ततो जगाम वसुधां मम बाणप्रपीडितः । जानुभ्यां धनुरुत्सृज्य रामो मोहवशं गतः
Then, struck by my arrows, Rama fell to the earth, abandoning his bow and sinking to his knees, overcome by bewilderment.
ततस्तस्मिन्निपतिते रामे भूरिसहस्रदे । आवव्रुर्जलदा व्योम क्षरन्तो रुधिरं बहु
As Rama fell, countless clouds covered the sky, pouring forth abundant blood.
उल्काश्च शतशः पेतुः सनिर्घाताः सकम्पनाः। अर्कं च सहसा दीप्तं स्वर्भानुरभिसंवृणोत्
Hundreds of meteors, accompanied by thunder and trembling, fell; and suddenly, Svarbhanu obscured the blazing sun.
ववुश्च वाताः परुषाश्चलिता च वसुंधरा । गृध्रा बलाश्च कङ्काश्च परिपेतुर्गुदा युताः
Harsh winds blew, the earth shook, and vultures, jackals, and crows, gathered in flocks, descended all around.
दीप्तायां दिशि गोमायुर्दारुणं मुहुरुन्नदत् । अनाहता दुन्दुभयो विनेदुर्भृशनिःस्वनाः
In the blazing direction, a jackal howled fiercely again and again; drums sounded unstruck, echoing with intense noise.
एतदौत्पातिकं सर्वं घोरमासीद्भयंकरम् । विसंज्ञकल्पे धरणीं गते रामे महात्मनि
All these terrifying omens arose, dreadful and frightening, when the great Rama lay senseless upon the earth.
ततो वै सहसोत्थाय रामो मामभ्यवर्तत । पुनर्युद्धाय कौरव्य विह्वलः क्रोधमूर्छितः
Then, Rama suddenly rose and approached me, O Kaurava, once more for battle, agitated and inflamed with anger.
आददानो महाबाहुः कार्मुकं तालसन्निभम् । ततो मय्याददानं तं राममेव न्यवारयन्
The mighty-armed Rama took up his bow, resembling a palm tree; but as he did so, I restrained him.
महर्षयः कृपायुक्ताः क्रोधाविष्टोऽपि भार्गवः । समाहरदमेयात्मा शरं कालानलोपमम्
The great sages, filled with compassion, though Bhargava was seized by wrath, gathered around, and the unconquerable Rama prepared an arrow like the fire of time.
सतो रविर्मन्दमरीचिमण्डलो जगामास्तं पांसुपुञ्जावगूढः निशा व्यगाहत्सुखशीतमारुता ततो युद्धं प्रत्यवहारयाव-
The sun, with its faint rays, set, veiled by clouds of dust; night descended, cooled by gentle breezes; thus, we postponed the battle.
एवं राजन्नवहारो बभूव ततः पुनर्विमलेऽभूत्सुघोरम्। कल्यंकल्यं विंशतिं वै दिनानि तथैव चान्यानि दिनानि त्रीणि
So, O King, the postponement occurred; then, when the night was clear, the dreadful battle resumed. Day after day, for twenty days, and then three more, it continued in the same way.
ततोऽहं निशि राजेन्द्र प्रणम्य शिरसा तदा। ब्राह्मणानां पितॄणां च देवतानां च सर्वशः
Then, at night, O King, I bowed my head in reverence to all the Brahmanas, ancestors, and deities.
नक्तंचराणां भूतानां राजन्यानां विशांपते। शयनं प्राप्य रहिते मनसा समचिन्तयम्
Having reached my bed in solitude, O lord of the people, I reflected in my mind upon the night-dwelling beings, spirits, kings, and men.
जामदग्न्येन मे युद्धमिदं परमदारुणम् । अहानि च बहून्यद्य वर्तते सुमहात्ययम्
This battle with Jamadagni's son is exceedingly fierce, and many days have passed in great calamity.
न च रामं महावीर्यं शक्नोमि रणमूर्धनि । विजेतुं समरे विप्रं जामदग्न्यं महाबलम्
I am unable to defeat the mighty Rama, the powerful Brahmana, Jamadagni's son, in the midst of battle.
