Passage 1
भङ्गे हरधनुःशब्दो भार्गवस्य तपस्यतः। श्रवणे छादयामास दुःखकोपविवर्द्धनः॥१॥
When Hara’s bow broke, the sound reached the ears of the ascetic Bhārgava and overwhelmed them, increasing both his grief and anger.
Passage 2
साटोपं राम उत्थाय परशुमादाय सत्वरः। निजाश्रमपदं त्यक्त्वा यावदायाति भार्गवः॥२॥
Bhārgava Rāma rose in fury, swiftly took up his axe, and left his hermitage to set out for Mithilā.
Passage 3
तावज्जनकभूपस्य बोधनार्थं महात्मनः। स्वशिष्यं प्रेषयामास रामो भार्गवसत्तमः॥३॥
Before going himself, Rāma, best of Bhṛgu’s line, sent his disciple to warn the high-souled King Janaka.
Passage 4
भार्गवेण श्रुतः पूर्वं जनकस्य धनुःपणः। तच्छ्रुत्वा दुर्मुखो भूयः कोपनः कालदुर्द्धरः॥४॥
Bhārgava had previously heard of Janaka’s pledge concerning the bow. Hearing now what had happened, he became grim-faced, again blazing with anger and as irresistible as Time.
Passage 5
त्रिःसप्तकृत्वो भूपालान् मारयित्वा स्वपर्शुना। स्यमन्तपञ्चकेऽकार्षीच्छोणितौघान् महाह्रदान्॥५॥
Having slaughtered the kings twenty-one times with his own axe, he had made great lakes of streaming blood at Syamantapañcaka.
Passage 6
स रामो दुर्मनो भूत्वा कस्य कल्याणमिच्छति। सुरासुरमनुष्येषु तस्मात्तं न प्रकोपयेत्॥६॥
When that Rāma becomes enraged, whose welfare among gods, demons, or humans does he spare? Therefore no one should provoke him.
Passage 7
कथितो भृगुशार्दूलः सर्वस्वं नाशयेत् क्षणात्। इति जानाति राजापि जनकः सत्यभाषणः॥७॥
Truth-speaking King Janaka also knew the saying that the tiger of Bhṛgu’s line could destroy everything in a moment.
Passage 8
जामातुश्च बलेनैव तीर्णवान् भृगुपावकम्। रामेण प्रेषितो दूतः शिष्यो जनकसन्निधौ। समागत्य सभामध्ये इदं वचनमब्रवीत्॥८॥
Thinking that Janaka had crossed Bhṛgu’s fire by relying solely upon the strength of his son-in-law, the disciple sent as Rāma’s messenger came before the king and spoke these words in the middle of the assembly. The Brāhmaṇa messenger said:
Passage 9
राजन् नैष्य नृपाधीश कस्मैचिन्नृपसूनवे। कन्या प्रदीयतां मा वा वृथा हरधनुःपणः॥९॥
“King and lord of kings, give the maiden to some prince or do not give her, but do not make Hara’s bow the object of a futile pledge.
Passage 10
एतच्छाम्भवमूर्जस्वि त्रिपुरानलवारिदम्। धनुः शैलेन्द्रसारं यद्दुराधर्षं जगत्त्रये॥१०॥
“This mighty bow of Śambhu was a cloud of fire against Tripura. Made from the essence of the lord of mountains, it is unassailable throughout the three worlds.
Passage 11
देव त्वदीयभवने विन्यस्तं जनक प्रभो। त्वया न स्थाप्यतां कर्हिच्च पणीकृत्य सुबुद्धिना॥११॥
“Lord Janaka, although this divine bow was deposited in your palace, a wise man such as you should never have set it up as a wager.
Passage 12
इदं हि स्वायुषो दारि यशस्तेजस्तपोनुदम्। यद्धिव्यवस्तुविषये लौकिकी मतिराहिता॥१२॥
“To direct an ordinary, worldly judgment toward a divine object cuts short one’s own life and destroys fame, splendour, and accumulated austerity.
Passage 13
एतद्धि बुध्यतां राजन् विशेषेणाधुना मुहुः। यदीशधनुरुत्सृज्य पणीकार्यं धनान्तरम्॥१३॥
“Understand this well now, king, and reflect upon it repeatedly: abandon Īśa’s bow and make some other bow the object of your pledge.
