Bala Kanda, Sarga 75

राम दाशरथे राम वीर्यं ते श्रूयतेऽद्भुतम्। धनुषो भेदनं चैव निखिलेन मया श्रुतम्।।1.75.1।।

rāma dāśarathe rāma vīryaṃ te śrūyate'dbhutam| dhanuṣo bhedanaṃ caiva nikhilena mayā śrutam

"O Rama, Rama, son of Dasaratha I have heard in full of your marvellous prowess and your feat in breaking the bow of Siva.

तदद्भुतमचिन्त्यं च भेदनं धनुषस्त्वया। तच्छ्रुत्वाऽहमनुप्राप्तो धनुर्गृह्यापरं शुभम्।।1.75.2।।

tadadbhutamacintyaṃ ca bhedanaṃ dhanuṣastvayā| tacchrutvā'hamanuprāpto dhanurgṛhyāparaṃ śubham

The fact that you have broken Siva's bow is an astonishing act. It is beyond imagination. Having heard it I have come here with another auspicious bow.

तदिदं घोरसङ्काशं जामदग्न्यं महद्धनु:। पूरयस्व शरेणैव स्वबलं दर्शयस्व च।।1.75.3।।

tadidaṃ ghorasaṅkāśaṃ jāmadagnyaṃ mahaddhanu:| pūrayasva śareṇaiva svabalaṃ darśayasva ca

This mighty, dreadful bow was obtained through Jamadagni. You may display your prowess by fixing on it an arrow.

तदहं ते बलं दृष्ट्वा धनुषोऽस्य प्रपूरणे। द्वन्द्वयुद्धं प्रदास्यामि वीर्यश्लाघ्यस्य राघव।।1.75.4।।

tadahaṃ te balaṃ dṛṣṭvā dhanuṣo'sya prapūraṇe| dvandvayuddhaṃ pradāsyāmi vīryaślāghyasya rāghava

O Rama after witnessing your strength in stretching and stringing this bow, I shall engage you in a duel acclaiming your prowess".

तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा राजा दशरथस्तदा। विषण्णवदनो दीन: प्राञ्जलिर्वाक्यमब्रवीत्।।1.75.5।।

tasya tadvacanaṃ śrutvā rājā daśarathastadā| viṣaṇṇavadano dīna: prāñjalirvākyamabravīt

When king Dasaratha heard these words, his face fell. He humbly pleaded with him his hands folded:

क्षत्ररोषात्प्रशान्तस्त्वं ब्राह्मणश्च महायशा:। बालानां मम पुत्राणामभयं दातुमर्हसि।।1.75.6।।

kṣatraroṣātpraśāntastvaṃ brāhmaṇaśca mahāyaśā:| bālānāṃ mama putrāṇāmabhayaṃ dātumarhasi

"You are a brahmana, highly renowned and withdrawn from anger against kshatriyas. It behoves of you to give assurance of security to my sons who are young.

भार्गवाणां कुले जात: स्वाध्यायव्रतशालिनाम्। सहास्राक्षे प्रतिज्ञाय शस्त्रं निक्षिप्तवानसि।।1.75.7।।

bhārgavāṇāṃ kule jāta: svādhyāyavrataśālinām| sahāsrākṣe pratijñāya śastraṃ nikṣiptavānasi

Born in the family of (saint) Bhrigu versed in the study of the Vedas and observance of vows. You have promised in the name of the thousandeyed Indra to renounce the arms.

स त्वं धर्मपरो भूत्वा काश्यपाय वसुन्धराम् । दत्त्वा वनमुपागम्य महेन्द्रकृतकेतन:।।1.75.8।।

sa tvaṃ dharmaparo bhūtvā kāśyapāya vasundharām | dattvā vanamupāgamya mahendrakṛtaketana:

By adhering to righteousness in life and having conferred the earth upon Kasyapa, you retired to the forest and made your residence on the Mahendra mountain.

मम सर्वविनाशाय सम्प्राप्तस्त्वं महामुने। न चैकस्मिन् हते रामे सर्वे जीवामहे वयम् ।।1.75.9।।

mama sarvavināśāya samprāptastvaṃ mahāmune| na caikasmin hate rāme sarve jīvāmahe vayam

O Great ascetic today you have arrived evidently for the total destruction of our family. If Rama is killed none of us will survive".

ब्रुवत्येवं दशरथे जामदग्न्य: प्रतापवान्। अनादृत्यैव तद्वाक्यं राममेवाभ्यभाषत।।1.75.10।।

bruvatyevaṃ daśarathe jāmadagnya: pratāpavān| anādṛtyaiva tadvākyaṃ rāmamevābhyabhāṣata

Disregarding these words of Dasaratha, the valiant son of Jamadagni said to Rama.

इमे द्वे धनुषी श्रेष्ठे दिव्ये लोकाभिविश्रुते। दृढे बलवती मुख्ये सुकृते विश्वकर्मणा।।1.75.11।।

ime dve dhanuṣī śreṣṭhe divye lokābhiviśrute| dṛḍhe balavatī mukhye sukṛte viśvakarmaṇā

"These two excellent celestial bows are wellknown throughout the worlds. They are stout and strong. They are the best of all, wellmade by Visvakarma.

