Sloka & Translation

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[On king Dasaratha's refusal to accede to his request, Viswamitra gets enraged.]

tacchrutvā rājaśārdūlō viśvāmitrasya bhāṣitam.

muhūrtamiva nissaṅjñassaṅjñāvānidamabravīt৷৷1.20.1৷৷


rājaśārdūla: great king, viśvāmitrasya Visvamitra's, tat bhāṣitam those words, śrutvā having heard, muhūrtamiva for a moment, nissaṅjña: lost his senses, saṅjñāvān regained his consciousness, idam abravīt thus spoke.

On hearing Viswamitra, words the tiger among kings (Dasaratha) lost his senses for a moment and on regaining his consciousness spoke this way.
ūnaṣōḍaśavarṣō mē rāmō rājīvalōcana:.

na yuddhayōgyatāmasya paśyāmi saha rākṣasai:৷৷1.20.2৷৷


rājīvalōcana: lotus-eyed, mē rāma: my Rama, ūnaṣōḍaśavarṣa: in lessthan sixteen years of age, asya for him, rākṣasai:saha with the rakshasas, yuddhayōgyatām abilities to fight in a battle, na paśyāmi I do not see.

"My lotus-eyed son Rama is less than sixteen. I do not think he has ability to fight with the rakshasas in a battle.
iyamakṣauhiṇī pūrṇā yasyāhaṅ patirīśvara:.

anayā saṅvṛtō gatvā yōddhā.haṅ tairniśācarai:৷৷1.20.3৷৷


pūrṇā completely, iyam akṣauhiṇī this Akshauhini, yasyā: for which, ahaṅ I, pati: am the lord, īśvara: sustainer, anayā with this Akshauhini, saṅvṛta: accompanied by, gatvā having gone, ahaṅ I, tai:niśācarai: with those night rangers, rakshasas, yōddhā will engage in the battle.

Here is the whole akshauhini (army) of which I am the lord and sustainer.
Accompanied by the akshauhini I shall engage those rakshsasas in the battle.
imē śūrāśca vikrāntā bhṛtyā mē.straviśāradā:.

yōgyā rakṣōgaṇairyōddhuṅ na rāmaṅ nētumarhasi৷৷1.20.4৷৷


mē bhṛtyā: my servants, imē these warriors, śūrāśca also valiant, vikrāntā: powerful, astraviśāradā: those skilled in use of weapons, rakṣōgaṇai: multitude of rakshasas, yōddhum to engage in battle, yōgyā: are fit, rāmam Rama, nētum nārhasi not proper on your part to take him.

These servants of mine are warriors, valiant, powerful and courageous, skilled in the
use of weapons and fit to engage multitude of rakshasas in battle. It is not proper to take Rama with you.
ahamēva dhanuṣpāṇirgōptā samaramūrdhani.

yāvatprāṇāndhariṣyāmi tāvadyōtsyē niśācarai:৷৷1.20.5৷৷


ahamēva I myself, dhanuṣpāṇi: with a bow in hand, gōptā will protect, yāvat as long as, prāṇān my life, dhariṣyāmi I sustain, tāvat till such time, samaramūrdhani on the battlefield, niśācarai: with rakshasas, yōtsyē will engage in the battle.

Wielding bow in hand I will protect the sacrifice. As long as my life sustains, I will engage the rakshasas in the battle.
nirvighnā vratacaryā sā bhaviṣyati surakṣitā.

ahaṅ tatrāgamiṣyāmi na rāmaṅ nētumarhasi৷৷1.20.6৷৷


aham I, tatra there, āgamiṣyāmi shall come, sā vratacaryā that observance of vows,surakṣitā will be well protected, nirvighnā without obstacles, bhaviṣyati will continue, rāmam Rama, nētum to take, nārhasi it is not proper on your part.
.
I shall go there, protect the sacrifice and see that it is conducted without obstacles. It
is not proper to take Rama with you.
bālō hyakṛtavidyaśca na ca vētti balābalam.

na cāstrabalasaṅyuktō na ca yuddhaviśārada:৷৷1.20.7৷৷

na cāsau rakṣasāṅ yōgya: kūṭayuddhā hi tē dhruvam .


hi indeed, bāla: a child, akṛtavidyaśca is not learned in the science of warfare, balābalam strengths and weaknesses, na vētti does not know, astrabalasaṅyukta:ca na has not acquired the strength of weapons, yuddhaviśārada: ca na not proficient in warfare, asau he, rakṣasām of rakshasas, yōgya:na is not qualified, tē those rakshasas, dhruvam certainly, kūṭayuddhā: hi are deceitful in battle.