Passage 14
एतत् प्रोवाच ते राजन् भार्गवः क्षत्रियान्तकः। रामो दुर्दर्शनो धाम्ना कुठारक्रीडनोद्धरः॥१४॥
“King, this is the message of Bhārgava Rāma, destroyer of kṣatriyas, whose splendour is unbearable to behold and whose sport is the uplifted axe.
Passage 15
तदाकर्ण्य यथायोग्यं क्रियतां निमिभूपते। नो चेत् स जामदग्न्यो वै वीरेन्द्रो दुर्मनायते॥१५॥
“Hear it and act fittingly, ruler of Nimi’s line. Otherwise that son of Jamadagni, lord among heroes, will become enraged.
Passage 16
दुराराध्यः स कोपेन सहस्रार्जुनसूदनः। साक्षात् क्रोधी हरेरंशो भगवान् भार्गवोत्तमः॥१६॥
“When angry, the slayer of Sahasrārjuna is exceedingly difficult to appease. That blessed chief of the Bhārgavas is directly a wrathful portion of Hari.
Passage 17
जामातुः स्वस्य भोग्येन सोऽनुकूलो विधीयताम्। अन्यथा न भवेत्क्षेमं कुपिते जमदग्निजे॥१७॥
“Appease him with a suitable offering belonging to your own son-in-law. Otherwise there can be no safety once Jamadagni’s son is angered.
Passage 18
ब्रह्मक्षत्रमयं तेजो दुराधर्षतमं हि तत्। बलाढ्यतमं लोके क्षत्रियाणां विशेषतः॥१८॥
“His splendour combines brahmanic and royal power and is utterly unassailable. In this world it is overwhelmingly strong, especially against kṣatriyas.
Passage 19
एतत्ते कथितं भूप यामि रामस्य सन्निधौ। इत्युक्त्वा यावदचलद्विप्रो जनकसन्निधौ॥१९॥
“This has been told to you, king. I shall return to Rāma.” Having spoken, the Brāhmaṇa began to depart from Janaka’s presence.
Passage 20
तावद्धरधनुर्भङ्गकाहलः समभूत्तराम्। घोरो ब्रह्माण्डसंभेदी जगत्त्रयविकम्पनः॥२०॥
At that very moment the tumult of Hara’s bow breaking arose in full force— terrible, splitting the cosmic egg and making the three worlds tremble.
Passage 21
प्रलयान्तसमुत्पादि समुद्र इव दुःसहः। कल्पान्तघनसंघट्टघटाटोपभयङ्करः॥२१॥
It was unbearable like an ocean surging at the end of dissolution and terrifying like the crash and uproar of colliding clouds at the end of a cosmic age.
Passage 22
इन्द्रायुधत्रुटत्पक्षपर्वतारावसन्निभः। दार्यमाणगिरिग्रावसमो गम्भीरनिस्वनः॥२२॥
Its deep reverberation resembled the roar of mountains whose wings were being severed by Indra’s weapon and the sound of mountain boulders splitting apart.
Passage 23
वज्रनिर्घोष उदधौ रावणश्रुतिभेदनः। अहो अनर्थः कुपितो रामः क्षत्रकुलान्तकः॥२३॥
It was like the thunderbolt’s roar upon the ocean, piercing even Rāvaṇa’s ears. “Ah, disaster! Rāma, destroyer of kṣatriya houses, is enraged!”
Passage 24
इति ब्रुवन्निजं जगाम दूतो रामस्य स द्विजः। क्रोधान्धो राम आधावच्छ्रुत्वा स धनुषो रवम्॥२४॥
Saying this, Rāma’s Brāhmaṇa messenger went his way. Blinded by anger upon hearing the bow’s report, Bhārgava Rāma rushed forward.
Passage 25
अहो समुत्थितः कोऽयमकस्माद्भीषणो ध्वनिः। न वा पर्वतनिर्दारो वज्रपातो न कदाचन॥२५॥
“Ah! What is this dreadful sound that has suddenly arisen? It cannot be the splitting of a mountain or a thunderbolt’s fall.
Passage 26
नाब्धिनिर्मन्थनो घोषो न कल्पान्तभवो ध्वनिः। न भूमिकम्पनोद्घोषो न कल्पान्तमरुद्ध्वनिः॥२६॥
“It is not the roar of the ocean being churned, nor a sound born at the end of an age. It is neither the rumble of an earthquake nor the wind of cosmic dissolution.
