05.177
bhīṣma uvāca॥
Bhishma said:
evamuktastadā rāmo jahi bhīṣmamiti prabho। uvāca rudatīṃ kanyāṃ codayantīṃ punaḥ punaḥ ॥5-177-1॥
Then Rama, having been spoken to thus, said to the weeping maiden who was urging again and again, "O lord, slay Bhishma."
kāśye kāmaṃ na gṛhṇāmi śastraṃ vai varavarṇini। ṛte brahmavidāṃ hetoḥ kimanyatkaravāṇi te ॥5-177-2॥
In the city of Kāśi, I refrain from taking up arms, O beautiful lady, unless it is for the cause of those who know Brahman; what else can I do for you?
vācā bhīṣmaśca śālvaśca mama rājñi vaśānugau। bhaviṣyato'navadyāṅgi tatkariṣyāmi mā śucaḥ ॥5-177-3॥
Bhishma and Shalva, who are obedient to my words, will be there, O queen. O flawless one, I will ensure that happens. Do not worry.
na tu śastraṃ grahīṣyāmi kathañcidapi bhāmini। ṛte niyogādviprāṇāmeṣa me samayaḥ kṛtaḥ ॥5-177-4॥
However, O beautiful lady, I have made a vow not to take up arms unless instructed by the Brahmins.
ambovāca॥
The mother spoke:
mama duḥkhaṃ bhagavatā vyapaneyaṃ yatastataḥ। tattu bhīṣmaprasūtaṃ me taṃ jahīśvara māciram ॥5-177-5॥
My sorrow should be removed by the Lord because it is caused by Bhishma. O Lord, please destroy him quickly.
rāma uvāca॥
Rama spoke:
kāśikanye punarbrūhi bhīṣmaste caraṇāvubhau। śirasā vandanārho'pi grahīṣyati girā mama ॥5-177-6॥
O daughter of Kashi, please speak again. Bhishma, who is worthy of reverence, will bow his head to accept both your feet, as per my words.
ambovāca॥
The mother said:
jahi bhīṣmaṃ raṇe rāma mama cedicchasi priyam। pratiśrutaṃ ca yadi tatsatyaṃ kartumihārhasi ॥5-177-7॥
Rama, if you desire to please me, you should defeat Bhishma in battle. If you have promised this, then you must fulfill it here.
bhīṣma uvāca॥
Bhishma said:
tayoḥ saṃvadatorevaṃ rājanrāmāmabayostadā। akṛtavraṇo jāmadagnyamidaṃ vacanamabravīt ॥5-177-8॥
While Rāma and Ambā were conversing, O king, the unwounded one addressed Jāmadagnya with these words.
śaraṇāgatāṃ mahābāho kanyāṃ na tyaktumarhasi। jahi bhīṣmaṃ raṇe rāma garjantamasuraṃ yathā ॥5-177-9॥
O mighty-armed one, do not abandon the girl who has sought your protection. Defeat Bhishma in battle, O Rama, just as you would vanquish a roaring demon.
yadi bhīṣmastvayāhūto raṇe rāma mahāmune। nirjito'smīti vā brūyātkuryādvā vacanaṃ tava ॥5-177-10॥
If Bhishma, whom you invited to battle, O great sage Rama, were to declare 'I am defeated' or act according to your word.
kṛtamasya bhavetkāryaṃ kanyāyā bhṛgunandana| vākyaṃ satyaṃ ca te vīra bhaviṣyati kṛtaṃ vibho ॥5-177-11॥
O descendant of Bhrigu, the task of this maiden will be accomplished. Your words will come true, O hero, it shall be done, O lord.
iyaṃ cāpi pratijñā te tadā rāma mahāmune। jitvā vai kṣatriyānsarvānbrahmaṇeṣu pratiśrutam ॥5-177-12॥
O great sage Rama, this promise of yours was made when you had conquered all the Kshatriyas and was declared among the Brahmins.
brāhmaṇaḥ kṣatriyo vaiśyaḥ śūdraścaiva raṇe yadi। brahmadviḍbhavitā taṃ vai haniṣyāmīti bhārgava ॥5-177-13॥
Bhrigu's descendant declared that if any Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaishya, or Shudra becomes an enemy of Brahmins in battle, he will indeed kill him.
śaraṇaṃ hi prapannānāṃ bhītānāṃ jīvitārthinām। na śakṣyāmi parityāgaṃ kartuṃ jīvan kathaṃcana ॥5-177-14॥
I cannot forsake those who have sought refuge, those who are frightened, and those who seek life, in any way while I am alive.
yaśca kṣatraṃ raṇe kṛtsnaṃ vijeṣyati samāgatam। dṛptātmānamahaṃ taṃ ca haniṣyāmīti bhārgava ॥5-177-15॥
Bhārgava declared that he would slay the arrogant warrior who would conquer all the assembled warriors in battle.
sa evaṃ vijayī rāma bhīṣmaḥ kurukulodvahaḥ। tena yudhyasva saṅgrāme sametya bhṛgunandana ॥5-177-16॥
Thus, the victorious Rama, known as Bhishma, the upholder of the Kuru dynasty, is to be met in battle. Engage in combat with him, O descendant of Bhrigu.
rāma uvāca॥
Rama spoke:
smarāmyahaṃ pūrvakṛtāṃ pratijñāmṛṣisattama। tathaiva ca kariṣyāmi yathā sāmnaiva lapsyate ॥5-177-17॥
I recall the promise I made earlier, O esteemed sage. I will act accordingly to ensure it is fulfilled through peaceful means.
kāryametad mahad brahman kāśikanyāmanogatam। gamiṣyāmi svayaṃ tatra kanyāmādāya yatra saḥ ॥5-177-18॥
O Brahman, I have a significant task in mind regarding the daughter of Kashi. I will personally go there to bring the daughter to where he is.
yadi bhīṣmo raṇaślāghī na kariṣyati me vacaḥ। haniṣyāmyenamudriktamiti me niścitā matiḥ ॥5-177-19॥
If Bhishma, who is boastful in battle, does not heed my words, I am determined to kill him, for he is arrogant. This is my firm resolve.
na hi bāṇā mayotsṛṣṭāḥ sajjantīha śarīriṇām। kāyeṣu viditaṃ tubhyaṃ purā kṣatriyasaṅgare ॥5-177-20॥
The arrows I have released do not strike the bodies here; you already know this from the previous battles among warriors.
bhīṣma uvāca॥
Bhishma said:
evamuktvā tato rāmaḥ saha tairbrahmavādibhiḥ। prayāṇāya matiṃ kṛtvā samuttasthau mahāmanāḥ ॥5-177-21॥
After speaking thus, Rama, along with the Brahman sages, decided to depart and stood up with a great mind.
tataste tāmuṣitvā tu rajanīṃ tatra tāpasāḥ। hutāgnayo japtajapyāḥ pratasturmajjiġhāṃsayā ॥5-177-22॥
Then the ascetics, after spending the night there, performed their rituals and prayers, and set out with the intention to bathe.
abhyagacchattato rāmaḥ saha tairbrāhmaṇarṣabhaiḥ। kurukṣetraṃ mahārāja kanyayā saha bhārata ॥5-177-23॥
Then, O great king, Rama, accompanied by those eminent Brahmins and the maiden, approached Kurukshetra, O descendant of Bharata.
nyaviśanta tataḥ sarve parigṛhya sarasvatīm। tāpasāste mahātmāno bhṛguśreṣṭhapuraskṛtāḥ ॥5-177-24॥
Then all the ascetics, led by the best of the Bhrigus, entered after surrounding Sarasvati. They were great souls.