अतिसृष्टं सुरैरेकं त्र्यम्बकाय युयुत्सवे। त्रिपुरघ्नं नरश्रेष्ठ भग्नं काकुत्स्थ यत्त्वया।।1.75.12।।

atisṛṣṭaṃ surairekaṃ tryambakāya yuyutsave| tripuraghnaṃ naraśreṣṭha bhagnaṃ kākutstha yattvayā

O Best among men O Descendant of Kakustha one of these broken by you, was given by the gods to the threeeyed Siva, who, wishing to fight the demon Tripura with this bow, destroyed him.

इदं द्वितीयं दुर्धर्षं विष्णोर्दत्तं सुरोत्तमै:। तदिदं वैष्णवं राम धनु: परमभास्वरम्। समानसारं काकुत्स्थ रौद्रेण धनुषा त्विदम्।।1.75.13।।

idaṃ dvitīyaṃ durdharṣaṃ viṣṇordattaṃ surottamai:| tadidaṃ vaiṣṇavaṃ rāma dhanu: paramabhāsvaram| samānasāraṃ kākutstha raudreṇa dhanuṣā tvidam

This second bow which is unassailable was given by chief of the celestials to Visnu. O Rama born in the race of Kakutstha this highly radiant bow of Visnu is as strong as the bow of Siva.

तदा तु देवतास्सर्वा: पृच्छन्ति स्म पितामहम्। शितिकण्ठस्य विष्णोश्च बलाबलनिरीक्षया।।1.75.14।।

tadā tu devatāssarvā: pṛcchanti sma pitāmaham| śitikaṇṭhasya viṣṇośca balābalanirīkṣayā

Then all the gods in order to ascertain the strength and weakness of Siva and Visnu enquired of the Grandsire, Brahma:

अभिप्रायं तु विज्ञाय देवतानां पितामह:। विरोधं जनयामास तयो स्सत्यवतां वर:।।1.75.15।।

abhiprāyaṃ tu vijñāya devatānāṃ pitāmaha:| virodhaṃ janayāmāsa tayo ssatyavatāṃ vara:

Foremost among the truthful, Grandsire Brahma come to know the intention of the gods and triggered a conflict between the gods.

विरोधे च महद्युद्धमभवद्रोमहर्षणम् । शितिकण्ठस्य विष्णोश्च परस्परजिगीषुणो:।।1.75.16।।

virodhe ca mahadyuddhamabhavadromaharṣaṇam | śitikaṇṭhasya viṣṇośca parasparajigīṣuṇo:

In that thrilling fight between Siva and Visnu, each desirous of victory over the other, a ferocious battle took place causing one's hair to stand on end.

तदा तु जृम्भितं शैवं धनुर्भीमपराक्रमम्। हुङ्कारेण महादेव स्तम्भितोऽथ त्रिलोचन:।।1.75.17।।

tadā tu jṛmbhitaṃ śaivaṃ dhanurbhīmaparākramam| huṅkāreṇa mahādeva stambhito'tha trilocana:

Then, with the 'Humkara' produced by Visnu, Siva's bow of dreadful prowess was stretched, which struck the threeeyed Mahadeva motionless.

देवैस्तदा समागम्य सर्षिसघै स्सचारणै:। याचितौ प्रशमं तत्र जग्मतुस्तौ सुरोत्तमौ।।1.75.18।।

devaistadā samāgamya sarṣisaghai ssacāraṇai:| yācitau praśamaṃ tatra jagmatustau surottamau

Then hosts of sages, charanas and the gods assembled there and beseeched both of them, the preeminent among the gods to keep peace.

जृम्भितं तद्धनुर्द्रृष्ट्वा शैवं विष्णुपराक्रमै:। अधिकं मेनिरे विष्णुं देवा स्सर्षिगणास्तदा ।।1.75.19।।

jṛmbhitaṃ taddhanurdrṛṣṭvā śaivaṃ viṣṇuparākramai:| adhikaṃ menire viṣṇuṃ devā ssarṣigaṇāstadā

Now that the bow of Siva was made inert by Visnu's prowess, hosts of sages and gods acknowlged Visnu as superior.

धनू रुद्रस्तु सङ्कृद्धो विदेहेषु महायशा:। देवरातस्य राजर्षेर्ददौ हस्ते ससायकम्।।1.75.20।।

dhanū rudrastu saṅkṛddho videheṣu mahāyaśā:| devarātasya rājarṣerdadau haste sasāyakam

Glorious Siva, enraged at this, placed the bow together with the arrow in the hands of Rajarshi Devarata in the country of Videha.

इदं च वैष्णवं राम धनु: परपुरञ्जयम्। ऋचीके भार्गवे प्रादाद्विष्णु: स न्यासमुत्तमम्।।1.75.21।।

idaṃ ca vaiṣṇavaṃ rāma dhanu: parapurañjayam| ṛcīke bhārgave prādādviṣṇu: sa nyāsamuttamam

This bow of Visnu, O Rama capable of conquering hostile cities, was given in trust to Richika belonging to the race of Bhrigu.

