05.187
राम उवाच॥
Rama spoke:
प्रत्यक्षमेतल्लोकानां सर्वेषामेव भामिनि। यथा मया परं शक्त्या कृतं वै पौरुषं महत् ॥५-१८७-१॥
O beautiful lady, this is directly known to all the worlds, as the great effort has indeed been done by me with supreme power.
न चैव युधि शक्नोमि भीष्मं शस्त्रभृतां वरम्। विशेषयितुमत्यर्थमुत्तमास्त्राणि दर्शयन् ॥५-१८७-२॥
In the battle, I find myself unable to distinguish Bhishma, the greatest among the wielders of weapons, even while displaying the most excellent weapons.
एषा मे परमा शक्तिरेतन्मे परमं बलम्। यथेष्टं गम्यतां भद्रे किमन्यद्वा करोमि ते ॥५-१८७-३॥
This is my supreme power and strength. Go as you wish, O gentle lady, what else can I do for you?
भीष्ममेव प्रपद्यस्व न तेऽन्या विद्यते गतिः। निर्जितो ह्यस्मि भीष्मेण महास्त्राणि प्रमुञ्चता ॥५-१८७-४॥
Surrender to Bhishma alone; there is no other way for you. I have been defeated by Bhishma, who is releasing powerful weapons.
भीष्म उवाच॥
Bhishma said:
एवमुक्त्वा ततो रामो विनिःश्वस्य महामनाः। तूष्णीमासीत्तदा कन्या प्रोवाच भृगुनन्दनम् ॥५-१८७-५॥
After speaking thus, Rama, with a heavy heart, sighed and remained silent. Then, the girl spoke to the descendant of Bhrigu.
भगवन्नेवमेवैतद्यथाह भगवांस्तथा। अजेयो युधि भीष्मोऽयमपि देवैरुदारधीः ॥५-१८७-६॥
O Lord, it is indeed as you have said. Bhishma is invincible in battle, even to the gods, and is noble-minded.
यथाशक्ति यथोत्साहं मम कार्यं कृतं त्वया। अनिधाय रणे वीर्यमस्त्राणि विविधानि च ॥५-१८७-७॥
You have accomplished my task with all your ability and enthusiasm, without even using your valor and various weapons in battle.
न चैष शक्यते युद्धे विशेषयितुमन्ततः। न चाहमेनं यास्यामि पुनर्भीष्मं कथञ्चन ॥५-१८७-८॥
This cannot be distinguished in battle finally, and I will not return to Bhishma in any way.
गमिष्यामि तु तत्राहं यत्र भीष्मं तपोधन। समरे पातयिष्यामि स्वयमेव भृगूद्वह ॥५-१८७-९॥
I will indeed go there, O treasure of penance, where Bhishma is, and in the battle, I shall personally bring him down, O descendant of Bhrigu.
एवमुक्त्वा ययौ कन्या रोषव्याकुललोचना। तपसे धृतसङ्कल्पा मम चिन्तयती वधम् ॥५-१८७-१०॥
Thus, the girl, her eyes filled with anger, went away with a firm resolve to perform penance, contemplating my destruction.
ततो महेन्द्रं सह तैर्मुनिभिर्भृगुसत्तमः। यथागतं ययौ रामो मामुपामन्त्र्य भारत ॥५-१८७-११॥
Then, O best of the Bhṛgus, Rama, after addressing me, went to Mahendra along with those sages, as he had come, O Bharata.
ततोऽहं रथमारुह्य स्तूयमानो द्विजातिभिः। प्रविश्य नगरं मात्रे सत्यवत्यै न्यवेदयम् ॥ यथावृत्तं महाराज सा च मां प्रत्यनन्दत ॥५-१८७-१२॥
Then I mounted the chariot, praised by the Brahmins, entered the city, and reported everything to my mother Satyavati as it happened, O great king, and she welcomed me.
पुरुषांश्चादिशं प्राज्ञान्कन्यावृत्तान्तकर्मणि। दिवसे दिवसे ह्यस्या गतजल्पितचेष्टितम् ॥ प्रत्याहरंश्च मे युक्ताः स्थिताः प्रियहिते मम ॥५-१८७-१३॥
I instructed wise men to investigate the girl's affairs. Day by day, indeed, her past conversations and actions were recalled by those engaged in my welfare, who were situated in my dear interests.
