Passage 1
अथ रामोऽञ्जलिं बद्ध्वा सानुजः प्रणनाम तम्। Bhārgava said: संग्रामविषयो भूया इत्याशिषमवोचत्॥१॥
Rāma joined his palms and, together with his younger brother, bowed to him. Bhārgava bestowed this blessing: “May you become a fit object for battle.” Śrī Rāma said:
Passage 2
भगवन् भार्गवश्रेष्ठ करुणागाधवारिधे। अहं त्वनुगृहीतोऽस्मि तपसां निधिना त्वया॥२॥
“Blessed chief of the Bhārgavas, unfathomable ocean of compassion, I have been favored by you, a treasury of austerity.” Brahmā said:
Passage 3
भार्गवः स्वगतं प्राह अस्याहो विनयः शिशोः। अतिमात्रं प्रकुप्यात्र किं स्याच्चन्द्रसुशीतले॥३॥
Bhārgava said inwardly, “Ah, what humility this child possesses! What could come of becoming excessively angry with one as cool as the moon?”
Passage 4
ततो विमृश्य सस्मार भग्नं यच्छाम्भवं धनुः। बालायाश्चैव जानक्या वेषम्यं स्यान्निजास्त्रतः॥४॥
Then, reflecting, he remembered that Śambhu’s bow had been broken. “Yet by my own weapon young Jānakī would be plunged into calamity.”
Passage 5
अयोग्यतममेतद्धि जमदग्निसुतस्य मे। आः शान्तः परशुर्घोरो रेणुकाकण्ठकृन्तनः॥५॥
“That would be utterly unworthy of me, Jamadagni’s son. Ah—be still, dreadful axe that severed Reṇukā’s throat!”
Passage 6
ततः प्रकाशमाहैष रामं दाशरथिं मुनिः। चण्डीश्वरधनुर्भङ्गप्रभवोद्गर्वभाविनोः॥६॥
Then the sage spoke openly to Daśarathi Rāma, referring to his two arms, in which pride had arisen from breaking Caṇḍīśvara’s bow. Bhārgava said:
Passage 7
बाह्वोस्तवैव रुधिरैरधुना मधुना समैः। भूय आस्वादयिष्यामि कुठारं कुण्ठितं मम॥७॥
“Now, with the honey-sweet blood of those very arms, I shall once again give my blunted axe a taste.” Śrī Rāma said:
Passage 8
भगवन्नधुना कर्तुं निग्रहानुग्रहौ मयि। स्वतन्त्रोऽस्ति भवान् किन्तु कोपबीजं न बुध्यते॥८॥
“Blessed sir, you are free either to punish or favor me now, but the seed of your anger is not understood.” Bhārgava said:
Passage 9
अहो दर्पाढ्यता नाम बलमेतद् यदात्मना। अस्माभिः कथितं चापि न विजानाति दुर्नयम्॥९॥
“Ah, this is what it means to be swollen with pride in one’s own strength! Even when told by me, this ill-guided child does not understand.
Passage 10
ननु रे तद् गुरोर्भग्नं चापं न शिशुना त्वया। येन शिक्षितमद्यापि पुरस्त्रीविरहव्रजम्॥१०॥
“Boy, you have broken your teacher’s bow. It was not yours—a child’s—to break; that bow once taught the women of the cities the whole multitude of separation’s griefs.” Śrī Rāma said:
Passage 11
भगवञ्चित्रलोकेन लोकवादेन भूयसा। अनघे मयि संजातो मुधा कोपः कलङ्कितः॥११॥
“Blessed sir, through strange worldly judgment and abundant popular talk, a vain and blemished anger has arisen against me, though I am innocent.”
Passage 12
Bhārgava said: तत्किं गिरीशचापस्य स्वस्त्यस्ति क्षत्रडिम्भक। Śrī Rāma said: किञ्चित्स्पृष्टं न वा स्पृष्टं धनुस्तत् पुरवैरिणः॥१२॥
तद्वै चिरेण जीर्णत्वादभज्यत करोमि किम्। Bhārgava asked, “Then is Giriśa’s bow well, little kṣatriya?” Rāma replied, “I scarcely touched—or did not even touch—the bow of Tripura’s foe. It broke because it had grown old over a long time. What can I do?” Bhārgava said:
Passage 13
अहो चन्दनदग्धेन शरेण हृदिगामिना॥१३॥
मामयं शीतलयते ज्वलता कोपवह्निना। “Ah! With a heart-piercing arrow scorched in sandalwood, this boy cools me by means of a blazing fire of anger!
