsanāt — and from the seat
← 1.17 Birth and upbringing of the princes; Viśvāmitra’s arrival · Bāla Kāṇḍa · 1.19 Daśaratha’s resistance: The army offered in Rāma’s place →
Composed by Maharṣi Vālmīki, the ādikavi of the ādikāvya: the first poet of the first poem. Sanskrit: The Vālmīki-Rāmāyaṇa: Critical Edition, Oriental Institute, Baroda, 1960–1975 (gen. eds. G. H. Bhatt, U. P. Shah); IAST from GRETIL (Göttingen). Translation and word glosses: Claude Opus 4.6–4.7; summaries and sequences: ChatGPT Astra (machine-made). Numbering follows the Critical Edition, not the vulgate (e.g. Gita Press, valmikiramayan.net), so sarga and verse numbers can differ from those editions.
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