यदि शक्यो मया जेतुं जामदग्न्यः प्रतापवान् । दैवतानि प्रसन्नानि दर्शयन्तु निशां मम
If I am able to conquer the valiant Jamadagni's son, let the gods show me a sign in the night, favoring me.
ततो निशि च राजेन्द्र प्रसुप्तः शरविक्षतः । दक्षिणेनेह पार्श्वेन प्रभातसमये तदा
Then, O King, wounded by arrows, I slept at night, lying on my right side until the morning.
ततोऽहं विप्रमुख्यैस्तैर्यैरस्मि पतितो रथात्। उत्थापितो धृतश्चैव मा भैरिति च सान्त्वितः
Then, those foremost Brahmanas lifted me up after I had fallen from my chariot, supported me, and comforted me, saying, 'Do not fear.'
त एव मां महाराज स्वप्ने दर्शनमेत्य वै । परिवार्याब्रुवन्वाक्यं तन्निबोध कुरूद्वह
O great king, those very beings appeared to me in a dream, surrounding me, and spoke these words—listen to them, O best of the Kurus.
उत्तिष्ठ मा भैर्गाङ्गेय न भयं तेऽस्ति किंचन। रक्षामहे त्वां कौरव्य स्वशरीरं हि नो भवान्
Rise up, O son of Ganga, do not be afraid; there is no danger for you. We will protect you, O Kaurava, for you are our very own body.
न त्वां रामो रणे जेता जामदग्न्यः कथंचन । त्वमेव समरे रामं विजेता भरतर्षभ
Rama, son of Jamadagni, will never defeat you in battle; you alone, O bull among the Bharatas, will conquer Rama in combat.
इदमस्त्रं सुदयितं प्रत्यभिज्ञास्यते भवान् । विदितं हि तवाप्येतत्पूर्वस्मिन्देहधारणे
This beloved weapon will be recognized by you, for you knew it even in your previous existence.
प्राजापत्यं विश्वकृतं प्रस्वापं नाम भारत । न हीदं वेद रामोऽपि पृथिव्यां वा पुमान्क्वचित्
This is the Prājāpatya weapon, created by the Maker of All, called the Sleep; not even Rama knows of it, nor does any man on earth.
तत्स्मरस्व महाबाहो भृशं संयोजयस्व च। उपस्थास्यति राजेन्द्र स्वयमेव तवानघ
Recall it, O mighty-armed one, and employ it with great care; it will present itself to you, O sinless king, of its own accord.
येन सर्वान्महावीर्यान्प्रशासिष्यसि कौरव । न च रामः क्षयं गन्ता तेनास्त्रेण नराधिप
With this weapon, O Kaurava, you will subdue all mighty warriors; but Rama, O king, will not be destroyed by it.
एनसा न तु संयोगं प्राप्स्यसे जातु मानद । स्वप्स्यते जामदग्न्योऽसौ त्वद्बाणबलपीडितः
You will not incur any fault by using it, O giver of honor; Jamadagni's son, struck by the force of your arrows, will fall into sleep.
ततो जित्वा त्वमेवैनं पुनरुत्थापयिष्यसि। अस्त्रेण दयितेनाजौ भीष्म संबोधनेन वै
Then, after defeating him, you will awaken him again with this beloved weapon in battle, by addressing him, O Bhishma.
एवं कुरुष्व कौरव्य प्रभाते रथमास्थितः। प्रसुप्तं वा मृतं वेति तुल्यं मन्यामहे वयम्
Do thus, O Kaurava, when you mount your chariot at dawn; whether he is asleep or dead, we consider it the same.
न च रामेण मर्तव्यं कदाचिदपि पार्थिव। ततः समुत्पन्नमिदं प्रस्वापं युज्यतामिति
You must never kill Rama, O king; therefore, let this Sleep be employed now.
इत्युक्त्वान्तर्हिता राजन्सर्व एव द्विजोत्तमाः । अष्टौ सदृशरूपास्ते सर्वे भासुरमूर्तयः
Having spoken thus, O king, all those excellent twice-born ones vanished; all eight, appearing alike, with radiant forms.