Passage 14
तदयं कठिनो घोरः कुठारो विशताद् गले॥१४॥
“Then let this hard and terrible axe enter his throat.
Passage 15
अमुष्य क्षत्रपोतस्य सीतावैषम्यकारणम्। त्रिपुरारिधनुर्भेदपातकक्षालनं तथा॥१५॥
“It shall bring calamity upon the Sītā of this little kṣatriya and at the same time wash away the sin of breaking the bow of Tripura’s enemy.
Passage 16
तत्प्रवीरो भव रणे राम दाशरथे शिशो। उपस्थितोऽयं सङ्ग्रामो भार्गवेण मया सह॥१६॥
“Therefore show yourself a hero in battle, child Rāma, son of Daśaratha. This combat with me, Bhārgava, now stands before you.” Śrī Rāma said:
Passage 17
कुठारो विशतां कण्ठे मा वा विप्रवरस्य ते। अस्तु नो दारवैषम्यं गच्छतां धर्मसादनम्॥१७॥
तथापि न वयं वीरा ब्राह्मणेषु कदाप्यहो। “Your axe may enter my throat or may not, excellent Brāhmaṇa. Let adversity come to our wives as we go to Dharma’s abode; even so, we never play the hero against Brāhmaṇas.” Bhārgava said:
Passage 18
अहो प्रणतिमात्रेण जानासि भृगुनन्दनम्॥१८॥
वत्स ब्राह्मणमात्रेण दुष्टक्षत्रनिषूदनम्। “Child, do you know Bhṛgu’s descendant merely as one to whom you bow—merely as a Brāhmaṇa—and not as the destroyer of wicked kṣatriyas?
Passage 19
सोऽहं परशुरामोऽस्मि यः स्कन्दमजयं पुरा॥१९॥
क्षत्रजात्या गर्वितस्त्वं मां तृणाय न मन्यसे। “I am that Paraśurāma who once defeated Skanda. Proud of your kṣatriya birth, you do not value me even as much as a blade of grass.
Passage 20
तद्ब्रह्मक्षत्रयोस्तावदिदानीं का गरीयसी॥२०॥
इति सङ्ग्राममात्रेण भविष्यत्यद्य निर्णयः। “Which is superior, brahmanic or kṣatriya power? This very battle will decide the matter today.” Śrī Rāma said:
Passage 21
न ब्रह्मन् भवता सार्धं रणवार्ता घटेत नः॥२१॥
“Brāhmaṇa, talk of battle with you does not befit us.
Passage 22
क्षत्रं हीनबलं तावद् ब्रह्मैव बलवत्तरम्। ऊर्जस्वलं च परमं विप्राणां ब्रह्मवर्चसम्॥२२॥
“Kṣatriya power is the weaker; brahmanic power is stronger. The supreme and powerful strength of Brāhmaṇas is their spiritual radiance.
Passage 23
दुराधर्षतमं तेज उपवीतस्य शाश्वतम्। जात्यैव गुरवो विप्राः कथं नेयाः शुभेच्छुभिः॥२३॥
“The sacred thread’s eternal splendor is utterly unassailable. Brāhmaṇas are teachers by birth; how could those who desire good ever lead them into battle?” Lakṣmaṇa said:
Passage 24
धनुरेकगुणं धत्ते बलमस्माकमूर्जितम्। उपवीतं नवगुणं विशिष्टं भवतां बलम्॥२४॥
“Our mighty strength is borne upon a bow with one string; your superior strength is borne upon a sacred thread with nine strands.” Śrī Rāma said:
Passage 25
वत्सैवमेव किं त्वस्मिन् माननीयतमे मुनौ। अलं दुर्विनयाचारैर्यतोऽसौ दुर्मनायते॥२५॥
“Dear one, even if it is so, why speak thus to this most venerable sage? Enough of this discourteous conduct, for it is making him angry.” Bhārgava said:
Passage 26
अस्य को वा शिशोर्दोषः कुठारस्यैव दूषणम्। यदस्य नाच्छिनत् पूर्वं पितृपैतामहं कुलम्॥ धिक् क्षत्रगोत्रे करुणां यत्फलं दुर्वचस्त्विदम्॥२६॥
“What fault is this child’s? The blame belongs to my axe alone, because it did not earlier cut down his paternal and ancestral line. Shame on compassion toward the kṣatriya clan, whose fruit is this insolent speech! Śrī Rāma said:
Passage 27
अलमस्मिन् क्षीरकण्ठे कोपेन भृगुवल्लभ। तत् क्षम्यतां मुनीशान पादयोस्ते नता वयम्॥२७॥
“Beloved of Bhṛgu, enough anger against this milk-throated child. Lord of sages, please forgive him; we bow at your feet.”
