Vishwamitra's Request to Dasharatha

This sage who arrived at Dasharatha's palace was Vishwamitra. He had just begun a great yagya and was determined to stop the demons Maricha and Subahu from disrupting it. To achieve this, he requested Dasharatha to send Rama and Lakshmana to assist him. But Dasharatha became apprehensive; how could he send his teenage sons to battle powerful demons?

Seeing Dasharatha seated in silence, Vashishtha recognized the tumult in his mind. He stood up and said, "Dasharatha, have no anxiety or fear. Send Rama and Lakshmana with Sage Vishwamitra. The boys are immensely strong and intelligent. The sages at Vishwamitra's ashram will guide them toward a bright future. No harm will come to them."

Dasharatha had great respect for Vashishtha and heeded his advice. He called his two sons and entrusted them to Vishwamitra's care. Vishwamitra, Rama, and Lakshmana crossed the Ganga and entered the Dandaka forest, which grew even denser in the interior, where wild animals roamed freely in great numbers.