Daśaratha thought that he would be capable of killing those who disturb Viśvāmitra’s sacrifice. He was filled with affection for Viśvāmitra who had requested help in this regard, and was blinded by love for his son. He disregarded Viśvāmitra’s assurance that he knew the truth regarding Rāmacandra and considered Rāma to be a mere boy.

Lord Rāma was not even sixteen years old at that time. He was twelve years old, for Mārīca would later inform Rāvaṇa that Daśaratha had told Viśvāmitra that He was twelve years old.quote ¹ Indeed, only a boy who reaches sixteen years of age is capable of entering into war. By this consideration, a twelve-year-old boy is not capable of going for war, and that too with rākṣasas.

Rāma is also rājīva-locanaḥ, “lotus-eyed.” Lotuses close at night. Similarly, at night Rāma’s eyes will become tired and sleepy. How can He go on war with the night rangers, the rākṣasas?

Daśaratha also refers to Lord Rāma as “my Rāma” because he knows that Rāma cannot tolerate separation from him. For sixty thousand years, Daśaratha had suffered without sons and Daśaratha had begotten Rāma with great difficulty. Rāma was very affectionate to His father (rāmo ratikaraḥ pituḥ) and as such was everything to Daśaratha. He considered Rāma to be a mere child more fond of play toys than His training and education, and so he did not find Rāma fit for war. He further thought, “How can those who are frightened even by the mention of rākṣasas be qualified for war? How can a person who does not know how to go on war with human beings be fit for war with the rākṣasas? And if He is not fit to fight with even a single rākṣasas, how can He be fit to go on war with many rākṣasas?”

Lord Rāma married Sītā when He was thirteen years old. Then They lived in Ayodhyā for twelve years.[2] Lord Rāma was exiled to the forest when He was twenty-five years old and the goddess Sītā was eighteen.¹ [3]