Canto 1 - Boyhood
Bāla-kāṇḍa
Chapter 20: Daśaratha Refuses to Give Rāma
Text 1.20.5
अहमेव धनुष्पाणिर्गोप्ता समरमूर्धनि।
यावत्प्राणान्धरिष्यामि तावद्योत्स्ये निशारचैः॥
aham eva dhanuṣ-pāṇir goptā samara-mūrdhani
yāvat prāṇān dhariṣyāmi tāvad yotsye niśāracaiḥ
aham = I; eva = personally; dhanuḥ-pāṇiḥ = with a bow in hand; goptā = will protect [your sacrifice and my army]; samara-mūrdhani = in front of the war; yāvat = as long as; prāṇān = my life airs; dhariṣyāmi = I can maintain; tāvat yotsye = I will fight; niśāracaiḥ = those night rangers.
With a bow in hand, I will personally protect your sacrifice and my army in front of the war. I will fight those night rangers as long as I can maintain my life airs.