बालकांड
एकोनविंशति सर्गः

तच्छ्रुत्वा राजसिंहस्य वाक्यं अद्भुतविस्तरम् ।
हृष्टरोमा महातेजा विश्वामित्रोsभ्यभाषत ॥
Hearing those wonderful words of Dasaratha , the lion among kings , the higly glorious sage Viswamitra was extremely delighted and touched.

सदृशं राजशार्दूल तवैतद्भुवि नान्यथा ।
महावंश प्रसूतस्य वसिष्ठव्यपदेशिनः ॥
यत्तु मे हृद्गतं वाक्यं तस्य कार्यस्य निश्चयम् ।
कुरुष्व राजशार्दूल भव सत्य प्रतिश्रवाः ॥

'Oh Tiger among Kings ! You were born into a great family. You have been instructed by sage Vasishtha. It is very appropriate that you speak in this manner . Now I will tell you about the proposed task I have taken up. Oh King ! Please accomplish that purpose. Be committed to the promise you have made'.
अहं नियममातिष्ठे सिद्द्यर्थं पुरुषर्षभ ।
तस्य विघ्नकरौ द्वौ तु राक्षसौ कामरूपिणौ ॥
व्रतेमे बहुशश्चीर्णे समाप्त्यां राक्षसाविमौ ।
मारीचश्च सुबाहुश्च वीर्यवंतौ सुशिक्षितौ ॥
समांसरुधिरौघेण वेदिं ता मभ्यवर्षताम् ।
अवधूते तथाभूते तस्मिन् नियमनिश्चये ॥
कृतश्रमो निरुत्साहः तस्माद्देशादपाक्रमे ।
न च मे क्रोधमुत्स्रष्टुं बुद्धिर्भवति पार्थिव ।
तथा भूताहि सा चर्या न शापस्तत्र मुच्यते ॥

'To accomplish a purpose I am committed to a sacrificial performance. However two ogres capable of taking any form along with their associates are obstructing the same. When the sacrifice is due to be completed these the two ogres named Maricha and Subahu well trained and powerful covered the sacificial altar with large peices of flesh and blood thus interrupting the sacrifice which was following all prescribed rituals. Thus all the effort made has gone waste. Dispirited and disappointed I came away here. Oh King! bound by sacrificial processes it is not appropriate for me to get angry and curse them even if they are obstructing my sacrifice.'

स्वपुत्रं राजशार्दूल रामं सत्यपराक्रमम् ।
काकपक्षधरं शूरम् ज्येष्ठं मे दातुमर्हसि ।
शक्तो ह्येष मयागुप्तो दिव्येन स्वेन तेजसा ॥
राक्षसा ये विकर्तारः तेषामपि विनाशने ।
श्रेयश्चास्मै प्रदास्यामि बहुरूपं न संशयः ॥

' Oh King ! Please give me your eldest son , who though a boy is with hair locks falling over his face , and who is known for his true valor. By virtue of his own glory and protected by my power , he is capable of exterminating all those ogres. I shall confer on him manifold boons which will benefit him. I have no doubt.'

त्रयाणामपि लोकानां येन ख्यातिं गमिष्यति ।
न च तौ राममासाद्य शक्तौ स्थातुं कथंचन ॥
न च तौ राघवादन्यो हंतुं उत्सहते पुमान् ।
वीर्योत्सिक्तौ हि तौ पापौ कालपाशवशं गतौ ॥

With this his fame will spread in all the three worlds. Those Rakshasas cannot stand in front of SriRama. None other than than Rama can kill those Rakshasas. Those ogres arrogant with power have performed heinous deeds and are caught in the firmgrip of time.

रामस्य राजशार्दूल न पर्याप्तौ महात्मनः ।
न च पुत्र कृतस्नेहं कर्तुम् अर्हसि पार्थिव ॥
अहं ते प्रतिजानामि हतौ तौ विद्धि राक्षसौ ।
अहं वेद्मि महात्मानं रामं सत्यपराक्रमम्॥
वसिष्ठोपि महातेजा येचमे तपसि स्थिताः ॥
यदि ते धर्मलाभं च यशश्च परमंभुवि ।
स्थितं इच्चसि राजेंद्र रामं मे दातुमर्हसि ॥
यदि ह्यमज्ञां काकुत् स्थ ददते तव मंत्रिणः ।
वसिष्ठप्रमुखास्सर्वे ततो रामं विसर्जय ॥

Donot underestimate the prowess of Rama out of parental diffidence. I am giving my word. Rama with his true prowess can kill these two ogres. I know this. Your chief priest and the glorious sage Vasishta knows this. All the other sages too know this . O King if you desire to acquire religious merit, as well the highest renown send SriRama along with me. You can send SriRama after your counsellors and sage Vasishta give their acceptance.

अभिप्रेतं असंसक्तं आत्मजं दातुमर्हसि ।
दशरात्रं हि यज्ञस्य रामं राजीवलोचनम् ॥
नात्येति कालो यज्ञस्य यथाsयम् ममराघव ।
तथाकुरुष्व भद्रं ते मा च शोके मनः कृथा ॥

Oh King ! Send your son Rama whose eyes resemble lotus petals along with me for ten days for the protection of the sacificial rites. Oh Raghava ! Without losing any time please ensure that my sacrificial rites are completed in good time. It will be good to you. May you not have any sorrow on your mind'.

इत्येवमुक्ता धर्मात्मा धर्मार्थसहितं वचः ।
विरराम महातेजा विश्वामित्रो महामुनिः ।
स तन्निशम्य राजेंद्रो विश्वामित्र वचः शुभम् ।
शोकं अभ्यगमत् तीव्रं व्यषीदत भयान्वितः ॥

Spekaing thus with words which are meaningful and carry the power of piety the sage became silent. The king too hearing those words of the Brahmarshi was lost in deep sorrow and fear.

इति हृदयमनोविदारणं
मुनिवचनं तदतीव शुश्रुवान्।
नरपतिरभवन्महान् महात्मा
व्यधितमनाः प्रचचाल चासनात् ॥

Those words of Viswamitra which were agonizing to his heart and mind afflicted the magnanimous king Dasaratha. Thus afflicted he was shaken even as he was seated on his throne.

इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीये आदिकाव्ये
बालकांडे एकोनविंश स्सर्गः ॥
समाप्तं ॥

Thus ends chapter ninteen of Balakanda in Valmiki Ramayana.

|| om tat sat ||