बाला यूयं न जानीध्वं धर्मसूक्ष्मं विहङ्गमाः। धर्मं यः कुरुते लोके सततं शुभबुद्धिना। न चायुषोऽन्ते स्वं देहं त्यक्त्वा स्वर्गं स गच्छति
You are young and do not know the subtlety of dharma, O birds; one who always practices dharma in the world with pure intent, at the end of his life, after leaving his body, does not go to heaven.
तथाऽहमपि च त्यक्त्वा काले देहमिमं द्विजाः। स्वर्गलोकं गमिष्यामि इयं धर्मस्य वै गतिः
So too, when I leave this body at the proper time, O twice-born, I will go to the heavenly world; this is indeed the path of dharma.
एवं धर्मकथां चक्रे स हंसः पक्षिणां भृशम्। पक्षिणः शुश्रुवुर्भीष्म सततं धर्ममेव ते
Thus the swan spoke extensively of dharma to the birds; and the birds, O Bhishma, always listened only to dharma.
अथास्य भक्ष्यमाजह्रुः समुद्रजलचारिणः। अण्डजा भीष्म तस्यान्ये धर्मार्थमिति शुश्रुम
Then, those egg-born who dwell in the ocean waters brought him food, O Bhishma, as we have heard, for the sake of dharma.
ते च तस्य समभ्याशे निक्षिप्याण्डानि सर्वशः। समुद्राम्भस्यमोदन्त चरन्तो भीष्म पक्षिणः
And they placed their eggs near him, all together; while the birds, O Bhishma, moved about joyfully in the ocean waters.
तेषामण्डानि सर्वेषां भक्षयामास पापकृत्। स हंसः सम्प्रमत्तानामप्रमत्तः स्वकर्मणि
The sinful swan ate all their eggs, being attentive to his own actions while the others were careless.
ततः प्रक्षीयमाणेषु तेषु तेष्वण्डजोऽपरः। अशङ्कत महाप्राज्ञः स कदाचिद्ददर्श ह
Then, as those eggs were being destroyed, another bird hatched from an egg; the wise one became anxious, and at some time he saw this.
ततः सङ्कथयामास दृष्ट्वा हंसस्य किल्बिषम्। तेषां परमदुःखार्तः स पक्षी सर्वपक्षिणाम्
Then, seeing the sin of the swan, that bird, afflicted with great sorrow for them, began to speak.
ततः प्रत्यक्षतो दृष्ट्वा पक्षिणस्ते समीपगाः। निजघ्नस्तं तदा हंसं मिथ्यावृत्तं कुरूद्वह
Then, seeing directly the swan's wrongful conduct, the birds nearby struck down that swan, O descendant of the Kurus.
एवं त्वां हंसधर्माणमपीमे वसुधाधिपाः। निहन्युर्भीष्म सङ्क्रुद्धाः पक्षिणस्तं यथाण्डजम्
In this way, Bhishma, even these kings of the earth, angered, might slay you, who follow the dharma of the swan, just as those birds killed that egg-born one.
गाथामप्यत्र गायन्ति ये पुराणविदो जनाः। भीष्म यां तां च ते सम्यक्वथयिष्यामि भारत
There is also a verse sung here by those who know the ancient lore; Bhishma, I will properly recount it to you, O Bharata.
अन्तरात्मन्यभिहते रौषि पत्ररथाशुचि। अण्डभक्षणकर्मैतत्तव वाचमतीयते
When the inner self is struck, anger arises, O pure one with wings as chariots; this act of eating eggs is spoken of in your words.
स मे बहुमतो राजा जरासन्धो महाबलः। योऽनेन युद्धं नेयेष दाक्षोऽयमिति संयुगे
That king Jarasandha, mighty in strength, is highly esteemed by me; he is skilled in battle, and none could bring him to fight.
केशवेन कृतं कर्म जरासन्धवधे तदा। भीमसेनार्जुनाभ्यां च कस्तत्साध्विति मन्यते
The deed performed by Keshava in the killing of Jarasandha, together with Bhimasena and Arjuna—who considers that a worthy act?
उद्वारेण प्रविष्टेन छद्मना ब्रह्मवादिना। दृष्टः प्रभावः कृष्णेन जरासन्धस्य भूपतेः
By entering through the gate, disguised as a Brahmin, Krishna saw the power of King Jarasandha.
