Shloka 1.20.25
राज्ञः शङ्का–प्रत्याख्यानम् (Daśaratha’s Objections to Sending Rāma) — Bala Kanda, Sarga 20
अथ कालोपमौ युध्दे सुतौ सुन्दोपसुन्दयो:।।।।यज्ञविघ्नकरौ तौ ते नैव दास्यामि पुत्रकम्।
atha kālopamau yuddhe sutau sundopasundayoḥ | yajñavighnakarau tau te naiva dāsyāmi putrakam ||
Moreover, the two sons of Sunda and Upasunda—terrible in battle like Death itself—are the very ones who disrupt your sacrifice. Therefore, I will not give up my son.
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.
The tension between two dharmas is highlighted: the king’s duty to support a sage’s yajña (public spiritual order) versus a father’s duty to protect his child. Daśaratha prioritizes parental protection here, resisting a request that seems to endanger Rāma.
Daśaratha is explaining to Viśvāmitra that the yajña is being obstructed by formidable adversaries, and he refuses to send Rāma, fearing the danger.
Daśaratha’s protective paternal affection (vātsalya) and cautious responsibility—he assesses the threat and hesitates to expose his son to it.