Rama is still a child, he is not learned in the science of warfare,he does not know the strength and weakness of enemies. He has not acquired as yet the strength of using weapons and is not proficient in warfare. You know certainly those rakshasas are deceitful in battle. And hence he is not qualified to oppose them in the battle succesfully.
viprayuktō hi rāmēṇa muhūrtamapi nōtsahē৷৷1.20.8৷৷

jīvituṅ muniśārdūla! na rāmaṅ nētumarhasi.


rāmēṇa from Rama, viprayukta: separated, muhūrtamapi even for a moment, jīvitum to live, nōtsahē I do not like, muniśārdūla! O! Best of ascetics, rāmam Rama, nētum to take, nārhasi it is not proper on your part (You should not take).

Separated from Rama, I do not like to live even for a moment. O tiger among ascetics, it is not proper to take Rama with you.
yadi vā rāghavaṅ brahmannētumicchasi suvrata!৷৷1.20.9৷৷

caturaṅgasamāyuktaṅ mayā ca sahitaṅ naya.


suvrata O! Sage of excellent vows, brahman O! Brahman, vā or, rāghavam Rama, nētum to take him, icchasi you are intending, caturaṅgasamāyuktam my army consiting of elephants, chariots, cavalry and infantry, mayā ca sahitam along with me, naya you may take.

O sage of great vows, O brahman! if at all you intend to take Rama with you, take me also along with my army.
ṣaṣṭirvarṣasahasrāṇi jātasya mama kauśika!৷৷1.20.10৷৷

du:khēnōtpāditaścāyaṅ na rāmaṅ nētumarhasi.


kauśika O! Scion of Kusika family, jātasya having born, mama for me, ṣaṣṭi: sixty, varṣasahasrāṇi thousand years passed, ayam this Rama, du:khēna with great efforts, utpādita: is obtained, rāmam Rama, nētum to take him, nārhasi it is not proper for you.

O scion of of Kusika family, sixty thousand years have passed since I was born. Rama was born to me after a great deal of suffering. It is not proper to take him with you.
caturṇāmātmajānāṅ hi prīti:paramikā mama৷৷1.20.11৷৷

jyēṣṭhaṅ dharmapradhānaṅ ca na rāmaṅ nētumarhasi.


caturṇām among the four, ātmajānām sons, mama for me, paramikā great, prīti: hi affection indeed, jyēṣṭham eldest, dharmapradhānam ca with virtue as prime qualification, rāmam Rama, nētum to take, nārhasi it is not proper.

My love for Rama among all my four sons is supreme.It is not proper for you to take Rama, the eldest son whose prime qualification is his virtue.
kiṅvīryā rākṣasāstē ca kasya putrāśca tē ca kē৷৷1.20.12৷৷

kathaṅ pramāṇā: kē caitānrakṣanti munipuṅgava!.


munipuṅgava O! Best of sages, tē rākṣasā: those rakshsas, kiṅvīryā how powerful?, kasya whose, putrā: sons?, tē they, kē who?, kathaṅpramāṇā: how much is the size of their body, ētān them, kē who, rakṣanti are protecting.

O best of sages, how powerful are those rakshsas? Whose sons are they? Who are they and how huge is their body? Who are protecting them?
kathaṅ ca pratikartavyaṅ tēṣāṅ rāmēṇa rakṣasām৷৷1.20.13৷৷

māmakairvā balairbrahmanmayā vā kūṭayōdhinām.3-


brahman O! Brahman, kūṭayōdhinām of those treacherous and deceitful warriors, tēṣām rakṣasām in the matter of those rakshasas, rāmēṇa by Rama, māmakai: my, balai: vā with forces, mayā vā by me, katham how, pratikartavyam to retaliate.

