Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 20, Shloka 8
राज्ञः शङ्का
प्रत्याख्यानम् (Daśaratha’s Objections to Sending Rāma) — Bala Kanda, Sarga 20
विप्रयुक्तो हि रामेण मुहूर्तमपि नोत्सहे।।।।जीवितुं मुनिशार्दूल न रामं नेतुमर्हसि।
viprayukto hi rāmeṇa muhūrtam api notsahe | jīvituṁ muniśārdūla na rāmaṁ netum arhasi ||
Nếu lìa xa Rāma, dù chỉ trong khoảnh khắc ta cũng không chịu nổi mà sống. Hỡi bậc hiền thánh như hổ giữa các ẩn sĩ, ngài không nên đem Rāma đi.
Rama is still a child, he is not learned in the science of warfare,he does not know the strength and weakness of enemies. He has not acquired as yet the strength of using weapons and is not proficient in warfare. You know certainly those rakshasas are deceitful in battle. And hence he is not qualified to oppose them in the battle succesfully.
FAQs
It foregrounds the human side of dharma: even a king bound to public duty is bound by deep familial responsibility and love. The epic uses this to set up the later, higher demand of keeping one’s word and serving a sage’s righteous purpose.
Daśaratha makes an emotional appeal to Viśvāmitra, stating he cannot endure separation from Rāma and asking the sage not to take him.
Vātsalya (fatherly affection) and emotional honesty—Daśaratha openly confesses his dependence on his son’s presence.