ऋचीकस्तु महातेजा: पुत्रस्याप्रतिकर्मण:। पितुर्मम ददौ दिव्यं जमदग्नेर्महात्मन:।।1.75.22।।

ṛcīkastu mahātejā: putrasyāpratikarmaṇa:| piturmama dadau divyaṃ jamadagnermahātmana:

Brilliant Ruchika gave this bow to his son, the great Jamadagni, my father, a man of unrivalled valour.

न्यस्तशस्त्रे पितरि मे तपोबलसमन्विते। अर्जुनो विदधे मृत्युं प्राकृतां बुद्धिमास्थित:।।1.75.23।।

nyastaśastre pitari me tapobalasamanvite| arjuno vidadhe mṛtyuṃ prākṛtāṃ buddhimāsthita:

My father equipped with ascetic energy renounced the weapon and was killed by Kartaveeryarjuna in a vulgar manner.

वधमप्रतिरूपं तु पितु श्शृत्वा सुदारुणम्। क्षत्रमुत्सादयन्रोषाज्जातं जातमनेकश:।।1.75.24।। पृथिवीं चाखिलां प्राप्य काश्यपाय महात्मने । यज्ञस्यान्ते तदा राम दक्षिणां पुण्यकर्मणे । दत्त्वा महेन्द्रनिलयस्तपोबलसमन्वित:।।1.75.25।।

vadhamapratirūpaṃ tu pitu śśṛtvā sudāruṇam| kṣatramutsādayanroṣājjātaṃ jātamanekaśa: pṛthivīṃ cākhilāṃ prāpya kāśyapāya mahātmane | yajñasyānte tadā rāma dakṣiṇāṃ puṇyakarmaṇe | dattvā mahendranilayastapobalasamanvita:

O Rama Having heard the slaying of my father incomparable in extreme ruthlessness, I decimated the Kshatriya race again and again out of fury as they were born and reborn. I conquered the entire earth. At the conclusion of the sacrifice I conferred it on the great soul Kasyapa of meritorious acts. Gifted with ascetic energy I have (now) made the Mahendra mountain my abode.

वधमप्रतिरूपं तु पितु श्शृत्वा सुदारुणम्। क्षत्रमुत्सादयन्रोषाज्जातं जातमनेकश:।।1.75.24।। पृथिवीं चाखिलां प्राप्य काश्यपाय महात्मने । यज्ञस्यान्ते तदा राम दक्षिणां पुण्यकर्मणे । दत्त्वा महेन्द्रनिलयस्तपोबलसमन्वित:।।1.75.25।।

vadhamapratirūpaṃ tu pitu śśṛtvā sudāruṇam| kṣatramutsādayanroṣājjātaṃ jātamanekaśa: pṛthivīṃ cākhilāṃ prāpya kāśyapāya mahātmane | yajñasyānte tadā rāma dakṣiṇāṃ puṇyakarmaṇe | dattvā mahendranilayastapobalasamanvita:

O Rama Having heard the slaying of my father incomparable in extreme ruthlessness, I decimated the Kshatriya race again and again out of fury as they were born and reborn. I conquered the entire earth. At the conclusion of the sacrifice I conferred it on the great soul Kasyapa of meritorious acts. Gifted with ascetic energy I have (now) made the Mahendra mountain my abode.

अद्यतूत्तमवीर्येण त्वया राम महाबल। श्रुतवान् धनुषो भेदं ततोऽहं द्रुतमागत:।।1.75.26।।

adyatūttamavīryeṇa tvayā rāma mahābala| śrutavān dhanuṣo bhedaṃ tato'haṃ drutamāgata:

O Mighty Rama when I heard that you have broken the bow with your extraordinary prowess, I have come here quickly.

तदिदं वैष्णवं राम पितृपैतामहं महत्। क्षत्रधर्मं पुरस्कृत्य गृह्णीष्व धनुरुत्तमम्।।1.75.27।।

tadidaṃ vaiṣṇavaṃ rāma pitṛpaitāmahaṃ mahat| kṣatradharmaṃ puraskṛtya gṛhṇīṣva dhanuruttamam

Respect the duties of a kshatriya, O Rama Take hold of this great, uncommon bow of Visnu inherited by me from my father and forefathers.

योजयस्व धनुश्श्रेष्ठे शरं परपुरञ्जयम्। यदि शक्नोषि काकुत्स्थ द्वन्द्वं दास्यामि ते तत:।।1.75.28।।

yojayasva dhanuśśreṣṭhe śaraṃ parapurañjayam| yadi śaknoṣi kākutstha dvandvaṃ dāsyāmi te tata:

O Descendant of Kakustha this best bow is capable of conquering enemy cities. Fix an arrow. If it is possible for you to do so, then I shall engage you in a duel". इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीय आदिकाव्ये बालकाण्डे पञ्चसप्ततितमस्सर्ग: ।। Thus ends the seventyfifth sarga of Balakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.