बाल-काण्ड > विश्वामित्र द्वारा राम को साथ ले जाने की मांग



Sage Vishvamitra asks King Dasharatha to send Rama to protect the Vedic ritual that is being conducted by him, from the demons that are constantly disrupting it. The sage asserts King Dasharatha that he and the other sages in Dasharatha's court know the capabilities of Rama and though Rama is in his adolescence, he can easily kill the demons. But Dasharatha is upset at this request.

तत् श्रुत्वा राज सिंहस्य वाक्यम् अद्भुत विस्तरम् |
हृष्ट रोमा महातेजा विश्वामित्रोऽभ्यभाषत || १-१९-१
On listening the grand and detailed sentences of that King the lion Dasharatha, the great resplendent Sage Vishvamitra is thrilled with happiness and spoke this way. [1-19-1]
सदृशम् राज शार्दूल तव एव भुवि न अन्यतः |
महावंश प्रसूतस्य वसिष्ठ व्यपदेशिनः || १-१९-२
"Oh, tigerly king, to you befitting are these words and to none else, as you are born in a great dynasty and tutored by Vashishta. [1-19-2]
यत् तु मे हृद् गतम् वाक्यम् तस्य कार्यस्य निश्चयम् |
कुरुष्व राज शार्दूल भव सत्य प्रतिश्रवः || १-१९-३
"What concerns I have in my heart I am going to say, and you take decision thereof, oh, tigerly-king, and become truthful to your promises. [1-19-3]
अहम् नियमम् आतिष्ठे सिध्द्यर्थम् पुरुषर्षभ |
तस्य विघ्नकरौ द्वौ तु राक्षसौ काम रूपिणौ || १-१९-४
"These days I am abiding by a sacrificial vow to attain a spiritual goal but, oh, best one among men, two guise changing demons as causing obstacles to that ritual. [1-19-4]
व्रते मे बहुशः चीर्णे समाप्त्याम् राक्षसाविमौ |
मारीचः च सुबाहुः च वीर्यवन्तौ सुशिक्षितौ || १-१९-५
तौ मांस रुधिर ओघेण वेदिम् ताम् अभ्यवर्षताम् |
"At the near end of almost completed ritual of mine two valiant and well-trained demons, namely Mareecha and Subaahu, are drenching the Altar of Fire with streams of meat and blood, from the sky. [1-19-5, 6a]
अवधूते तथा भूते तस्मिन् नियम निश्चये || १-१९-६
कृत श्रमो निरुत्साहः तस्मात् देशात् अपाक्रमे |
"When the ritual vow is thus ravaged I, as the one who exerted myself for the ritual, had to depart from that place, unenthusiastically. [1-19-6n, 7a]
न च मे क्रोधम् उत्स्रष्टुम् बुद्धिः भवति पार्थिव || १-१९-७
तथा भूता हि सा चर्या न शापः तत्र मुच्यते |
"And to me there is no will to let loose my anger, oh, king, as no curse shall be issued under vows, and like that the activity during rituals shall be inoffensive, isn't it. [1-19-7b, 8a]
स्व पुत्रम् राज शार्दूल रामम् सत्य पराक्रमम् || १-१९-८
काक पक्ष धरम् शूरम् ज्येष्ठम् मे दातुम् अर्हसि |
"As such, oh, tigerly king, it will be apt of you spare the services of that brave one whose valour itself is his truthfulness, that youngling whose hair locks are all the more jet black like crow wings on either side of his head, spare that eldest son of yours, namely Rama. [1-19-8b, 9a]
शक्तो हि येष मया गुप्तो दिव्येन स्वेन तेजसा || १-१९-९
राक्षसा ये विकर्तारः तेषाम् अपि विनाशने |
"Indeed, he is capable to eradicate those demons that are thwarting the ritual by his own divine resplendence, and protected by me as well. [1-19-9b, 10a]
श्रेयः च अस्मै प्रदास्यामि बहुरूपम् न संशयः || १-१९-१०
त्रयाणाम् अपि लोकानाम् येन ख्यातिम् गमिष्यति |
"I will also accord many kinds of benefits to him by which he acquires renown in all the three worlds, no doubt about it. [1-19-10b, 11a]
