इत्युक्तस्त्वाह भगवंस्त्वं नाधिक्षेप्तुमर्हसि। नाहमप्यधमो धर्मे क्षत्रियाणां द्विजातिषु। इश्र्वाकूणां विशेषेण बाहुवीर्ये न कत्थनम्
Thus addressed, the revered one replied, 'You should not challenge me; nor am I inferior in the dharma of kshatriyas or brahmins, especially among the Ikshvakus, nor do I boast of strength in arms.'
तमेवं वादिनं तत्र रामो वचनमब्रवीत्। अलं वै व्यपदेशेन धनुरायच्छ राघव
To him thus speaking, Rama said, 'Enough of words; string the bow, O descendant of Raghu.'
ततो जग्राह रोषेण क्षत्रियर्षभमूदनम्। रामो दाशरथिर्दिव्यं हस्ताद्रामस्य कार्मुकम्
Then, filled with anger, Rāma, son of Daśaratha and foremost among warriors, seized the divine bow from Rāma Jāmadagnya.
धनुरारोपयामास सलील इव भारत। ज्याशब्दमकरोच्चैव स्मयमानः स वीर्यवान्। तस्य शब्दस् भूतानि वित्रसन्त्यशनेरिव
He strung the bow, O Bhārata, with ease, and, smiling in his strength, made the bowstring resound; at that sound, all beings trembled as if at the end of the world.
अथाब्रवीत्तदा रामो रामं दाशरथिस्तदा। इदमारोपितं ब्र्हमन्किमन्यत्करवाणि ते
Then Rāma, son of Daśaratha, spoke to Rāma Jāmadagnya: 'The bow is strung, Brāhmaṇa. What else would you have me do?'
तस्य रामो ददौ दिव्यं जामदग्न्यो महात्मनः। शरमाकर्णदेशान्तमयमाकृष्यतामिति
To him, Rāma Jāmadagnya of great soul gave a divine arrow, saying, 'Draw this arrow to your ear and release it.'
एतच्छ्रुत्वाऽब्रवीद्रामः प्रदीप्त इव मन्युना। श्रूयते क्षम्यते चैव दर्पपूर्णोसि भार्गव
Hearing this, Rāma replied, his mind blazing with wrath: 'You are famed for patience, yet you are full of pride, Bhārgava.'
त्वया ह्यधिगतं तेजः क्षत्रियेभ्यो विशेषतः। पितामहप्रसादेन तेन मां क्षिपसि ध्रुवम्। पश्य मां स्वेन रूपेण चक्षुस्ते वितराम्यहम्
'The power you have gained, especially over kṣatriyas, is by your grandsire's grace; for this reason, you challenge me. Now behold me in my true form—I will grant you vision.'
ततो रामशरीरे वै रामः पश्यति भार्गवः। आदित्यान्सवसून्रुद्रान्साध्यांश्च समरुद्गणान्
Then, within Rāma's body, Bhārgava Rāma beheld the Ādityas, Vasus, Rudras, Sādhyas, and all the hosts of Maruts.
पितरो हुताशनश्चैव नक्षत्राणि ग्रहास्तथा। गन्धर्वा राक्षसा यक्षा नद्यस्तीर्थानि यानि च
He saw the ancestors, the fire-god, the stars and planets, Gandharvas, Rākṣasas, Yakṣas, rivers, and all the sacred fords.
ऋषयो वालखिल्याश्च ब्र्हमभूताः सनातनाः। देवर्षयश्च कार्त्स्न्येन समुद्राः पर्वतास्तथा
He saw the sages, the Vālakhilyas, the eternal beings born of Brahman, all the divine seers, the oceans, and the mountains.
वेदाश्च सोपनिषदो वषट्कारैः सहाध्वरैः। चेतोमन्ति च सामानि धनुर्वेदश्च भारत। मेघवृन्दानि वर्षाणि विद्युतश्च युधिष्ठिर
He saw the Vedas with the Upaniṣads, the sacrificial exclamations and rites, the Sāman hymns endowed with consciousness, the science of archery, O Bhārata, clouds, rains, and lightning, O Yudhiṣṭhira.
ततः स भगवान्विष्णुस्तं वै बाणं मुमोच ह। शुष्काशनिसमाकीर्णं महोल्काभिश्च भारत
Then the blessed Viṣṇu released that arrow, O Bhārata, which was wreathed with dry thunderbolts and blazing meteors.
पांसुवर्षेण महता मेघवर्षैश्च भूतलम्। भूमिकम्पैश्च निर्घातैर्नादैश्च विपुलैरपि
With a great shower of dust and torrents of rain upon the earth, with earthquakes, thunderclaps, and mighty sounds.
