Kartavirya Arjuna and Parashurama

Verse 1 (14.30.1)

अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम् । कार्तवीर्यस्य संवादं समुद्रस्य च भामिनि ॥

atrāpyudāharantīmamitihāsaṃ purātanam | kārtavīryasya saṃvādaṃ samudrasya ca bhāmini

The Brahmin said: On this subject, too, they recount an ancient tale, the dialogue between Kartavirya and the Ocean, O lovely one.

Verse 2 (14.30.2)

कार्तवीर्यार्जुनो नाम राजा बाहुसहस्रवान् । येन सागरपर्यन्ता धनुषा निर्जिता मही ॥

kārtavīryārjuno nāma rājā bāhusahasravān | yena sāgaraparyantā dhanuṣā nirjitā mahī

There was a king named Kartavirya Arjuna, who had a thousand arms, and by whose bow the earth was conquered as far as the shores of the sea.

Verse 3 (14.30.3)

स कदाचित्समुद्रान्ते विचरन्बलदर्पितः । अवाकिरच्छरशतैः समुद्रमिति नः श्रुतम् ॥

sa kadācitsamudrānte vicaranbaladarpitaḥ | avākiraccharaśataiḥ samudramiti naḥ śrutam

Once, roaming along the shore of the sea, proud of his strength, he showered the ocean with hundreds of arrows; so we have heard.

Note on the text: Corrected अवीकिरच्छरशतैः → अवाकिरच्छरशतैः (misprint in Wikisource: ई for आ, not a form of अव-कॄ; CE avākirac charaśataiḥ).

Verse 4 (14.30.4)

तं समुद्रो नमस्कृत्य कृताञ्जलिरुवाच ह । मा मुञ्च वीर नाराचान्ब्रूहि किं करवाणि ते ॥

taṃ samudro namaskṛtya kṛtāñjaliruvāca ha | mā muñca vīra nārācānbrūhi kiṃ karavāṇi te

The Ocean bowed to him and, with joined palms, said: "Do not loose your arrows, hero. Tell me, what can I do for you?

Note on the text: Corrected कृताञ्जलिरुवाचह → कृताञ्जलिरुवाच ह (the two words run together in Wikisource; CE uvāca ha).

Verse 5 (14.30.5)

मदाश्रयाणि भूतानि त्वद्विसृष्टैर्महेषुभिः । वध्यन्ते राजशार्दूल तेभ्यो देह्यभयं विभो ॥

madāśrayāṇi bhūtāni tvadvisṛṣṭairmaheṣubhiḥ | vadhyante rājaśārdūla tebhyo dehyabhayaṃ vibho

Creatures who depend on me are being killed by the great arrows you let fly, O tiger among kings. Grant them safety, O lord."

Note on the text: Speaker: no heading is printed; whole-verse speech of the Ocean, so given to it (the input had ब्राह्मण).

Verse 6 (14.30.6)

मत्समो यदि संग्रामे शरासनधरः क्वचित् । विद्यते तं समाचक्ष्व यः समो मे महामृधे ॥

matsamo yadi saṃgrāme śarāsanadharaḥ kvacit | vidyate taṃ samācakṣva yaḥ samo me mahāmṛdhe

Arjuna said: If anywhere there is an archer who is my equal in battle, tell me of him, one who would be a match for me in a great fight.

Verse 7 (14.30.7)

महर्षिर्जमदग्निस्ते यदि राजन्पुरा श्रुतः । तस्य पुत्रस्तवातिथ्यं यथावत्कर्तुमर्हति ॥

maharṣirjamadagniste yadi rājanpurā śrutaḥ | tasya putrastavātithyaṃ yathāvatkartumarhati

The Ocean said: If you have heard of the great sage Jamadagni, O king, his son is able to offer you hospitality as is fitting.

Verse 8 (14.30.8)

ततः स राजा प्रययौ क्रोधेन महता वृतः । स तमाश्रममागम्य राममेवान्वपद्यत ॥

tataḥ sa rājā prayayau krodhena mahatā vṛtaḥ | sa tamāśramamāgamya rāmamevānvapadyata

Then the king set out, filled with great anger, reached the hermitage, and went against Rama himself.

Note on the text: Speaker: narration by the Brahmin (no heading is printed; the heading समुद्र उवाच before verse 7 was carried over by the input, and the CE likewise has no new heading until pitara ūcuḥ at 14.29.22). (The input had समुद्र.)

Verse 9 (14.30.9)

स रामप्रतिकूलानि चकार सह बन्धुभिः । आयासं जनयामास रामस्य च महात्मनः ॥

sa rāmapratikūlāni cakāra saha bandhubhiḥ | āyāsaṃ janayāmāsa rāmasya ca mahātmanaḥ

With his kinsmen he did every kind of wrong to Rama and caused trouble to the great-souled Rama.

