तच्छ्रुत्वा राजसिंहस्य वाक्यमद्भुतविस्तरम्। हृष्टरोमा महातेजा विश्वामित्रोऽभ्यभाषत ॥
Hearing those astonishing words of that lionlike king, the highly-energetic Viśvāmitra with his down standing on end, said.
सदृशं राजशार्दूल तवैव भुवि नान्यतः। महावंशप्रसूतस्य वसिष्ठव्यपदेशिनः॥
O tiger of a king, sprung from an illustrious line, and having Vasistha, for your guide, these words become you alone on earth and no one else.
यत् तु मे हृद्गतं वाक्यं तस्य कार्यस्य निश्चयम्। कुरुष्व राजशार्दूल भव सत्यव्रतिश्रवः॥
Do you, O tiger of a king, ascertain your course in respect of the matter I bear in my heart; and do you prove firm in promise!
अहं नियममातिष्ठे सिद्ध्यर्थं पुरुषर्षभ। तस्य विघ्नकरौ द्वौ तु राक्षसौ कामरूपिणौ॥
For celebrating a sacrifice, I, O foremost of men, abide by some prescribed course. And it comes to pass that two Rākşasas assuming shapes at will, have become bent upon disturbing the ceremony.
व्रते तु बहुशश्चीर्णे समाप्त्यां राक्षसाविमौ। मारीचश्च सुबाहुश्च वीर्यवन्तौ सुशिक्षितौ ॥ तौ मांसरुधिरौघेण वेदि तामभ्यवर्षताम्। अवधूते तथाभूते तस्मिन् नियमनिश्चये॥ कृतश्रमो निरुत्साहस्तस्माद् देशादपाक्रमे। न च मक्रोधमुत्स्रष्टुं बुद्धिर्भवति पार्थिव॥
And in that sacrifice which I have determined to bring to a completion, and which is on the eve of being completed, both these Rākşasas, Mārica and Subāhu, accomplished in arms and possessed of prowess, shower flesh and gore upon the altar. And on that ceremony being thus disturbed and by purpose thus frustrated, I considered my labours as all lost, and, therefore, have left my country in dejection. And, O monarch, I cannot bring myself to vent my wrath.
तथाभूता हि सा चर्या न शापस्तत्र मुच्यते। स्वपुत्रं राजशार्दूलरामं सत्यपराक्रमम्॥ काकपक्षधरं वीरं ज्येष्ठं मे दातुमर्हसि।
For such is the nature of that business, that it is not proper for one engaged in it to utter a curse. Therefore, O tiger of a monarch, it behoves you to grant me your eldest son, the heroic Rāma of genuine prowess, with the sidelocks.
शक्तो ह्येष मया गुप्तो दिव्येन स्वेन तेजसा ॥ राक्षसा ये विकारस्तेषामपि विनाशने। श्रेयश्चास्मै प्रदास्यामि बहुरूपं न संशयः॥ त्रयाणामपि लोकानां येन ख्यातिं गमिष्यति। न च तौ राममासाद्य शक्तौ स्थातुं कथंचन॥ न च तौ राघवादन्यो हन्तुमुत्सहते पुमान्। वीर्योत्सितौ हि तौ पापौ कालपाशवशं गतौ॥ रामस्य राजशार्दूल न पर्याप्तो महात्मनः।
By virtue of his own divine energy, he, being protected by me, is capable of even destroying those Rākşasas disturbing the ceremony. And I will, without doubt, confer upon him manifold blessings, by means of which he will secure the golden opinions of the three worlds. And encountering Rāma, they will by no means be able to stand him, nor is there any other who dares to slay them. And puffed up with energy, they have become ensnared at the hands of Käla, (Yama, the god of death.) and, O tiger of a monarch, they are no match for Rāma.
न च पुत्रगतं स्नेहं कर्तुमर्हसि पार्थिव॥ अहं ते प्रतिजानामि हतौ तौ विद्धि राक्षसौ। अहं वेनि महात्मानं रामं सत्यपराक्रमम्॥ वसिष्ठोऽपि महातेजा ये चेमे तपसि स्थिताः। यदि ते धर्मलाभं तु यशश्च परमं भुवि॥ स्थिरमिच्छसि राजेन्द्र रामं मे दातुमर्हसि।
Nor, o king, ought you to indulge in paternal affection. For ten nights only Rāma is to remain there, with the object of slaying those foes to my sacrifice, those Raksasas disturbing the rites. I tell you, do you consider the Raksasas as already slain. I know full well Rāma of sterling prowess, as also the highly-energetic Vasistha and the other ascetics present here. And if you, O king, set your heart upon acquiring religious merit and high fame on earth, do you then grant me Rāma!
यद्यभ्यनुज्ञां काकुत्स्थ ददते तव मन्त्रिणः॥ वसिष्ठप्रमुखाः सर्वे ततो रोमं विसर्जय।
And, O Kākutstha, * if your counsellors together with the Brāhmaṇas having Vasistha at their head, consent, do you then dismiss Rāma! *From Kakud, an emblem of royalty, and Stha, residing, meaning a prince, the grandson of Iksvāku.
अभिप्रेतमसंसक्तमात्मजं दातुमर्हसि॥ दशरात्रं हि यज्ञस्य रामं राजीवलोचनम्। नात्येति कालो यज्ञस्य यथायं मम राघव॥ तथा कुरुष्व भद्रं ते मा च शोके मनः कृथाः।
Even this is my wish, and he also has come of age. Do you, therefore, part with your son, the lotus-eyed Rāma, for the ten days of the sacrifice! Do you act so, O descendant of Raghu, that the time appointed for the ceremony may not be overpassed. Good betide you! Let not your mind indulge in grief!
इत्येवमुक्त्वा धर्मात्मा धर्मार्थसहितं वचः॥ विरराम महातेजा विश्वामित्रो महामतिः।
Having said these words consistent with virtue and interest, the mighty-minded and highlypowerful Viśvāmitra paused.
स तन्निशम्य राजेन्द्रो विश्वामित्रवचः शुभम्॥ शोकेन महताविष्टश्चचाल च मुमोह च।
And hearing the auspicious words of Viśvāmitra, that foremost of kings shook with a mighty sorrow, and became bewildered.
लब्धसंज्ञस्ततोत्थाय व्यषीदत भयान्वितः॥ इति हृदयमनोविदारणं मुनिवचनं तदतीव शुश्रुवान्। नरपतिरभवन्महान् महात्मा व्यथितमनाः प्रचचाल चासनात्॥
Then, having regained his senses, he rose up, and became cast down through apprehension. Having heard the words of the ascetic, capable of rending the mind and heart, the high-souled king of men became stricken with grief and shook on his seat.