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.
धनुर्विकर्षमाणं तं स्फुरज्ज्वालाग्रसायकम्
He drew the bow, its arrow blazing with a quivering flame at its tip.
आकर्णाकृष्टकोदण्डमण्डलाभ्यं तरस्थितम्
With the bow fully drawn to his ear, its curved circle was held with force.
विकृष्टधनुषस्तस्य रूपमुग्रं रवेरिव
His form, with the bow drawn back, was fierce like the sun.
कल्पान्ताग्नसमज्वालाभीषणं स्फुरतो वपुः
His body, flashing, was terrifying, like the flames of fire at the end of an age.
स्फुरत्क्रोधानलज्वालापरीतस्यातिरौद्रताम्
Surrounded by leaping flames of wrathful fire, he appeared exceedingly dreadful.
वपुर्विकृष्टचापस्य भृकुटीकुटिलाननम्
His face, with furrowed brows, matched the drawn bow in its fierce aspect.
जाज्वल्यमानवपुषं तं दृष्ट्वा सहसा भयात्
Seeing him, his body blazing all at once, they were seized by sudden fear.
ततो ऽस्त्राग्निस्फुरद्धूमपटलैः शकलीकृतम्
Then, struck by masses of smoke from the blazing weapon-fire, everything was shattered.
ज्वलदस्त्रानलज्वालाप रितापपराहतः
Struck by the blazing flames of the weapon-fire, all the wicked were destroyed.
तिमिङ्गिलतिमिग्राहनक्रमत्स्याहिकच्छपाः
Whales, crocodiles, fish, serpents, and turtles,
उत्पतन्निपतत्ताम्यन्नानासत्त्वोद्धतोर्मिभिः
leapt up, fell down, and thrashed about, agitated by the surging waves filled with many creatures.
त्रासरासं च विपुलमंभसा प्लवता सह
A great panic arose among those floating in the vast waters.
ततस्तस्माच्छराज्ज्वालाः फूत्कृताशेष भीषणाः
Then from that arrow, terrifying flames burst forth in all directions.
ततः प्रचण्डपवनैः सर्वतः परिवर्त्तितम्
After that, fierce winds churned everything everywhere.
प्रलयाब्धेरिवात्यर्थमस्त्राग्निव्याकुलांभसः
The waters, agitated by weapon-fire, became like the ocean at the end of the world.
अस्त्राग्निविद्धाकुलितजलघोषेण भूयसा
The great roar of the waters, struck and disturbed by weapon-fire, increased further.
परितो ऽस्त्रानलज्वालापरिवीतजलाविलः
All around, the waters were enveloped and muddied by the flames of weapon-fire.
आकर्णाकृष्टकोदण्डं दृष्ट्वा रामं पयोनिधिः
Seeing Rāma with his bow drawn to his ear, the ocean was filled with fear.
भयकंपितसर्वाङ्गस्ततो नदनदीपतिः
Then, the lord of rivers, his whole body trembling with fear,
ततः स्वरूपमास्थाय सर्वाभरणभूषितः
thereafter assumed his own form, adorned with every ornament.