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Book 1 - Vairagya Prakaranam

Chapter 7 - Vishwamitra asks for Help

श्रीवाल्मीकिरुवाच ।
तच्छ्रुत्वा राजसिंहस्य वाक्यमद्भुतविस्तरम् ।
हृष्टरोमा महातेजा विश्वामित्रोऽभ्यभाषत ॥ १ ॥
After the illustrious Viswamitra had heard the aforesaid unusually lengthy speech of the lion among kings, his hairs stood erect with joy, and he said.
सदृशं राजशार्दूल तवैवैतन्महीतले ।
महावंशप्रसूतस्य वसिष्ठवशवर्तिनः ॥ २ ॥
This speech is worthy of you, O best of kings on earth, and one descended from a royal race, and guided by the sage Vasishtha himself.
यत्तु मे हृद्गतं वाक्यं तस्य कार्यविनिर्णयम् ।
कुरु त्वं राजशार्दूल धर्मं समनुपालय ॥ ३ ॥
Consider well O king about the performance of the act which I have in mind, and support (the cause of) dharma.
अहं धर्मं समातिष्ठे सिद्धयर्थं पुरुषर्षभ ।
तस्य विघ्नकरा घोरा राक्षसा मम संस्थिताः ॥ ४ ॥
I am employed, O chief of men, in religious acts for attainment of my consummation, whereto the horrible Rakshasas have become my great obstructions.
यदा यदा तु यज्ञेन यजेऽहं विबुधव्रजान् ।
तदा तदा तु मे यज्ञं विनिघ्नन्ति निशाचराः ॥ ५ ॥
Whenever I betake myself to offer sacrifices (to the gods) at any place, instantly do these nocturnal demons appear to destroy my sacrificial rites.
बहुशो विहिते तस्मिन्मया राक्षसनायकाः ।
अकिरंस्ते महीं यागे मांसेन रुधिरेण च ॥ ६ ॥
The chiefs of the Rakshasas fling heaps of flesh and blood on the sacrificial ground (before me), on very many occasions that I commence my ceremonies.
अवधूते तथाभूते तस्मिन्यागकदम्बके ।
कृतश्रमो निरुत्साहस्तस्माद्देशादुपागतः ॥ ७ ॥
Being thus obstructed in my sacrificial duties, I now come to you from that spot and with a broken spirit, after having laboured in vain.
न च मे क्रोधमुत्स्रष्टुं बुद्धिर्भवति पार्थिव ।
तथाभूतं हि तत्कर्म न शापस्तस्य विद्यते ॥ ८ ॥
I have no mind O king, to give vent to my anger by cursing, which have no room in my conduct.
ईदृशी यज्ञदीक्षा सा मम तस्मिन्महाक्रतौ ।
त्वत्प्रसादादविघ्नेन प्रापयेयं महाफलम् ॥ ९ ॥
Such being the sacrificial law, I expect to gain its great object in peace by your favor.
त्रातुमर्हसि मामार्तं शरणार्थिनमागतम् ।
अर्थिनां यन्निराशत्वं सत्तमेऽभिभवो हि सः ॥ १० ॥
Being thus oppressed I have recourse to your protection, and you should protect me (from wrongs);otherwise it is an insult to solicitors to be put to disappointment by the best of men.
तवास्ति तनयः श्रीमान्दृप्तशार्दूलविक्रमः ।
महेन्द्रसदृशो वीर्ये रामो रक्षोविदारणः ॥ ११ ॥
You have a son, the beauteous Rama, powerful as the fierce tiger, and strong as the great Indra himself. He it is who is able to destroy the Rakshasas.
तं पुत्रं राजशार्दूल रामं सत्यपराक्रमम् ।
काकपक्षधरं शूरं ज्येष्ठं मे दातुमर्हसि ॥ १२ ॥
Now may you deliver to me that Rama your eldest son, having his youthful locks of hair like the sable plumage of a crow, but possessing the true valour of a hero.
शक्तो ह्येष मया गुप्तो दिव्येन स्वेन तेजसा ।
राक्षसा येऽपकर्तारस्तेषां मूर्धविनिग्रहे ॥ १३ ॥
Protected under my sacred authority, he will be able by his personal prowess, to sever the heads of the malicious Rakshasas.
श्रेयश्चास्य करिष्यामि बहुरूपमनन्तकम् ।
त्रयाणामपि लोकानां येन पूज्यो भविष्यति ॥ १४ ॥
I will do him an infinity of good services, whereby he will in the end become adored by the inhabitants of the three worlds.
