पूजयामासुरव्यग्रा मधुपर्केण भार्गवम्। अर्चितश्च यथान्यायं निषसाद सहैव तैः
They eagerly honored Bhargava with the traditional offering of honey and curds; and, having been duly worshipped, he sat down together with them.
ततः पूर्वव्यतीतानि कथयन्तौ स्म तावुभौ । आसातां जामदग्न्यश्च सृञ्जयश्चैव भारत
Then, as the two conversed about past events, O descendant of Bharata, Jamadagni's son and Sṛñjaya came together.
तथा कथान्ते राजर्षिर्भृगुश्रेष्ठं महाबलम् । उवाच मधुरं काले रामं वचनमर्थवत्
At the end of their conversation, the royal sage addressed the mighty descendant of Bhrigu, Rama, with sweet and meaningful words at the proper time.
रामेयं मम दौहित्री काशिराजसुता प्रभो । अस्याः श्रृणु यथातत्त्वं कार्यं कार्यविशारद
O Rama, this is my granddaughter, the daughter of the King of Kashi, O lord; listen in truth, you who are skilled in duty, to what must be done for her.
परमं कथ्यतां चेति तां रामः प्रत्यभाषत । ततः साभ्यवदद्रामं ज्वलन्तमिव पावकम्
"Let the highest be spoken," said Rama in reply; then she addressed Rama, who blazed like fire.
ततोऽभिवाद्य चरणौ रामस्य शिरसा शुभौ । स्पृष्ट्वा पद्मदलाभाभ्यां पाणिभ्यामग्रतः स्थिता
Then, bowing with her head to Rama's auspicious feet, touching them with her lotus-petal-like hands, she stood before him.
रुरोद सा शोकवती बाष्पव्याकुललोचना। प्रपेदे शरणं चैव शरण्यं भृगुनन्दनम्
She wept, filled with sorrow, her eyes brimming with tears; and she sought refuge in Rama, the protector, descendant of Bhrigu.
यथा त्वं सृंजयस्यास्य तथा मे त्वं नृपात्मजे । ब्रूहि यत्ते मनोदुःखं करिष्ये वचनं तव
Just as you are for this Sṛñjaya, so be for me, O prince among kings; speak what sorrow is in your heart, I will do as you say.
भगवञ्शरणं त्वाद्य प्रपन्नाऽस्मि महाव्रतम् । शोकपङ्कार्णवान्मग्नं घोरादुद्धर मां विभो
O lord, today I have sought refuge in you, the great vow-holder; lift me, O mighty one, from the dreadful ocean of sorrow in which I am sunk.
तस्याश्च दृष्ट्वा रूपं च वपुश्चाभिनवं पुनः। सौकुमार्यं परं चैव रामश्चिन्तापरोऽभवत्
Seeing her form and her ever-fresh beauty, and her utmost delicacy, Rama became absorbed in thought.
किमियं वक्ष्यतीत्येवं विममर्श भृगूद्वहः। इति दध्यौ चिरं रामः कृपयाभिपरिप्लुतः
What will she say?—thus pondered the best of the Bhrigus; and so Rama reflected for a long time, his heart filled with compassion.
कथ्यतामिति सा भूयो रामेणोक्ता शुचिस्मिता। सर्वमेव यथातत्त्वं कथयामास भार्गवे
Then, once more, Rama said to her, who smiled gently, "Speak"; and she told Bhargava everything truly, just as it was.
तच्छुत्वा जामदग्र्यस्तु राजपुत्र्या वचस्तदा । उवाच तां वरारोहां निश्चित्यार्थविनिश्चयम्
Hearing the princess's words, Jamadagni's son then spoke to her, of lovely hips, having determined the matter.
प्रेषयिष्यामि भीष्माय कुरुश्रेष्ठाय भामिनि । करिष्यति वचो मह्यं श्रुत्वा च स नराधिपः
I will send for Bhishma, O beautiful one, the foremost of the Kurus; that lord of men will do my bidding when he hears it.
न चेत्करिष्यति वचो मयोक्तं जाह्नवीसुतः। धक्ष्याम्यहं रणे भद्रे सामात्यं शस्त्रतेजसा
If the son of Jahnavi does not carry out the words I have spoken, O gentle one, then I shall consume him in battle, together with his ministers, by the power of my weapons.
