05.185
Pancharatra-Ext: Next day, both sage Bhargava and Bhishma end up releasing Brahmastra bring the Universe to the brink of destruction.
bhīṣma uvāca॥
Bhishma said:
tato rātryāṃ vyatītāyāṃ pratibuddho'smi bhārata। taṃ ca sañcintya vai svapnamavāpaṃ harṣamuttamam ॥5-185-1॥
Then, after the night had passed, I awoke, O Bharata. Reflecting on that dream, I experienced great joy.
tataḥ samabhavadyuddhaṃ mama tasya ca bhārata। tumulaṃ sarvabhūtānāṃ lomaharṣaṇamadbhutam ॥5-185-2॥
Then, O Bharata, a fierce and wonderful battle arose between my side and his, which was hair-raising to all beings.
tato bāṇamayaṃ varṣaṃ vavarṣa mayi bhārgavaḥ। nyavārayamahaṃ taṃ ca śarajālena bhārata ॥5-185-3॥
Then Bhārgava showered me with a rain of arrows, but I blocked it with my own net of arrows, O Bhārata.
tataḥ paramasaṅkruddhaḥ punareva mahātapāḥ। hyastanenaiva kopena śaktiṃ vai prāhiṇonmayi ॥5-185-4॥
Then, the great ascetic, filled with intense anger from the previous day, once again sent the weapon towards me.
indrāśanisamasparśāṃ yamadaṇḍopamaprabhām। jvalantīmaghnivatsaṅkhye lelihānāṃ samantataḥ ॥5-185-5॥
The touch was like Indra's thunderbolt, with a radiance comparable to Yama's staff, burning fiercely like fire in battle, licking everything around.
tato bharataśārdūla dhiṣṇyamākāśagaṃ yathā। sā māmabhyahanattūrṇamaṃsadeśe ca bhārata ॥5-185-6॥
Then, O noble Bharata, like a celestial chariot, she swiftly struck me on the shoulder, O Bharata.
athāsṛṅme'sravadghoraṃ girergairikadhātuvat। rāmeṇa sumahābāho kṣatasya kṣatajekṣaṇa ॥5-185-7॥
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.
tato'haṃ jāmadagnyāya bhṛśaṃ krodhasamanvitaḥ। preṣayaṃ mṛtyusaṅkāśaṃ bāṇaṃ sarpaviṣopamam ॥5-185-8॥
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.
sa tenābhihato vīro lalāṭe dvijasattamaḥ। aśobhata mahārāja saśṛṅga iva parvataḥ ॥5-185-9॥
O great king, the best of the twice-born, struck on the forehead by him, shone like a mountain with a peak.
sa saṁrabdhaḥ samāvṛtya bāṇaṁ kālāntakopamam। saṁdadhe balavatkṛṣya ghoraṁ śatrunibarhaṇam ॥5-185-10॥
Enraged, he drew the arrow with great force, resembling the destroyer of time, and fixed it, a terrible weapon meant to annihilate enemies.
sa vakṣasi papātograḥ śaro vyāla iva śvasan। mahīṃ rājaṃstataścāhamagacchaṃ rudhirāvilaḥ ॥5-185-11॥
He fell on the chest, a fierce arrow like a breathing serpent. O king, then I went to the earth, stained with blood.
avāpya tu punaḥ sañjñāṃ jāmadagnyāya dhīmate। prāhiṇvaṃ vimalāṃ śaktiṃ jvalantīmaśanīmiva ॥5-185-12॥
Regaining his senses, he dispatched the pure and blazing weapon, akin to a thunderbolt, to the wise Jamadagni's son.
sā tasya dvijamukhyasya nipapāta bhujāntare। vihvalaścābhavad rājann vepathuś cainam āviśat ॥5-185-13॥
She fell into the arms of the foremost Brahmin, and became agitated and trembling, O King.
tata enaṃ pariṣvajya sakhā vipro mahātapāḥ। akṛtavraṇaḥ śubhairvākyairāśvāsayadanekadhā ॥5-185-14॥
Then, the sage, a great ascetic and unwounded friend, embraced him and consoled him with many auspicious words.
samāśvastastadā rāmaḥ krodhāmarṣasamanvitaḥ। prāduścakre tadā brāhmaṃ paramāstraṃ mahāvrataḥ ॥5-185-15॥
Reassured, Rama, filled with anger and indignation, then manifested the supreme Brahma weapon, adhering to his great vow.
tatastatpratighātārthaṃ brāhmamevāstramuttamam। mayā prayuktaṃ jajvāla yugāntamiva darśayat ॥5-185-16॥
Then, to counteract, I employed the supreme Brahma weapon, which blazed as if showing the end of an era.
tayorbrahmāstrayorāsīdantarā vai samāgamaḥ। asamprāpyaiva rāmaṃ ca māṃ ca bhāratasattama ॥5-185-17॥
The two Brahmastras met each other in the space between, without reaching either Rama or me, O best of the Bharatas.
tato vyomni prādurabhūtteja eva hi kevalam। bhūtāni caiva sarvāṇi jagmurārtiṃ viśāṃ pate ॥5-185-18॥
Then, only light appeared in the sky, and all beings were distressed, O lord of the people.
ṛṣayaśca sagandharvā devatāścaiva bhārata। santāpaṃ paramaṃ jagmurastatejobhipīḍitāḥ ॥5-185-19॥
O Bharata, the sages, Gandharvas, and deities were greatly distressed, being oppressed by the energy of the weapons.
tataścacāla pṛthivī saparvatavanadrumā। santaptāni ca bhūtāni viṣādaṃ jagmuruttamam ॥5-185-20॥
Then the earth, along with its mountains, forests, and trees, trembled. The beings, tormented, fell into deep sorrow.
prajajvāla nabho rājandhūmāyante diśo daśa। na sthātumantarikṣe ca śekurākāśagāstadā ॥5-185-21॥
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.
tato hāhākṛte loke sadevāsurarākṣase। idam antaram ity eva yoktukāmo'smi bhārata ॥5-185-22॥
Then, O Bharata, in the world filled with gods and demons, amidst great tumult, I wish to express this difference.
prasvāpamastraṃ dayitaṃ vacanād brahmavādinām। cintitaṃ ca tadastraṃ me manasi pratyabhāttadā ॥5-185-23॥
The sages spoke of a beloved sleep-inducing weapon, and as I thought of it, it appeared in my mind.
