Canto 1 - Boyhood
Bāla-kāṇḍa
Chapter 20: Daśaratha Refuses to Give Rāma
Text 26
अथ कालोपमौ युद्धे सुतौ सुन्दोपसुन्दयोः।
यज्ञविघ्नकरौ तौ ते नैव दास्यामि पुत्रकम्॥
atha kālopamau yuddhe sutau sundopasundayoḥ
yajña-vighnakarau tau te naiva dāsyāmi putrakam
atha = so; kāla upamau = and are equal to the force of time; yuddhe = in war; sutau = sons; sunda-upasundayoḥ = of Sunda and Upasunda; yajña-vighnakarau = who obstruct sacrifices; tau = with the; te = to you to fight; na eva = not; dāsyāmi = I will give; putrakam = my child.
So, I will not give my child to you to fight with the sons of Sunda and Upasunda who obstruct sacrifices and are equal to the force of time in war.
Atha indicates that Daśaratha spoke this verse after understanding the nature of the opponents. Sunda’s son is Mārīca, while Upasunda’s son is Subāhu.