O brahman, how to rebuff those deceitful warriors either through Rama or through my army or through me?
sarvaṅ mē śaṅsa bhagavankathaṅ tēṣāṅ mayā raṇē৷৷1.20.14৷৷

sthātavyaṅ duṣṭabhāvānāṅ vīryōtsiktā hi rākṣasā:.4

tasya tadvacanaṅ śrutvā viśvāmitrō.bhyabhāṣata৷৷1.20.15৷৷


bhagavan O Venerable one!, duṣṭabhāvānām of the wicked natured, tēṣām of them, mayā by me, raṇē in the battle, katham how, sthātavyam to stay, sarvam all this matter, mē to me, śaṅsa tell, rākṣasā: rakshasas, vīryōtsiktā: proud of their prowess, tasya his, tat vacanam those words, śrutvā having heard, viśvāmitra: Viswamitra, abhyabhāṣata spoke.

O venerable one, how to fight those wicked-natured ones in the battle and stay aginst them? For rakshasas are proud of their prowess". Having heard the words of Dasaratha, Viswamitra said:
paulastyavaṅśaprabhavō rāvaṇō nāma rākṣasa:.

sa brahmaṇā dattavarastrailōkyaṅ bādhatē bhṛśam৷৷1.20.16৷৷

mahābalō mahāvīryō rākṣasairbahubhirvṛta:.


paulastyavaṅśaprabhava: born in the illustrious race of Pulastya, rāvaṇō nāma by name Ravana, rākṣasa: rakshasa, mahābala: of great strength, mahāvīrya: of great prowess, sa: he, brahmaṇā by Brahma, dattavara: by boon granted, bahubhi: by several, rākṣasai: by rakshasas, vṛta: accompanied, trailōkyam three worlds, bhṛśam excessively, bādhatē is tormenting.

śrūyatē hi mahāvīryō rāvaṇō rākṣasādhipa:৷৷1.20.17৷৷

sākṣādvaiśravaṇabhrātā putrō viśravasō munē:.


sākṣāt evidently, vaiśravaṇabhrātā brother of Kubera, viśravasa:munē: ascetic Visrava's, putra: son, rākṣasādhipa: king of rakshasas, rāvaṇa: Ravana, mahāvīrya: of great prowess, śrūyatē it is heard.

Ravana, king of rakshasas, is the brother of Kubera and son of ascetic Visravana. He is said to possess great prowess.
yadā svayaṅ na yajñasya vighnakartā mahābala:৷৷1.20.18৷৷

tēna sañcōditau dvau tu rākṣasau vai mahābalau.

mārīcaśca subāhuśca yajñavighnaṅ kariṣyata:৷৷1.20.19৷৷


mahābala: he, possessing great strength, yadā when, svayam on his own, yajñasya for sacrifice, vighnakartā na does not create impediments, tēna by, sañcōditau prompted, mārīcaśca Maricha, subāhuśca Subahu, dvau rākṣasau two rakshasas, yajñavighnam obsctacles of sacrifice, kariṣyata: cause.

Although endowed with great strength, Ravana, by himself, never created impediments to the sacrifice. But two rakshasas by name Maricha and Subahu are incited by him to cause obstacles".
ityuktō muninā tēna rājōvāca muniṅ tadā.

na hi śaktō.smi saṅgrāmē sthātuṅ tasya durātmana:৷৷1.20.20৷৷


iti in this manner, tēna muninā by that sage, ukta: spoken, rājā king Dasaratha, tadā then, munim addressing the sage, uvāca said, saṅgrāmē in the battle, tasya durātmana: of that evil minded one, sthātum to stand, śakta: na asmi I am not capable.

Informed in this manner by sage Viswamitra, king Dasaratha addressed the sage, saying, "I am not competent enough to stand before those evil-minded rakshasas in the batlle".
sa tvaṅ prasādaṅ dharmajña! kuruṣva mama putrakē.

mama caivālpabhāgyasya daivataṅ hi bhavānguru:৷৷1.20.21৷৷


dharmajña O! Knower of truth, sa:tvam such of you, mama to me, putrakē in the little son, alpabhāgyasya of the unfortunate, mama ca in my matter, prasādam favour, kuruṣva extend, guru: spiritual preceptor, bhavān you, daivataṅ hi verily god.