Passage 27
कोऽयं शब्दमयोत्पातो भविष्यति धरा न वा। कुलाचलसुसंघर्षं निर्वृतो वा परस्परम्॥२७॥
“What is this portent made of sound? Will the earth continue to exist, or have the great supporting mountains collided with one another?
Passage 28
इति भूयः संदिहानो रामो निश्चित्य तत्क्षणात्। भज्यमानमहादेवधनुषः संभवो ध्वनिः॥२८॥
Questioning in this way, Rāma then determined in an instant: “This sound has arisen from Mahādeva’s bow being broken.”
Passage 29
धावन् स परशुहस्तो भार्गवः क्रोधपावकः। हरिद्राकङ्कणं रामं मार्गे प्रत्यग्रहीत् पुनः॥२९॥
Running with axe in hand, Bhārgava blazed like the fire of anger. On the road he intercepted Rāma, who still wore the turmeric wedding bracelet. Bhārgava said:
Passage 30
अहो अरे क्षत्रियपोतकस्त्वमीदृक् पापं कर्म कस्मादकार्षीत्। केनेदं ते शिक्षितं शत्रुभावाद्भव्यासहं मत्कुठाराचलाग्नौ॥३०॥
“Hey, little kṣatriya! Why have you committed such a sinful deed? Who taught you, out of hostility, to do this—something unbearable to the noble—before the mountain-fire of my axe?
Passage 31
अहो अभाग्यं जनकस्य दुर्मतेर्जामातृरक्षाकुशलैकघातिनः। पणीकृतं येन धनुः पिनाकिनो दुर्बुद्धिना वार्धकनष्टचेतसा॥३१॥
“Ah, the misfortune of foolish Janaka, singular destroyer of the skill of protecting his son-in-law! Witless with age, he made Pinākin’s bow the stake of his pledge.
Passage 32
ईशस्तु भगवान् साक्षात् करुणारसवारिधिः। शान्तात्मा तपसां राशिः कस्तस्मात् संबिभेति वै॥३२॥
“Blessed Īśa himself is an ocean of compassionate rasa, peaceful in nature and a treasury of austerity. Who would ever be afraid of him?
Passage 33
तत्पुत्रस्तारकस्यारिस्तादृग्दैत्यचमूपतेः। स्कन्दोऽपि विस्मितो येन तस्य शं न भविष्यति॥३३॥
“But his son Skanda, enemy of Tāraka and such commanders of demonic armies, has also been astonished by this deed. There will be no welfare for the man who caused it.
Passage 34
स्कन्दोऽपि यदि नेदानीं भूतानां भयकारकः। अहं त्वनादृतः कस्मात् कुठारकठिनाशयः॥३४॥
“Even if Skanda no longer inspires fear among beings, why have I been disregarded—I whose resolve is as hard as an axe?
Passage 35
धिक् क्षत्रवंशे करुणामिदं यस्याः फलं खलु। अतः कृपालुना भाव्यं नातः परमिहान्वये॥३५॥
“Shame upon compassion toward the kṣatriya line—this is plainly its fruit! Compassion shall extend only this far, and no farther toward this lineage.”
Passage 36
इति ब्रुवाणं भृगुवंशकेतुं कोपेन संभ्रामितसत्कुठारम्। सौमित्रिरभ्येत्य जवादवादीत् संरम्भसाटोपगिरा गभीरः॥३६॥
As the banner of Bhṛgu’s line spoke thus, brandishing his excellent axe in anger, Sumitrā’s son quickly stepped forward and addressed him in a grave voice filled with proud indignation. Lakṣmaṇa said:
Passage 37
अहो तवोपवीतश्रीरहो मौञ्जीकटिस्थिता। अहो कमण्डलुः पाणौ जटा मूर्ध्नि मृगाजिनम्॥३७॥
“Ah, how splendid is your sacred thread! How fine the muñja girdle at your waist, the water pot in your hand, the matted locks upon your head, and your deerskin!
Passage 38
अहो तापस केनासि विकारमिममाश्रितः। एतद् दृष्टिविरुद्धं ते न च कार्यं त्वया रणम्॥३८॥
“Ascetic, how have you come to assume this altered state? Battle contradicts everything the eye sees upon you; warfare is not your proper work.” Bhārgava said:
Passage 39
अहो क्षत्रियपोतस्य विवक्तुमिव दुर्वचः। दुनोति हृदयं तावत्तन्ममैव कृपाफलम्॥३९॥
“Ah, the wicked words this little kṣatriya seems eager to speak torment my heart. This too is the fruit of my own compassion.