येन धर्मात्मनाऽऽत्मानं ब्रह्मण्यमभिजानता। प्रेषितं पाद्यमस्मै तद्दातुमग्रे दूरात्मने
By whom, righteous in soul and knowing the Brahmin's ways, water for washing feet was sent to him to offer first to one of wicked intent.
भुज्यतामिति तेनोक्ताः कृष्णबीमधनञ्जयाटः। जरासन्धेन कौरव्य कृष्णेन विकृतं कृतम्
He said, 'Let it be eaten,' to Krishna, Bhima, and Arjuna; but by Krishna, O Kaurava, a distorted act was done to Jarasandha.
यद्ययं जगतः कर्ता यथैनं मूर्ख मन्यसे। कस्मान्न ब्राह्मणं सम्यगात्मानमवगच्छति
If he is the creator of the world, as you foolishly think him to be, why does he not properly recognize the Brahmin as his own self?
इदं त्वाश्चर्यभूतं मे यदिभे पाण्डवास्त्वया। अपकृष्टाः सतां मार्गान्मन्यन्ते तच्च साध्विति
This, indeed, is astonishing to me, that you Pandavas, withdrawn from the path of the virtuous, consider it praiseworthy.
अथवा नैतदाश्चर्यं येषां त्वमसि भारत। स्त्रीसधर्मा च वृद्धश्च सर्वार्थानां प्रदर्शकः
Or perhaps it is not astonishing, O Bharata, for you are aged and follow the dharma of women, and you are a guide for all matters.
तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा रूक्षं रूक्षाक्षरं बहु। चकोप बलिनां श्रेष्ठो भीमसेनः प्रतापवान्
Hearing his harsh, many harsh words, Bhimasena, the foremost of the strong and radiant, became angry.
तथा पद्मप्रतीकाशे स्वभावायतविस्तृते। भूयः क्रोधाभिताम्राक्षे रक्ते नेत्रे बभूवतुः
Then, with eyes reddened by anger, resembling lotuses and naturally wide, both became even more furious.
त्रिशिखां भ्रकुटीं चास्य ददृशुः सर्वपार्थिवाः। ललाटस्थां त्रिकूटस्थां गङ्गां त्रिपथगामिव
All the kings saw his three locks of hair, his frown, and the mark on his forehead, like the triple-flowing Ganga.
दन्तान्सन्दशतस्तस्य कोपाद्ददृशुराननम्। युगान्ते सर्वभूतानि कालस्येव जिघत्सतः
They saw his face, biting his teeth in anger, like Time desiring to devour all beings at the end of an age.
उत्पतन्तं तु वेगेन जग्राहैनं मनस्विन्। भीष्म एव महाबाहुर्महासेनमिवेश्वरः
But as he leapt forward with force, Bhishma, mighty-armed and resolute, seized him—like the Lord restraining a great general.
तस्व भीमस्य भीष्मेण वार्यमाणस्य भारत। गुरुणा विविधैर्वाक्यैः क्रोधः प्रशममागतः
Then, as Bhima was being held back by Bhishma, O Bharata, the elder addressed him with many words, and Bhima's anger subsided.
नातिचक्राम भीष्मस्य स हि वाक्यमरिन्दमः। समुद्वृत्तो घनापाये वेलामिव महोदधिः
The subduer of foes did not overstep Bhishma's words; though roused, he halted like the great ocean at its shore when the clouds have dispersed.
शिशुपालस्तु सङ्क्रुद्धे भीमसेने जनाधिप। नाकम्पत तदा वीरः पौरुषे व्यवस्थितः
But Shishupala, as Bhimasena was enraged, O king, did not waver then; the hero stood firm in his manliness.
उत्पतन्तं तु वेगेन पुनः पुनररिन्दमः। न स तं चिन्तयामास सिंहः क्रुद्धो मृगं यथा
Again and again, as the subduer of foes leapt forward with speed, he paid him no heed—like an angry lion ignores a deer.
प्रहसंश्चाब्रवीद्वाक्यं चेदिराजः प्रतापवान्। भीमसेनमभिक्रुद्धं दृष्ट्वा भीमपराक्रमम्
And laughing, the powerful king of Chedi spoke these words, seeing Bhimasena enraged and displaying his formidable might.