← 1.18 Viśvāmitra’s request: Rāma’s protection of the sacrifice · Bāla Kāṇḍa · 1.20 Vasiṣṭha’s intervention: The promise and Viśvāmitra’s powers →
Bāla Kāṇḍa, sarga 19: Daśaratha’s resistance: The army offered in Rāma’s place
Summary. Daśaratha resists sending the young Rāma, offers himself and his army instead and renews his refusal on hearing of Rāvaṇa’s power
Sequence
- Recovering, Daśaratha protests that Rāma is not yet sixteen and unready to face rākṣasas → he offers to go himself with a full army division and protect the observance (1.19.1–6)
- he describes Rāma as inexperienced in warfare and deception and says he cannot endure separation → if Rāma must go, he asks to accompany him with the fourfold army (1.19.7–9)
- he says that sixty thousand years have passed since his birth and recalls how difficult it was to obtain this especially beloved son (1.19.10–11)
- he asks who the enemies are, how strong they are, and who supports them (1.19.12–14)
- Viśvāmitra names Rāvaṇa, son of Viśravas and brother of Kubera, protected by Brahmā's boon → Mārīca and Subāhu obstruct the sacrifice at his urging (1.19.15–18)
- Daśaratha admits he cannot face Rāvaṇa, whose power cannot be withstood by Devas, dānavas, gandharvas, yakṣas, patagas or pannagas, and again refuses to send Rāma → he nevertheless offers to fight Mārīca or Subāhu with his companions. (1.19.19–25)
Verses 1.19.1–25
1.19.1
tac chrutvā rājaśārdūla viśvāmitrasya bhāṣitam
muhūrtam iva niḥsaṃjñaḥ saṃjñāvān idam abravīt
Hearing that utterance of Viśvāmitra, the tiger among kings, senseless as it were for a moment, then regaining his senses said this:
Words: tac — that; chrutvā — having heard; rājaśārdūla — the tiger among kings; viśvāmitrasya — of Viśvāmitra; bhāṣitam — the utterance, speech; muhūrtam — for a moment; iva — as it were; niḥsaṃjñaḥ — senseless, unconscious; saṃjñāvān — having regained his senses; idam — this; abravīt — said
1.19.2
ūnaṣoḍaśavarṣo me rāmo rājīvalocanaḥ
na yuddhayogyatām asya paśyāmi saha rākṣasaiḥ
My lotus-eyed Rāma is not yet sixteen years old; I do not see his fitness for battle with the rākṣasas.
Words: ūnaṣoḍaśavarṣo — less than sixteen years old; me — my; rāmo — Rāma; rājīvalocanaḥ — lotus-eyed; na — not; yuddhayogyatām — fitness for battle; asya — of him, his; paśyāmi — I see; saha — with; rākṣasaiḥ — the rākṣasas
1.19.3
iyam akṣauhiṇī pūrṇā yasyāhaṃ patir īśvaraḥ
anayā saṃvṛto gatvā yodhāhaṃ tair niśācaraiḥ
Here is a full army-division, of which I am the lord and master; surrounded by it, I will go and do battle with those night-rangers.
Words: iyam — this, here; akṣauhiṇī — an akṣauhiṇī (full army-division); pūrṇā — full, complete; yasyāhaṃ — of which I; patir — lord; īśvaraḥ — master; anayā — by it; saṃvṛto — surrounded; gatvā — having gone; yodhāhaṃ — I shall do battle; tair — with those; niśācaraiḥ — night-rangers
1.19.4
ime śūrāś ca vikrāntā bhṛtyā me 'straviśāradāḥ
yogyā rakṣogaṇair yoddhuṃ na rāmaṃ netum arhasi
These heroic and valiant servants of mine, skilled in weapons, are fit to fight the hosts of rākṣasas; you should not take Rāma away.
Words: ime — these; śūrāś — heroic; ca — and; vikrāntā — valiant; bhṛtyā — servants; me — my; 'straviśāradāḥ — skilled in weapons; yogyā — fit, suitable; rakṣogaṇair — with the hosts of rākṣasas; yoddhuṃ — to fight; na — not; rāmaṃ — Rāma; netum — to take away; arhasi — you should
1.19.5
aham eva dhanuṣpāṇir goptā samaramūrdhani
yāvat prāṇān dhariṣyāmi tāvad yotsye niśācaraiḥ
I myself, bow in hand, will be the protector at the head of the battle; as long as I hold my breath of life, so long will I fight with the night-rovers.
