तथैवात्तशरो धन्वी तथैव दृढनिश्चयः । स्थितोऽहमाहवे योद्धुं ततस्ते राममब्रुवन्
In the same way, with bow drawn and arrows ready, steadfast in resolve, I stood in battle to fight; then they spoke to Rama.
समेत्य सहिता भूयः समरे भृगुनन्दनम् । नावनीतं हि हृदयं विप्राणां शाम्य भार्गव
Having gathered together once more in the battle, they addressed the descendant of Bhrigu: 'The hearts of Brahmins are not hardened; calm yourself, O Bhargava.'
राम राम निवर्तस्व युद्धादस्माद्द्विजोत्तम । अवध्यो वै त्वया भीष्मस्त्वं च भीष्मस्य भार्गव
Rama, Rama, withdraw from this battle, O foremost of Brahmins; Bhishma cannot be slain by you, and you cannot be slain by Bhishma, O Bhargava.
एवं ब्रुवन्तस्ते सर्वे प्रतिरुद्ध्य रणाजिरम् । न्यासयाञ्चक्रिरे शस्त्रं पितरो भृगुनन्दनम्
Thus, as they spoke, all of them blocked the battlefield and laid down their weapons before the son of Bhrigu.
ततोऽहं पुनरेवाथ तानष्टौ ब्रह्मवादिनः । अद्राक्षं दीप्यमानान्वै ग्रहानष्टाविवोदितान्
Then, once again, I saw those eight Brahmin sages, shining like eight planets, standing before me.
ते मां सप्रणयं वाक्यमब्रुवन्समरे स्थितम् । प्रैहि रामं महाबाहो गुरुं लोकहितं कुरु
They spoke to me affectionately as I stood in battle: 'Go to Rama, mighty-armed one, honor your teacher, do what is good for the world.'
दृष्ट्वा निवर्तितं रामं सुहृद्वाक्येन तेन वै। लोकानां च हितं कुर्वन्नहमप्याददे वचः
Seeing Rama withdrawn by the words of his friend, and acting for the welfare of the worlds, I too accepted their counsel.
ततोऽहं राममासाद्य ववन्दे भृशविक्षतः। रामश्चाभ्युत्स्मयन्प्रेम्णा मामुवाच महातपाः
Then, approaching Rama, I bowed to him, greatly wounded; and Rama, the great ascetic, smiled at me with affection and spoke.
त्वत्समो नास्ति लोकेऽस्मिन्क्षत्रियः पृथिवीचरः । गम्यतां भीष्म युद्धेऽस्मिंस्तोषितोऽहं भृशं त्वया
There is no Kshatriya on earth equal to you, Bhishma; depart, for I am greatly satisfied by you in this battle.
मम चैव समक्षं तां कन्यामाहूय भार्गवः। उक्तवान्दीनया वाचा मध्ये तेषां महात्मनाम्
And then, in the presence of all those great souls, Bhargava summoned that maiden and spoke to her in a humble voice.
प्रत्यक्षमेतल्लोकानां सर्वेषामेव भामिनि । यथाशक्त्या मया युद्धं कृतं वै पौरुषं परम्
This is evident to all people, O fair one: I have fought to the utmost of my ability, displaying supreme valor.
न चैवमपि शक्नोमि भीष्मं शस्त्रभृतां वरम् । विशेषयितुमत्यर्थमुत्तमास्त्राणि दर्शयन्
Yet even so, I am unable to surpass Bhishma, the foremost of warriors, though I have shown the highest weapons.
एषा मे परमा शक्तिरेतन्मे परमं बलम् । यथेष्टं गम्यतां भद्रे किमन्यद्वा करोमि ते
This is my utmost power; this is my highest strength. Go as you wish, gentle lady—what else can I do for you?
भीष्ममेव प्रपद्यस्व न तेऽन्या विद्यते गतिः । निर्जितो ह्यस्मि भीष्मेण महास्त्राणि प्रमुञ्चता
Seek refuge with Bhishma alone; you have no other path. For I have been overcome by Bhishma, who unleashed mighty weapons.
