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[Rama bends the bow of Visnu--Parasurama returns to Mahendra mountain.]

श्रुत्वा तज्जामदग्न्यस्य वाक्यं दाशरथिस्तदा।

गौरवाद्यंन्त्रितकथ: पितू राममथाब्रवीत्।।1.76.1।।


तदा then, दाशरथि: Rama, जमदग्न्यस्य Parasurama's, (तत्) वाक्यम् words, श्रुत्वा having heard, पितु: father's, गौरवात् out of respect, यन्त्रितकथ: avoiding furthur conversation, अथ thereafter, रामम् addressing Parasurama, अब्रवीत् spoke.

Hearing the words of the son of Jamadagni (Parasurama), Rama, the son of Dasaratha, avoiding further conversation out of respect for his father intercepted Parasurama saying:
श्रुतवानस्मि यत्कर्म कृतवानसि भार्गव।

अनुरुंध्यामहे ब्रह्मन् पितुरानृण्यमास्थितम्।।1.76.2।।


भार्गव O Bhrigu's son, Parasurama, यत् which, कर्म acts, कृतवानसि you have done, श्रुतवान् अस्मि I have listened, ब्रह्मन् O Brahman, पितुः to your father, आनृण्यम् repaying the debt, आस्थितम् obtained, अनुरुन्ध्यामहे we will commend.

"O Descendant of Bhrigu I have listened to the (marvellous) acts you have performed. O Brahman I commend you for discharging your duty in repaying the debt to your father.
वीर्यहीनमिवाशक्तं क्षत्रधर्मेण भार्गव।

अवजानासि मे तेज: पश्य मेऽद्य पराक्रमम्।।1.76.3।।


भार्गव O Descendant of Bhrugu, वीर्यहीनमिव as if I am without valour, क्षत्रधर्मेण by duties of Kshatriya, अशक्तमिव as though incompetant, अवजानासि you are insulting me, अद्य today, मे my, तेज: energy, पराक्रमम् valour, पश्य you may witness.

You underrate me O Bhargava as though I am devoid of valour and incompetent to perform the duties of a Kshatriya. Now witness my energy and valour.
इत्युक्त्वा राघव: क्रुद्धो भार्गवस्य शरासनम्।

शरं च प्रतिजग्राह हस्ताल्लघुपराक्रम:।।1.76.4।।


लघुपराक्रम: with quick vigour, राघव: Rama, क्रुद्ध: enraged, इति उक्त्वा having thus spoken, भार्गवस्य from Parasurama's, हस्तात् hand, शरासनम् bow, शरं च also an arrow, प्रतिजग्राह grasped (pulled).

Having spoken thus, the enraged Rama, gifted with quick vigour, seized the bow and arrow from Parasurama's hands.
आरोप्य स धनू राम श्शरं सज्यं चकार ह।

जामदग्न्यं ततो रामं राम: क्रुद्धोऽब्रवीद्वच:।।1.76.5।।


स: that, राम: Rama, धनु: bow, आरोप्य bending it, शरम् arrow, सज्यम् stretching the string, चकार performed, राम: Rama, तत: thereafter, क्रुद्ध: enraged, जामदग्न्यं son of Jamadagni, रामम् Parasurama, वच: words, अब्रवीत् spoke.

Infuriated Rama bent the bow stretched it, fixed the arrow and addressed Parasurama, the son of Jamadagni:
ब्राह्मणोऽसीति पूज्यो मे विश्वामित्रकृतेन च।

तस्माच्छक्तो न ते राम मोक्तुं प्राणहरं शरम्।।1.76.6।।


राम O Parasurama, ब्राह्मण: असि you are a brahmin, इति for this reason, विश्वामित्रकृतेन through Visvamitra, मे for me, पूज्य: worthy of homage, तस्मात् for that reason, ते your, प्राणहरणम् life taking, शरम् arrow, मोक्तुम् to release,न शक्त: I am not competent.

