भीतो यदि धनुस्त्यक्त्वा निर्जितोऽस्मीति वा वद।
तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा राजा दशरथस्तदा।
विषण्णवदनो दीनः प्राञ्जलिर्वाक्यमब्रवीत्॥
bhīto yadi dhanus tyaktvā nirjito ’smīti vā vada
tasya tad vacanaṁ śrutvā rājā daśarathas tadā
viṣaṇṇa-vadano dīnaḥ prāñjalir vākyam abravīt
bhītaḥ yadi = if you are afraid; dhanuḥ tyaktvā = give up the bow; nirjitaḥ asmi iti vā vada = or tell me, I have lost; tasya tat vacanam śrutvā = hearing these words; rājā daśarathaḥ tadā = King Daśaratha’s; viṣaṇṇa-vadanaḥ = face became distressed; dīnaḥ = with humility; prāñjaliḥ = he joined his palms together in supplication and; vākyam abravīt = spoke the following words.
If you are afraid, give up the bow or tell me, “I have lost.” Hearing these words, King Daśaratha’s face became distressed. With humility, he joined his palms together in supplication and spoke the following words.
Daśaratha is now unnecessarily afraid because he is overcome by love for Rāma. Even though he is aware of Rāma’s opulence—His destruction of Tāṭakā and defeat of Mārīca and so on—Daśaratha still wishes auspiciousness for Rāma. His words expressing his desires are stated next.