Created by Jijith Nadumuri at 26 Aug 2011 15:08 and updated at 26 Aug 2011 15:08
VALMIKI RAMAYANA
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BOOK 1: BALA KANDA
SECTION 20
On hearing what is spoken by Vishvamitra the tigerly king Dasharatha became insensate for a time, and on redeeming senses he said this. (1 20 1) quot Less than sixteen years of age is my lotus eyed Rama, and I see
no warring aptitude to him with the Rakshasas. (1 20 2) Here is the full fledged battalion, called Akshauhini Sena for which I am the leader and controller, and fortified by this army I will go there to encounter those Rakshasas. (1 20 3) Brave and daring are these soldiers of mine, and as experts in weaponry they are the appropriate ones to combat the hordes of Rakshasas, but, it will be ungentle of you to take Rama with you. (1 20 4)
I alone with bow in my hand can protect your ritual, and as long as I bear my lives so long I war with those nightwalkers staying in the van of war. (1 20 5) I myself wish to come over there thereby the works of ritual will be well guarded and unimpeded, but, taking Rama with you will be ungracious of you. (1 20 6) Why because Rama is boy! And he is unschooled in his princely
education does he know the strengths and weaknesses of opponents no has he got the equipage of arsenal no has he any expertise in warfare no is he an equal to the Rakshasas no be that as it may, those Rakshasas definitely conduct a deceitful warfare, isn t it. (1 19 7, 8a) Alienated from Rama I am disinclined to live even for a moment, oh, tigerly sage, hence taking Rama with you will be unjust. (1 20 8b, 9a)
Otherwise, oh, Brahman with best vows, if you so wish to take Rama along with you, you lead him off along with me, and along with my four kinds of troops. (1 20 9b, 10a) Sixty thousand years have passed from my birth, oh! Vishvamitra, and this Rama is engendered at this age, that too with tribulations, hence taking Rama with you will be inappropriate of you. (1 20 10b, 11a)
I will have exceptional affection for all of my four sons, isn t it, and among them Rama has a significance in the matter of his descent as an eldest son, hence taking Rama with you will be unjust of you. (1 20 11b, 12a) Oh, eminent sage, of what fortitude are those Rakshasas? Whose sons are they? Who are they? How is their size and shape? Also who protects all of them? (1 20 12b, 13a)
Oh, Brahman, how Rama, or my forces, or I myself have to retaliate those Rakshasas that are deceitful militants. (1 20 13b, 14a) Tell me all that, oh, god, how I have to carry on when warring with those evil minded Rakshasas, for the Rakshasas will be delirious by their audacity, isn t it… Thus Dasharatha asked Vishvamitra insistently. On hearing those words Sage Vishvamitra replied this way. (1 20 14b, 15)
One born in Paulastya dynasty, an extremely mighty and exceedingly brave Rakshasa named Ravana is there, and he with the boon given by Brahma, and accompanied with many other Rakshasas is torturing the triad of worlds, contemptuously. (1 20 16, 17a) Unequivocally that chief of Rakshasas is the brother of Kubera and the son of sage Vishravasa, thus we hear. (1 20 17b, 18a) That formidable Ravana is not a devastator of rituals by himself,
even so, two very mighty Rakshasas called Maricha and Subaahu will cause devastating hindrances to rituals, instigated by him. Thus Sage Vishvamitra said to Dasharatha. (1 20 18b, 19) Thus when he is said so by that sage Vishvamitra, then the king Dasharatha spoke to the sage, I myself am not capable of standing against that evil minded Ravana, in truth, where is the question of deputing my young Rama to confront him? (1 20 20)
You are the knower of probity, such as you are, you may please bestow benevolence upon my boyish son, as well on a less fortunate one like me too, and as our mentor you are indeed a god of ours. (1 20 21) Devas, Danavas, Gandharvas, Yakshas, Patangas and Pannagas are incapable to bear the brunt of that Ravana in fight, what to tell about humans. (1 20 22) But that Ravana depletes the valour of valorous opponents in a
battle, oh, eminent sage, either with my entire forces, or with all my sons I am inadequate to grapple with all his forces, or with him, individually. (1 20 23, 24a) My boyish son is godlike and unfledged in warfare, oh, Brahman, and he is the one who alleviates me from Punnama Naraka the Hell of sonless fathers… no, I cannot spare my son in anyway. (1 20 24b, 25a) Further, those saboteurs of your ritual namely Maricha and Subaahu,
are similar to Death god and the descendents of the earliest Rakshasas and subverters of rituals, namely Sunda and Upasunda, no, I cannot spare my son, in any case. (1 20 25b, 26a) Maricha and Subaahu are well trained and valorous ones, hence I will proceed with all my friendly forces to war with either of those two Rakshasas, otherwise, I along with all my relatives implore upon you for your exoneration in my failure to comply my own promises. (1 20 26b, 27)
Thus, by the incongruous talk of Dasharatha, the outstanding Brahman and son of Sage Kushi, namely sage Vishvamitra is overwhelmed with outrageous anger by his mentation, and that fire like glorious sage looked like the ritual fire into which many inflammable oblations are offered, and which is drenched with a lot of clarified butter, whereby it is flaring up its tongues. (1 20 28)
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