Passage 40
कथं रे क्षत्रबन्धो ते पूर्वजाः किं न मारिताः। कुठारेण ममानेन दुर्धर्षेणोरुतेजसा॥४०॥
“Kṣatriya outcast, how is it that your ancestors were not slain by this unassailable and immensely powerful axe of mine?”
Passage 41
इति स्वगतमेवाह यावद्भार्गवसत्तमः। तावत् ताण्ड्यायनः शिष्यः शतानन्दस्य योगिनः॥४१॥
While the chief of the Bhārgavas was speaking thus to himself, Tāṇḍyāyana, a disciple of the yogin Śatānanda, arrived.
Passage 42
उपगम्य भृगुश्रेष्ठं सादरं प्रणनाम ह। भो आयुष्मान् भवान् भूयात् ताण्ड्यायन तपोनिधे॥४२॥
Tāṇḍyāyana approached the best of Bhṛgus and bowed respectfully. Bhārgava blessed him: “Tāṇḍyāyana, treasury of austerity, may you be long-lived.” Bhārgava said:
Passage 43
विप्राग्र्य त्वदुपाध्याययजमानस्य भूभुजः। रुद्रचापारोपणश्रद्धा निवृत्ता नाथवा मुने॥४३॥
“Excellent Brāhmaṇa and sage, has the desire of the king—your teacher’s patron—to have Rudra’s bow strung now ceased, or has it not?”
Passage 44
निवृत्ता भगवन् किंतु सहैव हरधन्वना। किमात्थ रे किमात्थ त्वं सहैव हरधन्वना॥४४॥
Tāṇḍyāyana answered, “Blessed sir, it has ceased—but together with Hara’s bow.” Bhārgava exclaimed, “What are you saying? What are you saying—‘together with Hara’s bow’?”
Passage 45
स्फुटं तावन्मम ब्रूहि यथा वृत्तं प्रबुद्धचेतः। सुबाहुमारीचमुखाः कौशिकाध्वरघातिनः॥४५॥
Bhārgava demanded, “Enlightened one, tell me plainly just what occurred.” Tāṇḍyāyana began: “Subāhu, Mārīca, and the others were destroyers of Kauśika’s sacrifice.
Passage 46
यद्बाणानलनिर्दग्धाः क्षणात् प्रापुः पराभवम्। ऋष्यशृङ्गऋषेर्भागभुवो ये राजसूनवः। तेषां यः प्रथमो रामस्तेन भग्नं शरासनम्॥४६॥
“Scorched by the fire of whose arrows, they were defeated in a moment. Of the princes born through the sacrificial portion of the sage Ṛṣyaśṛṅga, Rāma is the eldest—and he broke the bow.” Bhārgava said:
Passage 47
यस्मिन् वक्रे पुरस्त्रित्र दग्धा अग्नौ पतङ्गवत्। तदद्यदा शिशुना तेन राघवेण पराहतम्॥४७॥
“Upon whose curve the three cities once burned like moths in fire—has that bow now been struck down by this little Rāghava?
Passage 48
हरस्य दैवतं चापं तदा मन्ये रघोः कुलम्। मत्कुठारजले मग्नं भविष्यति न संशयः॥४८॥
“Then, I think, Raghu’s entire house will drown in the waters of my axe. Of this there is no doubt.” Brahmā said:
Passage 49
ताण्ड्यायनः ससंरम्भं ज्ञात्वा भार्गवसत्तमम्। उपाध्यायाय तद्वार्तां वक्तुं शीघ्रं विनिर्गतः॥४९॥
Realizing how inflamed the chief of the Bhārgavas had become, Tāṇḍyāyana quickly departed to report the news to his teacher.
Passage 50
जामदग्न्यः पुनर्नव्यविवाहमङ्गलाङ्कितम्। रामं निश्चित्य सहसा सहानुजमवर्णयत्॥५०॥
Jamadagni’s son then recognized Rāma, newly marked with the auspicious signs of marriage, and at once began to survey him together with his younger brother. Bhārgava said:
Passage 51
पारेपरार्द्धकन्दर्पसुन्दरः क्षत्रबालकः। गाम्भीर्यं पुनरेतस्य हरस्येवातितेजसः॥५१॥
“This kṣatriya youth is lovelier than an immeasurable host of Cupids, yet his depth and overwhelming splendour resemble Hara’s own.
