स वेदाध्ययने युक्तो जमदग्निर्महातपाः। तपस्तेपे ततो देवान्नियमाद्वशमानयत्
Jamadagni, devoted to Vedic study and possessing great austerity, performed penance and, through discipline, brought the gods under his control.
स प्रसेनजितं राजन्नधिगम्य नराधिपम्। रेणुकां वरयामास स च तस्मै ददौ नृपः
He approached King Prasenajit, and sought Renukā; the king gave her to him.
रेणुकां त्वथ संप्राप्य भार्यां भार्गवनन्दनः। आश्रमस्थस्तया सार्धं तपस्तेपेऽनुकूलया
Having obtained Renukā as his wife, the Bhārgava's delight, dwelling in the hermitage, performed austerities together with her, who was favorable.
तस्याः कुमाराश्चत्वारो जज्ञिरे रामपञ्चमाः। सर्वेषामजघन्यस्तु राम आसीञ्जघन्यजः
Four sons were born to her, with Rāma as the fifth; among them, Rāma was the youngest.
फलाहारेषु सर्वेषु गतेष्वथ सुतेषु वै। रेणुका स्नातुमगमत्कदाचिन्नियतव्रता
When all the sons had departed for gathering fruits, Renukā, observing her vow, went to bathe.
सा तु चित्ररथं नाम मार्तिकावतकं नृपम्। ददर्श रेणुका राजन्नागच्छन्ती यदृच्छया
Renukā saw, by chance, King Citraratha, called Mārtikāvata, as she was approaching.
क्रीडन्तं सलिले दृष्ट्वा सभार्यं पद्ममालिनम्। ऋद्धिमन्तं ततस्तस्य स्पृहयामास रेणुका
Seeing him playing in the water with his wife, adorned with lotus garlands and full of splendor, Renukā desired him.
व्यभिचाराच्च तस्मात्सा क्लिन्नाम्भसि विचेतना। `अन्तरिक्षान्निपतिता नर्मदायां महाह्रदे
Because of her infidelity, she became distracted and wet, and fell from the sky into the great pool of the Narmadā.
उतीर्य चापि सा यत्नाज्जगाम भरतर्षभ'। प्रविवेशाश्रमं त्रस्ता तां वै भर्तान्वबुध्यत
Having crossed over with effort, O bull of the Bharatas, she entered the hermitage in fear; her husband noticed her.
स तां दृष्ट्वाच्युतांधैर्याद्ब्राह्म्या लक्ष्म्या विवर्जिताम्। श्रिक्शब्देन महातेजा गर्हयामास वीर्यवान्
Seeing her, who had lost her composure and was bereft of Brahmanical splendor, the mighty and radiant one reproached her with the word 'Śrī'.
ततो ज्येष्ठो जामदग्न्यो रुमण्वान्नाम नामतः। आजगाम सुषेणश्च वसुर्विश्वावसुस्तथा
Then the eldest, Jāmadagnya by name, along with Rumaṇvān, Suṣeṇa, Vasu, and Viśvāvasu, arrived there.
तानानुपूर्व्याद्भगवान्वधे मातुरचोदयत्। न च ते जातसंमोहाः किंचिदूचुर्विचेतसः
The blessed one urged them, one after another, to kill their mother; but, being clear-minded and not deluded, they said nothing.
ततः शशाप तान्क्रोधात्ते शप्ताश्चैतनां जहुः। मृगपक्षिसधर्माणः क्षिप्रमासञ्जडोपमाः
Then, out of anger, he cursed them; being cursed, they immediately lost their senses, becoming like dull-witted beasts and birds.
ततो रामोऽभ्ययात्पश्चादाश्रमं परवीरहा। तमुवाच महामन्युर्जमदग्निर्महातपाः
After that, Rāma, destroyer of enemy heroes, came to the hermitage; the great ascetic Jamadagni, filled with wrath, spoke to him.
जहीमां मातरं पापां मा च पुत्र व्यथां कृथाः। तत आदाय परशुं रामो मातु शिरोऽहरत्
'Kill this sinful mother, my son, and do not grieve.' Then Rāma took up his axe and struck off his mother's head.
