05.184
Pancharatra-Ext: On the 23rd night, in a dream, Brahmins advised Bhishma to put Bhragava to sleep because he could not be defeated.
भीष्म उवाच॥
Bhishma spoke:
ततोऽहं निशि राजेन्द्र प्रणम्य शिरसा तदा। ब्राह्मणानां पितॄणां च देवतानां च सर्वशः ॥५-१८४-१॥
Then, O king of kings, at night I bowed my head to the Brahmins, ancestors, and deities in every possible way.
नक्तञ्चराणां भूतानां रजन्याश्च विशां पते। शयनं प्राप्य रहिते मनसा समचिन्तयम् ॥५-१८४-२॥
O lord of the people, as I lay in bed alone, I pondered over the beings that wander at night and the essence of the night itself.
जामदग्न्येन मे युद्धमिदं परमदारुणम्। अहानि सुबहून्यद्य वर्तते सुमहात्ययम् ॥५-१८४-३॥
Today, a great calamity is happening as my battle with Jamadagni's son continues for many days, and it is extremely terrible.
न च रामं महावीर्यं शक्नोमि रणमूर्धनि। विजेतुं समरे विप्रं जामदग्न्यं महाबलम् ॥५-१८४-४॥
I cannot defeat the mighty Rama in the battlefield, nor the powerful sage Jamadagnya.
यदि शक्यो मया जेतुं जामदग्न्यः प्रतापवान्। दैवतानि प्रसन्नानि दर्शयन्तु निशां मम ॥५-१८४-५॥
If I am able to defeat the mighty Jamadagnya, may the gods show favor upon my night.
ततोऽहं निशि राजेन्द्र प्रसुप्तः शरविक्षतः। दक्षिणेनैव पार्श्वेन प्रभातसमये इव ॥५-१८४-६॥
Then, O King, I was lying asleep on my right side, wounded by arrows, as if it were dawn.
ततोऽहं विप्रमुख्यैस्तैर्यैरस्मि पतितो रथात्। उत्थापितो धृतश्चैव मा भैरिति च सान्त्वितः ॥५-१८४-७॥
Then I fell from the chariot and was lifted and supported by the chief Brahmins, who comforted me saying, 'Do not fear.'
त एव मां महाराज स्वप्नदर्शनमेत्य वै। परिवार्याब्रुवन्वाक्यं तन्निबोध कुरूद्वह ॥५-१८४-८॥
O great king, they indeed came to me in a dream vision, surrounded me, and said: 'Listen to these words, O descendant of Kuru.'
उत्तिष्ठ मा भैर्गाङ्गेय भयं ते नास्ति किञ्चन। रक्षामहे नरव्याघ्र स्वशरीरं हि नो भवान् ॥५-१८४-९॥
Arise, do not be afraid, O son of Ganga, there is nothing to fear for you. We will protect you, O tiger among men, as you are indeed our own self.
न त्वां रामो रणे जेता जामदग्न्यः कथञ्चन। त्वमेव समरे रामं विजेता भरतर्षभ ॥५-१८४-१०॥
Rama, the son of Jamadagni, cannot conquer you in battle in any way. Indeed, you are the one who conquers Rama in battle, O best of the Bharatas.
इदमस्त्रं सुदयितं प्रत्यभिज्ञास्यते भवान्। विदितं हि तवाप्येतत्पूर्वस्मिन्देहधारणे ॥५-१८४-११॥
This beloved weapon will be recognized by you. Indeed, you are also aware of this from your previous life.
प्राजापत्यं विश्वकृतं प्रस्वापं नाम भारत। न हीदं वेद रामोऽपि पृथिव्यां वा पुमान्क्वचित् ॥५-१८४-१२॥
O Bharata, neither Rama nor any man on earth knows about this universal sleep named Prajapatya.
तत्स्मरस्व महाबाहो भृशं संयोजयस्व च। न च रामः क्षयं गन्ता तेनास्त्रेण नराधिप ॥५-१८४-१३॥
O mighty-armed one, remember that and join intensely. Rama will not be destroyed by that weapon, O king.
एनसा च न योगं त्वं प्राप्स्यसे जातु मानद। स्वप्स्यते जामदग्न्योऽसौ त्वद्बाणबलपीडितः ॥५-१८४-१४॥
By this action, you will never achieve union, O honorable one. Jamadagni's descendant, struck by the power of your arrow, will fall into slumber.
ततो जित्वा त्वमेवैनं पुनरुत्थापयिष्यसि। अस्त्रेण दयितेनाजौ भीष्म सम्बोधनेन वै ॥५-१८४-१५॥
Then, after conquering, you will raise him again with your beloved weapon in the battle by addressing Bhishma.
एवं कुरुष्व कौरव्य प्रभाते रथमास्थितः। प्रसुप्तं वा मृतं वापि तुल्यं मन्यामहे वयम् ॥५-१८४-१६॥
Therefore, O Kauravya, at dawn, mount the chariot. We regard being asleep or dead as the same.
न च रामेण मर्तव्यं कदाचिदपि पार्थिव। ततः समुत्पन्नमिदं प्रस्वापं युज्यतामिति ॥५-१८४-१७॥
O king, Rama should never die. Therefore, let this sleep that has arisen be applied.
इत्युक्त्वान्तर्हिता राजन्सर्व एव द्विजोत्तमाः। अष्टौ सदृशरूपास्ते सर्वे भास्वरमूर्तयः ॥५-१८४-१८॥
Having said this, O king, all the best of the twice-born vanished. There appeared eight similar forms, all of them radiant figures.