"You are the knower of righteousness. Extend your favour to my little son and also to me for I am so who is unfortunate. You are verily my spiritual preceptor and god.
dēvadānavagandharvā yakṣā:patagapannagā:.

na śaktā rāvaṇaṅ sōḍhuṅ kiṅ punarmānavā yudhi৷৷1.20.22৷৷


dēvadānavagandharvā: gods, danavas and gandharvas, yakṣā: yakshas, patagapannagā: birds and great serpents, yudhi in the battle, rāvaṇam Ravana, sōḍhum to endure him, na śaktā: are not capable, mānavā: men, kiṅ puna: again to say.

Gods, danavas, gandharvas, yakshas, birds and great serpents cannot withstand Ravana in battle. What are men to him? (They are no match to him).
sa hi vīryavatāṅ vīryamādattē yudhi rākṣasa:.

tēna cāhaṅ na śaktō.smi saṅyōddhuṅ tasya vā balai:৷৷1.20.23৷৷

sabalō vā muniśrēṣṭha sahitō vā mamātmajai:.


sa: rākṣasa: that rakshasa, yudhi in the battle, vīryavatām of the warriors, vīryam prowess, ādattē hi takes, muniśrēṣṭha O! Foremost of ascetics, sabalō vā either with forces, mama ātmajai:sahitō vā or together with my sons, aham I, tēna with him, tasya balai:vā or with his forces, saṅyōddhum to engage in battle, na śaktō.smi I am not competant.

That rakshasa pulls out warriors' prowess in the battle. O foremost of ascetics! Either with forces or with my sons it is not possible for me to engage him or his forces in battle.
kathamapyamaraprakhyaṅ saṅgrāmāṇāmakōvidam.

bālaṅ mē tanayaṅ brahman naiva dāsyāmi putrakam৷৷1.20.24৷৷


brahman O! Brahman, amaraprakhyam resembling celestial deities, saṅgrāmāṇām in the warfare, akōvidam not experienced, bālaṅ putrakam dear young child, mē my, tanayam son, kathamapi how so ever, naiva dāsyāmi I never, never give him.

O brahman! although my son resembles the celestials he is not experienced in warfare. On no account shall I spare him.
atha kālōpamau yudhdē sutau sundōpasundayō:৷৷1.20.25৷৷

yajñavighnakarau tau tē naiva dāsyāmi putrakam.


atha and, tē you, yajñavighnakarau those causing obstacles to sacrifice, sundōpasundayō: of Sunda and Upasunda, sutau tau sons, yudhdē in the battle, kālōpamau resemble god of death, Yama, putrakam my son, naiva dāsyāmi I shall never part with him.

Further the sons of Sunda and Upasunda by name Maricha and Subahu are causing obstacles to your sacrifice. They resemble the god of death, Yama. I shall never part with my son.
mārīcaśca subāhuśca vīryavantau suśikṣitau.

tayōranyatarēṇāhaṅ yōdhdā syāṅ sasuhṛdgaṇa:৷৷1.20.26৷৷


mārīcaśca Maricha, subāhuśca Subahu, vīryavantau possessed of prowess, suśikṣitau experienced in war-fare, aham I, sasuhṛdgaṇa: with my best friends, tayō: in them, anyatarēṇa with one of them, yōdhdā syām can combat.

Maricha and Subahu not only possess prowess but also are experienced in warfare. Together with my group of friends I can combat with one of the two".
iti narapatijalpanāddvijēndraṅ

kuśikasutaṅ sumahānvivēśa manyu:.

suhuta iva makhē.gnirājyasikta

ssamabhavadujjvalitō maharṣivahni:৷৷1.20.27৷৷


iti in this manner, narapatijalpanāt with the statements of king Dasaratha, dvijēndram Indra among ascetics, kuśikasutam son of Kusika, sumahān great, manyu: rage, vivēśa entered, maharṣivahni: fire in the form of maharshi, makhē in the sacrifice, suhuta: with good offerings of oblation, ājyasikta: sprinkled with clarified butter, agni:iva like sacrificial fire, ujvalita: samabhavat blazed.

Having heard the statements of the king the son of Kusika, Viswamitra who was like Indra among the ascetics was seized by great anger. As though fire in the form of maharshi blazed like the sacrificial fire into which oblations of clarified butter have been poured.
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ityomrḍhaê ḍarṅmadrommomyacaê vomlmṅkṅya omdikomvyê bomlakomcaṅaê vinaḍaassargadha৷৷
Thus ends the twentieth sarga of Balakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.