Note on the text: Speaker: narration by the Brahmin (no heading is printed; the heading समुद्र उवाच before verse 7 was carried over by the input, and the CE likewise has no new heading until pitara ūcuḥ at 14.29.22). (The input had समुद्र.)

Verse 10 (14.30.10)

ततस्तेजः प्रजज्वाल रामस्यामिततेजसः । प्रदहन्रिपुसैन्यानि तदा कमललोचने ॥

tatastejaḥ prajajvāla rāmasyāmitatejasaḥ | pradahanripusainyāni tadā kamalalocane

Then the energy of Rama of boundless splendour blazed up, burning the enemy's armies, O lotus-eyed one.

Note on the text: Speaker: narration by the Brahmin (no heading is printed; the heading समुद्र उवाच before verse 7 was carried over by the input, and the CE likewise has no new heading until pitara ūcuḥ at 14.29.22). (The input had समुद्र.)

Verse 11 (14.30.11)

ततः परशुमादाय स तं बाहुसहस्रिणम् । चिच्छेद सहसा रामो बहुशाखमिव द्रुमम् ॥

tataḥ paraśumādāya sa taṃ bāhusahasriṇam | ciccheda sahasā rāmo bahuśākhamiva drumam

Then, taking up his axe, Rama suddenly cut down the thousand-armed king, as one cuts down a tree with many branches.

Note on the text: Speaker: narration by the Brahmin (no heading is printed; the heading समुद्र उवाच before verse 7 was carried over by the input, and the CE likewise has no new heading until pitara ūcuḥ at 14.29.22). (The input had समुद्र.) Corrected चिन्छेद → चिच्छेद (misprint in Wikisource: न् for च्; CE ciccheda).

Verse 12 (14.30.12)

तं हतं पतितं दृष्ट्वा समेताः सर्वबान्धवाः । असीनादाय शक्तीश्च भार्गवं पर्यवारयन् ॥

taṃ hataṃ patitaṃ dṛṣṭvā sametāḥ sarvabāndhavāḥ | asīnādāya śaktīśca bhārgavaṃ paryavārayan

Seeing him slain and fallen, all his kinsmen gathered, took up swords and spears, and closed in around Bhargava.

Note on the text: Speaker: narration by the Brahmin (no heading is printed; the heading समुद्र उवाच before verse 7 was carried over by the input, and the CE likewise has no new heading until pitara ūcuḥ at 14.29.22). (The input had समुद्र.) Corrected शक्तीर्श्च → शक्तीश्च (stray र्) and पर्यधावयन् → पर्यवारयन् (misprint in Wikisource, not a sensible form here; CE paryavārayan).

Verse 13 (14.30.13)

रामोऽपि धनुरादाय रथमारुह्य सत्वरः । विसृजञ्शरवर्षाणि व्यधमत्पार्थिवं बलम् ॥

rāmo'pi dhanurādāya rathamāruhya satvaraḥ | visṛjañśaravarṣāṇi vyadhamatpārthivaṃ balam

Rama too took up his bow and swiftly mounted his chariot, and, loosing showers of arrows, he shattered the royal host.

Note on the text: Speaker: narration by the Brahmin (no heading is printed; the heading समुद्र उवाच before verse 7 was carried over by the input, and the CE likewise has no new heading until pitara ūcuḥ at 14.29.22). (The input had समुद्र.)

Verse 14 (14.30.14)

ततस्तु क्षत्रियाः केचिज्जमदग्निं निहत्य च । विविशुर्गिरिदुर्गाणि मृगाः सिंहार्दिता इव ॥

tatastu kṣatriyāḥ kecijjamadagniṃ nihatya ca | viviśurgiridurgāṇi mṛgāḥ siṃhārditā iva

Then some of the Kshatriyas, after killing Jamadagni, entered mountain fastnesses, like deer harried by lions.

Note on the text: Speaker: narration by the Brahmin (no heading is printed; the heading समुद्र उवाच before verse 7 was carried over by the input, and the CE likewise has no new heading until pitara ūcuḥ at 14.29.22). (The input had समुद्र.)

Verse 15 (14.30.15)

तेषां स्वविहितं कर्म तद्भयान्नानुतिष्ठताम् । प्रजा वृषलतां प्राप्ता ब्राह्मणानामदर्शनात् ॥

teṣāṃ svavihitaṃ karma tadbhayānnānutiṣṭhatām | prajā vṛṣalatāṃ prāptā brāhmaṇānāmadarśanāt

Through fear of him they no longer followed their own prescribed duties, and through no longer seeing Brahmins the people fell into the state of outcastes.

Note on the text: Speaker: narration by the Brahmin (no heading is printed; the heading समुद्र उवाच before verse 7 was carried over by the input, and the CE likewise has no new heading until pitara ūcuḥ at 14.29.22). (The input had समुद्र.)