यदैव हि वनं प्रायात्कन्या सा तपसे धृता। तदैव व्यथितो दीनो गतचेता इवाभवम् ॥५-१८७-१४॥
When the girl went to the forest with determination for penance, I became distressed and miserable, as if I had lost consciousness.
न हि मां क्षत्रियः कश्चिद्वीर्येण विजयेद्युधि। ऋते ब्रह्मविदस्तात तपसा संशितव्रतात् ॥५-१८७-१५॥
No warrior can defeat me in battle by strength alone, dear one, except for a knower of Brahman, who is steadfast in penance and vows.
अपि चैतन्मया राजन्नारदेऽपि निवेदितम्। व्यासे चैव भयात्कार्यं तौ चोभौ मामवोचताम् ॥५-१८७-१६॥
O king, I have informed both Nārada and Vyāsa about this out of fear, and they both have spoken to me.
न विषादस्त्वया कार्यो भीष्म काशिसुतां प्रति। दैवं पुरुषकारेण को निवर्तितुमुत्सहेत् ॥५-१८७-१७॥
O Bhishma, do not despair regarding the daughter of Kashi. Who can reverse destiny with mere human effort?
सा तु कन्या महाराज प्रविश्याश्रममण्डलम्। यमुनातीरमाश्रित्य तपस्तेपेऽतिमानुषम् ॥५-१८७-१८॥
The girl, after entering the hermitage circle and resorting to the bank of Yamuna, performed penance that was beyond human capabilities, O great king.
निराहारा कृशा रूक्षा जटिला मलपङ्किनी। षण्मासान्वायुभक्षा च स्थाणुभूता तपोधना ॥५-१८७-१९॥
She was without food, emaciated, rough, with matted hair, covered in dirt, subsisting on air for six months, and stood motionless, rich in penance.
यमुनातीरमासाद्य संवत्सरमथापरम्। उदवासं निराहारा पारयामास भामिनी ॥५-१८७-२०॥
The lady, having reached the bank of the Yamuna, spent another year there living without food.
शीर्णपर्णेन चैकेन पारयामास चापरम्। संवत्सरं तीव्रकोपा पादाङ्गुष्ठाग्रधिष्ठिता ॥५-१८७-२१॥
With just a dry leaf, she managed to cross over another. She stood on the tip of her big toe for a year, filled with intense anger.
एवं द्वादश वर्षाणि तापयामास रोदसी। निवर्त्यमानापि तु सा ज्ञातिभिर्नैव शक्यते ॥५-१८७-२२॥
For twelve years, she tormented the heavens and the earth. Despite her relatives' attempts to restrain her, she could not be controlled.
ततोऽगमद्वत्सभूमिं सिद्धचारणसेविताम्। आश्रमं पुण्यशीलानां तापसानां महात्मनाम् ॥५-१८७-२३॥
Then he went to the land of Vatsa, a place inhabited by sages and bards, to the hermitage of virtuous ascetics and great souls.
तत्र पुण्येषु देशेषु साप्लुताङ्गी दिवानिशम्। व्यचरत्काशिकन्या सा यथाकामविचारिणी ॥५-१८७-२४॥
In those sacred places, the princess of Kashi, having bathed, roamed freely day and night as she wished.
नन्दाश्रमे महाराज ततोलूकाश्रमे शुभे। च्यवनस्याश्रमे चैव ब्रह्मणः स्थान एव च ॥५-१८७-२५॥
O great king, you visited the hermitage of Nanda, then the auspicious hermitage of Uluka, and also the hermitage of Cyavana, as well as the abode of Brahma.
प्रयागे देवयजने देवारण्येषु चैव ह। भोगवत्यां तथा राजन्कौशिकस्याश्रमे तथा ॥५-१८७-२६॥
In Prayaga, during the sacrifice to the gods, in the divine forests, and certainly in Bhogavati, O king, also in the hermitage of Kaushika.
माण्डव्यस्याश्रमे राजन्दिलीपस्याश्रमे तथा। रामह्रदे च कौरव्य पैलगार्ग्यस्य चाश्रमे ॥५-१८७-२७॥
O King, in the hermitages of Māṇḍavya and Dilīpa, as well as in the lake of Rāma, and in the hermitages of the descendants of Kuru, Paila, and Gārgya.