"You are a brahmin, O Parasurama. You are also related to Viswamitra. Hence you are worthy of homage. I cannot, therefore, release this against you to take your life.
इमां पादगतिं राम तपोबलसमार्जिताम्।

लोकानप्रतिमान्वा ते हनिष्यामि यदिच्छसि ।।1.76.7।।


राम O Parasurama, ते your, इमाम् this, पादगतिम् movement of your feet, तपोबलसमार्जिताम् earned through asceteic energy, अप्रतिमान् incomparable, लोकान् वा worlds, हनिष्यामि I shall destroy, यत् whichever, इच्छसि you are desiring, tell me.

I shall destroy your mobility, O Parasurama or the higher worlds earned through your matchless asceteic energy. Tell me which one you choose.
न ह्ययं वैष्णवो दिव्य श्शर: परपुरञ्जय:।

मोघ: पतति वीर्येण बलदर्पविनाशनः।।1.76.8।।


परपुरञ्जय: conquering hostile cities, वीर्येण by prowess, बलदर्पविनाशन: destroyer of the pride and strength, दिव्य: celestial, अयम् this, वैष्णव: शर: arrow of Vishnu, मोघ: vain, न पतति हि shall not fall.

On conquering the hostile cities and destroying the pride and strength of the enemy
by its prowess, this celestial arrow of Visnu shall not go in vain".
वरायुधधरं रामं द्रष्टुं सर्षिगणा स्सुरा:।

पितामहं पुरस्कृत्य समेतास्तत्र सङ्घश:।।1.76.9।।

गन्धर्वाप्सरसश्चैव सिद्धचारणकिन्नरा:।

यक्षराक्षसनागाश्च तद्द्रष्टुं महदद्भुतम्।।1.76.10।।


वरायुधधरम् holding that mighty weapon, रामम् Rama, द्रष्टुम् to behold, सर्षिगणा: accompanied by sages, सुरा: devatas, पितामहम् grandsire, पुरस्कृत्य keeping in forefront, तत्र there, सङ्घश: in groups, समेता: assembled, गन्धर्वाप्सरसश्चैव gandharvas and apsaras, सिद्धचारणकिन्नरा: siddhas, charanas, kinnaras, यक्षराक्षसनागाश्च yakshas, rakshsas, nagas, तत् that, महत् great, अद्भुतम् wonder, द्रष्टुम् to see (came).

The gods with the Grandsire, Brahma in the forefront, accompanied by sages in groups assembled there to see Rama holding that mighty bow. Gandharvas, apsaras, siddhas, charanas, kinnaras, yakshas, rakshsas and nagas also came there to witness that great wonder.
जडीकृते तदाऽलोके रामे वरधनुर्धरे।

निर्वीर्यो जामदग्न्योऽसौ रामो राममुदैक्षत।।।1.76.11।।


तदा then, रामे when Rama, वरधनुर्धरे was bearing that excellent bow, लोके world, जडीकृते having been made motionless, असौ this, जामदग्नय: son of Jamadagni, राम: Parasurama, निर्वीर्य: bereft of prowess, रामम् Rama, उदैक्षत gazed at him.

Then when Rama stretched the great bow, the world became motionless. The son of Jamadagni, Parasurama, bereft of prowess gazed at him with astonishment.
तेजोभिहतवीर्यत्वाज्जामदग्न्यो जडीकृत:।

रामं कमलपत्राक्षं मन्दं मन्दमुवाच ह।।1.76.12।।


तेजोभि: हतवीर्यत्वात् having been subdued of his energy by the prowess of Rama, जडीकृत: having been made motionless, जामदग्न्य: son of Jamadagni, कमलपत्राक्षम् him whose eyes resembling lotus petals, रामम् Rama, मन्दं मन्दम् slowly, slowly, उवाच ह spoke.

