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.
ततो रात्रौ व्यतीतायां प्रतिबुद्धोऽस्मि भारत । ततः संचिन्त्य वै स्वप्नमवापं हर्षमुत्तमम्
When the night had passed, I awoke, O Bharata, and reflecting on the dream, I felt the highest joy.
ततः समभवद्युद्धं मम तस्य च भारत । तुमुलं सर्वभूतानां रोमहर्षणमद्भुतम्
Then, O Bharata, a battle arose between him and me—tumultuous, astonishing, and causing the hair of all beings to stand on end.
ततो बाणमयं वर्षं ववर्ष मयि भार्गवः। न्यवारयमहं तच्च शरजालेन भारत
Then Bhargava rained a shower of arrows upon me, but I blocked it, O Bharata, with a network of arrows.
ततः परमसंक्रुद्धः पुनरेव महातपाः । ह्यस्तनेन च कोपेन शक्तिं वै प्राहिणोन्मयि
Then, exceedingly enraged, the great ascetic, with fury and his left hand, hurled a spear at me.
इन्द्राशनिसमस्पर्शां यमदण्डसमप्रभाम् । ज्वलन्तीमग्निवत्सङ्ख्ये लेलिहानां समन्ततः
It had the touch of Indra's thunderbolt, the brilliance of Yama's staff, blazing like fire in battle, licking all around.
ततो भरतशार्दूल धिष्ण्यमाकाशगं यथा। सा ममाभ्यवधीत्तूर्णं जत्रुदेशे कुरूद्वह
Then, O tiger among the Bharatas, like a meteor from the sky, it struck me swiftly in the region of the collarbone, O best of the Kurus.
अथास्रमस्रवद्धोरं गिरेर्गैरिकधातुवात् । रामेण सुमहाबाहो क्षतस्य क्षतजेक्षण
Then, O mighty-armed one, blood flowed from the wound on the mountain, colored by ochre minerals, as Rama was struck and his eyes reddened with pain.
ततोऽहं जामदग्न्याय भृशं क्रोधसमन्वितः । चिक्षेप मृत्युसंकाशं बाणं सर्पविषोपमम्
Thereupon, filled with intense anger, I hurled at Jamadagni's son a deadly arrow, resembling the venom of a serpent.
स तेनाभिहतो वीरो ललाटे द्विजसत्तमः । अशोभत महाराज शश्रृङ्ग इव पर्वतः
Struck by that arrow on his forehead, the best of Brahmins shone, O King, like a mountain with a mark of moonlight.
स संरब्धः समावृत्य शरं कालान्तकोपमम् । संदधे बलवत्कृष्य घोरं शत्रनिबर्हणम्
Enraged, he drew back a terrible arrow, fierce as Death's own wrath, and fitted it to his bow, intent on destroying his foe.