एतेषु तीर्थेषु तदा काशिकन्या विशां पते। आप्लावयत गात्राणि तीव्रमास्थाय वै तपः ॥५-१८७-२८॥
Then, in those sacred places, the maiden from Kashi, O lord of the people, bathed her body, engaging in intense penance.
तामब्रवीत्कौरवेय मम माता जलोत्थिता। किमर्थं क्लिश्यसे भद्रे तथ्यमेतद्ब्रवीहि मे ॥५-१८७-२९॥
The son of Kuru said to her, "My mother, who was born of water, asked, 'O gentle lady, why are you troubled? Please tell me the truth.'"
सैनामथाब्रवीद्राजन्कृताञ्जलिरनिन्दिता। भीष्मो रामेण समरे न जितश्चारुलोचने ॥५-१८७-३०॥
Then, O king, the blameless one with folded hands addressed her: Bhishma was not defeated by Rama in battle, O beautiful-eyed lady.
कोऽन्यस्तमुत्सहेज्जेतुमुद्यतेषुं महीपतिम्। साहं भीष्मविनाशाय तपस्तप्स्ये सुदारुणम् ॥५-१८७-३१॥
Who else can conquer the king who has raised his arrow? I will undertake very severe penance to bring about the destruction of Bhishma.
चरामि पृथिवीं देवि यथा हन्यामहं नृपम्। एतद्व्रतफलं देहे परस्मिन्स्याद्यथा हि मे ॥५-१८७-३२॥
I wander the earth, O goddess, with the intent to kill the king. The fruit of this vow may manifest in another body, as it is indeed mine.
ततोऽब्रवीत्सागरगा जिह्मं चरसि भामिनि। नैष कामोऽनवद्याङ्गि शक्यः प्राप्तुं त्वयाबले ॥५-१८७-३३॥
Then the river deity said, "You are moving in a crooked manner, O beautiful lady. This desire cannot be fulfilled by you, O lady with flawless limbs, as you are weak."
यदि भीष्मविनाशाय काश्ये चरसि वै व्रतम्। व्रतस्था च शरीरं त्वं यदि नाम विमोक्ष्यसि ॥ नदी भविष्यसि शुभे कुटिला वार्षिकोदका ॥५-१८७-३४॥
If you undertake a vow in Kashi for the destruction of Bhishma and fulfill it by releasing your body, you will transform into a river, O auspicious lady, with winding, seasonal waters.
दुस्तीर्था चानभिज्ञेया वार्षिकी नाष्टमासिकी। भीमग्राहवती घोरा सर्वभूतभयङ्करी ॥५-१८७-३५॥
It is a difficult crossing, unknown and annual, occurring every eight months, with terrible obstacles, frightening and causing fear to all beings.
एवमुक्त्वा ततो राजन्काशिकन्यां न्यवर्तत। माता मम महाभागा स्मयमानेव भामिनी ॥५-१८७-३६॥
Thus, having spoken, the Kashi princess returned, O king. My mother, the fortunate lady, seemed to be smiling.
कदाचिदष्टमे मासि कदाचिद्दशमे तथा। न प्राश्नीतोदकमपि पुनः सा वरवर्णिनी ॥५-१८७-३७॥
Sometimes in the eighth month and sometimes in the tenth, the beautiful woman did not even drink water again.
सा वत्सभूमिं कौरव्य तीर्थलोभात्ततस्ततः। पतिता परिधावन्ती पुनः काशिपतेः सुता ॥५-१८७-३८॥
The daughter of the king of Kashi, driven by her desire for pilgrimage, found herself in the land of Vatsa, where she wandered aimlessly, having fallen and risen again.
सा नदी वत्सभूम्यां तु प्रथिताम्बेति भारत। वार्षिकी ग्राहबहुला दुस्तीर्था कुटिला तथा ॥५-१८७-३९॥
O Bharata, that river in the land of Vatsa is renowned as 'O mother'. During the rainy season, it becomes full of crocodiles, difficult to cross, and winding.
सा कन्या तपसा तेन भागार्धेन व्यजायत। नदी च राजन्वत्सेषु कन्या चैवाभवत्तदा ॥५-१८७-४०॥
The girl was born through penance and a half portion. Then, O king, the river among the Vatsas became the girl.
