Reply of Dasaratha

Sri Valmiki

1. Hearing the words of sage Viswamitra, the best of kings was stunned.Recovering after a moment, he spoke thus with a distressed voice.

2. "O sage, Rama is only sixteen.I do not think he has the capability to face the rakshasas in battle.

3. -5. I am the commander in chief of this great army of millions.I shall lead this army and battle with the rakshasas.All these are mighty warriors.They are adepts in strategy and "mantras".I shall hold my bow, and lead from the front and protect all of them. I can face even warriors with Mahenra's might. Like a lion fighting a wild elephant.

6. -7. Rama is a child.He does not know the strengths and weaknesses of armies.He has seem only the arranged battles inside the palace.He has never seen a real battlefield.He is not an adept with weapons and arrows.He is not an adept in the art of warfare.He does not know how to face the hordes of mighty warriors in a battlefield.

8. -9. He is familiar only with the palace and city gardens.He knows only how to roam around with his friends on flower-laden garden paths.

10. -11. O Bhagawan, it is my fate - Rama is now getting emaciated day by day.He is looking pale like a white lotus.He is not relishing food.He sits silent without even moving around the palace.He seems distressed inside (his mind).

12. O lord of munis, I, my wives and the servants are grieving for him and leading a sapless life.

13. How can I give such a child who is mentally distressed to fight battles with rakshasas?

14. -15. Love for a child gives greater happiness than union with a young woman, than gaining a kingdom and even more than the sweetness of nectar.Out of affection for their children, many are committing even great sins without hesistation in the three worlds.

16. People can give up spouses, wealth and many happinesses, but not children.This is the nature of even animals.

17. The rakshasas are cruel people.They are adepts in decietful warfare.I cannot bear Rama engaging himself in battle with such people.

18. I cannot be away from the gentle Rama even for a moment.I cannot live without him.If you desire that I should be alive, please do not take Rama away from me.

19. -20. O Kausika, my four children are the fruits of my sorrowful life of nine thousand years.Among them, Rama is the most important.Without him, the other three also cannot survive.

21. If you take such Rama to battle with rakshasas, please understand that I will be dead without any offspring.

22. Of the four, Rama is dearest to me.Do not take away the eldest and the most righteous Rama.

23. If vanquishing the rakshasas is your intent , O sage, please take me along with my huge armies.

24. Please tell me clearly of their strength, their lineage and their numbers.

25. O Bhagawan, please tell how we should face the deciet and intrigue of the rakshasas in battle (wether it is I or my children).

26. Tell us O bhagawan, how we should behave while battling the evil and wicked, mughty rakshasas.

27. -28. I heard of a mighty Ravana, the brother of Kubera and son of Visravasu.If he is the one who is disturbing your yajna out of evil intentions, we have no power to go to war with him.

29. At times, great superhuman prowess and power manifests in some people.With time, it vanishes.

30. As of now, we are not capable of facing Ravana.This is due to the law of creation (The Niyati).

31. And so, O knower of Dharma, please favour me with my children.I am one struck by fate.You are our great protector.

32. None among the gods, danavas, gandharvas, yakshas, birds and snakes can battle Ravana.What to talk of us!

33. Great warriors of known valour could not succeed in vanquishing the rakshasas in battle.When I cannot join battle with him, how can the boys do?

34. Time reduces even good men into fragile, powerless creatures.I am powerless, even though born in the Raghu dynasty due to old age. .

35. -36. I will not release my son even if you saw that "Lavana" the son of Madhu is disturbing your Yajna.Even if it is said that Sunda and Upasunda, of might equal to Yama, are the destroyers of your sacrifice, I will not give my son (to you).

37. -36. O Brahmin, now, if he is taken without my consent by force, I have no alternative, but to claim eternal victory (by leaving the world).

38. Having said thus, the noble-souled Dasaratha sank into a state of agitation, not knowing the reaction of muni Viswamitra to his words.His mind was like a wave oscillating in a rough sea.