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.
bhīṣma uvāca॥
Bhishma spoke:
tato'haṃ niśi rājendra praṇamya śirasā tadā। brāhmaṇānāṃ pitṝṇāṃ ca devatānāṃ ca sarvaśaḥ ॥5-184-1॥
Then, O king of kings, at night I bowed my head to the Brahmins, ancestors, and deities in every possible way.
naktañcarāṇāṃ bhūtānāṃ rajanyāśca viśāṃ pate। śayanaṃ prāpya rahite manasā samacintayam ॥5-184-2॥
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.
jāmadagnyena me yuddhamidaṃ paramadāruṇam। ahāni subahūnyadya vartate sumahātyayam ॥5-184-3॥
Today, a great calamity is happening as my battle with Jamadagni's son continues for many days, and it is extremely terrible.
na ca rāmaṃ mahāvīryaṃ śaknomi raṇamūrdhani। vijetuṃ samare vipraṃ jāmadagnyaṃ mahābalam ॥5-184-4॥
I cannot defeat the mighty Rama in the battlefield, nor the powerful sage Jamadagnya.
yadi śakyo mayā jetuṃ jāmadagnyaḥ pratāpavān। daivatāni prasannāni darśayantu niśāṃ mama ॥5-184-5॥
If I am able to defeat the mighty Jamadagnya, may the gods show favor upon my night.
tato'haṁ niśi rājendra prasuptaḥ śaravikṣataḥ। dakṣiṇenaiva pārśvena prabhātasamaye iva ॥5-184-6॥
Then, O King, I was lying asleep on my right side, wounded by arrows, as if it were dawn.
tato'haṁ vipramukhyastairyairasmi patito rathāt। utthāpito dhṛtaścaiva mā bhairiti ca sāntvitaḥ ॥5-184-7॥
Then I fell from the chariot and was lifted and supported by the chief Brahmins, who comforted me saying, 'Do not fear.'
ta eva māṃ mahārāja svapnadarśanametya vai। parivāryābruvanvākyaṃ tannibodha kurūdvaha ॥5-184-8॥
O great king, they indeed came to me in a dream vision, surrounded me, and said: 'Listen to these words, O descendant of Kuru.'
uttiṣṭha mā bhairgāṅgeya bhayaṃ te nāsti kiñcana। rakṣāmahe naravyāghra svaśarīraṃ hi no bhavān ॥5-184-9॥
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.
na tvāṃ rāmo raṇe jetā jāmadagnyaḥ kathaṃcana। tvameva samare rāmaṃ vijetā bharatarṣabha ॥5-184-10॥
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.
idamastraṃ sudayitaṃ pratyabhijñāsyate bhavān। viditaṃ hi tavāpyetatpūrvasmindehadhāraṇe ॥5-184-11॥
This beloved weapon will be recognized by you. Indeed, you are also aware of this from your previous life.
prājāpatyaṃ viśvakṛtaṃ prasvāpaṃ nāma bhārata। na hīdaṃ veda rāmo'pi pṛthivyāṃ vā pumānkvacit ॥5-184-12॥
O Bharata, neither Rama nor any man on earth knows about this universal sleep named Prajapatya.
tatsmarasva mahābāho bhṛśaṃ saṃyojayasva ca। na ca rāmaḥ kṣayaṃ gantā tenāstreṇa narādhipa ॥5-184-13॥
O mighty-armed one, remember that and join intensely. Rama will not be destroyed by that weapon, O king.
enasā ca na yogaṃ tvaṃ prāpsyase jātu mānada। svapsyate jāmadagnyo'sau tvadbāṇabalapīḍitaḥ ॥5-184-14॥
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.
tato jitvā tvamevainaṃ punarutthāpayiṣyasi। astreṇa dayitenājau bhīṣma sambodhanena vai ॥5-184-15॥
Then, after conquering, you will raise him again with your beloved weapon in the battle by addressing Bhishma.
evaṃ kuruṣva kauravya prabhāte rathamāsthitaḥ। prasuptaṃ vā mṛtaṃ vāpi tulyaṃ manyāmahe vayam ॥5-184-16॥
Therefore, O Kauravya, at dawn, mount the chariot. We regard being asleep or dead as the same.
na ca rāmeṇa martavyaṃ kadācidapi pārthivaḥ। tataḥ samutpannamidaṃ prasvāpaṃ yujyatāmiti ॥5-184-17॥
O king, Rama should never die. Therefore, let this sleep that has arisen be applied.
ityuktvāntarhitā rājansarva eva dvijottamāḥ। aṣṭau sadṛśarūpāste sarve bhāsvaramūrtayaḥ ॥5-184-18॥
Having said this, O king, all the best of the twice-born vanished. There appeared eight similar forms, all of them radiant figures.