न च तौ रामम् आसाद्य शक्तौ स्थातुम् कथम् च न || १-१९-११
न च तौ राघवात् अन्यो हन्तुम् उत्सहते पुमान् |
"Those two demons will be rendered incapable to stand fast on affronting Rama in anywise, and none other than Raghava has the fortitude to eliminate those two. [1-19-11b, 12a]
वीर्य उत्सिक्तौ हि तौ पापौ काल पाश वशम् गतौ || १-१९-१२
रामस्य राज शार्दूल न पर्याप्तौ महात्मनः |
"Those two sinners that are berserk by their vigour have gone into the subjection of death's noose, oh tigerly king, cannot counterbalance the great-souled Rama. [1-19-12b, 13a]
न च पुत्र गतम् स्नेहम् कर्तुम् अर्हसि पार्थिव || १-१९-१३
अहम् ते प्रति जानामि हतौ तौ विद्धि राक्षसौ |
"It will be unapt of you to show your paternal fondness, oh, king, upon my oath, be assured that those two demons are eradicated. [1-19-13b, 14a]
अहम् वेद्मि महात्मानम् रामम् सत्य पराक्रमम् || १-१९-१४
वसिष्ठोऽपि महातेजा ये च इमे तपसि स्थिताः |
"I am sensible of that sublime-soul Rama, whose valour is his truthfulness, and even this great resplendent Vashishta and these saints that are here are aware. [1-19-14b, 15a]
यदि ते धर्म लाभम् तु यशः च परमम् भुवि || १-१९-१५
स्थिरम् इच्छसि राजेन्द्र रामम् मे दातुम् अर्हसि |
"If you wish to gain in value of probity, a long-lasting and paramount renown on earth it will be apt of you to handover Rama to me. [1-19-15b, 16a]
यदि अभ्यनुज्ञाम् काकुत्स्थ ददते तव मंत्रिणः || १-१९-१६
वसिष्ठ प्रमुखाः सर्वे ततो रामम् विसर्जय |
"Oh, Dasharatha, you may send Rama if only your ministers and all the other elite headed by Vashishta are going to give assent. [1-19-16b, 17a]
अभिप्रेतम् असंसक्तम् आत्मजम् दातुम् अर्हसि || १-१९-१७
दश रात्रम् हि यज्ञस्य रामम् राजीव लोचनम् |
"It will be apt of you to send your choicest son, the lotus-eyed Rama, just for ten days of the ritual without temporising. [1-19-17b, 18a]
न अत्येति कालो यज्ञस्य यथा अयम् मम राघव || १-१९-१८
तथा कुरुष्व भद्रम् ते मा च शोके मनः कृथाः |
"I wish you to take decision as to how th my ritual's time is not lapsed, and let safety betide you, let not your heart be rendered to grieve." Thus Vishvamitra said to Dasharatha. [1-19-18b, 19a]
इति एवम् उक्त्वा धर्मात्मा धर्मार्थ सहितम् वचः || १-१९-१९
विरराम महातेजा विश्वामित्रो महामतिः |
On saying those words that comprise fairness and meaningfulness that virtue-souled great saint with great resplendence paused. [1-19-19b, 20a]
स तन् निशंय राजेन्द्रो विश्वामित्र वचः शुभम् || १-१९-२०
शोकेन महता आविष्टः चचाल च मुमोह च |
लब्ध संज्ञः ततो उतथाय व्यषीदत भयान्वितः || १-१९-२१
On hearing the propitious words of sage Vishvamitra that best king Dasharatha shuddered and swooned as he is muffled up with profound adversity, and after that on regaining consciousness he sunk down in fear. [1-19-20b, 21]
इति हृदय मनो विदारणम्
मुनि वचनम् तद् अतीव शुश्रुवान् |
नरपतिः अभवत् महान् महात्मा
व्यथित मनाः प्रचचाल च असनात् || १-१९-२२
This way on hearing that word of the saint Vishvamitra which is explicitly slitting his mind and heart that illustrious and noble-souled king Dasharatha then became highly annoyed at heart, and flustered extremely in his throne. [1-19-22]
इति वाल्मीकि रामायणे आदिकाव्ये बाल काण्डे एकोनविंशः सर्गः ||