Passage 52
माधुर्यं पुनरानन्दि राकाहिमरुचेरिव। शृङ्गारवीराद्भुतकैः किमेष घटितो रसैः॥५२॥
“His sweetness gives delight like the cool radiance of the full moon. Has he been fashioned from the rasas of love, heroism, and wonder?
Passage 53
ततः समुपसार्यैनं वीरौ तौ रामलक्ष्मणौ। निर्वर्ण्य बहुधा चित्ते कृताश्चर्यौ बभूवतुः॥५३॥
Then the two heroes Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa drew near him. Surveying him in many ways, they both became astonished in their minds. Lakṣmaṇa said:
Passage 54
क्वेयं च धनुषो मौर्वी क्वेयं मौञ्जी च मध्यतः। क्वेमे सिताग्रविशिखाः क्व च वैतादृशाः कुशाः॥५४॥
“How strange to see a bowstring here and a muñja girdle about his waist! Here are sharp white-tipped arrows, and there sacred blades of kuśa grass!
Passage 55
धारोज्ज्वलः क्व परशुः क्व च दिव्यकमण्डलुः। वीरशान्तरसावेतौ संगतौ किं परस्परम्॥५५॥
“Here is an axe gleaming along its edge, and there a divine water pot. Have the heroic and peaceful rasas met one another in him?
Passage 56
आर्यब्रह्मक्षत्रमयं किमिदं चित्रवत् पुरः। वत्सैवं किंतु जानासि भगवान् भार्गवो ह्ययम्॥५६॥
Lakṣmaṇa asked, “Noble brother, what is this wondrous form before us, composed of brahmanic and royal power?” Śrī Rāma replied, “Dear one, it is indeed so; but know that this is the blessed Bhārgava.” Śrī Rāma continued:
Passage 57
क्रौञ्चाचलस्य शिखरं विद्धं येन शितैः शरैः। त्रिःसप्तकृत्वा विप्रेभ्यो जित्वा दत्तं महीतलम्॥५७॥
“With sharp arrows he pierced the summit of Mount Krauñca. After conquering the earth twenty-one times, he gave it to the Brāhmaṇas.
Passage 58
पुरा येनैव संग्रामे जितस्तारकसूदनः। कुठाराञ्चलधाराभिर्हैहयेन्द्रस्य दोर्बलम्। पुरा निराकृतो येन सोऽयं वीरस्तपोनिधिः॥५८॥
“Long ago in battle he defeated Skanda, slayer of Tāraka. With showers from the edge of his axe he destroyed the arm-strength of the Haihaya king. This is that hero, that treasury of austerity.” Lakṣmaṇa said:
Passage 59
तर्हि साश्चर्यशीलोऽयं भगवान् भृगुनन्दनः। यः सुमेरुयुतां भूमिं स्वर्णशृङ्गीमिवैष गाम्॥५९॥
“Then this blessed son of Bhṛgu is wondrous indeed: he gave away the earth with Sumeru upon it as easily as one gives a golden-horned cow—
Passage 60
कश्यपायर्षये दत्त्वा नात्मानं श्लाघतेतराम्। स्कन्दशक्तिक्षतं क्रौञ्चगिरिं बाणैर्बिभेद यः॥६०॥
“giving it to the sage Kaśyapa without greatly praising himself. And with his arrows he split Mount Krauñca, already wounded by Skanda’s spear.” --- Thus ends the seventy-seventh chapter, entitled “The Conflict between Rāma and Bhārgava,” in the dialogue of Brahmā and Bhuśuṇḍa in the *Śrīmad Ādi Rāmāyaṇa*. Source note The root text is controlled against source leaves 455–461 of the 1975 printed edition. All sixty printed passage numbers are sequential. The print places a speaker change inside each of passages 19, 42, 44, 45, and 56; those compound dialogue units remain single numbered passages here. Difficult or irregular transmitted strings in passages 9, 24, 27, 30–31, 33–35, 46–48, and 51 are retained rather than silently regularized, and the English states the clearest sense supported by the immediate syntax and narrative.