ततस्तस्य महाराज जमदग्नेर्महात्मनः। कोपोऽभ्यगच्छत्सहसा प्रसन्नश्चाब्रवीदिदम्
Then, O king, sudden anger seized the great-souled Jamadagni, but soon he became pleased and spoke these words:
ममेदं वचनात्तात कृतं ते कर्म दुष्करम्। वृणीष्व कामान्धर्मज्ञ यावतो वाञ्छसे हृदा
'Because you have done this difficult deed at my command, O son, ask for whatever boons you desire in your heart, O knower of dharma.'
स वव्रे मातुरुत्थानमस्मृतिं च वधस्य वै। पापेन तेन चास्पर्शं भ्रातॄणां प्रकृतिं तथा
He asked for his mother's revival, her forgetfulness of the killing, freedom from the taint of that sin, and the restoration of his brothers' nature.
अप्रतिद्वन्द्वतां युद्धे दीर्घमायुश्च भारत। ददौ च सर्वान्कामांस्ताञ्जमदग्निर्महातपाः
He also asked for invincibility in battle and long life, O Bhārata; and the great ascetic Jamadagni granted all those wishes.
कदाचित्तु तथैवास्य विनिष्क्रान्ताः सुताः प्रभो। अथानूपपतिर्वीरः कार्तवीर्योऽभ्यवर्तत
Once, when his sons had gone out, O lord, the heroic king Kārtavīrya approached.
तमाश्रमपदं प्राप्तमृषिरर्ध्यात्समार्चयत्। स युद्धमदसंमत्तो नाभ्यनन्दत्तथाऽर्चनम्
When the sage welcomed him with due honor at the hermitage, he, intoxicated with the pride of battle, did not appreciate the hospitality.
प्रमथ्य चाश्रमात्तस्माद्धोमधेनोस्ततोबलात्। जहार वत्सं क्रोशन्त्या बभञ्ज च महाद्रुमान्
Then, overpowering the hermitage by force, he seized the sacrificial cow, though she cried out, and broke great trees with his strength.
आगताय च रामाय तदाचष्ट पिता स्वयम्। गां च रोरुदतीं दृष्ट्वा कोपो रामं समाविशत्। स मन्युवशमापन्नः कार्तवीर्यमुपाद्रवत्
When Rāma returned, his father himself told him what had happened; seeing the cow weeping, anger seized Rāma, and, overcome by wrath, he pursued Kārtavīrya.
तस्याथ युधि विक्रम्य भार्गवः परवीरहा। चिच्छेद निशितैर्भल्लैर्बाहून्परिघसंनिभान्
Then, in battle, Bhārgava, destroyer of enemy heroes, cut off Kārtavīrya's arms, which were like iron clubs, with sharp arrows.
सहस्रसंमितान्राजन्प्रगृह्य रुचिरं धनुः। अभिभूतः स रामेण संयुक्तः कालधर्मणा
Though he had a thousand arms and wielded a splendid bow, O king, he was overpowered by Rāma, who was united with the power of fate.
अर्जुनस्याथ दायादा रामेण कृतमन्यवः। आश्रमस्थं विना रामं जमदग्निमुपाद्रवन्
Then the heirs of Arjuna, filled with anger at Rāma, attacked Jamadagni in the hermitage when Rāma was absent.
ते तं जघ्नुर्महावीर्यमयुध्यन्तं तपस्विनम्। असकृद्रामरामेति विक्रोशन्तमनाथवत्
They struck down that ascetic of great might, who fought on, crying out again and again, 'Rama! Rama!' like one without protector.
कार्तवीर्यस्य पुत्रास्तु जमदग्निं युधिष्ठिर। घातयित्वा शरैर्जग्मुर्यथागतमरिंदमाः
O Yudhishthira, the sons of Kartavirya, destroyers of foes, having slain Jamadagni with arrows, departed as they had come.
अपक्रान्तेषु वै तेषु जमदग्नौ तथा गते। समित्पाणिरुपागच्छदाश्रमं भृगुनन्दनः
When they had gone and Jamadagni had thus perished, the son of Bhrigu, with sacrificial fuel in hand, came to the hermitage.
स दृष्ट्वा पितरं वीरस्तदा मृत्युवशं गतम्। अनर्हं तं तथाभूतं विललाप सुदुःखितः
Seeing his father then, fallen under the sway of death, that hero, unworthy of such a fate, wept in deep sorrow.