याथातथ्येन भगवान्देवो वा यदि वेतरः। श्रोतुमिच्छामि पुत्रस्य कोऽस्य मृत्युर्भविष्यति
"Whether god or another, O blessed one, whoever you are, I wish to hear truly: who will be the death of my son?"
अन्तर्भूतं ततो भूतमुवाचेदं पुनर्वचः। यस्योत्सङ्गे गृहीतस्य भुजावभ्यधिकावुभौ
Then the unseen being spoke again: "The one in whose lap, when held, both his arms are surpassed—"
पतिष्यतः क्षितितले पञ्चशीर्षाविवोरगौ। तृतीयमेतद्बालस्य ललाटस्थं तु लोचनम्
As the child fell to the ground, two five-headed serpents appeared; the third eye of the boy, located on his forehead, was also visible.
निमज्जिष्यति यं दृष्ट्वा सोऽस्य मृत्युर्भविष्यति। त्र्यक्षं चतुर्भुजं श्रुत्वा तथा च समुदाहृतम्
Whoever, upon seeing that eye, would attempt to submerge it, would meet his death; it was spoken that the child possessed three eyes and four arms.
पृथिव्यां पार्थिवाः सर्वे अभ्यागच्छन्दिदृक्षवः। तान्पूजयित्वा सम्प्राप्तान्यथार्हं स महीपतिः
All the kings of the earth came, eager to see; the great king welcomed them as was proper.
एकैकस्य नृपस्याङ्के पुत्रमारोपयत्तदा। एवं राजसहस्राणा पृथक्त्वेन यथाक्रमम्
At that time, the king placed the child on the lap of each king, one by one, in proper order, among the thousands of kings.
शिशुरङ्के समारूढो न तत्प्राय निदर्शनम्। एतदेव तु संश्रुत्य द्वारवत्यां महाबलौ
When the child was placed on their laps, nothing unusual occurred; but hearing only this, the two mighty ones in Dvārakā,
ततश्चेदिपुरं प्राप्तौ सङ्कर्षणजनार्दनौ। यादवौ यादवीं द्रुष्टुं स्वसारं तौ पितुस्तदा
Then Saṅkarṣaṇa and Janārdana arrived at the city of the Cedis, the two Yādavas, to see their sister, the daughter of their father.
अभिवाद्य यथान्यायं यथाश्रेष्ठं नृपं च ताम्। कुशलानामयं पृष्ट्वा निषण्णौ रामकेशवौ
Having respectfully greeted the king and her according to proper custom and rank, Rāma and Keśava asked after their well-being and sat down.
साऽभ्यर्च्य तौ तदा वीरौ प्रीत्या चाभ्यधिकं ततः। पुत्रं दामोदरोत्सङ्गे देवी संन्यदधात्स्वयम्
She then honored those two heroes with affection, and herself placed her son Dāmodara on her lap.
न्यस्तमात्रस्य तस्याङ्के भुजावभ्यधिकावुभौ। पेततुस्तच्च नयनं न्यमज्जत ललाटजम्
As soon as he was placed on her lap, both of his arms grew larger; the eye on his forehead fell and sank down.
तद्दृष्ट्वा व्यथिता त्रस्ता वरं कृष्णमयाचत। ददस्व मे वरं कृष्ण भयार्ताया महाभुज
Seeing this, she was distressed and frightened, and begged Kṛṣṇa for a boon: 'Grant me a boon, Kṛṣṇa, for I am terrified, O mighty-armed one.'
त्वं ह्यार्तानां समाश्वासो भीतानामभयप्रदः। एवमुक्तस्ततः कृष्णः सोऽब्रवीद्यदुनन्दनः
'You are the comfort of the afflicted and the giver of fearlessness to the fearful.' Thus addressed, Kṛṣṇa, the joy of the Yadus, replied:
मा भैस्त्वं देवि धर्मज्ञे न मत्तोऽस्ति भयं तव। ददामि कं वरं किं च करवाणि पितृष्वसः
'Do not fear, O virtuous lady; there is no danger to you from me. Tell me what boon you desire, what I should do for you, O father's sister.'
शक्यं वा यदि वाऽशक्यं करिष्याणि वचस्तव। एवमुक्ता ततः कृष्णमब्रवीद्यदुनन्दनम्
'Whether it is possible or impossible, I will carry out your request.' Thus addressed, she spoke to Kṛṣṇa, the joy of the Yadus:
शिशुपालस्यापराधान्क्षमेथास्त्वं महाबल। मत्कृते यदुशार्दूल विद्ध्येनं मे वरं प्रभो
'Forgive the offenses of Śiśupāla, O mighty one; for my sake, O lion of the Yadus, grant me this boon, Lord, spare him.'