न च ते राममासाद्य स्थातुं शक्ता निशाचराः ।
क्रुद्धं केसरिणं दृष्ट्वा वनेरण इवैणकाः ॥ १५ ॥
The night-wandering Rakshasas cannot abide in the field before Rama, but must fly like stags in the wilderness before the furious lion.
तेषां न चान्यः काकुत्स्थाद्योद्धुमुत्सहते पुमान् ।
ऋते केसरिणः क्रुद्धान्मत्तानां करिणामिव ॥ १६ ॥
No other man than Rama can make bold to fight with the Rakshasas; as no animal other than the furious lion can stand to fight with the wild elephants.
वीर्योत्सिक्ता हि ते पापाः कालकूटोपमा रणे ।
खरदूषणयोर्भृत्याः कृतान्ताः कुपिता इव ॥ १७ ॥
Elated with their strength these vicious beings have become (as deadly) as poisoned shafts in fighting, and being delegates of Khara and Dushana, they are as furious as death itself.
रामस्य राजशार्दूल सहिष्यन्ते न सायकान् ।
अनारतगता धारा जलदस्येव पांसवः ॥ १८ ॥
They cannot, Oh you tiger among kings! be able to sustain the arrows of Rama, but must set down like the flying dust under the ceaseless showers of his arrows.
न च पुत्रकृतं स्नेहं कर्तुमर्हसि पार्थिव ।
न तदस्ति जगत्यस्मिन्यन्न देयं महात्मनाम् ॥ १९ ॥
Let not paternal affection prevail over you O king, (to withhold your son), as there is nothing in this world, which the high-minded will refuse to part with.
हन्त नूनं विजानामि हतांस्तान्विद्धिराक्षसान् ।
नह्यस्मदादयः प्राज्ञाः संदिग्धे संप्रवृत्तयः ॥ २० ॥
I know it for certain, and so should you know also, that the Rakshasas must be destroyed by him; and (believe me) that wise men like ourselves will never undertake to engage in an uncertainty.
अहं वेद्मि महात्मानं रामं राजीवलोचनम् ।
वसिष्ठश्च महातेजा ये चान्ये दीर्घदर्शिनः ॥ २१ ॥
I do very well know the great soul of the lotus-eyed Rama, and so does the illustrious Vasishtha, and all others who are far-seeing.
यदि धर्मो महत्त्वं च यशस्ते मनसि स्थितम् ।
तन्मह्यं समभिप्रेतमात्मजं दातुमर्हसि ॥ २२ ॥
Should the sense of greatness, duty and renown, have a seat in your aatman, you should deliver my desired object—your son to me.
दशरात्रश्च मे यज्ञो यस्मिन्रामेण राक्षसाः ।
हन्तव्या विघ्नकर्तारो मम यज्ञस्य वैरिणः ॥ २३ ॥
It will take me ten nights to perform the rites of my sacrifice, at which Rama shall have to stay with me and kill the Rakshasas, who are obnoxious to my rites and enemies of the sacrifice.
अत्राप्यनुज्ञां काकुत्स्थ ददतां तव मन्त्रिणः ।
वसिष्ठप्रमुखाः सर्वे तेन रामं विसर्जय ॥ २४ ॥
Let the ministers, Oh Kakutstha! headed by Vasishtha join to give their assent (to it), and deliver your Rama to me.
नात्येति कालः कालज्ञ यथायं मम राघव ।
तथा कुरुष्व भद्रं ते मा च शोके मनः कृथाः ॥ २५ ॥
You O son of Raghu, that know the times (of religious observances) must not allow my time to slip, so do as I may have Rama. Be blest and give not way to sorrow.
कार्यमण्वपि काले तु कृतमेत्युपकारताम् ।
महदप्युपकारोऽपि रिक्ततामेत्यकालतः ॥ २६ ॥
Even the smallest service appears to be much if done in good time, and the best service is of no avail if done out of season.
इत्येवमुक्त्वा धर्मात्मा धर्मार्थसहितं वचः ।
विरराम महातेजा विश्वामित्रो मुनीश्वरः ॥ २७ ॥
The illustrious and holy chief of the sages Viswamitra, paused after saying these words fraught with a virtuous and useful intention.
श्रुत्वा वचो मुनिवरस्य महानुभावस्तूष्णीमतिष्ठदुपपन्नपदं स वक्तुम् ।
नो युक्तियुक्तकथनेन विनैति तोषं धीमानपूरितमनोऽभिमतश्च लोकः ॥ २८ ॥
Hearing these words of the great sage, the magnanimous king held his silence for some time, with a view to prepare a fitting answer; because no man of sense is ever satisfied with talking unreasonably either before others or to himself.
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