बोधयित्वा तान्निवार्य्य जगाम रणमूर्द्धनि
Having awakened and restrained them, he went to the forefront of the battle.
छित्त्वा राज्ञः किरीटं च पर्शुर्भूमौ पपात ह
Having cut off the king’s crown, the axe fell to the ground.
तदा शङ्करशूलं च चिक्षिपे मन्त्रपूर्वकम्
Then he hurled the trident of Shankara, preceded by mantra.
राजा निहन्तुं तं रामं शरजालं चकार ह
The king, to kill Rama, created a volley of arrows.
क्रमेण राजा नानास्त्रं चिक्षिपे मन्त्रपूर्वकम्
The king, one after another, hurled various missiles, preceded by mantra.
भृगुश्चिक्षेप नानास्त्रं महासन्धानपूर्वकम् 3.38.
Bhrigu also hurled various missiles, with great incantation.
रामश्चिक्षेप सन्धाय ब्रह्मास्त्रं मन्त्रपूर्वकम्
Rama, having prepared, hurled the Brahma-missile, preceded by mantra.
सर्वाण्यस्त्राणि शस्त्राणि रामः पाशुपतं विना
Rama, except for the Pashupata, repelled all weapons and missiles.
रामः स्तुत्वा शिवं नत्वाऽऽददे पाशुपतं मुने
Rama, having praised and bowed to Shiva, took up the Pashupata weapon, O sage.
ब्राह्मण उवाच नरं हन्तुं पाशुपतं कोपात्किं क्षिपसि भ्रमात्
The Brahmin said: Out of anger, why do you hurl the Pashupata weapon at a man, mistakenly?
विश्वं पाशुपतेनैव भवेद्भस्म च सत्वरम्
By the Pashupata weapon alone, the whole universe would swiftly be reduced to ashes.
अहो पाशुपतं जेतुं नालमेव सुदर्शनम्
Indeed, even the Sudarshana discus is not sufficient to conquer the Pashupata weapon.
खट्वांगिनः पाशुपातं हरेरेव सुदर्शनम्
For one bearing the skull, the Pashupata weapon is his; for Hari, the Sudarshana discus.
त्यज पाशुपतं ब्रह्मन्मदीयं वचनं शृणु
Abandon the Pashupata weapon, O Brahmin, and listen to my words.
कार्त्तवीर्य्यमजेतारं यथा जेष्यसि साम्प्रतम्
I shall tell you how you will now defeat Kartavirya, who is otherwise unconquerable.
महालक्ष्म्याश्च कवचं त्रिषु लोकेषु दुर्लभम् 3.38.
The armor of Mahalakshmi, rare in the three worlds,
परं दुर्गतिनाशिन्याः कवचं परमाद्भुतम्
The supreme and wondrous armor of the destroyer of great misfortune,
कवचस्य प्रभावेण विश्वं जेतुं क्षमौ च तौ
By the power of this armor, you will conquer the universe and those two on earth.
अहं यास्यामि भिक्षार्थं सन्निधाने तयोर्मुने
I shall go, O sage, to their presence to beg for alms.
ब्राह्मणस्य वचः श्रुत्वा रामः संत्रस्तमानसः
Hearing the Brahmin's words, Rama's mind became fearful.
परशुराम उवाच शीघ्रं च ब्रूहि मां मूढं तदा गच्छ नृपान्तिकम्
Parashurama said: Quickly tell me, who am confused, then go to the king.
जामदग्न्यवचः श्रुत्वा प्रहस्य ब्राह्मणः स्वयम्
Hearing Jamadagni's words, the Brahmin himself laughed.
गत्वा तयोः सन्निधानं ययाचे कवचे च तौ गृहीत्वा कवचे विष्णुर्वैकुण्ठं निर्जगाम सः
Going into their presence, he asked them for the armor; taking the armor, Vishnu departed for Vaikuntha.
नारद उवाच पुष्कराक्षाय भूपाय श्रोतुं कौतूहलं मम
Narada said: I am eager to hear, O king, about the armor given to Pushkaraksha.
कवचं चापि दुर्गायाः पुष्कराक्षसुताय च
And the armor of Durga, and to the son of Pushkaraksha.
कवचं चापि किम्भूतं तयोर्वा तस्य किं फलम् ।।। 3.38.
What was the nature of the armor, and what was its result for those two or for him?
नारायण उवाच महालक्ष्म्याश्च कवचं मन्त्रश्चापि दशाक्षरः
Nārāyaṇa said: The protective hymn of Mahālakṣmī, and also her ten-syllabled mantra,
स्तवनं चापि गोप्यं वै प्रोक्तं तच्चरितं च यत्
and her hymn of praise, which is indeed secret, as well as her deeds that have been spoken of—
दुर्गायाश्चापि कवचं दत्तं दुर्वाससा पुरा
and the protective hymn of Durgā, which was once given by Durvāsas—
पश्चाच्छ्रोष्यसि तत्सर्वं देव्याश्च परमाद्भुतम्
all of this, most wondrous concerning the goddess, you shall hear later.