अथवा ते मतिस्तत्र राजपुत्रि न वर्तते। यावत्साल्वपतिं वीरं योजयाम्यत्र कर्मणि
Or, O princess, if your mind does not incline in that direction, I will engage the valiant lord of the Salvas in this task.
विसर्जिताऽहं भीष्मेण श्रुत्वैव भृगुनन्दन। साल्वराजगतं भावं मम पूर्वं मनीषितम्
I was rejected by Bhishma, O descendant of Bhrigu, as soon as he heard, and my mind, which had previously desired the king of the Salvas, was thus directed.
सौभराजमुपेत्याहमवोचं दुर्वचं वचः। न च मां प्रत्यगृह्णात्स चारित्र्यपरिशङ्कितः
Having approached the king of the Saubhas, I spoke harsh words, but he did not accept me, being suspicious of my conduct.
एतत्सर्वं विनिश्चित्य स्वबुद्ध्या भृगुनन्दन । यदत्रौपयिकं कार्यं तच्चिन्तयितुमर्हसि
Having considered all this with your own wisdom, O descendant of Bhrigu, you should reflect upon what is appropriate to do here.
मम तु व्यसनस्यास्य भीष्मो मूलं महाव्रतः। येनाहं वशमानीता समत्क्षिप्य बलात्तदा
Bhishma, the great vow-holder, is the root of my misfortune; by whom I was forcibly seized and brought under his control at that time.
भीष्मं जहि महाबाहो यत्कृते दुःखमीदृशम् । प्राप्ताहं भृगुशार्दूल चराम्यप्रियमुत्तमम्
Slay Bhishma, O mighty-armed one, for whose sake I have encountered such sorrow, O tiger among the Bhrigus, and wander in utmost distress.
स हि लुब्धश्च नीचश्च जितकाशी च भार्गव । तस्मात्प्रतिक्रिया कर्तुं युक्ता तस्मै त्वयाऽनघ
For he is greedy, base, and has conquered the Kashi kingdom, O descendant of Bhrigu; therefore, it is fitting that you take action against him, O sinless one.
एष मे ह्रियमाणाया भारतेन तदा विभो। अभवद्धृदि संकल्पो घातयेदं महाव्रतम्
When I was being carried away by the Bharata, O lord, this resolve arose in my heart: to destroy this great vow-holder.
तस्मात्कामं ममाद्येमं राम संपादयानघ। जहि भीष्मं महाबाहो यथा वृत्रं पुरन्दरः
Therefore, O Rama, fulfill my desire today, O sinless one; slay Bhishma, O mighty-armed, as Indra slew Vritra.
एवमुक्तस्तदा रामो जहि भीष्ममिति प्रभो। उवाच रुदतीं कन्यां चोदयन्तीं पुनः पुनः
Thus addressed at that time, Rama, urged again and again by the weeping maiden to slay Bhishma, spoke to her.
काश्ये न कामं गृह्णामि शस्त्रं वै वरवर्णिनि। ऋते ब्रह्मविदां हेतोः किमन्यत्करवाणि ते
O fair-complexioned one, I do not willingly take up weapons in Kashi, except for the sake of Brahmins; what else can I do for you?
वाचा भीष्मश्च साल्वश्च मम राज्ञि वशानुगौ। भविष्यतोऽनवद्याङ्गि तत्करिष्यामि मा शुचः
By word, both Bhishma and Salva are subject to me, O flawless-limbed one, and will obey the king; I shall do this, do not grieve.
न तु शस्त्रं ग्रहीष्यामि कथंचिदपि भामिनि । ऋते नियोगाद्विप्राणामेष मे समयः कृतः
But I shall not take up weapons in any way, O beautiful one, except by the command of Brahmins; this is the vow I have made.
मम दुःखं भगवता व्यपनेयं यतस्ततः। तच्च भीष्मप्रसूतं मे तं जहीश्वर मा चिरम्
My sorrow should be removed by the blessed one, for it arises from Bhishma; slay him, O lord, without delay.
काशिकन्ये पुनर्ब्रूहि भीष्मस्ते चरणावुभौ। शिरसा वन्दनार्होऽपि ग्रहीष्यति गिरा मम
O maiden of Kashi, say again: Bhishma should take both your feet, though he is worthy of being saluted with the head, he will accept my words.