Summary
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 [to break apart] it. The sage asserts [to state or declare positively] 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.
Chapter [Sarga] 19 in Detail
tat shurtvaa raaja si.mhasya vaakyam adbhuta vistaram |
hrista romaa mahaatejaa vishvaamitro.abhyabhaasata || 1-19-1
On listening the grand and detailed sentences of that King the lion Dasharatha, the great resplendent [brilliant] Sage Vishvamitra is thrilled with happiness and spoke this way. [1-19-1]
sadrisham raaja shaarduula tava eva bhuvi na anyatah |
mahaava.msha prasuutasya vasistha vyapadeshinah || 1-19-2
"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]
yat tu me hrid gatam vaakyam tasya kaaryasya nishcayam |
kurusva raaja shaarduula bhava satya pratishravah || 1-19-3
"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]
aham niyamam aatisthe sidhdyartham purusa.rsabha |
tasya vighnakarau dvau tu raaksasau kaama ruupinau || 1-19-4
"These days I am abiding [to conform to] by a sacrificial vow to attain a spiritual goal but, oh, best one among men, two guise [costume or disguise] changing demons as causing obstacles to that ritual. [1-19-4]
vrate me bahushah ciirne samaaptyaam raaksasaavimau |
maariicah ca subaahuh ca viiryavantau sushiksitau || 1-19-5
tau maamsa rudhira oghena vedim taam abhyavarsataam |
"At the near end of almost completed ritual of mine two valiant and well-trained demons, namely Maareecha and Subaahu, are drenching the Altar of Fire with streams of meat and blood, from the sky. [1-19-5, 6a]
avadhuute tathaa bhuute tasmin niyama nishcaye || 1-19-6
krita shramo nirutsaahah tasmaat deshaat apaakrame |
"When the ritual vow is thus ravaged [destroyed], I as the one who exerted [to put forth] me for the ritual, had to depart from that place, unenthusiastically. [1-19-6, 7a]
na ca me krodham utsrastum buddhih bhavati paarthiva || 1-19-7
tathaa bhuutaa hi saa caryaa na shaapah tatra mucyate |
"And to me there is no will to let loose my anger, oh, king, as no curse shall be issued under vows [one by which a person is bound to an act, service, or condition], and like that the activity during rituals shall be inoffensive, isn't it. [1-19-7b, 8a]
sva putram raaja shaarduula raamam satya paraakramam || 1-19-8
kaaka paksa dharam shuuram jyestham me daatum arhasi |
"As such, oh, tigerly king, it will be apt of you spare the services of that brave one whose valor 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]
shakto hi yesa mayaa gupto divyena svena tejasaa || 1-19-9
raaksasaa ye vikartaarah tesaam api vinaashane |
"Indeed, he is capable to eradicate [destroy] those demons that are thwarting [frustrating] the ritual by his own divine resplendence [brilliance], and protected by me as well. [1-19-9b, 10a]
shreyah ca asmai pradaasyaami bahuruupam na sa.mshayah || 1-19-10
trayaanaam api lokaanaam yena khyaatim gamisyati |
"I will also accord many kinds of benefits to him by which he acquires [gets] renown in all the three worlds, no doubt about it. [1-19-10b, 11a]
na ca tau raamam aasaadya shaktau sthaatum katham ca na || 1-19-11
na ca tau raaghavaat anyo hantum utsahate pumaan |
"Those two demons will be rendered incapable to stand fast on affronting [to face in defiance] Rama in anywise and none other than Raghava has the fortitude [strength] to eliminate those two. [1-19-11b, 12a]
viirya utsiktau hi tau paapau kaala paasha vasham gatau || 1-19-12
raamasya raaja shaarduula na paryaaptau mahaatmanah |
"Those two sinners that are berserk [one whose actions are recklessly defiant] by their vigor have gone into the subjection [to bring under control] of death's noose, oh tigerly king, cannot counterbalance [a force or influence that offsets or checks an opposing force] the great-souled Rama. [1-19-12b, 13a]
na ca putra gatam sneham kartum arhasi paarthiva || 1-19-13
aham te prati jaanaami hatau tau viddhi raaksasau |
"It will be unapt [inappropriate] of you to show your paternal fondness, oh, King, upon my oath, be assured that those two demons are eradicated [destroyed]. [1-19-13b, 14a]
aham vedmi mahaatmaanam raamam satya paraakramam || 1-19-14
vasistho.api mahaatejaa ye ca ime tapasi sthitaah |
"I am sensible of that sublime-soul [supreme soul] Rama, whose valor is his truthfulness, and even this great resplendent [brilliant] Vashishta and these saints that are here are aware. [1-19-14b, 15a]
yadi te dharma laabham tu yashah ca paramam bhuvi || 1-19-15
sthiram icchasi raajendra raamam me daatum a.rhasi |
"If you wish to gain in value of probity [adherence to the highest principles and ideals], a long-lasting and paramount [supreme] renown on earth it will be apt [likely] of you to handover Rama to me. [1-19-15b, 16a]
yadi abhyanujnaam kaakutstha dadate tava ma.ntrinah || 1-19-16
vasistha pramukhaah sarve tato raamam visarjaya |
"Oh, Dasharatha, you may send Rama if only your ministers and all the other elite [the best of a class] headed by Vashishta are going to give assent [consent]. [1-19-16b, 17a]
abhipretam asa.msaktam aatmajam daatum arhasi || 1-19-17
dasha raatram hi yajnasya raamam raajiiva locanam |
"It will be apt of you to send your choicest son, the lotus-eyed Rama, just for ten days of the ritual without temporizing [yield to current or dominant opinion]. [1-19-17b, 18a]
na atyeti kaalo yajnasya yathaa ayam mama raaghava || 1-19-18
tathaa kurusva bhadram te maa ca shoke manah krithaah |
"I wish you to take decision as to how the ritual's time is not lapsed, and let safety betide [happen to] you, let not your heart be rendered to grieve." Thus Vishvamitra said to Dasharatha. [1-19-18b, 19a]
iti evam uktvaa dharmaatmaa dharmaartha sahitam vacah || 1-19-19
viraraama mahaatejaa vishvaamitro mahaamatih |
On saying those words that comprise fairness and meaningfulness that virtue-souled great saint with great resplendence [brilliance] paused. [1-19-19b, 20a]
sa tan nishamya rajendro vishvamitra vacah shubham || 1-19-20
shokena mahataa aavistah cacaala ca mumoha ca |
labdha sanjnah tato utathaaya vyasiidata bhayaanvitah || 1-19-21
On hearing the propitious [auspicious] 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]
iti hridaya mano vidaaranam
muni vacanam tad atiiva shushruvaan |
narapatih abhavat mahaan mahaatmaa
vyathita manaah pracacaala ca asanaat || 1-19-22
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 [upset] extremely in his throne. [1-19-22]
iti vaalmiiki raamaayane aadikaavye baala kaande ekonavi.mshah sargah ||
Thus, this is the 19th chapter in Bala Kanda of Valmiki Ramayana, the First Epic poem of India.
Sriman Moola Rama Vijayate