Passage 28
Bhārgava said: किमुच्यते क्षीरकण्ठो विषकण्ठोऽस्ति खल्वसौ। Lakṣmaṇa said: विषकण्ठस्य शिष्येण क्षन्तव्यो भवतास्मि भोः॥२८॥
Bhārgava said, “Why call him milk-throated? He is plainly poison-throated.” Lakṣmaṇa replied, “Sir, please forgive me, a disciple of the poison-throated Lord.”
Passage 29
Bhārgava said: विषकण्ठत्वसाम्येन तत्किं त्वमपि मे गुरुः। Lakṣmaṇa said: भगवन्नन्यतात्पर्यान्मयोक्तं क्षन्तुमर्हसि॥२९॥
Bhārgava asked, “Does sharing the poison-throated Lord’s quality make you my teacher too?” Lakṣmaṇa replied, “Blessed sir, I spoke with another intention; please forgive me.
Passage 30
किरीटमधिरूढेऽपि बाले शिशिररोचिषि। शितिकण्ठस्य नो चित्ते धत्ते कोपाङ्कुरः पदम्॥३०॥
“Although the cool-rayed young moon rests upon Śitikaṇṭha’s crown, no sprout of anger takes root in his heart.” Bhārgava said:
Passage 31
अहो क्षत्रवटोरस्य वाक्पाटवमिहाद्भुतम्। क्षान्तमेव मया तावदयं तु क्षमते न हि॥३१॥
“Ah, the verbal cleverness of this kṣatriya novice is astonishing! I have forgiven him thus far, yet he himself will not be still.
Passage 32
अशेषक्षत्रियवधे दीक्षितोऽयं परश्वधः। कोलालकोकसङ्घर्षैः क्षत्रियाणां समन्ततः॥३२॥
“This axe has been consecrated for the slaughter of every kṣatriya, amid the clamor raised by kṣatriyas on every side.
Passage 33
त्रिवर्णा पृथिवीयेषा कृता क्षत्रियवर्जिता। नीरेणुकीकृता भूमिर्दुष्टक्षत्रियशोणितैः॥३३॥
“This earth was reduced to three social orders, emptied of kṣatriyas; with the blood of wicked warriors, the ground was made ‘without Reṇukā’ and without dust.
Passage 34
तथा स्वर्गवधूवृन्दस्वयंवरमहोत्सवे। पद्ममालासहस्राणां रेणुव्याप्तं कृतं नभः॥३४॥
“And at the great svayaṃvara festival of heaven’s maidens, the sky was filled with the pollen of thousands of lotus garlands.”
Passage 35
Lakṣmaṇa said: भार्गव त्वत्कुठारेण कृता नीरेणुका मही। Bhārgava said: आस्तां तावत्त्वं कथं पापो रेणुकावृत्तमुत्कटम्॥३५॥
Lakṣmaṇa said, “Bhārgava, your axe has indeed made the earth ‘without Reṇukā.’” Bhārgava replied, “Enough! How does this sinner dare bring up the terrible affair of Reṇukā?
