05.176
akṛtavraṇa uvāca॥
Akritavrana spoke:
duḥkhadvayamidaṃ bhadre katarasya cikīrṣasi। pratikartavyamabale tattvaṃ vatse bravīhi me ॥5-176-1॥
O dear, there are two kinds of sorrows. Which one do you intend to address? Please tell me the truth, my dear.
yadi saubhapatirbhadre niyoktavyo mate tava। niyokṣyati mahātmā taṃ rāmas tvaddhitakāmyayā ॥5-176-2॥
O gentle lady, if you think the king of Saubha should be appointed, the great Rama will do so for your benefit.
athāpageyaṃ bhīṣmaṃ taṃ rāmeṇecchasi dhīmatā। raṇe vinirjitaṃ draṣṭuṃ kuryāttadapi bhārgavaḥ ॥5-176-3॥
Then, you desire to see the wise Bhishma, who was conquered in battle by Rama, and the descendant of Bhrigu may also do that.
sṛñjayasya vacaḥ śrutvā tava caiva śucismite। yadatrānantaraṃ kāryaṃ tadadyaiva vicintyatām ॥5-176-4॥
Upon hearing the words of Sṛñjaya and yours, O fair-smiled one, consider today what task is next to be done.
ambovāca॥
The mother spoke:
apanītāsmi bhīṣmeṇa bhagavannavijānataḥ। na hi jānāti me bhīṣmo brahmañśālva-gataṃ manaḥ ॥5-176-5॥
O Lord, unknowingly, I have been taken away by Bhishma. Indeed, Bhishma does not know that my mind is with Shalva, O Brahman.
bhīṣme vā kuruśārdūle śālvarāje'tha vā punaḥ। ubhayoreva vā brahmanyadyuktaṃ tatsamācara ॥5-176-7॥
O Brahman, whether it is in Bhishma, O tiger among the Kurus, or in the king of the Salvas, or even in both, do what is appropriate.
niveditaṃ mayā hyetadduḥkhamūlaṃ yathātatham। vidhānaṃ tatra bhagavankartumarhasi yuktitaḥ ॥5-176-8॥
I have indeed presented this root of sorrow as it is. O Lord, you should make arrangements there properly.
akṛtavraṇa uvāca॥
Akritavrana spoke:
upapannamidaṁ bhadre yadevaṁ varavarṇini। dharmaṁ prati vaco brūyāḥ śṛṇu cedaṁ vaco mama ॥5-176-9॥
It is fitting, O gentle lady, that you speak in this manner, O beautiful one, concerning duty; listen to my words.
yadi tvāmāpgeyō vai na nayedgajasāhvayam। śālvastvāṃ śirasā bhīru gṛhṇīyādrāmacoditaḥ ॥5-176-10॥
If Bhishma does not lead you to Hastinapura, then Shalva, prompted by Rama, will take you with respect, O timid one.
tena tvaṁ nirjitā bhadre yasmānnītāsi bhāmini। saṁśayaḥ śālvarājasya tena tvayi sumadhyame ॥5-176-11॥
O gentle lady, you have been conquered by him because you have been taken away, O passionate one. King Śālva doubts you, O slender-waisted one.
bhīṣmaḥ puruṣamānī ca jitakāśī tathaiva ca। tasmātpratikriyā yuktā bhīṣme kārayituṃ tvayā ॥5-176-12॥
Bhishma, who is proud and has conquered Kashi, therefore, you must make an appropriate counteraction against him.
ambovāca॥
The mother spoke:
mamāpyeṣa mahān brahman hṛdi kāmo'bhivartate। ghātayeyam yadi raṇe bhīṣmamityeva nityadā ॥5-176-13॥
O Brahman, I always have this great desire in my heart to slay Bhishma in battle.
bhīṣmaṃ vā śālvarājaṃ vā yaṃ vā doṣeṇa gacchasi| praśādhi taṃ mahābāho yatkṛte'haṃ suduḥkhitā ॥5-176-14॥
O mighty-armed one, pacify either Bhishma or the King of Salva or whoever you find at fault, for it is because of them that I am very sad.
bhīṣma uvāca॥
Bhishma spoke:
evaṃ kathayatāmeva teṣāṃ sa divaso gataḥ। rātriśca bharataśreṣṭha sukhaśītoṣṇamārutā ॥5-176-15॥
As they continued their conversation, the day came to an end, and the night arrived, O esteemed Bharata, with its gentle, cool, and warm breezes.
