Dasharatha's sons' true determination before protecting the rights of the sages

अथ तौ देशकालज्ञौ राजपुत्रावरिंदमौ
देशे काले च वाक्यज्ञावब्रूतां कौशिकं वचः

भगवन् श्रोतुमिच्छावो यस्मिन्काले निशाचरौ
संरक्षिणीयौ तौ ब्रह्मन्नातिवर्तेत तत्क्षणं
एवम् ब्रुवाणौ काकुत्स्थौ त्वरमाणौ युयुत्सया
सर्वे ते मुनयः प्रीताः प्रशशंसुर्नृपात्मजौ
अद्य प्रभृति षड्रात्रं रक्षतं राघवौ युवाम्
दीक्षां गतो ह्येष मुनिर्मौनित्वं च गमिष्यति
तौ तु तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा राजपुत्रौ यशस्विनौ
अनिद्रौ षडहोरात्रं तपोवनमरक्षताम्
उपासां चक्रतुर्वीरौ यत्तौ परमधन्विनौ
ररक्षतुर्मुनिवरं विश्वामित्रमरिंदमौ
अथ काले गते तस्मिन्षष्ठे अहनि समागते
सौमित्रमब्रवीद्रामो यत्तो भव समाहितः

atha tou dEshakaalaj~jou raajaputraavariMdamou

dEshE kaalE ca vaakyaj~jaavabrootaaM koushikaM vacaH

bhagavan shrOtumicChaavO yasminkaalE nishaacarou

saMrakShiNeeyou tou brahmannaativartEta tatkShaNaM

Evam bruvaaNou kaakutsthou twaramaaNou yuyutsayaa

sarvE tE munayaH preetaaH prashashaMsurnRupaatmajou

adya prabhRuti ShaDraatraM rakShataM raaghavou yuvaam

deekShaaM gatO hyESha munirmounitwaM ca gamiShyati

tou tu tadvacanaM shrutwaa raajaputrou yashaswinou

anidrou ShaDahOraatraM tapOvanamarakShataam

upaasaaM cakraturveerou yattou paramadhanvinou

rarakShaturmunivaraM vishwaamitramariMdamou

atha kaalE gatE tasminShaShThE ahani samaagatE

soumitramabraveedraamO yattO bhava samaahitaH

Shloka Translation:

After learning the region and the timezone, the greatest of the kingpins

In the region and during the relevant times they recollect what Koushika had taught
Dear Lord we would want to listen carefully when the demons are nearing

If they try to defend, make us like what you would do in that case, the very second

By mentioning this quickly, the sons of kakutstha clan

Set the attention of the sages and were appreciated by them

The sages requested for the six nights, the raghava youth to guard the place with responsibility

As the sages had taken the oath to be silent performing their duties

Hence, listening to the words of the sages, both the successful princes

Without sleeping for six long nights protected the meditation place in the forest

By roaming around circularly around the place, both the shrewd warriors

Protected the blessed sages and the great vishwamitra

After the time passed by and at the end of the sixth day

Soumitra told rama who had together taken the task of protection

The above is available in the 29^th Sarga of Balakanda in Maharshi Valmiki’s Ramayana. Here the first shloka shows how Rama is attentive and what he asks the God, while he is conducting his duty. It further states the dedication on the part of Rama and Lakshmana how they both protected the meditation grounds of the Sage Vishwamitra while they were engaged in their penance. They had requested them to protect the place for six nights from the demons who they thought would be there to destroy their penance. The event goes further post the completion of the sixth day and in the next verses in the sarga.