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 ||
若与罗摩分离，我连片刻也无法忍受生存。噢，诸牟尼之虎，你不应带走罗摩。
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.