तदहं ते बलं दृष्ट्वा धनुषोऽप्यस्य पूरणे। द्वन्द्वयुद्धं प्रदास्यामि वीर्यश्लाघ्यमहं तव
When I have seen your strength in stringing even this bow, I shall grant you a duel, for I wish to test your celebrated valor.
तस्य तद् वचनं श्रुत्वा राजा दशरथस्तदा। विषण्णवदनो दीनः प्राञ्जलिर्वाक्यमब्रवीत्
Hearing those words, King Daśaratha then, his face downcast and dejected, with joined palms spoke as follows:
क्षत्ररोषात् प्रशान्तस्त्वं ब्राह्मणश्च महातपाः। बालानां मम पुत्राणामभयं दातुमर्हसि
You, calmed from the wrath of the warrior class and a great ascetic among Brāhmaṇas, ought to grant safety to my young sons.
भार्गवाणां कुले जातः स्वाध्यायव्रतशालिनाम्। सहस्राक्षे प्रतिज्ञाय शस्त्रं प्रक्षिप्तवानसि
Born in the Bhārgava lineage, devoted to study and vows, you pledged before Indra and cast aside your weapons.
स त्वं धर्मपरो भूत्वा कश्यपाय वसुंधराम्। दत्त्वा वनमुपागम्य महेन्द्रकृतकेतनः
Having become devoted to righteousness, you gave the earth to Kaśyapa and, retiring to the forest, made your dwelling on Mahendra.
मम सर्वविनाशाय सम्प्राप्तस्त्वं महामुने। न चैकस्मिन् हते रामे सर्वे जीवामहे वयम्
O great sage, you have come for the destruction of us all; if Rāma alone is slain, none of us could continue to live.
ब्रुवत्येवं दशरथे जामदग्न्यः प्रतापवान्। अनादृत्य तु तद्वाक्यं राममेवाभ्यभाषत
While Daśaratha was speaking thus, the mighty Jāmadagnya, disregarding his words, addressed only Rāma.
इमे द्वे धनुषी श्रेष्ठे दिव्ये लोकाभिपूजिते। दृढे बलवती मुख्ये सुकृते विश्वकर्मणा
Here are two excellent, divine bows, honored by the worlds—strong, powerful, foremost, skillfully crafted by Viśvakarman.
अनुसृष्टं सुरैरेकं त्र्यम्बकाय युयुत्सवे। त्रिपुरघ्नं नरश्रेष्ठ भग्नं काकुत्स्थ यत्त्वया
One was given by the gods to Tryambaka for battle, O best of men, and it is the one you broke, O descendant of Kakutstha, the destroyer of Tripura.
इदं द्वितीयं दुर्धर्षं विष्णोर्दत्तं सुरोत्तमैः। तदिदं वैष्णवं राम धनुः परपुरंजयम्
This second, unconquerable bow was given to Viṣṇu by the best of the gods; this is the Vaiṣṇava bow, O Rāma, conqueror of enemy cities.
समानसारं काकुत्स्थ रौद्रेण धनुषा त्विदम्। तदा तु देवताः सर्वाः पृच्छन्ति स्म पितामहम्
O Kakutstha, this bow is equal in essence to the Rudra bow; then all the gods questioned the Grandfather.
शितिकण्ठस्य विष्णोश्च बलाबलनिरीक्षया। अभिप्रायं तु विज्ञाय देवतानां पितामहः
To discern the relative strength and weakness of Śiva and Viṣṇu, the Grandfather, knowing the gods’ intent—
विरोधं जनयामास तयोः सत्यवतां वरः। विरोधे तु महद् युद्धमभवद् रोमहर्षणम्
—caused enmity between them, the foremost of the truthful; and in that conflict, a great and hair-raising battle took place.
शितिकण्ठस्य विष्णोश्च परस्परजयैषिणोः। तदा तु जृम्भितं शैवं धनुर्भीमपराक्रमम्
Between Śiva and Viṣṇu, each seeking the other's victory, then the Śiva bow, of terrifying might, was drawn forth.
हुंकारेण महादेवः स्तम्भितोऽथ त्रिलोचनः। देवैस्तदा समागम्य सर्षिसङ्घः सचारणैः
Then the great god Mahādeva, the three-eyed one, was halted by a roar; at that time, the gods assembled together with the hosts of sages and celestial beings.
याचितौ प्रशमं तत्र जग्मतुस्तौ सुरोत्तमौ। जृम्भितं तद् धनुर्दृष्ट्वा शैवं विष्णुपराक्रमैः
Those two supreme gods, having been entreated for peace, departed; seeing the bow of Śiva strained by Viṣṇu's prowess.