अपराधशतं क्षाम्यं मया ह्यस्य पितृष्वसः। पुत्रस्य ते वधार्हस्य मा त्वं शोके मनः कृथाः
'I will forgive a hundred offenses of this son of your father's sister; do not let your mind be troubled with grief for your son, though he deserves death.'
स जानन्नात्मनो मृत्युं कृष्णं यदुसुखावहम्'। एवमेष नृपः पापः शिशुपाः सुमन्दधीः। त्वां समाह्वयते वीर गोविन्दवरदर्पितः
Knowing his own death and that Kṛṣṇa brings happiness to the Yadus, this sinful king, Śiśupāla, of very dull intellect, challenges you, O hero, boasting of the boon granted by Govinda.
नैषा चेदिपतेर्बुद्धिर्यया त्वाह्वयतेऽच्युतम्। नूनमेव जगद्भर्तुः कृष्णस्यैव विनिश्चयः
This is not the wisdom of the king of the Cedis by which he challenges you, O Acyuta; surely it is the decision of Kṛṣṇa, the Lord of the world.
को हि मां भीमसेनाद्य क्षितावर्हति पार्थिवः। क्षेप्तुं कालपरीतात्मा यथैष कुलपांसनः
For what king today, possessed by time, could cast me, Bhīmasena, down to the earth, as this destroyer of his lineage attempts?
एष ह्यस्य महाबाहुस्तेर्जोशश्च हरेर्ध्रुवम्। तमेव पुनरादातुं कुरुतेऽत्र मतिं हरिः
Indeed, this is the unwavering energy and resolve of Hari, the mighty-armed one; it is Hari himself who now sets his mind to reclaim it.
येनैष कुरुशार्दूल शार्दूल इव चेदिराट्। गर्जत्यतीव दुर्बुद्धिः सर्वानस्मानचिन्तयन्
By this, O tiger among Kurus, the king of Cedi, like a tiger, roars exceedingly, this man of evil mind, disregarding all of us.
ततो न ममृषे चैद्यस्तद्भीष्मवचनं तदा। उवाच चैन सङ्क्रुद्धः पुनर्भीष्ममथोत्तरम्
Then the king of Cedi could not endure Bhishma's words at that time; enraged, he spoke again to Bhishma in reply.
द्विषतां नोऽस्तु भीष्मैष प्रभावः केशवस्य यः। यस्य संस्तववक्ता त्वं बन्दिवत्सततोत्थितः
Let this power of Kesava, O Bhishma, be for our enemies, since you are always rising like a bard to sing his praises.
संस्तवे चमनो भीष्म परेषां रमते यदि। तदा संस्तुहि राज्ञस्त्वमिमं हित्वा जनार्दनम्
If, Bhishma, you delight in praising others, then praise this king, abandoning Janardana.
दरदं स्तुहि बाह्लीकमिमं पार्थिवसत्तमम्। जायमानेन येनेयभवद्दारिता मही
Praise Darada, praise this king of the Bahlika, the foremost among rulers, by whom the earth was torn at his birth.
वङ्गाङ्गविषयाध्यक्षं सहस्राक्षसमं बले। स्तुहि कर्णमिमं भीष्म महाचापविकर्षणम्
Praise Karna, O Bhishma, the overseer of the Vanga and Anga lands, equal in strength to thousand-eyed Indra, the great bowman.
यस्येमे कुण्डले दिव्ये सहजे देवनिर्मिते। कवचं च महाबाहो बालार्कसदृशप्रभम्
He whose these divine earrings are, innate and fashioned by the gods, and whose armor, O mighty-armed one, shines like the rising sun.
वासवप्रतिमो येन जरासन्धोऽतिदुर्जयः। विजितो बाहुयुद्धेन देहभेदं च लम्भितः
By whom Jarasandha, nearly invincible and equal to Indra, was conquered in hand-to-hand combat and brought to the point of death.
द्रोणं द्रौणिं च साधु त्वं पितापुत्रौ महारथौ। स्तुहि स्तुत्यावुभौ भीष्म सततं द्विजसत्तमौ
Praise Drona and Drona's son, the father and son, great chariot-warriors; both are always worthy of praise, O Bhishma, foremost among twice-born.