Words: aham — I; eva — myself, indeed; dhanuṣpāṇir — bow in hand; goptā — the protector; samaramūrdhani — at the head of battle; yāvat — as long as; prāṇān — the breaths of life; dhariṣyāmi — I shall hold, sustain; tāvad — so long; yotsye — I shall fight; niśācaraiḥ — with the night-rovers
1.19.6
nirvighnā vratavaryā sā bhaviṣyati surakṣitā
ahaṃ tatra gamiṣyāmil na rāma netum arhasi
Well protected, that excellent observance will be free of obstruction; I will go there — you should not take Rāma away.
Words: nirvighnā — free of obstruction; vratavaryā — the excellent observance; sā — that; bhaviṣyati — will be; surakṣitā — well protected; ahaṃ — I; tatra — there; gamiṣyāmil — I shall go; na — not; rāma — Rāma; netum — to take away; arhasi — you should
1.19.7
bālo hy akṛtavidyaś ca na ca vetti balābalam
na cāstrabalasaṃyukto na ca yuddhaviśāradaḥ
na cāsau rakṣasāṃ yogyaḥ kūṭayuddhā hi te dhruvam
For he is a boy, his education incomplete; he does not know strength from weakness, is not endowed with the power of weapons, nor skilled in warfare. And he is no match for the rākṣasas, for they surely fight by trickery.
Words: bālo — a boy; hy — for; akṛtavidyaś — of unfinished learning; ca — and; na — not; ca — and; vetti — knows; balābalam — strength and weakness; na — not; cāstrabalasaṃyukto — and endowed with the power of weapons; na — not; ca — and; yuddhaviśāradaḥ — skilled in warfare; na — not; cāsau — and he; rakṣasāṃ — for the rākṣasas; yogyaḥ — a match, fit; kūṭayuddhā — fighters by trickery; hi — for; te — they; dhruvam — surely, certainly
1.19.8
viprayukto hi rāmeṇa muhūrtam api notsahe
jīvituṃ muniśārdūla na rāmaṃ netum arhasi
For, parted from Rāma, I cannot bear to live even for a moment, O tiger among sages; you should not take Rāma away.
Words: viprayukto — separated, parted; hi — for; rāmeṇa — from Rāma; muhūrtam — for a moment; api — even; notsahe — I cannot bear; jīvituṃ — to live; muniśārdūla — O tiger among sages; na — not; rāmaṃ — Rāma; netum — to take away; arhasi — you should
1.19.9
yadi vā rāghavaṃ brahman netum icchasi suvrata
caturaṅgasamāyuktaṃ mayā saha ca taṃ naya
But if, O brahmin of good vows, you wish to take Rāghava, then take him along with me and with the fourfold army.
Words: yadi — if; vā — or, but; rāghavaṃ — Rāghava (Rāma); brahman — O brahmin; netum — to take; icchasi — you wish; suvrata — O you of good vows; caturaṅgasamāyuktaṃ — joined with the fourfold army; mayā — me; saha — with; ca — and; taṃ — him; naya — lead, take
1.19.10
ṣaṣṭir varṣasahasrāṇi jātasya mama kauśikaḥ
duḥkhenotpāditaś cāyaṃ na rāmaṃ netum arhasi
Sixty thousand years have passed since my birth, O Kauśika; and this (son) was begotten with (great) difficulty — you should not take Rāma away.
Words: ṣaṣṭir — sixty; varṣasahasrāṇi — thousands of years; jātasya — of (me) born; mama — my, of me; kauśikaḥ — O Kauśika; duḥkhenotpāditaś — begotten with difficulty; cāyaṃ — and this one; na — not; rāmaṃ — Rāma; netum — to take away; arhasi — you should
1.19.11
caturṇām ātmajānāṃ hi prītiḥ paramikā mama
jyeṣṭhaṃ dharmapradhānaṃ ca na rāmaṃ netum arhasi
For of my four sons my supreme love is (for him); he is the eldest and foremost in dharma — you should not take Rāma away.
Words: caturṇām — of the four; ātmajānāṃ — of the sons; hi — for; prītiḥ — love, affection; paramikā — supreme, highest; mama — my; jyeṣṭhaṃ — the eldest; dharmapradhānaṃ — foremost in dharma; ca — and; na — not; rāmaṃ — Rāma; netum — to take away; arhasi — you should
1.19.12
kiṃ vīryā rākṣasās te ca kasya putrāś ca ke ca te
kathaṃ pramāṇāḥ ke caitān rakṣanti munipuṃgava
What might have those rākṣasas, and whose sons are they, and who are they? Of what stature are they, and who protects them, O bull among sages?