tato rāmaḥ prādurāsīt prajvalann iva tejasā। śiṣyaiḥ parivṛto rājañ jaṭācīradharo muniḥ ॥5-176-16॥
Then, O king, the sage Rama appeared, shining with splendor, surrounded by his disciples, and wearing matted hair and bark garments.
dhanuṣpāṇiradīnātmā khaḍgaṃ bibhratparaśvadhī। virajā rājaśārdūla so'bhyayātsṛñjayaṃ nṛpam ॥5-176-17॥
The fearless warrior, with bow in hand and armed with a sword and axe, approached King Sṛñjaya, embodying the essence of a flawless leader among kings.
tatastaṃ tāpasā dṛṣṭvā sa ca rājā mahātapāḥ। tasthuḥ prāñjalayaḥ sarve sā ca kanyā tapasvinī ॥5-176-18॥
Then, the ascetics and the greatly austere king, having seen him, stood with folded hands, and all of them, including the ascetic maiden, were present.
pūjayāmāsuravyagrā madhuparkeṇa bhārgavam। arcitaśca yathāyogaṃ niṣasāda sahaiva taiḥ ॥5-176-19॥
They attentively worshipped Bhārgava with the traditional offering of madhuparka. After being appropriately honored, he sat down with them.
tataḥ pūrvavyatītāni kathayete sma tāvubhau। sṛñjayaśca sa rājarṣirjāmadagnyaśca bhārata ॥5-176-20॥
Then, O Bhārata, both Sṛñjaya and the royal sage Jāmadagnya recounted the events of the past.
tataḥ kathānte rājarṣirbhṛguśreṣṭhaṃ mahābalam। uvāca madhuraṃ kāle rāmaṃ vacanamarthavat ॥5-176-21॥
Then, at the conclusion of the tale, the royal sage, the foremost of the Bhṛgus, who was immensely powerful, spoke sweet and meaningful words to Rāma at the appropriate moment.
rāmeyaṃ mama dauhitrī kāśirājasutā prabho। asyāḥ śṛṇu yathātattvaṃ kāryaṃ kāryaviśārada ॥5-176-22॥
This is Rāma, my granddaughter, the daughter of the king of Kāśi, O lord. Please listen carefully to her duty, as you are an expert in such matters.
paramaṁ kathyatāṁ ceti tāṁ rāmaḥ pratyabhāṣata. tataḥ sābhyagamad rāmaṁ jvalantam iva pāvakam ॥5-176-23॥
Rama said to her, "Tell me the supreme." Then she approached Rama, who was glowing like a fire.
sā cābhivādya caraṇau rāmasya śirasā śubhā। spṛṣṭvā padmadalābhābhyāṃ pāṇibhyāmagrataḥ sthitā ॥5-176-24॥
She respectfully saluted Rama's feet with her head, touched them with her lotus-like hands, and stood in front of him gracefully.
ruroda sā śokavatī bāṣpavyākulalocanā। prapede śaraṇaṃ caiva śaraṇyaṃ bhṛgunandanam ॥5-176-25॥
Grief-stricken and with eyes filled with tears, she cried and sought refuge in the descendant of Bhrigu.
rāma uvāca॥
Rama spoke:
yathāsi sṛñjayasya asya tathā mama nṛpātmaje। brūhi yat te manoduḥkhaṃ kariṣye vacanaṃ tava ॥5-176-26॥
Just as you belong to Sṛñjaya, so do I, O prince. Tell me what troubles your mind, and I shall fulfill your request.
ambovāca॥
The mother spoke:
bhagavañśaraṇaṃ tvādya prapannāsmi mahāvrata। śokapaṅkārṇavādghorāduddharasva ca māṃ vibho ॥5-176-27॥
O Lord, today I seek refuge in you, O great vow. Please rescue me from the dreadful ocean of sorrow and mire, O Lord.
bhīṣma uvāca॥
Bhishma spoke:
tasyāśca dṛṣṭvā rūpaṃ ca vayaścābhinavaṃ punaḥ। saukumāryaṃ paraṃ caiva rāmaścintāparo'bhavat ॥5-176-28॥
Upon seeing her youthful and fresh form again, along with her extreme delicacy, Rama became deeply contemplative.
