O foremost of ascetics, whether you are accompanied with my son or my forces, you will not be able to stand him. And how can I, O Brāhmaṇa, make over to you my son, of tender years, resembling an immortal, who is ignorant of warfare? I will not part with my son.
स तु वीर्यवतां वीर्यमादत्ते युधि रावणः। तेन चाहं न शक्तोऽस्मि संयोद्धं तस्य वा बलैः॥ सबलो वा मुनिश्रेष्ठ सहितो वा ममात्मजैः। कथमप्यमरप्रख्यं संग्रामाणामकोविदम्॥ बालं मे तनयं ब्रह्मन् नैव दास्यामि पुत्रकम्।