Canto 1 - Boyhood
Bāla-kāṇḍa
Chapter 20: Daśaratha Refuses to Give Rāma
Text 1.20.11
षष्टि वर्षसहस्राणि जातस्य मम कौशिक।
दुःखेनोत्पादितश्चायं न रामं नेतुमर्हसि॥
ṣaṣṭi varṣa-sahasrāṇi jātasya mama kauśika
duḥkhenotpāditaś cāyaṁ na rāmaṁ netum arhasi
ṣaṣṭi varṣa-sahasrāṇi = 60,000 years; jātasya mama = I have spent; kauśika = O descendant of Kuśika; duḥkhena = then with difficulty; utpāditaḥ = got; ayam = this son; ca = and; na = not; rāmam = Rāma; netum = take; arhasi = you should.
O descendant of Kuśika, I have spent 60,000 years and then with difficulty got this son. You should not take Rāma.
The difficulties involved in getting Rāma as Daśaratha’s son were because of such austerities as fasting and initiation into the sacrifice.