His energy subdued by Rama's prowess, the paralysed, Parasurama, son of Jamadagni spoke in gentle words to him whose eyes resembled the lotus petals:
काश्यपाय मया दत्ता यदा पूर्वं वसुन्धरा।

विषये मे न वस्तव्यमिति मां काश्यपोऽब्रवीत्।।1.76.13।।


पूर्वम् formerly, वसुन्धरा earth, यदा when, मया by me, काश्यपाय for Kasyapa, दत्ता was given, मे my, विषये in my country, न वस्तव्यम् इति shall not live, माम् me, काश्यप: Kasyapa, अब्रवीत् spoke.

"When I gave this entire earth to Kasyapa, he said to me, 'you shall not live in my country'.
सोऽहं गुरुवच: कुर्वन् पृथिव्यां न वसे निशाम्।

कृता प्रतिज्ञा काकुत्स्थ कृता भू: काश्यपस्य हि।।1.76.14।।


सः अहम् such I, गुरुवच: words of my spiritual guide, कुर्वन् following, पृथिव्याम् on this earth, निशाम् during night, न वसे I will not live, काकुस्त्थ O Rama, प्रतिज्ञा vow, कृता has been made, भू: earth, काश्यपस्य for Kasyapa, कृता हि has been given.

O Descendant of Kakustha having gifted this earth to Kasyapa, I promised him that I would not live here, during night time. For the earth belongs to him.
तदिमां त्वं गतिं वीर हन्तुं नार्हसि राघव।

मनोजवं गमिष्यामि महेन्द्रं पर्वतोत्तमम्।।1.76.15।।


वीर O Valourous one, राघव Rama, तत् for that reason, त्वम् you, इमाम् this, गतिम् power of motion, हन्तुम् to destroy, नार्हसि is not fit, मनोजवम् with the speed of mind, महेंद्रम् Mahendra mountain, पर्वतोत्तमम् best of hills, गमिष्यामि I shall go.

For this, you should not destroy my mobility, O valiant son of the Raghus. I shall go to Mahendra, the best of mountains, with the speed of mind.
लोकास्त्वप्रतिमा राम निर्जितास्तपसा मया ।

जहि तान् शरमुख्येन मा भूत्कालस्य पर्यय:।।1.76.16।।


राम O Rama, मया by me, अप्रतिमा: unrivalled, लोका: worlds, तपसा by asceticism, निर्जिता: have been conquered, तान् them, शरमुख्येन with this chief of arrows, जहि strike, कालस्य time, पर्यय: delay, माभूत् let not happen.

Strike with the, principal arrow the unrivalled worlds conquered by my asceticism. Do not delay, O Rama
अक्षय्यं मधुहन्तारं जानामि त्वां सुरेश्वरम्।

धनुषोऽस्य परामर्शात् स्वस्ति तेऽस्तु परंतप।।1.76.17।।


अस्य this, धनुष: bow's, परामर्शात् from stretching, त्वाम् you, अक्षय्यम् imperishable one, सुरेश्वरम् lord of devatas, मधुहन्तारम् Visnu, the slayer of Madhu, जानामि I know, परंतप tormentor of enemies, ते स्वस्ति अस्तु safety to you.

By the fact that you have stretched this bow, I have come to know that you are Visnu, Lord of the gods, slayer of Madhu, O Imperishable one O Tormentor of enemies Fare well.
एते सुरगणास्सर्वे निरीक्षन्ते समागता:।

त्वामप्रतिमकर्माणमप्रतिद्वन्द्वमाहवे।।1.76.18।।


समागता: assembled, एते these, सर्वे all, सुरगणा: hosts of devatas, अप्रतिमकर्माणम् of incomparable deeds, आहवे in the combat, अप्रतिद्वन्द्वम् unassailable, त्वाम् you, निरीक्षन्ते are looking at.