अधिकं मेनिरे विष्णुं देवाः सर्षिगणास्तथा। धनू रुद्रस्तु संक्रुद्धो विदेहेषु महायशाः
The gods and the hosts of sages considered Viṣṇu to be superior; but Rudra, the illustrious one, became enraged among the Videhas.
देवरातस्य राजर्षेर्ददौ हस्ते ससायकम्। इदं च वैष्णवं राम धनुः परपुरंजयम्
He gave to King Devarāta, the royal sage, the bow along with its arrows; and this bow of Viṣṇu, O Rāma, is the conqueror of enemy cities.
ऋचीके भार्गवे प्रादाद् विष्णुः स न्यासमुत्तमम्। ऋचीकस्तु महातेजाः पुत्रस्याप्रतिकर्मणः
Viṣṇu entrusted the excellent bow to Ṛcīka Bhārgava; and Ṛcīka, of great splendor, gave it to his son, who was unmatched in deeds.
पितुर्मम ददौ दिव्यं जमदग्नेर्महात्मनः। न्यस्तशस्त्रे पितरि मे तपोबलसमन्विते
My father gave the divine bow to Jamadagni, the great-souled one; when my father, endowed with ascetic power, laid down his weapons.
अर्जुनो विदधे मृत्युं प्राकृतां बुद्धिमास्थितः। वधमप्रतिरूपं तु पितुः श्रुत्वा सुदारुणम्। क्षत्रमुत्सादयं रोषाज्जातं जातमनेकशः
Arjuna, adopting ordinary intelligence, caused death; hearing of his father's cruel and improper killing, he repeatedly destroyed the warrior class in anger.
पृथिवीं चाखिलां प्राप्य कश्यपाय महात्मने। यज्ञस्यान्तेऽददं राम दक्षिणां पुण्यकर्मणे
Having gained the entire earth, I gave it as a sacrificial gift to the great-souled Kaśyapa at the end of the sacrifice, O Rāma, as a reward for virtuous deeds.
दत्त्वा महेन्द्रनिलयस्तपोबलसमन्वितः। श्रुत्वा तु धनुषो भेदं ततोऽहं द्रुतमागतः
Having given it, I dwelt at Mahendra, endowed with ascetic power; but upon hearing of the breaking of the bow, I came here swiftly.
तदेवं वैष्णवं राम पितृपैतामहं महत्। क्षत्रधर्मं पुरस्कृत्य गृह्णीष्व धनुरुत्तमम्
Thus, O Rāma, this great bow of Viṣṇu has come down from father and grandfather; honoring the warrior's duty, take up this excellent bow.
योजयस्व धनुःश्रेष्ठे शरं परपुरंजयम्। यदि शक्तोऽसि काकुत्स्थ द्वन्द्वं दास्यामि ते ततः
Fit the conquering arrow to the best of bows; if you are able, O descendant of Kakutstha, then I will grant you a duel.
thumb|षट्सप्ततितमः सर्गः श्रूयताम्|center श्रीमद्वाल्मीकियरामायणे बालकाण्डे षट्सप्ततितमः सर्गः ॥१-
Let the seventy-sixth chapter be heard. In the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, in the Bāla Kāṇḍa, this is the seventy-sixth chapter.
श्रुत्वा तु जामदग्न्यस्य वाक्यं दाशरथिस्तदा। गौरवाद्यन्त्रितकथः पितू राममथाब्रवीत्
Then, having heard the words of Jāmadagnya, the son of Daśaratha, constrained by respect, spoke to his father and then to Rāma.
कृतवानसि यत् कर्म श्रुतवानस्मि भार्गव। अनुरुध्यामहे ब्रह्मन् पितुरानृण्यमास्थितः
I have heard of the deeds you have performed, O Bhārgava; we honor you, O Brahman, for you have fulfilled your father's debt.
वीर्यहीनमिवाशक्तं क्षत्रधर्मेण भार्गव। अवजानासि मे तेजः पश्य मेऽद्य पराक्रमम्
You regard me as powerless, lacking in valor and unable to uphold the warrior's duty, O Bhārgava; behold my prowess today.
इत्युक्त्वा राघवः क्रुद्धो भार्गवस्य वरायुधम्। शरं च प्रतिजग्राह हस्ताल्लघुपराक्रमः
Having spoken thus, Rāghava, angered, took the mighty weapon of Bhārgava and the arrow from his hand, swift in valor.