Passage 36
संस्मारयति मेऽनेन मर्मस्पर्शं करोत्युत। अरे क्षत्रियपोत त्वां निरपराधनिमित्तकम्॥३६॥
कठोरभाषिणं कण्ठे हनिष्यामि तवाधुना। “He makes me remember it and strikes my very heart. Little kṣatriya, although there is no other cause for offense, I shall now strike your throat for your harsh speech.” Janaka said:
Passage 37
जामदग्न्य मुधा वाक्यैः किमित्येवं प्रगल्भसे। तदिदानीं भवाञ्छास्ता गृह्यतां वै शरासनम्॥३७॥
“Son of Jamadagni, why boast so vainly with words? If you would be the chastiser now, then take up your bow.” Bhārgava said:
Passage 38
किमयं जनकः शिष्यो याज्ञवल्क्यस्य योगिनः। शरासनेन किं तेऽद्य पद्मासनमुपाश्रय॥३८॥
“Is this Janaka truly a disciple of the yogin Yājñavalkya? What have you to do with a bow today? Take refuge in the lotus posture.
Passage 39
युष्माकं क्षत्रविप्राणां मिथ्योत्कण्ठा रणे खलु। तत्र वीरा खड्गधाराधौतारिस्त्रीदृगञ्जनाः॥३९॥
“The eagerness for battle among kṣatriyas such as you is false. True heroes wash the collyrium from enemy women’s eyes with the edges of their swords.
Passage 40
योगमेवावलम्बस्व न युद्धं भवता समम्। रहस्यचर्चया त्वं हि याज्ञवल्क्यं मुनिं भज॥४०॥
“Take refuge in yoga alone; battle does not suit you. Serve the sage Yājñavalkya through discussion of secret doctrine.
Passage 41
एतावेव पुनः क्षत्रविस्फुलिङ्गौ मदोद्धतौ। निर्वापयामि परशुधाराञ्चलजलैर्मुहुः॥४१॥
“But these two sparks of kṣatriya fire, swollen with pride, I shall repeatedly extinguish with water from the edge of my axe.” Brahmā said:
Passage 42
पुनः शतानन्द ऋषिः समागम्य जगाद तम्॥४२॥
Then the sage Śatānanda approached and addressed him. Śatānanda said:
Passage 43
जामदग्न्य कथं तादृक् शान्तस्य वरयोगिनः। जमदग्नेः सुतोऽपि त्वं जातोऽसि पापपूरितः॥४३॥
“Son of Jamadagni, though born to Jamadagni—that peaceful and excellent yogin—how have you become so filled with sin?” Bhārgava said:
Passage 44
कस्मात्त्वया शिक्षितेयं शान्तिरेतादृशी खलु। गौतमाद् वा भगवतः शक्राद् वा मातृजारतः॥४४॥
“From whom did you learn such peace—from blessed Gautama, or from Śakra, your mother’s lover?” Śatānanda said:
Passage 45
आः पाप क्षत्रियापुत्र मातृकण्ठनिषूदन। कुलाङ्गार तपस्तुङ्गमिदमाङ्गिरसं कुलम्॥ कलङ्कयसि शिक्षेयं केनेदं शिक्षितं तव॥४५॥
“Ah, sinner, son of a kṣatriya woman, slayer of your mother’s throat! Coal that blackens your lineage, you stain this lofty and ascetic house of Aṅgiras. Who taught you such conduct?” Bhārgava said:
Passage 46
आः पाप पांसुलापुत्र विशेषात् कुलपांसन। भृगूणामग्रतः स्वीयं तपः श्रावयसेऽधुना॥४६॥
“Ah, sinner, son of an unchaste woman and singular defiler of your lineage! Now you proclaim your own austerity before the Bhṛgus?” Śrī Rāma said:
Passage 47
भगवन् सर्वविख्यातं भृगूणामङ्गिरसां तथा। तपः सुदुश्चरं तत्र भृगुशिष्ये विशेषतः॥४७॥
“Blessed sir, the exceedingly difficult austerity of both the Bhṛgus and Aṅgirases is renowned everywhere—especially in a disciple of Bhṛgu.
Passage 48
अतो विज्ञापयाम्येवं मुनीनामुचितं हि वः। तपः शान्तं सन इवैव स्फाटिका मणिमालिका॥४८॥
“Therefore I submit what is fitting for sages such as you: austerity should be peaceful, like a crystal garland of gems.