kim iyaṁ vakṣyatīti evaṁ vimṛśan bhṛgu-sattamaḥ। iti dadhyau ciraṁ rāmaḥ kṛpayā-abhipariplutaḥ ॥5-176-29॥
Rama, overwhelmed with compassion, pondered for a long time, wondering what this would say, O best of the Bhṛgus.
kathyatāmiti sā bhūyo rāmeṇoktā śucismitā। sarvameva yathātattvaṃ kathayāmāsa bhārgave ॥5-176-30॥
Rama, addressing her again with a pure smile, asked her to tell the story. She narrated everything exactly as it was to Bhargava.
tacchrutvā jāmadagnyas tu rājaputryā vacas tadā। uvāca tāṃ varārohāṃ niścityārthaviniścayam ॥5-176-31॥
Upon hearing those words from the princess, Jamadagni's son addressed her, the beautiful lady, having made a firm decision on the matter.
preṣayiṣyāmi bhīṣmāya kuruśreṣṭhāya bhāmini। kariṣyati vaco dharmyaṃ śrutvā me sa narādhipaḥ ॥5-176-32॥
O beautiful lady, I will send a message to Bhishma, the best of the Kurus. Upon hearing my righteous words, the king will act accordingly.
na cetkariṣyati vaco mayoktaṃ jāhnavīsutaḥ। dhakṣyāmyenaṃ raṇe bhadre sāmātyaṃ śastratejasā ॥5-176-33॥
If the son of Jahnavi does not heed my words, O dear, I will destroy him and his ministers in battle with the power of my weapons.
atha vā te matistatra rājaputri nivartate। tāvacchālvapatiṃ vīraṃ yojayāmyatra karmaṇi ॥5-176-34॥
O princess, if your mind changes and returns there, then I will engage the heroic lord of Śālva in this task.
ambovāca॥
The mother spoke:
visarjitāsmi bhīṣmeṇa śrutvaiva bhṛgunandana। śālvarājagataṃ ceto mama pūrvaṃ manīṣitam ॥5-176-35॥
O descendant of Bhrigu, having heard from Bhishma, my mind was previously set on the king of Shalva.
saubharājamupetyāhamabruvaṃ durvacaṃ vacaḥ। na ca māṃ pratyagṛhṇāts cāritrapariśaṅkitaḥ ॥5-176-36॥
I approached the king of Saubha and spoke harsh words, but he did not accept me, suspecting my character.
etatsarvaṁ viniścitya svabuddhyā bhṛgunandana। yadatraupayikaṁ kāryaṁ taccintayitum arhasi ॥5-176-37॥
O son of Bhrigu, after carefully considering everything with your own wisdom, you should think about what is the right action to take here.
mamātra vyasanasyāsya bhīṣmo mūlaṃ mahāvrataḥ। yenāhaṃ vaśamānītā samutkṣipya balāttadā ॥5-176-38॥
Here, Bhishma, who is bound by a great vow, is the root cause of my distress; it was by him that I was forcibly taken control of at that time.
bhīṣmaṃ jahi mahābāho yatkṛte duḥkhamīdṛśam| prāptāhaṃ bhṛguśārdūla carāmyapriyamuttamam ॥5-176-39॥
O mighty-armed one, slay Bhishma, for whom I have endured such sorrow. O tiger among the Bhrigus, I am compelled to act in a most unpleasant manner.
sa hi lubdhaśca mānī ca jitakāśī ca bhārgava। tasmātpratikriyā kartuṃ yuktā tasmai tvayānagha ॥5-176-40॥
He is greedy, proud, and has conquered Kāśī, O Bhārgava. Therefore, it is fitting for you, O sinless one, to make a response to him.
eṣa me hriyamāṇāyā bhāratena tadā vibho। abhavaddhṛdi saṅkalpo ghātayeyaṃ mahāvratam ॥5-176-41॥
O lord, when Bhārata was being taken away, this resolve arose in my heart: I shall destroy the great vow.
tasmātkāmaṃ mamādyemaṃ rāma saṃvartayānagha। jahi bhīṣmaṃ mahābāho yathā vṛtraṃ puraṃdaraḥ ॥5-176-42॥
Therefore, O Rama, fulfill my desire today by slaying Bhishma, mighty-armed one, just as Indra slew Vritra.