स रामं विह्वलं कृत्वा तेजश्चाक्षिप्य केवलम्। आगच्छज्ज्वलितो बाणो रामबाहुप्रचोदितः
That arrow, driven by Rāma's arm, robbed Rāma Jāmadagnya of his brilliance, left him bewildered, and came blazing onward.
स तु विह्वलतां गत्वा प्रतिलभ्य च चेतनाम्। रामः प्रत्यागतप्राणः प्राणमद्विष्णुतेजसम्
Having fallen into confusion but regaining his senses, Rāma Jāmadagnya recovered his life, which had been overwhelmed by Viṣṇu's power.
विष्णुना सोभ्यनुज्ञातो महेन्द्रमगमत्पुनः। भीतस्तु तत्रन्यवसद्ब्रीडितस्तु महातपाः
Permitted by Viṣṇu, he went again to Mahendra mountain, but, fearful and ashamed, the great ascetic dwelt there.
ततः संवत्सरेऽतीते हृतौजसमवस्थितम्। निर्मदं दुःखितं दृष्ट्वा पितरो राममब्रुवन्
Then, after a year had passed, seeing Rāma bereft of strength, humbled and sorrowful, the ancestors spoke to him.
न वै सम्यगिदं पुत्र विष्णुमासाद्य वैकृतम्। स हि पूज्यश्च मान्यश्च त्रिषु लोकेषु सर्वदा
'This is not right, son, to be so changed after meeting Viṣṇu; for he is always to be honored and revered in all three worlds.'
गच्छ पुत्रनदीं पुण्यां वधूसरकृताह्वयाम्। तत्रोपस्पृश्य तीर्थेषु पुनर्वपुरवाप्स्यसि
'Go, son, to the holy river called Vadhūsarā; there, after bathing at the sacred fords, you will regain your form.'
दीप्तोदं नाम तत्तीर्थं यत्रते प्रतितामहः। भृगुर्देवयुगे राम तप्तवानुत्तमं तपः
There is a holy place called Dīptoda, O descendant of Bharata, where in the age of the gods, Bhṛgu performed supreme austerities.
तत्तथा कृतवान्रामः कौन्तेय वचनात्पितुः। प्राप्तवांश्च पुनस्तेजस्तीर्थेऽस्मिन्पाण्डुनन्दन
There, O son of Kunti, Rāma did likewise, following his father's command, and again obtained great energy at this very tīrtha, O joy of the Pāṇḍus.
एतदीदृशकं तात रामेणाक्लिष्टकर्मणा। प्राप्तमासीन्महाराज विष्णुमासाद्य वै पुरा
Such was the merit, O dear one, that the sinless Rāma acquired here long ago, after approaching Viṣṇu, O great king.
भूय एवाहमिच्छामि महर्षेस्तस्य धीमतः। कर्मणां विस्तरं श्रोतुमगस्त्यस्य द्विजात्तम
Once more I wish to hear in detail the deeds of that wise sage, Agastya, O best of the twice-born.
शृणु राजन्कथां दिव्यामद्भुतामतिमानुषीम्। अगस्त्यस्य महाराज प्रभावममितौजसः
Hear, O king, the wondrous and divine tale of Agastya, whose power is immeasurable, O great king.
आसन्कृतयुगे घोरा दानवा युद्धदुर्मदाः। कालकेया इतिख्याता गणाः परमदारुणाः
In the Kṛta age, there were fierce and war-mad Dānavas, known as the Kālakeyas, a most terrible group.
ते तु वृत्रं समाश्रित्य नानाप्रहरणोद्यताः। समन्तात्पर्यधावन्त महेन्द्रप्रमुखान्सुरान्
Taking refuge with Vṛtra and armed with various weapons, they attacked the gods led by Mahendra from all sides.
ततो वृत्रवधे यत्नमकुर्वंस्त्रिदशाः पुरा। पुरंदरं पुरस्कृत्य ब्रह्माणमुपतस्थिरे
Then, in order to slay Vṛtra, the gods made efforts of old, and, led by Purandara, approached Brahmā.
कृताञ्जलींस्तु तान्सर्वान्परमेष्ठीत्युवाच ह। विदितं मे सुराः सर्वं यद्वः कार्यं चिकीर्षितम्
With joined palms, all those gods were addressed by the supreme lord: 'I know all that you wish to accomplish, O gods.'
तमुपायं प्रवक्ष्यामि यथा वृत्रं वधिष्यथ। दधीच इतिविख्यातो महानृषिरुदारधीः
'I will tell you the means by which you will slay Vṛtra. There is a great sage, renowned as Dadhīca, noble in mind.'