एवमुक्त्वा ततो रामो विनिःश्वस्य महामनाः । तूष्मीमासीत्ततः कनक्या प्रोवाच भृगुनन्दनम्
Having spoken thus, Rama of great soul sighed deeply and fell silent; then the maiden spoke to the descendant of Bhrigu.
भगवन्नेवमेवैतद्यथाऽऽह भगवांस्तथा । अजेयो युधि भीष्मोऽयमपि देवैरुदारधीः
Revered one, it is just as you have said; Bhishma, noble-minded, is invincible in battle, even by the gods.
यथाशक्ति यथोत्साहं मम कार्यं कृतं त्वया । अनिवार्यं रणे वीर्यमस्त्राणि विविधानि च
You have done for me all that was possible and all that you could strive for; his valor and various weapons in battle are irresistible.
ने चैव शक्यते युद्धे विशेषयितुमन्ततः । न चाहमेनं यास्यामि पुनर्भीष्मं कथंचन
Nor indeed can he be surpassed in battle at all; nor will I ever again approach Bhishma.
गमिष्यामि तु तत्राहं यत्र भीष्मं तपोधन । समरे पातयिष्यामि स्वयमेव भृगूद्वह
But I will go there, O ascetic rich in penance, where Bhishma is; in battle I will bring him down myself, O best of Bhrigus.
एवमुक्त्वा ययौ कन्या रोषव्याकुललोचना । तापस्ये धृतसंकल्पा सा मे चिन्तयती वधम्
Having spoken thus, the maiden, her eyes agitated with anger, departed; steadfast in her resolve for austerity, she contemplated his death.
ततो महेन्द्रं सहितैरमुनिभिर्भृगुसत्तमः । यथाऽऽगतं तथा सोऽगन्मामुपामन्त्र्य भारत
Then, O best of Bhrigus, together with those sages, I went to Mahendra as I had come, having taken leave of you, O Bharata.
ततो रथं समारुह्य स्तूयमानो द्विजातिभिः । प्रविश्य नगरं मात्रे सत्यवत्यै न्यवेदयम्
Then, mounting my chariot, praised by the twice-born, I entered the city and reported everything to my mother Satyavati.
यथावृत्तं महाराज सा च मां प्रत्यनन्दत। पुरुषांश्चादिशं प्राज्ञान्कन्यावृत्तान्तकर्मणि
As it happened, O great king, she welcomed me; and she instructed wise men regarding the maiden’s affairs.
दिवसे दिवसे ह्यस्या गतिजल्पितचेष्टितम् । प्रत्याहरंश्च मे युक्ताः स्थिताः प्रियहिते सदा
Day by day, those who were attentive to my welfare reported to me her movements, words, and actions.
यदैव हि वनं प्रायात्सा कन्या तपसे धृता। तदैव व्यथितो दीनो गतचेता इवाभवम्
Indeed, when that maiden set out for the forest, resolved on austerity, I became distressed, dejected, as if bereft of sense.
न हि मां क्षत्रियः कश्चिद्वीर्येण व्यजयद्युधि । ऋते ब्रह्मविदस्तात तपसा संशितव्रतात्
No kshatriya has ever defeated me in battle by valor, except for that brahmin, steadfast in vow and penance.
अपि चैतन्मया राजन्नारदेऽपि निवेदितम् । व्यासे चैव तथा कार्यं तौ चोभौ मामवोचताम्
Moreover, O king, I reported this matter to Narada as well as to Vyasa; both of them spoke to me accordingly.
न विषादस्त्वया कार्यो भीष्म काशिसुतां प्रति। दैवं पुरुषकारेण को निवर्तितुमुत्सहेत्
Do not grieve, Bhishma, concerning the daughter of the king of Kashi; who can turn back destiny by human effort?
सा कन्या तु महाराज प्रविश्याश्रममण्डलम् । यमुनातीरमाश्रित्य तपस्तेपेऽतिमानुषम्
That maiden, O king, entered the hermitage grounds and, settling on the bank of the Yamuna, undertook austerities beyond human measure.
निराहारा कृशा रूक्षा जटिला मलपङ्किनी । षण्मासान्वायुभक्षा च स्थाणुभूता तपोधना
Fasting, emaciated, harsh, matted-haired, and smeared with filth, for six months she subsisted on air alone, unmoving like a pillar, rich in ascetic power.