किङ्कर्त्तव्यं मयात्रेति मम डोलायते मनः
My mind wavers here, thinking, 'What should I do?'
तन्नच्यावयते सत्यद्यथोक्तं ब्रह्मणा पुरा
That does not cause me to deviate from truth, as was formerly declared by Brahmā.
धर्म एव महांस्तेन चरितस्ते भविष्यति
Therefore, by that great dharma, your conduct will be established.
तमनुद्रुत्य मेधावी धर्ममुद्दिश्य केवलम्
Pursuing that alone, the wise one, intent solely on dharma, set forth.
समुद्दिश्य चचौ राजन्द्रष्टुकामः सरित्पतिम्
Having set his mind, O king, he went desiring to see the lord of rivers.
तत्परं सरितां पत्युस्तीरं प्राप महामनाः
That great-souled one reached the supreme bank of the lord of rivers.
आकरं सर्वरत्नानां पूर्यमाणमनारतम्
It was a source of all gems, ever being filled without ceasing.
दुष्पारपारं सर्वस्य विविधग्रहसंहतिम्
Impassable to cross, the gathering of all kinds of mighty currents.
आत्मानमिव चात्मत्वे न्यक्कृताखिलमुद्धतम्
Like the self in its own nature, it belittled all else, turbulent and proud.
अत्यर्थचपलोत्तुगतरङ्गशतमालिनम्
Adorned with hundreds of exceedingly restless, surging waves.
विशीर्यमाणलहरीशतफेनौघसोभितम्
Made beautiful by heaps of foam from hundreds of breaking waves.
संसेव्यमानस्तरलैर्लहरीकणशीतलैः
Attended by cool droplets from the playful, flickering waves.
विशश्रमे महाबाहुर्द्रष्टुकामः प्रचेतसम्
The mighty-armed one became weary, desiring to see Pracetas.
मेघगंभिरया वाचा वरुणं वाक्यमब्रवीत्
With a voice deep as thunderclouds, he spoke these words to Varuṇa.
तस्मात्स्वरूपधृङ्मह्यं प्रचेतो देहि दर्शनम्
Therefore, O form-assuming one, grant me a vision of Pracetas.
न चचाल निजस्थानान्नृप धीरतरस्त्वयम्
But, O king, he did not move from his own place, being most steadfast.
न ददौ दर्शनं तस्मै प्रतिवाच्यं च नाभ्यधात्
He did not grant him a vision, nor did he utter any reply.
अत्यन्तमिति कार्यार्थी विदुषा समुपेक्षितम्
Thus, intent on his purpose, he was completely disregarded by the wise one.
चुकोप तमभिप्रेक्ष्य रामः शस्त्रभृतां वरः
Seeing this, Rāma, best of those who bear arms, became angry.
निस्तोयमर्णवं कर्तुमियेष रुषितो भृशम्
Enraged, he resolved to make the ocean waterless.
ततः प्रणम्य मनसा शर्वं रामो महाद्धनुः
Then Rāma, wielder of the great bow, mentally bowed to Śarva.
अभिमृश्य धनुःश्रेष्ठं सगुणं भृगुसत्तमः
The best of the Bhṛgus, touching his excellent, stringed bow—
ज्याघोषः शुश्रुवे तस्य दिविस्पृगतिनिष्ठुरः
The harsh twang of its bowstring was heard, reaching up to the heavens.
ततः सरभसं रामश्चापे कालानलोपमम्
Then Rāma swiftly set to his bow a missile like the fire of destruction.
तस्मिन्नस्त्रं महाघोरं भार्गवं वह्निदैवतम्
Upon it, he placed the terrible Bhārgava weapon, sacred to the fire-god.
ततश्चचाल वसुधा सशैलवनकानना
Then the earth, with its mountains, forests, and groves, trembled.
संधितास्त्रं भृगुश्रेष्ठं क्रोधसंरक्तलोचनम्
The best of the Bhṛgus, his eyes reddened with anger, fitted the missile.
सदिग्दाहभ्रपटलैरभवन्संवृता दिशः
The quarters became covered with masses of smoke-laden clouds.
मन्दरश्मिरशीतांशुरभूतसंरक्तमण्डलः
The sun and the cool-rayed moon appeared with blood-red discs.
किमेतदिति संभ्रान्ता धूमोद्गारातिभीषणम्
Alarmed, they wondered, 'What is this?'—so dreadful was the rising smoke.