Bala Kanda, Sarga 76

Meaning

Hearing the challenge of Jamadagni’s son, Śrī Rāma (son of Daśaratha), of course, who remained tongue-tied on that occasion out of regard for his father, now spoke to Paraśurāma as follows : (1)

Meaning

“I have heard, O scion of Bhṛgu, of the work that you have done, intent on repaying the debt you owed to your father by avenging his death. We approve of it, O holy Brāhmaṇa ! (2)

Meaning

“Since, however, you despise me—devoted as I am to the duty of a Kṣatriya and, therefore, chary of speech in the presence of a holy Brāhmaṇa like you—as powerless, as though lacking in virility, O scion of Bhṛgu, pray, witness my glory and prowess today.” (3)

Meaning

Saying so and growing indignant, Śrī Rāma, a scion of Raghu, of swift prowess seized the excellent weapon (bow) as well as the arrow from his hand and further withdrew the divine energy* of Paraśurāma (a scion of the sage Bhṛgu). (4)

Meaning

Stringing the bow, the celebrated Śrī Rāma set the arrow to the string: so the tradition goes. Getting angry, Śrī Rāma then spoke to Paraśurāma (son of Jamadagni) as follows : (5)

Meaning

“You are worthy of respect to me in that you are a Brāhmaṇa and also because of your kinship with Viśwāmitra, who is the maternal uncle of your father. Therefore, I dare not hurl the deadly arrow at you, O Rāma ! (6)

Meaning

“I shall as an alternative take away, O Rāma, your present capacity of unobstructed movement in all the three worlds or put an end to your title to the peerless ethereal worlds, duly acquired by dint of asceticism: such is my mind. (7)

Meaning

“This transcendent arrow of Lord Viṣṇu, capable as it is of reducing the stronghold of an enemy and crushing the might as well as the pride of an adversary by its unique power, never goes without hitting its mark.” (8)

Meaning

Placing Brahmā (the progenitor of the entire creation) at their head, all the gods, accompanied by hosts of Ṛṣis, assembled there in their aerial cars in order to behold Śrī Rāma wielding the superb weapon of Lord Viṣṇu. (9)

Meaning

Gandharvas and celestial dancing girls as well as Siddhas, Cāraṇas and Kinnaras as also Yakṣas, ogres and Nāgas too collected there in order to witness that great marvel. (10)

Meaning

People gathered there, having been stunned at that time with fear at the thought of the dire consequences that might follow from the show of valour on the part of Śrī Rāma, when Śrī Rāma took up the superb bow of Lord Viṣṇu, the celebrated Paraśurāma, son of Jamadagni, now rendered powerless, looked with wonder at Śrī Rāma. (11)

Meaning

Dazed by the brilliance of Śrī Rāma, due to his having been rendered powerless, the son of Jamadagni spoke in a low tone as follows to Śrī Rāma, whose eyes resembled the petals of a lotus : (12)

Meaning

“When in the past the dominion of the earth was bestowed by me on Sage Kaśyapa, Kaśyapa spoke to me as follows : ‘You must no longer inhabit my dominion.’ (13)

Meaning

“Enjoined thus and obeying the command of my preceptor, Kaśyapa, I do not remain on earth at night from that time onward inasmuch as a pledge has been taken by me to that effect before Kaśyapa, which is a well-known fact, O Rāma ! (14)

Meaning

“Be pleased, therefore, O heroic scion of Raghu, not to put an end to my present unhampered movement in all the three worlds. I shall retire to Mount Mahendra, the foremost of mountains, with the speed of thought. (15)

Meaning

“Peerless worlds have actually been earned by me by dint of asceticism, O Rāma! Put an end to my title to them by means of your superb shaft. Let there be no loss of time. (16)

Meaning

“From the fact of your having not only seized but also strung and drawn this bow of Lord Viṣṇu, which could be strung by none else, I conclude you to be no other than the imperishable Lord Viṣṇu, the suzerain Lord of gods), the Slayer of the demon Madhu. Let everything be well with you, O chastiser of foes ! All these hosts of gods gathered together here are looking at you, whose deeds are incomparable and who are unrivalled in combat. (17-18)

Meaning

“This powerlessness of mine in your presence, O scion of Kakutstha, cannot be a matter for shame to me, since I stand worsted by none else than the Lord of all the three worlds. (19)

Meaning

“Be pleased, O Rāma of noble vows, to discharge your matchless arrow. On your having discharged the arrow I shall return to Mount Mahendra, the foremost of mountains.” (20)

Meaning

Even while Paraśurāma, son of Jamadagni, was speaking as aforesaid, the mighty and glorious Rāma, son of Daśaratha, discharged the superb shaft. (21)

Meaning

Finding his own prospective realms, earned by dint of asceticism, ruined by Śrī Rāma, Paraśurāma (son of Jamadagni) immediately returned to Mount Mahendra, the foremost of mountains. (22)

Meaning

Thereupon all the quarters and even so the intermediate corners intervening them were rid of darkness. The gods including the hosts of Ṛṣis accompanying them glorified Śrī Rāma, who stood with the uplifted bow. (23)

Meaning

Having walked clockwise round Śrī Rāma, son of Daśaratha, the mighty Paraśurāma, son of Jamadagni, highly honoured by Śrī Rāma, then retired to his own abode on Mount Mahendra. (24)