14.029
brāhmaṇa uvāca॥
The Brāhmaṇa said.
atrāpy udāharantīm am itihāsaṃ purātanam। kārtavīryasya saṃvādaṃ samudrasya ca bhāmini॥14-29-1॥
Here too, O beautiful lady, they relate an ancient tale—the conversation between Kārtavīrya and the Ocean. (14-29-1)
kārtavīryārjuno nāma rājā bāhu-sahasravān। yena sāgara-paryantā dhanuṣā nirjitā mahī ॥14-29-2॥
There was a king named Kārtavīrya Arjuna, who had a thousand arms; with his bow he conquered the earth, which extended to the ocean. (14-29-2)
sa kadācitsamudrānte vicaran baladarapitaḥ। avākiraccharaśataiḥ samudram iti naḥ śrutam॥14-29-3॥
We have heard that, once, while wandering at the edge of the ocean, puffed up by his strength, he scattered hundreds of arrows into the ocean. (14-29-3)
taṃ samudro namaskṛtya kṛtāñjaliruvāca ha। mā muñca vīra nārācānbrūhi kiṃ karavāṇi te॥14-29-4॥
The ocean, having bowed to him with joined palms, spoke: "Hero, do not release the iron arrows; tell me what I should do for you." (14-29-4)
madāśrayāṇi bhūtāni tvad-visṛṣṭair maheṣubhiḥ। vadhyante rāja-śārdūla tebhyo dehya-bhayaṃ vibho ॥14-29-5॥
O tiger among kings, beings attached to intoxication are being slain by the great arrows released by you; grant them protection, O mighty one. (14-29-5)
arjuna uvāca॥
Arjuna said.
matsamo yadi saṅgrāme śarāsanadharaḥ kvacit। vidyate taṁ mamācakṣva yaḥ samāsīta māṁ mṛdhe ॥14-29-6॥
If there is any bow-bearer anywhere in battle who is equal to me, tell me of him—one who was my equal in the fight. (14-29-6)
samudra uvāca॥
The ocean said.
maharṣir jamadagnis te yadi rājan pariśrutaḥ। tasya putras tavātithyaṃ yathāvat kartum arhati॥14-29-7॥
If the great sage Jamadagni is well-known to you, O king, then his son is worthy to properly perform your hospitality. (14-29-7)
tataḥ sa rājā prayayau krodhena mahatā vṛtaḥ। sa tam āśramam āgamya rāmam eva anvapadyata ॥14-29-8॥
Then the king, filled with great anger, went; having arrived at that hermitage, he approached only Rāma. (14-29-8)
sa rāmapratikūlāni cakāra saha bandhubhiḥ। āyāsaṃ janayāmāsa rāmasya ca mahātmanaḥ ॥14-29-9॥
He, together with his relatives, did things opposed to Rāma and caused fatigue for Rāma, the great-souled one. (14-29-9)
tatas tejaḥ prajajvāla rāmasyāmitatejasaḥ। pradahad ripu-sainyāni tadā kamalalocane ॥14-29-10॥
Then, O lotus-eyed one, the splendor of Rāma, whose radiance is immeasurable, blazed forth, burning the armies of the enemy. (14-29-10)
tataḥ paraśum ādāya sa taṃ bāhu-sahasriṇam। ciccheda sahasā rāmo bāhu-śākham iva drumam॥14-29-11॥
Then Rama, having taken the axe, suddenly cut off the thousand-armed one's arm-branch as if (he were cutting) a branch from a tree. (14-29-11)
taṃ hataṃ patitaṃ dṛṣṭvā sametāḥ sarva-bāndhavāḥ। asīn ādāya śaktīś ca bhārgavaṃ paryavārayan ॥14-29-12॥
Seeing him fallen and slain, all the assembled kinsmen, having taken swords and lances, encircled the Bhārgava. (14-29-12)
Rāmo’pi dhanur ādāya ratham āruhy sa-tvaraḥ। visṛjan śara-varṣāṇi vyadhamat pārthivaṃ balam ॥14-29-13॥
Rāma too, swiftly took up his bow, climbed into the chariot, and, releasing showers of arrows, scattered the king's army. (14-29-13)
tatastu kṣatriyāḥ kecijjamadagniṃ nihatya ca। viviśurgiridurghāṇi mṛgāḥ siṃhārditā iva ॥14-29-14॥
Then, however, some of the kṣatriyas, having slain Jamadagni, entered the mountain strongholds like deer distressed by lions. (14-29-14)
teṣāṃ svakṛtam karma tad-bhayān na anutiṣṭhatām। prajā vṛṣalatāṃ prāptā brāhmaṇānām adarśanāt॥14-29-15॥
Because they did not perform their prescribed duties out of fear, the people became outcastes due to the absence of the Brāhmaṇas. (14-29-15)
ta ete dramiḍāḥ kāśāḥ puṇḍrāś ca śabaraiḥ saha| vṛṣalatvaṃ parigatā vyutthānāt kṣatradharmataḥ ॥14-29-16॥
These Dravidians, Kāśas, Puṇḍras and the Śabaras attained the status of outcastes because they abandoned their kṣatriya duties. (14-29-16)
tatastu hatavīrāsu kṣatriyāsu punaḥ punaḥ। dvijairutpāditaṃ kṣatraṃ jāmadagnyo nyakr̥ntata ॥14-29-17॥
But then, whenever new races of kṣatriyas were produced again and again by the twice-born among the slain kṣatriyas, the son of Jamadagni (Paraśurāma) cut them down. (14-29-17)
ekaviṃśatimedhānte rāmaṃ vāgśarīriṇī. divyā provāca madhurā sarvalokapariśrutā ॥14-29-18॥
At the end of the twenty-first sacrifice, the divine and sweet-voiced goddess of Speech, renowned in all worlds, spoke to Rama. (14-29-18)
rāma rāma nivartasva kaṃ guṇaṃ tāta paśyasi। kṣatrabandhūnimānprāṇairviprayojya punaḥ punaḥ ॥14-29-19॥
O Rāma, O Rāma, turn back! Dear one, what virtue do you see in repeatedly depriving these kṣatriya relatives of their lives? (14-29-19)
tathaiva taṁ mahātmānam ṛcīka-pramukhās tadā। pitāmahā mahābhāga nivartasva ity athābruvan॥14-29-20॥
In the same way, the ancestors, headed by Ṛcīka, then said to him, the great-souled one: "O greatly fortunate one, return!" (14-29-20)
pitur vadham amṛṣyam tu rāmaḥ provāca tān ṛṣīn। nārhantīha bhavanto māṃ nivārayitum ity uta ॥14-29-21॥
But Rama, unable to bear his father’s killing, spoke to those sages: “You, sirs, should not restrain me here.” (14-29-21)
pitara ūcuḥ॥
The ancestors said.
nārhase kṣatrabandhūṁstvaṁ nihantuṁ jayatāṁ vara. na hi yuktaṁ tvayā hantuṁ brāhmaṇena satā nṛpān ॥14-29-22॥
You should not kill Kṣatriya relatives, O best among the victorious. It is not proper for you, as a Brāhmaṇa, to slay kings. (14-29-22)
