Sarga 75: Parashurama's Story & Vishnu's Bow
Parashurama Itihas
Parashurama encounters the group with the bow of Vishnu.
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इमे द्वे धनुषी श्रेष्ठे दिव्ये लोकाभिविश्रुते। दृढे बलवती मुख्ये सुकृते विश्वकर्मणा।
Meaning
'These two excellent, celestial bows, famed throughout the worlds, are firm, powerful, and supreme — the handiwork of Vishvakarma.'
अतिसृष्टं सुरैरेकं त्र्यम्बकाय युयुत्सवे। त्रिपुरघ्नं नरश्रेष्ठ भग्नं काकुत्स्थ यत्त्वया।
Meaning
'One, given by the gods to three-eyed Shiva for his battle with the demon Tripura, is the very one you have broken, O best of men.'
इदं द्वितीयं दुर्धर्षं विष्णोर्दत्तं सुरोत्तमै:। तदिदं वैष्णवं राम धनु: परमभास्वरम्। समानसारं काकुत्स्थ रौद्रेण धनुषा त्विदम्।
Meaning
'This second bow, unassailable, was given by the gods to Vishnu — this radiant bow of Vishnu equals Shiva's bow in strength.'
तदा तु देवतास्सर्वा: पृच्छन्ति स्म पितामहम्। शितिकण्ठस्य विष्णोश्च बलाबलनिरीक्षया।
Meaning
'Once, wishing to judge the relative might of Shiva and Vishnu, all the gods questioned Brahma, the grandsire.'
अभिप्रायं तु विज्ञाय देवतानां पितामह:। विरोधं जनयामास तयो स्सत्यवतां वर:।
Meaning
'Sensing what the gods truly wanted, Brahma, foremost among the truthful, himself stirred up a contest between the two.'
विरोधे च महद्युद्धमभवद्रोमहर्षणम् । शितिकण्ठस्य विष्णोश्च परस्परजिगीषुणो:।
Meaning
'In that rivalry a tremendous, hair-raising battle broke out between Shiva and Vishnu, each seeking to defeat the other.'
तदा तु जृम्भितं शैवं धनुर्भीमपराक्रमम्। हुङ्कारेण महादेव स्तम्भितोऽथ त्रिलोचन:।
Meaning
'Then, with a mere roar, Vishnu made Shiva's terrible bow go slack, and three-eyed Mahadeva himself was left motionless.'
देवैस्तदा समागम्य सर्षिसघै स्सचारणै:। याचितौ प्रशमं तत्र जग्मतुस्तौ सुरोत्तमौ।
Meaning
'The gods, sages, and celestial bards gathered together and begged the two great ones to make peace, and peace was made.'
जृम्भितं तद्धनुर्द्रृष्ट्वा शैवं विष्णुपराक्रमै:। अधिकं मेनिरे विष्णुं देवा स्सर्षिगणास्तदा ।
Meaning
'Seeing Shiva's bow rendered inert by Vishnu's might, the gods and sages from that day regarded Vishnu as the greater.'
धनू रुद्रस्तु सङ्कृद्धो विदेहेषु महायशा:। देवरातस्य राजर्षेर्ददौ हस्ते ससायकम्।
Meaning
'Enraged at this, glorious Rudra placed that bow, together with its arrow, into the hands of the royal sage Devarata in Videha.'