05.185
Pancharatra-Ext: Next day, both sage Bhargava and Bhishma end to releasing Brahmastra bring the Universe to the brink of destruction.
भीष्म उवाच॥
Bhishma said:
ततो रात्र्यां व्यतीतायां प्रतिबुद्धोऽस्मि भारत। तं च सञ्चिन्त्य वै स्वप्नमवापं हर्षमुत्तमम् ॥५-१८५-१॥
Then, after the night had passed, I awoke, O Bharata. Reflecting on that dream, I experienced great joy.
ततः समभवद्युद्धं मम तस्य च भारत। तुमुलं सर्वभूतानां लोमहर्षणमद्भुतम् ॥५-१८५-२॥
Then, O Bharata, a fierce and wonderful battle arose between my side and his, which was hair-raising to all beings.
ततो बाणमयं वर्षं ववर्ष मयि भार्गवः। न्यवारयमहं तं च शरजालेन भारत ॥५-१८५-३॥
Then Bhārgava showered me with a rain of arrows, but I blocked it with my own net of arrows, O Bhārata.
ततः परमसङ्क्रुद्धः पुनरेव महातपाः। ह्यस्तनेनैव कोपेन शक्तिं वै प्राहिणोन्मयि ॥५-१८५-४॥
Then, the great ascetic, filled with intense anger from the previous day, once again sent the weapon towards me.
इन्द्राशनिसमस्पर्शां यमदण्डोपमप्रभाम्। ज्वलन्तीमग्निवत्सङ्ख्ये लेलिहानां समन्ततः ॥५-१८५-५॥
The touch was like Indra's thunderbolt, with a radiance comparable to Yama's staff, burning fiercely like fire in battle, licking everything around.
ततो भरतशार्दूल धिष्ण्यमाकाशगं यथा। सा मामभ्यहनत्तूर्णमंसदेशे च भारत ॥५-१८५-६॥
Then, O noble Bharata, like a celestial chariot, she swiftly struck me on the shoulder, O Bharata.
अथासृङ्मेऽस्रवद्घोरं गिरेर्गैरिकधातुवत्। रामेण सुमहाबाहो क्षतस्य क्षतजेक्षण ॥५-१८५-७॥
Then my blood flowed terribly like the red ochre of the mountain, as Rama, O mighty-armed one, looked upon the wounded with bloodshot eyes.
ततोऽहं जामदग्न्याय भृशं क्रोधसमन्वितः। प्रेषयं मृत्युसङ्काशं बाणं सर्पविषोपमम् ॥५-१८५-८॥
Then, in a fit of intense anger, I sent an arrow towards Jamadagni's son, which was as deadly as death and akin to serpent's poison.
स तेनाभिहतो वीरो ललाटे द्विजसत्तमः। अशोभत महाराज सशृङ्ग इव पर्वतः ॥५-१८५-९॥
O great king, the best of the twice-born, struck on the forehead by him, shone like a mountain with a peak.
स संरब्धः समावृत्य बाणं कालान्तकोपमम्। संदधे बलवत्कृष्य घोरं शत्रुनिबर्हणम् ॥५-१८५-१०॥
Enraged, he drew the arrow with great force, resembling the destroyer of time, and fixed it, a terrible weapon meant to annihilate enemies.
स वक्षसि पपातोग्रः शरो व्याल इव श्वसन्। महीं राजंस्ततश्चाहमगच्छं रुधिराविलः ॥५-१८५-११॥
He fell on the chest, a fierce arrow like a breathing serpent. O king, then I went to the earth, stained with blood.
अवाप्य तु पुनः सञ्ज्ञां जामदग्न्याय धीमते। प्राहिण्वं विमलां शक्तिं ज्वलन्तीमशनीमिव ॥५-१८५-१२॥
Regaining his senses, he dispatched the pure and blazing weapon, akin to a thunderbolt, to the wise Jamadagni's son.
सा तस्य द्विजमुख्यस्य निपपात भुजान्तरे। विह्वलश्चाभवद्राजन्वेपथुश्चैनमाविशत् ॥५-१८५-१३॥
She fell into the arms of the foremost Brahmin, and became agitated and trembling, O King.
तत एनं परिष्वज्य सखा विप्रो महातपाः। अकृतव्रणः शुभैर्वाक्यैराश्वासयदनेकधा ॥५-१८५-१४॥
Then, the sage, a great ascetic and unwounded friend, embraced him and consoled him with many auspicious words.
समाश्वस्तस्तदा रामः क्रोधामर्षसमन्वितः। प्रादुश्चक्रे तदा ब्राह्मं परमास्त्रं महाव्रतः ॥५-१८५-१५॥
Reassured, Rama, filled with anger and indignation, then manifested the supreme Brahma weapon, adhering to his great vow.
ततस्तत्प्रतिघातार्थं ब्राह्ममेवास्त्रमुत्तमम्। मया प्रयुक्तं जज्वाल युगान्तमिव दर्शयत् ॥५-१८५-१६॥
Then, to counteract, I employed the supreme Brahma weapon, which blazed as if showing the end of an era.
तयोर्ब्रह्मास्त्रयोरासीदन्तरा वै समागमः। असम्प्राप्यैव रामं च मां च भारतसत्तम ॥५-१८५-१७॥
The two Brahmastras met each other in the space between, without reaching either Rama or me, O best of the Bharatas.
ततो व्योम्नि प्रादुरभूत्तेज एव हि केवलम्। भूतानि चैव सर्वाणि जग्मुरार्तिं विशां पते ॥५-१८५-१८॥
Then, only light appeared in the sky, and all beings were distressed, O lord of the people.
ऋषयश्च सगन्धर्वा देवताश्चैव भारत। सन्तापं परमं जग्मुरस्त्रतेजोभिपीडिताः ॥५-१८५-१९॥
O Bharata, the sages, Gandharvas, and deities were greatly distressed, being oppressed by the energy of the weapons.
ततश्चचाल पृथिवी सपर्वतवनद्रुमा। सन्तप्तानि च भूतानि विषादं जग्मुरुत्तमम् ॥५-१८५-२०॥
Then the earth, along with its mountains, forests, and trees, trembled. The beings, tormented, fell into deep sorrow.
प्रजज्वाल नभो राजन्धूमायन्ते दिशो दश। न स्थातुमन्तरिक्षे च शेकुराकाशगास्तदा ॥५-१८५-२१॥
O King, the sky was ablaze and the ten directions were filled with smoke. At that time, the celestial beings could not remain in the sky.
ततो हाहाकृते लोके सदेवासुरराक्षसे। इदमन्तरमित्येव योक्तुकामोऽस्मि भारत ॥५-१८५-२२॥
Then, O Bharata, in the world filled with gods and demons, amidst great tumult, I wish to express this difference.
प्रस्वापमस्त्रं दयितं वचनाद्ब्रह्मवादिनाम्। चिन्तितं च तदस्त्रं मे मनसि प्रत्यभात्तदा ॥५-१८५-२३॥
The sages spoke of a beloved sleep-inducing weapon, and as I thought of it, it appeared in my mind.
