Canto 1 - Boyhood
Bāla-kāṇḍa
Chapter 20: Daśaratha Refuses to Give Rāma
Text 1.20.23
देवदानवगन्धर्वा यक्षाः पतगपन्नगाः।
न शक्ता रावणं सोढुं किं पुनर्मानवा युधि॥
deva-dānava-gandharvā yakṣāḥ pataga-pannagāḥ
na śaktā rāvaṇaṁ soḍhuṁ kiṁ punar mānavā yudhi
deva-dānava-gandharvāḥ = Devas, dānavas, gandharvas; yakṣāḥ = yakṣas; pataga-pannagāḥ = celestial birds and snakes; na śaktāḥ = are incapable; rāvaṇam = Rāvaṇa; soḍhum = of dealing with; kim punaḥ = what to speak of; mānavāḥ = human beings; yudhi = on war [with him].
Devas, dānavas, gandharvas, yakṣas, celestial birds and snakes are incapable of dealing with Rāvaṇa, what to speak of human beings on war with him?
Being averse to entering into war with Rāvaṇa is not a defect because it is impossible for anyone to win over him. Daśaratha wanted to convey this to the sage.