Passage 49
कुशाः कुण्डी तथा दण्ड उटजेषु च केतनम्। नोग्रं वचो भवेत् तत्र न वाणधनुषी तथा॥४९॥
“Kuśa grass, a water vessel, and a staff are the emblems of forest huts. Harsh speech does not belong there, nor do arrows and bows.
Passage 50
न वा परश्वधो हस्ते धर्मोऽयं च सनातनः। अशुभः परशुः क्वासौ पवित्रं च क्व वा कुलम्॥५०॥
“Nor does an axe belong in the hand—this is the eternal rule. Where is that inauspicious axe, and where is your sacred lineage?
Passage 51
क्वेदमुग्रं धनुर्ब्रह्मन् क्व च शीलं सुनिर्मलम्। क्व शराः सुमहाघोराः पर्णशाला तथा क्व वा॥५१॥
“Brāhmaṇa, where is this fierce bow and where is perfectly pure conduct? Where are these exceedingly terrible arrows, and where is the leaf-thatched hermitage?” Bhārgava said:
Passage 52
कथमन्यमुनेस्तुल्यं मन्यसे मां सुदुर्धरम्। स एष जामदग्न्योऽस्मि यः क्षत्रियकुलान्तकः॥५२॥
“How can you think me, irresistible as I am, equal to some other sage? I am Jamadagni’s son, the destroyer of kṣatriya houses.
Passage 53
रक्तधारासरित्पूरे निवृत्तोऽभिषवो मम। तत्र क्षत्रशिरःकेशाः कुशा एवाभवन् समम्॥५३॥
“My sacrificial pressing was completed amid the flood of a river of blood; there the hair from kṣatriyas’ heads served equally as kuśa grass.
Passage 54
पितॄंस्तर्पयतो रक्तैरञ्जलिप्रसरोद्गतैः। तदहं हि यथा पूर्वं कृत्वा वारत्रिसप्तकम्॥५४॥
“As I satisfied the ancestors with blood poured forth from my joined palms, so shall I act again as before, twenty-one times.
Passage 55
कदनं पूर्वभूपानामकार्षं शोणितेनदीम्। तथान्यत् सप्तकृत्वस्त्रिकृत्वा विशसनं पुनः॥५५॥
“I slaughtered the former kings and made a river of blood. In the same way I shall carry out slaughter another seven times thrice over.
Passage 56
कापालीमक्षमालां तां भैरवस्य निवेदये॥५६॥
“I shall offer that skull-rosary to Bhairava.” Śrī Rāma said:
Passage 57
प्रसीद रोषतो ब्रह्मन् जितं वारत्रिसप्तकम्। मा हारय यशस्तत्त्वमेकवारेण भार्गव॥५७॥
“Be gracious and set anger aside, Brāhmaṇa. You conquered twenty-one times; Bhārgava, do not lose that true renown in a single encounter.” Bhārgava said:
Passage 58
कथं रे हारयिष्यामि यशः पूर्वं विनिर्जितम्। सर्वे भवन्तः सहिताः सहन्तां विशिखान् मम॥५८॥
“How could I lose the fame I won before? Let all of you together withstand my arrows.
Passage 59
ईशत्यक्तं पुराणं तद् वलितं भवता धनुः। तेन गर्वायसे राम किमित्येवं मुहुर्मुहुः॥५९॥
“You merely bent that ancient bow abandoned by Īśa. Why, Rāma, do you grow proud of it again and again?
Passage 60
त्वं न शक्तो मद्बाणान् भवतो गुरुरप्यसौ। त्यक्त्वा क्षत्रतनुं यस्माद् ब्राह्मीं वृत्तिमुपाश्रितः॥६०॥
“You cannot withstand my arrows, nor can that teacher of yours, for he abandoned the kṣatriya body’s way and adopted a Brāhmaṇa’s vocation.” Śrī Rāma said:
Passage 61
भगवन्तं गाधिसूनुं विश्वामित्रं जगद्गुरुम्। अधिक्षिपसि तेनैव सोढव्यस्त्वं न चाधुना॥६१॥
“You insult blessed Viśvāmitra, son of Gādhi and teacher of the world. For that very reason you are no longer to be endured.
