तच्छ्रुत्वा राजशार्दूलो विश्वामित्रस्य भाषितम्। मुहूर्तमिव नि:संज्ञः संज्ञावानिदमब्रवीत्॥
Hearing the words of Viśvāmitra, that tiger of a monarch remained insensible for a time, and then regaining his senses, spoke thus.
ऊनषोडशवर्षों मे रामो राजीवलोचनः। न युद्धयोग्यतामस्य पश्यामि सह राक्षसैः॥
My lotus-eyed Ráma is not yet turned of sixteen; and I do not perceive his fitness to cope with Raksasas in battle.
इयमक्षौहिणी सेना यस्याहं पतिरीश्वरः। अनया सहितो गत्वा योद्धाहं तैर्निशाचरैः॥
I am the lord of this Akşauhiņi (A complete army consisting of 1,09,350 foot, 65,610 horse, 21,870 chariots, and 21,870 elephants.) of forces. Marching with this, will I engage with the night-rangers.
इमे शूराश्च विक्रान्ता भृत्या मेऽस्त्रविशारदाः। योग्या रक्षोगणैर्योद्धं न रामं नेतुमर्हसि॥
And these servants of mine are Valiant, and warlike, and accomplished in weapons, and capable of fighting the Rākşasas,-therefore, it behove you not to take Rāma.
अहमेव धनुष्पाणिर्गोप्ता समरमूर्धनि। यावत् प्राणान् धरिष्यामि तावद् योत्स्ये निशाचरैः॥
And myself bow in hand, stationed at the van of the array, will battle with the rangers of the night as long as life is spared to me.
निर्विघ्ना व्रतचार्या सा भविष्यति सुरक्षिता। अहं तत्र गमिष्यामि न रामं नेतुमर्हसि॥
Then well protected, your sacrifice will hold an unimpeded course. Therefore, I will repair thither, and it behoves you not to take Rāma.
बालो ह्यकृतविद्यश्च न च वेत्ति बलाबलम्। न चास्त्रबलसंयुक्तो न च युद्धविशारदः॥
Youthful, and unaccomplished, and not knowing what constitutes strength and what not, and not equipped with the science of missiles, and unskilful in fight.
न चासौ रक्षसां योग्यः कूटयुद्धा हि राक्षसाः। विप्रयुक्तो हि रामेण मुहूर्तमपि नोत्सहे॥ जीवितुं मुनिशार्दूल न रामं नेतुमर्हसि। यदि वा राघवं ब्रह्मन् नेतुमिच्छसि सुव्रत॥ चतुरङ्गसमायुक्तं मया सह च तं नय।
He is not a match for Räkşasas,-they being deceitful warriors. Bereft of Rāma, O tiger among ascetics, I cannot live for a moment. Therefore, it behove you not to take him. If, O Brahman, it is your intention to take Rāma, then O you of excellent vows, do you also take me along with the Caturanga forces! (An army consisting of foot, horse, elephants, and cars.)
षष्टिवर्षसहस्राणि जातस्य मम कौशिक॥ कृच्छ्रेणोत्पादितश्चायं न रामं नेतुमर्हसि।
O Kusika's son, I am sixty thousand years old; and (at this age) I have obtained Rāma after undergoing extreme troubles, it therefore, become you not to take Rāma.
चतुर्णामात्मजानां हि प्रीतिः परमिका मम॥ ज्येष्ठे धर्मप्रधाने च न रामं नेतुमर्हसि।
And among the four sons of mine, I find my highest delight in Rāma, my first-born, and the most virtuous of them all, therefore, it behoves you not to take Rāma.
किंवीर्या राक्षसास्ते च कस्य पुत्राश्च के च ते॥ कथंप्रमाणाः के चैतान् रक्षन्ति मुनिपुङ्गव। कथं च प्रतिकर्तव्यं तेषां रामेण रक्षसाम्॥ मामकैर्वा बलैर्ब्रह्मन् मया वा कूटयोधिनाम्। सर्वं मे शंस भगवन् कथं तेषां मया रणे॥ स्थातव्यं दुष्टभावानां वीर्योत्सित्ता हि राक्षसाः।
What is the prowess of the Rākşasas? And whose sons are they? And who, pray are they? And what are the proportions of their bodies? And who protects them O foremost of ascetics? And by what means shall either Rāma, or my forces, or, O Brahman, I myself be able to slay in fight those deceitful warriors—the Rākṣasas? Do you tell me, O adorable ore, inflated as they are by virtue of their prowess, how can I stand them in fight?