Verse 16 (14.30.16)

एवं ते द्रविडाऽभीराः पुण्ड्राश्च शबरैः सह । वृषलत्वं परिगता व्युत्थानात्क्षत्रधर्मतः ॥

evaṃ te draviḍā'bhīrāḥ puṇḍrāśca śabaraiḥ saha | vṛṣalatvaṃ parigatā vyutthānātkṣatradharmataḥ

In this way the Dravidas and Abhiras, and the Pundras together with the Shabaras, fell into the state of outcastes by departing from the duty of Kshatriyas.

Note on the text: Speaker: narration by the Brahmin (no heading is printed; the heading समुद्र उवाच before verse 7 was carried over by the input, and the CE likewise has no new heading until pitara ūcuḥ at 14.29.22). (The input had समुद्र.)

Verse 17 (14.30.17)

ततश्च हतवीरासु क्षत्रियासु पुनः पुनः । द्विजैरुत्पादितं क्षत्रं जामदग्न्यो न्यकृन्तत ॥

tataśca hatavīrāsu kṣatriyāsu punaḥ punaḥ | dvijairutpāditaṃ kṣatraṃ jāmadagnyo nyakṛntata

Then, as the Kshatriya women were again and again widowed of their heroes, the Kshatriya stock that Brahmins had raised up was cut down by Jamadagni's son.

Note on the text: Speaker: narration by the Brahmin (no heading is printed; the heading समुद्र उवाच before verse 7 was carried over by the input, and the CE likewise has no new heading until pitara ūcuḥ at 14.29.22). (The input had समुद्र.)

Verse 18 (14.30.18)

एकविंशतिमे याते रामं वागशरीरिणी । दिव्या प्रोवाच मधुरा सर्वलोकपरिश्रुता ॥

ekaviṃśatime yāte rāmaṃ vāgaśarīriṇī | divyā provāca madhurā sarvalokapariśrutā

When the twenty-first time had passed, a bodiless voice, divine, sweet and heard throughout all the worlds, spoke to Rama:

Note on the text: Speaker: narration by the Brahmin (no heading is printed; the heading समुद्र उवाच before verse 7 was carried over by the input, and the CE likewise has no new heading until pitara ūcuḥ at 14.29.22). (The input had समुद्र.)

Verse 19 (14.30.19)

रामराम निवर्तस्व कं गुणं तात पश्यसि । क्षत्रबन्धूनिमान्प्राणैर्विप्रयोज्य पुनः पुनः ॥

rāmarāma nivartasva kaṃ guṇaṃ tāta paśyasi | kṣatrabandhūnimānprāṇairviprayojya punaḥ punaḥ

"Rama, Rama, turn back! What good do you see, dear child, in repeatedly depriving these Kshatriya-kin of their lives?"

Note on the text: Speaker: no heading is printed; whole-verse speech of the bodiless voice announced in verse 18, so given to it (the input had समुद्र).

Verse 20 (14.30.20)

तथैव तं महात्मानमृचीकप्रमुखास्तदा । पितामहा महाभाग निवर्तस्वेत्यथाब्रुवन् ॥

tathaiva taṃ mahātmānamṛcīkapramukhāstadā | pitāmahā mahābhāga nivartasvetyathābruvan

In the same way Richika and the other forefathers said to that great-souled one: "Turn back, O greatly fortunate one."

Note on the text: Speaker: narration by the Brahmin (no heading is printed; the heading समुद्र उवाच before verse 7 was carried over by the input, and the CE likewise has no new heading until pitara ūcuḥ at 14.29.22). (The input had समुद्र.) The second line is the forefathers' words as reported.

Verse 21 (14.30.21)

पितुर्वधममृष्यंस्तु रामः प्रोवाच तानृषीन् । नार्हन्तीह भवन्तो मां निवारयितुमित्युत ॥

piturvadhamamṛṣyaṃstu rāmaḥ provāca tānṛṣīn | nārhantīha bhavanto māṃ nivārayitumityuta

Unable to bear his father's slaying, Rama said to those sages: "You should not stop me in this."

Note on the text: Speaker: narration by the Brahmin (no heading is printed; the heading समुद्र उवाच before verse 7 was carried over by the input, and the CE likewise has no new heading until pitara ūcuḥ at 14.29.22). (The input had समुद्र.) The second line is Rama's words as reported.

Verse 22 (14.30.22)

नार्हसे क्षत्रबन्धूंस्त्वं निहन्तुं जयतांवर । नेह युक्तं त्वया हन्तुं ब्राह्मणेन सता नृपान् ॥

nārhase kṣatrabandhūṃstvaṃ nihantuṃ jayatāṃvara | neha yuktaṃ tvayā hantuṃ brāhmaṇena satā nṛpān

The Forefathers said: You should not slay the Kshatriya-kin, O best of victors. It is not fitting for you, a Brahmin and a good man, to kill kings here.