All your deeds are incomparable. You are unassailable in combat. All these hosts of gods have assembled here and are looking at you.
न चेयं मम काकुत्स्थ व्रीडा भवितुमर्हति।

त्वया त्रैलोक्यनाथेन यदहं विमुखीकृत:।।1.76.19।।


काकुत्स्थ O Rama, त्रैलोक्यनाथेन by the lord of three worlds, त्वया by you, अहम् I, यत् that (I am), विमुखीकृत: have been defeated, इयम् this one, मे to me, व्रीडा shame, भवितुम् to become, न अर्हति does not behove.

I have been defeated by you, O Descendant of Kakustha lord of the three worlds. Therefore, it is not right for me to feel ashamed.
शरमप्रतिमं राम मोक्तुमर्हसि सुव्रत।

शरमोक्षे गमिष्यामि महेन्द्रं पर्वतोत्तमम्।।1.76.20।।


सुव्रत one faithful to vows, राम Rama, अप्रतिमम् incomparable, शरम् arrow, मोक्तुम् to release, अर्हसि behoves of you, शरमोक्षे after release of the arrow, पर्वतोत्तमम् excellent of mountains, महेन्द्रम् Mahendra, गमिष्यामि I shall go.

You are faithful to vows O Rama This arrow has no equal in prowess. It behoves of you to release it against me. After its release I shall go to the excellent Mahendra mountain".
तथा ब्रुवति रामे तु जामदग्नये प्रतापवान्।

रामो दाशरथि श्श्रीमान् चिक्षेप शरमुत्तमम्।।1.76.21।।


जामदग्नये when the son of Jamadagni, रामे Parasurama, तथा in that way, ब्रुवति was saying, प्रतापवान् valiant, दाशरथि: son of Dasaratha, राम: Rama, उत्तमम् excellent, शरम् arrow, चिक्षेप employed.

Thus spoke Parasurama, son of Jamadagni to Rama, the valiant son of Dasaratha who (then) discharged the principal arrow.
स हतान् दृश्य रामेण स्वांल्लोकांस्तपसार्जितान्।

जामदग्न्यो जगामाशु महेन्द्रं पर्वतोत्तमम्।।1.76.22।।


स: that, जामदग्न्य: Parasurama, तपसा by asceticism, अर्जितान् earned, स्वान् his own, लोकान् worlds, रामेण by Rama, हतान् struck, दृश्य having seen, आशु speedily, पर्वतोत्तमम् excellent among mountains, महेन्द्रम् Mahendra, जगाम went.

Having witnessed the destruction of those regions earned by him through asceticism, the son of Jamadagni left for the best of mountains Mahendra.
ततो वितिमिरास्सर्वा दिशश्चोपदिशस्तथा।

सुरा स्सर्षिगणा रामं प्रशशंसुरुदायुधम्।।1.76.23।।


तत: thereafter, सर्वा all, दिश: quarters, तथा also, उपदिश: intermediate quarters, वितिमिरा: were cleared of darkness, सर्षिगणा: hosts of sages, सुरा: devatas, उदायुधम् wielding that bow, रामम् Rama, प्रशशंसु: extolled.

Thereafter all the quarters including the intermediaries were cleared of darkness. Hosts of sages and gods extolled Rama when he wielded the bow.
रामं दाशरथिं रामो जामदग्न्य: प्रशस्य च।

तत: प्रदक्षिणी कृत्य जगामात्मगतिं प्रभु:।।1.76.24।।


प्रभु: competent, जामदग्न्य: son of Jamadagni, राम: Parasurama, दाशरथिम् son of Dasaratha, रामम् Rama, प्रशस्य च having praised, तत: then, प्रदक्षिणीकृत्य having circumambulated him, आत्मगतिम् to his own abode, जगाम went.

Parasurama, the competent son of Jamadagni, having praised Rama, the son of
Dasaratha circumbulated him and left for his abode.
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीय आदिकाव्ये बालकाण्डे षट्सप्ततितमस्सर्ग:।।
Thus ends the seventysixth sarga of Balakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.