तस्य तद् वचनं श्रुत्वा विश्वामित्रोऽभ्यभाषत॥ पौलस्त्यवंशप्रभवो रावणो नाम राक्षसः। स ब्रह्मणा दत्तवरस्त्रैलोक्यं बाधते भृशम्॥ महाबलो महावीर्यो राक्षसैर्बहुभिर्वृतः। श्रूयते च महाराज रावणो राक्षसाधिपः॥ साक्षाद्वैश्रवणभ्राता पुत्रो विश्रवसो मुनेः।
Hearing that speech of his, Viśvāmitra said, There is a Rākşasa named Rāvana, sprung from the line of Pulastya. Having obtained a boon from Brahmā, he boldly opposes himself to three worlds, being possessed of great strength and prowess, and backed by innumerable Räksasas. And, O mighty monarch, I also hear that that lord of the Rākṣasas is the very brother of Vaisravana and the son of the ascetic Viśravaņa.
यदा न खलु यज्ञस्य विघ्नकर्ता महाबलौ॥ तेन संचोदितौ तौ तु राक्षसौ च महाबलौ। मारीचश्च सुबाहुश्च यज्ञविघ्नं करिष्यतः॥
When that one possessed of mighty strength does not stoop to disturb the sacrifice himself, those powerful Raksasas, Marica and Subāhu, being incited by him, disturb the rites.
इत्युक्तो मुनिना तेन राजोवाच मुनिं तदा। नहि शक्तोऽस्मि संग्रामे स्थातुं तस्य दुरात्मनः॥
The ascetic having spoken thus, the king then answered him, I am incapable of standing that wicked-souled one in fight.
स त्वं प्रसादं धर्मज्ञ कुरुष्व मम पुत्रके। मम चैवाल्पभाग्यस्य दैवतं हि भवान् गुरुः॥
Therefore, do you, O you versed in morality, extend your favour to my son! Of slender fortune as I am, you are my guide and my god.
देवदानवगन्धर्वा यक्षाः पतगपन्नगाः। न शक्ता रावणं सोढुं किं पुनर्मानवा युधि ॥
Even the celestials and the Dānavas and the Gandharvas and the Birds and the Snakes are incapable of bearing Rāvana in battle, what then is man?
स तु वीर्यवतां वीर्यमादत्ते युधि रावणः। तेन चाहं न शक्तोऽस्मि संयोद्धं तस्य वा बलैः॥ सबलो वा मुनिश्रेष्ठ सहितो वा ममात्मजैः। कथमप्यमरप्रख्यं संग्रामाणामकोविदम्॥ बालं मे तनयं ब्रह्मन् नैव दास्यामि पुत्रकम्।
O foremost of ascetics, whether you are accompanied with my son or my forces, you will not be able to stand him. And how can I, O Brāhmaṇa, make over to you my son, of tender years, resembling an immortal, who is ignorant of warfare? I will not part with my son.
अथ कालोपमौ युद्धे सुतौ सुन्दोपसुन्दयोः॥ यज्ञविघ्नकरौ तौ ते नैव दास्यामि पुत्रकम्। मारीचश्च सुबाहुश्च वीर्यवन्तौ सुशिक्षितौ॥
The sons of Sunda and Upasunda resemble Kāla himself in battle, and it is they who are disturbing your sacrifice. Therefore I will not part with my son. And Mārīca and Subāhu are possessed of prowess, and accomplished in weapons.
तयोरन्यतरं योद्धं यास्यामि ससुहृद्गणः। अन्यथा त्वनुनेष्यामि भवन्तं सहबान्धवः॥
But with my friends I will repair to encounter one of them. If you do not consent to this, I beseech you with my friends, (do you desist! 27
इति नरपतिजल्पनाद् द्विजेन्द्र कुशिकसुतं सुमहान् विवेश मन्युः। सुहुत इव मखेऽग्निराज्यसिक्तः समभवदुज्ज्वलितौ महर्षिवह्निः॥
Hearing these words of the lord of men, a mighty ire took possession of that foremost of regenerate ones, Kusika's son; and the fire of the Maharși's wrath flamed up even like to a fire fed by fuel and clarified butter.