Words: kiṃ — what; vīryā — of might (what valour); rākṣasās — the rākṣasas; te — those; ca — and; kasya — whose; putrāś — sons; ca — and; ke — who; ca — and; te — they; kathaṃ — of what kind, how; pramāṇāḥ — in stature, measure; ke — who; caitān — and them; rakṣanti — protect; munipuṃgava — O bull among sages
1.19.13
kathaṃ ca pratikartavyaṃ teṣāṃ rāmeṇa rakṣasām
māmakair vā balair brahman mayā vā kūṭayodhinām
And how are those rākṣasas, who fight by trickery, to be countered — by Rāma, or by my forces, O brahmin, or by me myself?
Words: kathaṃ — how; ca — and; pratikartavyaṃ — to be countered, retaliated against; teṣāṃ — of those; rāmeṇa — by Rāma; rakṣasām — of the rākṣasas; māmakair — by my (forces); vā — or; balair — by forces; brahman — O brahmin; mayā — by me; vā — or; kūṭayodhinām — of those who fight by trickery
1.19.14
sarvaṃ me śaṃsa bhagavan kathaṃ teṣāṃ mayā raṇe
sthātavyaṃ duṣṭabhāvānāṃ vīryotsiktā hi rākṣasāḥ
Tell me everything, O venerable one — how I must stand against those evil-natured ones in battle; for the rākṣasas are puffed up with might.
Words: sarvaṃ — everything; me — to me; śaṃsa — tell, relate; bhagavan — O venerable one; kathaṃ — how; teṣāṃ — against those; mayā — by me; raṇe — in battle; sthātavyaṃ — to be stood, withstood; duṣṭabhāvānāṃ — of the evil-natured; vīryotsiktā — puffed up with might; hi — for; rākṣasāḥ — the rākṣasas
1.19.15
tasya tad vacanaṃ śrutvā viśvāmitro 'bhyabhāṣata
paulastyavaṃśaprabhavo rāvaṇo nāma rākṣasaḥ
Hearing that speech of his, Viśvāmitra replied: “There is a rākṣasa named Rāvaṇa, sprung from the line of Pulastya;
Words: tasya — his; tad — that; vacanaṃ — speech; śrutvā — having heard; viśvāmitro — Viśvāmitra; 'bhyabhāṣata — replied; paulastyavaṃśaprabhavo — sprung from the line of Pulastya; rāvaṇo — Rāvaṇa; nāma — by name; rākṣasaḥ — a rākṣasa
1.19.16
sa brahmaṇā dattavaras trailokyaṃ bādhate bhṛśam
mahābalo mahāvīryo rākṣasair bahubhir vṛtaḥ
He, granted a boon by Brahmā, sorely afflicts the three worlds — of great strength and great valour, surrounded by many rākṣasas.
Words: sa — he; brahmaṇā — by Brahmā; dattavaras — to whom a boon was granted; trailokyaṃ — the three worlds; bādhate — afflicts, oppresses; bhṛśam — sorely, greatly; mahābalo — of great strength; mahāvīryo — of great valour; rākṣasair — by rākṣasas; bahubhir — by many; vṛtaḥ — surrounded
1.19.17
śrūyate hi mahāvīryo rāvaṇo rākṣasādhipaḥ
sākṣād vaiśravaṇabhrātā putro viśvaraso muneḥ
For it is heard that Rāvaṇa, lord of rākṣasas, of great valour, is verily the brother of Vaiśravaṇa (Kubera), the son of the sage Viśravas.
Words: śrūyate — it is heard; hi — for; mahāvīryo — of great valour; rāvaṇo — Rāvaṇa; rākṣasādhipaḥ — lord of rākṣasas; sākṣād — verily, in person; vaiśravaṇabhrātā — brother of Vaiśravaṇa (Kubera); putro — son; viśvaraso — of (the sage) Viśravas; muneḥ — of the sage
1.19.18
yadā svayaṃ na yajñasya vighnakartā mahābalaḥ
tena saṃcoditau tau tu rākṣasau sumahā balau
mārīcaś ca subāhuś ca yajñavighnaṃ kariṣyataḥ
When that mighty one is not himself the obstructor of the sacrifice, then, urged on by him, those two rākṣasas of very great strength, Mārīca and Subāhu, will work the obstruction of the sacrifice.