Passage 62
जामदग्न्यमुने भग्नं न भग्नं वापि तद्धनुः। मग्नं मनसि ते शल्यं किं भवेत् तावता पुनः॥६२॥
“Son of Jamadagni, whether that bow was broken or not, the barb has sunk into your mind. What further purpose can that serve?
Passage 63
त्रैयक्षं वैष्णवं चापि भवत्वास्थातमत्र हि। युद्धं चेद् वाञ्छसि तदा वयं सज्जा रणाङ्गणे॥६३॥
“Let both the bow of Tryakṣa and the Vaiṣṇava bow be set here. If you desire battle, then we stand ready upon the field.” Brahmā said:
Passage 64
एवं वादे निवृत्तेऽभूद् वीरकेलिः परस्परम्। ततः स भार्गवो रामं निर्वर्ण्य बहुधा मुनिः॥६४॥
Thus their exchange became a mutual sport of heroes. Then the sage Bhārgava gazed upon Rāma in many ways.
Passage 65
उवाच वचनं शान्तं वीतरोषस्तु तत्क्षणात्। अहो त्रैलोक्यममुना सुखितं जायतेतराम्॥६५॥
His anger vanished in that instant, and he spoke peaceful words: “Ah, through this one the three worlds become supremely happy.
Passage 66
कोऽयं सौन्दर्यमाधुर्यसमुदायः सुखावहः। बालः कुवलयश्यामो रामः कमललोचनः॥६६॥
“Who is this delight-giving union of beauty and sweetness—this lotus-eyed boy Rāma, dark as a blue water lily?
Passage 67
दृष्टिमानन्दयत्येष जगतां पुरुषोत्तमः। कस्तेन समरं कुर्यान्नित्यानन्देन स्वामिना॥६७॥
“This Supreme Person of the worlds delights the eye. Who would wage battle against that eternally blissful Lord?
Passage 68
स पूर्णः पुरुषो ह्येषोऽवतीर्णो भूमिभारहृत्। ज्ञातसारो न केनापि मनुजत्वेन मन्यते॥६८॥
“He is the complete Person, descended to remove the earth’s burden. His essence is known by none, for he is regarded as merely human.
Passage 69
पूर्णं ब्रह्म चिदानन्दं मनुजाकृति दृश्यते। नानेन सदृशं वस्तु दृश्यते भुवनत्रये॥६९॥
“The complete Brahman, consciousness and bliss, appears in human form. Nothing equal to him is seen in the three worlds.
Passage 70
इदं तत्तेजसां तेजो ज्ञेयानां ज्ञेयमुत्तमम्। न ज्ञातं येन तज्जन्म मुधैव समभूद् भुवि॥७०॥
“This is the splendor of all splendors, the highest object among all that may be known. Whoever has not known him has been born upon earth in vain.
Passage 71
येन ज्ञातो ह्यसौ देवः समृत्योर्मृत्युतामियात्। नमोऽस्मै पूर्णरूपाय पुरुषाय महात्मने॥७१॥
“Whoever knows this God passes from mortality into deathlessness. Reverence to this great Person of complete form.
Passage 72
योगीन्द्रहृदयागारवासिने ब्रह्मरूपिणे। अनेन तुल्यतामेति एष एव महाशयः॥७२॥
“He dwells in the heart-homes of the lords of yoga and embodies Brahman. This great one alone can equal himself.
Passage 73
अयं रामो लोकरामो रमाया वल्लभः स्वयम्। नमाम्यमुष्य चरणौ बालकस्य महात्मनः॥७३॥
“This Rāma is the delight of the worlds and the very beloved of Ramā. I bow to the feet of this great-souled child.
Passage 74
एष एव गवेन्द्रस्य सुखितस्यालये वसन्। जघान राक्षसानीकं स्ववीर्येण महाबलम्॥७४॥
“This same one, dwelling in the home of the happy lord of the cows, destroyed the immensely powerful hosts of demons by his own valor.
Passage 75
बलकृष्णादिरूपाणि अमुष्यैव महात्मनः। एष पूर्णः स्वयं रामो विश्वरूपो जनार्दनः॥७५॥
“The forms of Baladeva, Kṛṣṇa, and the others belong to this very great soul. He is the complete Lord himself—Rāma, Janārdana of universal form.
