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This, indeed, is astonishing to me, that you Pandavas, withdrawn from the path of the virtuous, consider it praiseworthy.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.
मुञ्चैनं भीष्म पश्यन्तु यावदेनं नराधिपः। मत्प्रभावविनिर्दग्धं पतङ्गमिव वह्निना
"Release him, Bhishma, so that all these kings may see him consumed by my power, like a moth by fire."
ततश्चेदिपतेर्वाक्यं श्रुत्वा तत्कुरुसत्तमः। भीमसेनमुवाचेदं भीष्मे मतिमतां वरः
Then, hearing the words of the king of Chedi, the best of the Kurus, Bhishma, wise among the wise, spoke to Bhimasena.
नैषा चेदिपतेर्बुद्धिर्यत्त्वामाह्वयतेऽच्युतम्। भीमसेन महाबाहो कृष्णस्यैव विनिश्चयः
"This is not the will of the king of Chedi, O mighty-armed Bhimasena, that he challenges you; it is Krishna's resolve alone."
चेदिराजकुले जातख्यक्ष एष चतुर्भुजः। रासभारावसदृशं ररास च ननाद च
In the royal house of Chedi, this four-armed yaksha was born; he brayed and roared, sounding like a donkey.
तेनास्य मातापितरौ त्रेसतुस्तौ सबान्धवौ। वैकृतं तस्यत तौ दृष्ट्वा त्यागायाकुरुतां मतिम्
Because of this, his mother and father, along with their relatives, trembled; seeing his deformity, they resolved to abandon him.
ततः सभार्यं नृपतिं सामात्यं सपुरोहितम्। चिन्तासंमूढहृदयं वागुवाचाशरीरेणी
Then, to the king—bewildered in heart with his wife, ministers, and priests—a bodiless voice spoke.
एष ते नृपते पुत्रः श्रीमाञ्जातो बलाधिकः। तस्मादस्मान्न भेतव्यमव्यग्रः पाहि वै शिशुम्
"O king, this son of yours is born glorious and strong; therefore, do not be afraid of us—protect the child without anxiety."
न च वै तस्य मृत्युस्त्वं न कालः प्रत्युपस्थितः। यश्च शस्त्रेण हन्ताऽस्य स चोत्पन्नो नराधिप
"Neither you nor death nor time has come for him; and the one who will slay him with a weapon is also born, O king."
संश्रुत्योदाहृतं वाक्यं भूतमन्तर्हितं ततः। पुत्रस्नेहाभिसन्तप्ता जननी वाक्यमब्रवीत्
When that utterance from the unseen being was heard, the mother, burning with affection for her son, spoke these words.
येनेदमीरितं वाक्यं ममैतं तनयं प्रति। प्राञ्जलिस्तं नमस्यामि ब्रवीतु स पुनर्वचः
"Whoever has spoken these words about my son, to him I bow with joined palms—may he speak again."