Words: yadā — when; svayaṃ — himself; na — not; yajñasya — of the sacrifice; vighnakartā — the obstructor; mahābalaḥ — the mighty one; tena — by him; saṃcoditau — urged on (the two); tau — those two; tu — but; rākṣasau — two rākṣasas; sumahā — very great; balau — of strength (the two); mārīcaś — Mārīca; ca — and; subāhuś — Subāhu; ca — and; yajñavighnaṃ — obstruction of the sacrifice; kariṣyataḥ — will make (the two)
1.19.19
ity ukto muninā tena rājovāca muniṃ tadā
na hi śakto 'smi saṃgrāme sthātuṃ tasya durātmanaḥ
Thus addressed by that sage, the king then said to the sage: “I am not able to stand in battle against that evil-souled one;
Words: ity — thus; ukto — addressed; muninā — by the sage; tena — that; rājovāca — the king said; muniṃ — to the sage; tadā — then; na — not; hi — for; śakto — able; 'smi — I am; saṃgrāme — in battle; sthātuṃ — to stand; tasya — against that; durātmanaḥ — evil-souled one
1.19.20
sa tvaṃ prasādaṃ dharmajña kuruṣva mama putrake
devadānavagandharvā yakṣāḥ pataga pannagāḥ
So do you, O knower of dharma, show favour to me regarding my dear son. Gods, dānavas, gandharvas, yakṣas, birds and serpents —
Words: sa — that (very); tvaṃ — you; prasādaṃ — favour, grace; dharmajña — O knower of dharma; kuruṣva — show, do; mama — my; putrake — regarding (my) dear son; devadānavagandharvā — gods, dānavas and gandharvas; yakṣāḥ — yakṣas; pataga — birds; pannagāḥ — serpents
1.19.21
na śaktā rāvaṇaṃ soḍhuṃ kiṃ punar mānavā yudhi
sa hi vīryavatāṃ vīryam ādatte yudhi rākṣasaḥ
— are not able to withstand Rāvaṇa, much less humans in war; for in battle that rākṣasa robs the mighty of their might.
Words: na — not; śaktā — able; rāvaṇaṃ — Rāvaṇa; soḍhuṃ — to withstand, endure; kiṃ punar — how much more/less; mānavā — humans; yudhi — in war; sa — he; hi — for; vīryavatāṃ — of the mighty; vīryam — the might; ādatte — takes away, robs; yudhi — in battle; rākṣasaḥ — the rākṣasa
1.19.22
tena cāhaṃ na śakto 'smi saṃyoddhuṃ tasya vā balaiḥ
sabalo vā muniśreṣṭha sahito vā mamātmajaiḥ
And I am not able to do battle with him, or with his forces — whether with my own army, O best of sages, or together with my sons.
Words: tena — with him; cāhaṃ — and I; na — not; śakto — able; 'smi — I am; saṃyoddhuṃ — to do battle; tasya — his; vā — or; balaiḥ — with the forces; sabalo — together with (my) army; vā — or; muniśreṣṭha — O best of sages; sahito — together with; vā — or; mamātmajaiḥ — with my sons
1.19.23
katham apy amaraprakhyaṃ saṃgrāmāṇām akovidam
bālaṃ me tanayaṃ brahman naiva dāsyāmi putrakam
By no means, O brahmin, will I give up my son — a mere child, godlike (though he is) yet unskilled in battles, my little boy.
Words: katham — how; apy — even, at all; amaraprakhyaṃ — godlike, resembling the immortals; saṃgrāmāṇām — of battles; akovidam — unskilled; bālaṃ — a child; me — my; tanayaṃ — son; brahman — O brahmin; naiva — by no means; dāsyāmi — I shall give; putrakam — (my) little son, dear boy
1.19.24
atha kālopamau yuddhe sutau sundopasundayoḥ
yajñavighnakarau tau te naiva dāsyāmi putrakam
Moreover, those two obstructors of your sacrifice, like Death in battle, the sons of Sunda and Upasunda — (against them) I will by no means give my little son.
Words: atha — moreover, then; kālopamau — like Death (the two); yuddhe — in battle; sutau — the two sons; sundopasundayoḥ — of Sunda and Upasunda; yajñavighnakarau — obstructors of the sacrifice (the two); tau — those two; te — your; naiva — by no means; dāsyāmi — I shall give; putrakam — (my) little son
1.19.25
mārīcaś ca subāhuś ca vīryavantau suśikṣitau
tayor anyatareṇāhaṃ yoddhā syāṃ sasuhṛdgaṇaḥ
Mārīca and Subāhu, mighty and well-trained — with either of those two I myself, together with my band of friends, would do battle.
Words: mārīcaś — Mārīca; ca — and; subāhuś — Subāhu; ca — and; vīryavantau — mighty (the two); suśikṣitau — well-trained (the two); tayor — of those two; anyatareṇāhaṃ — with either one, I; yoddhā — a fighter, would fight; syāṃ — I would be; sasuhṛdgaṇaḥ — together with my band of friends
← 1.18 Viśvāmitra’s request: Rāma’s protection of the sacrifice · Bāla Kāṇḍa · 1.20 Vasiṣṭha’s intervention: The promise and Viśvāmitra’s powers →
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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