Passage 76
न चास्य प्रभवो नान्तो न मध्यं न पुनर्भवः। पूर्णरूपः स्वयं लाभः स्वतन्त्रो निरवग्रहः॥७६॥
“He has no origin, end, middle, or return to birth. Complete in form, attained through himself alone, he is independent and unobstructed.
Passage 77
नास्य लीलाविधौ कश्चिद्धेतुरस्ति जगत्त्रये। अयमेव स्वरूपेण चिदानन्दमयाकृतिः॥७७॥
“No cause for the ordering of his līlā exists anywhere in the three worlds. In his own nature his form is made entirely of consciousness and bliss.
Passage 78
अमुष्य सहजा शक्तिः सृष्टिस्थित्यन्तकारिणी। अवतीर्णोऽयमधुना मम तेजोऽपहारकः॥७८॥
“His innate power brings about creation, preservation, and dissolution. He has now descended and has taken away my splendor.
Passage 79
ज्ञाततत्त्वः प्रभुः पूर्णो रणं कः कर्तुमिच्छति। क्षामयाम्यपराधं स्वमस्य पादाब्जवन्दनात्॥७९॥
“Knowing the truth that he is the complete Lord, who would desire battle? I shall seek pardon for my offense by bowing to his lotus feet.”
Passage 80
इत्युक्त्वा सोऽग्रहीत् पादौ रामस्य भृगुनन्दनः। Śrī Rāma said: एवं मा कुरु हे ब्रह्मन् वन्द्योऽसि जगतः प्रभो॥८०॥
Having spoken thus, Bhṛgu’s descendant took hold of Rāma’s feet. Rāma said, “Do not do this, Brāhmaṇa. Lord, you are worthy of reverence from the world.
Passage 81
जामदग्न्य तपोराशौ त्वयि नः संततं नतिः। ततोऽञ्जलिपुटं बद्ध्वा रामः पद्मजलोचनः। ववन्दे मुनिशार्दूलं भार्गवं वीतविग्रहम्॥८१॥
“Son of Jamadagni and treasury of austerity, our reverence is always directed to you.” Then lotus-eyed Rāma joined his palms and bowed to the tiger among sages, Bhārgava, whose hostility had departed. Bhārgava said:
Passage 82
निसर्गकल्याणविधौ त्वय्याशीः पुनरुत्थिता। तथाप्याशास्महे नित्यं वयं भक्ताः प्रभुर्भवान्॥८२॥
“You are naturally the source of auspiciousness, yet my blessing has arisen again toward you. Even so, we devotees always look to you, for you are the Lord.
Passage 83
विस्तारय यशः शुभ्रं राघवेन्द्रकुलेऽमले। शरदां च सहस्राणि तप त्रैलोक्यमण्डले॥८३॥
“Spread your stainless fame throughout the pure house of Raghus, and for thousands of autumns shine throughout the realm of the three worlds.
Passage 84
हर राम भुवो भारं कृतार्थय निजान् जनान्। इत्युक्त्वा तुष्टहृदयो निजं जगाम भृगूत्तमः॥८४॥
“Remove the earth’s burden, Rāma, and fulfill your own people.” Having spoken thus, the best of the Bhṛgus departed for his own abode with a contented heart. --- Thus ends the seventy-eighth chapter, entitled “Bhārgava’s Defeat,” in the dialogue of Brahmā and Bhuśuṇḍa in the Śrīmad Ādi Rāmāyaṇa. Source note The root text is controlled against source leaves 461–469 of the 1975 printed edition. The edition prints passage number 21 twice. It then omits a number after printed 54 for Bhārgava’s independent line beginning कापालीमक्षमालां; the next printed number is 56. The eighty-four actual passage units are therefore registered editorially as 1–84. Speaker changes inside single units and lines printed after a unit’s marker remain with their complete dialogue unit. Difficult or irregular transmitted strings—including those in passages 6, 10–13, 17, 32, 33, 48, 62–63, and 74—are retained rather than silently replaced, while the English gives the clearest sense supported by the immediate syntax and narrative.