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.
यमुनाजलमाश्रित्य संवत्सरमथाऽपरम् । उदवासं निराहारा पारयामास भामिनी
Relying on the waters of the Yamuna, for another year, that radiant woman remained without food, sustaining herself only by drinking.
शीर्णपर्णेन चैकेन पारयामास सा परम् । संवत्सरं तीव्रकोपा पादाङ्गुष्ठाग्रधिष्ठिता
With only a single dried leaf, she sustained herself for a year, standing firmly on the tip of her toe, filled with intense wrath.
एवं द्वादश वर्षाणि तापयामास रोदसी । निवर्त्यमानापि च सा ज्ञातिभिर्नैव शक्यते
In this way, for twelve years, she afflicted the earth and sky; though her relatives tried to dissuade her, they were unable to do so.
ततोऽगमद्वत्सभूमिं सिद्धचारणसेविताम् । आश्रमं पुण्यशीलानां तापसानां महात्मनाम्
Then she went to the land of the cattle, frequented by perfected beings and celestial wanderers, to the hermitage of the virtuous ascetics of great soul.
तत्र पुण्येषु तीर्थेषु साऽऽप्लुताङ्गी दिवानिशम् । व्यचरत्काशिकन्या सा यथाकामविचारिणी
There, at the sacred bathing places, she immersed her body day and night; the maiden of Kashi wandered as she pleased.
नन्दाश्रमे महाराज तथोलूकाश्रमे शुभे । च्यवनस्याश्रमे चैव ब्रह्मणः स्थान एव च
In the hermitage of Nanda, O king, and likewise in the auspicious hermitage of Uluka, in the hermitage of Cyavana, and at the abode of Brahma as well.
त्रयागे देवयजने देवारण्येषु चैव ह । भोगवत्यां महाराज कौशिकस्याश्रमे तथा
At the triple fire sacrifice, at the divine offerings, and in the forests of the gods, O king, and also in the hermitage of Kaushika in Bhogavati.
माण्डव्यस्याश्रमे राजन्दिलीपस्याश्रमे तथा । रामह्रदे च कौरव्य पैलगर्गस्य चाश्रमे
In the hermitage of Mandavya, O king, and likewise in the hermitage of Dilipa, at the lake of Rama, and in the hermitage of Paila and Garga.
एतेषु तीर्थेषु तदा काशिकन्या विशांपते । आप्लावयत गात्राणि व्रतमास्थाय दुष्करम्
At these sacred places, O lord of men, the maiden of Kashi bathed her limbs, undertaking a difficult vow.
तामब्रवीच्च कौरव्य मम माता जले स्थिता । किमर्थं क्लिश्यसे भद्रे तथ्यमेव वदस्व मे
Then, O Kaurava, my mother, standing in the water, addressed her: 'Why do you afflict yourself, O blessed one? Tell me truly.'