# Bāla Kāṇḍa 18 — Viśvāmitra’s request: Rāma’s protection of the sacrifice *Viśvāmitra asks for Rāma to protect his sacrifice from Mārīca & Subāhu, promising the prince’s safety and advancement* Portion: Viśvāmitra’s request and Rāma’s departure · Verses: 20 · Ref format: 1.18. ## Sequence - Viśvāmitra praises Daśaratha's promise and asks him to keep it (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 (18.4–7) - he requests Rāma, still wearing the sidelocks of boyhood, to kill them under his protection (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 (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 (18.15–18) - Viśvāmitra falls silent → frightened and deeply distressed, Daśaratha reels from his seat (18.19–20). ## Verses **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: **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. **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. **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. **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. **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. **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. **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. **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. **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. **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. **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. **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. **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. **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. **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. **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. **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. **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. **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.