ययोरन्यतरो भीष्म सङ्क्रुद्धः सचराचराम्। इमां वसुमतीं कुर्यान्निः शेषामिति मे मतिः
Of these two, O Bhishma, if either becomes enraged, I believe he could make this entire world of moving and unmoving beings devoid of life.
द्रोणस्य हि समं युद्धे न पश्यामि नराधिपम्। नाश्वत्थाम्नः समं भीष्म न च तौ स्तोतुमिच्छसि
For in battle I see no king equal to Drona, nor to Ashvatthama, O Bhishma, yet you do not wish to praise them.
पृथिव्यां सागरान्तायां यो वैप्रतिसमो भवेत्। दुर्योधनं त्वं राजेन्द्रमतिक्रम्य महाभुजम्
Who on this earth, bounded by the sea, could be his equal? Yet you overlook King Duryodhana, the mighty-armed ruler.
जयद्रथं च राजानं कृतास्त्रं दृढविक्रमम्। द्रुमं किम्पुरुषाचार्यं लोके प्रथितविक्रमम्। अतिक्रम्य महावीर्यं किं प्रशंससि केशवम्
And Jayadratha, the king, skilled in weapons and firm in valor; Druma, the teacher of the Kimpurushas, renowned for his prowess—passing over these men of great might, why do you praise Kesava?
वृद्धं च भरताचार्यं तथा शारद्वतं कृपम्। अतिक्रम्य महावीर्यं किं प्रशंससि केशवम्
And the aged teacher of the Bharatas, as well as Kripa, son of Sharadvat, both of great valor—passing over them, why do you praise Kesava?
धनुर्धराणां प्रवरं रुक्मिणं पुरुषोत्तमम्। अतिक्रम्य महावीर्यं किं प्रशंससि केशवम्
And Rukmi, the foremost among bowmen, the best of men—passing over him, of great might, why do you praise Kesava?
भीष्मकं च महावीर्यं दन्तवक्त्रं च भूमिपम्। भगदत्तं यूपकेथु जयत्सेनं च मागधम्
And Bhishmaka, of great valor, and Dantavakra, the king; Bhagadatta, Yupa-ketu, and Jayatsena, the king of Magadha.
विराटद्रुपदौ चोभौ शकुनिं च बहद्बलम्। विन्दानुविन्दावावन्त्यौ पाण्ड्यं श्वेतमथोत्तमम्
And both Virata and Drupada, and Shakuni of great strength; Vindya and Anuvindya of Avanti, Pandya, Shveta, and Uttama.
शङ्खं च सुमहाभागं वृषसेनं च मानिनम्। एकलव्यं च विक्रान्तं कालिङ्गं च महारथम्
The illustrious Shankha, the proud Vriṣasena, the valiant Ekalavya, and the great chariot-warrior Kāliṅga—
अतिक्रम्य महावीर्यं किं प्रशंसति केशवम्। शल्यादीनपि कस्मात्त्वं न स्तौषि वसुधाधिपान्। स्तवाय यदि ते बुद्धिर्वर्तते भीष्म वसुधाधिपान्
Surpassing these mighty heroes, why do you praise Keśava? And why do you not extol kings like Śalya and the others? If your mind is set on praising, Bhīṣma, then praise the kings of the earth.
किं हि शक्यं मया कर्तुं यद्वृद्धानां त्वया नृप। पुरा कथयतां नूनं न श्रुतं धर्मवादिनाम्
What can I do, O king, if you, though aged, have not heard the words of the righteous spoken in times past?
आत्मनिन्दात्मपूजा च परनिन्दा परस्तवः। अनाचरितमार्याणामिति ते भीष्म न श्रुतम्
Self-reproach and self-praise, disparaging others and praising others—such conduct is not practiced by the noble; surely, Bhīṣma, you have not heard this.
यदस्तव्यमिमं शश्वन्मोहात्संस्तौषि भक्तितः। केशवं तच्च ते भीष्म न कश्चिदनुमन्यते
Whatever is to be praised, you always, out of delusion and devotion, praise Keśava; but, Bhīṣma, no one approves of this.
कथं भोजस्य पुरुषे वत्सपाले दुरात्मनि। समावेशयसे सर्वं जगत्केवलकाम्यया
How do you, out of mere desire, attribute everything to the cowherd of the Bhojas, that evil-minded man?
अथ चैषा न ते बुद्धिः प्रकृतिं याति भारत। मयैव कथितं पूर्वं कुलिङ्गशकुनिर्यथा
But if your understanding does not return to its nature, O Bhārata, I have already spoken of this before, like the kuliṅga bird.
कुलिङ्गशकुनिर्नाम पार्श्वे हिमवतः परे। भी तस्याः सदा वाचः श्रूयन्तेऽर्थविगर्हिताः
There is a bird called kuliṅga, dwelling near the slopes of the Himalayas; its words are always heard, full of fear and lacking in sense.
मा साहसमितीदं सा सततं वाशते किल। साहसं चात्मनातीव चरन्ती नावबुध्यते
It constantly cries out, 'Do not act rashly,' yet, acting rashly itself, it does not realize its own behavior.
सा हि मांसार्गलं भीष्म मुखात्सिंहस्य खादतः। दन्तान्तरविलग्नं यत्तदादत्तेऽल्पचेतना
Indeed, Bhīṣma, that bird, with little sense, snatches the flesh stuck between the teeth of a lion as it eats.
इच्छतः सा हि सिंहस्य भीष्म जीवत्यसंशयम्। तद्वत्त्वमप्यधर्मिष्ठ सदा वाचः प्रभाषसे
While the lion is alive and watching, Bhīṣma, it does this without doubt; just so, you, unrighteous one, always speak such words.
इच्छतां भूमिपालानां भीष्म जीवस्यसंशयम्। लोकविद्विष्टकर्मा हि नान्योऽस्ति भवता समः
While the kings of the earth are alive and watching, Bhīṣma, you live without doubt; in deeds hated by the world, there is no one equal to you.
ततश्चेदिपतेः श्रुत्वा भीष्मः स कटुकं वचः। उवाचेदं वचो राजंश्चेदिराजस्य शृण्वतः
Then, hearing these harsh words of the king of Cedi, Bhīṣma spoke these words in the hearing of the Cedi king.
इच्छतां किल नामाहं जीवाम्येषां महीक्षिताम्। सोऽहं न गणयाम्येतांस्तृणेनापि नराधिपान्
I live, it is said, only at the will of these kings; but I do not value these rulers of men even as a blade of grass.
एवमुक्ते तु भीष्मेण ततः सञ्चुक्रुशुर्नृपाः। केचिज्जहृषिरे तत्र केचिद्भीष्मं जगर्हिरे
When Bhīṣma had spoken thus, some of the kings there shouted, some rejoiced, and some censured Bhīṣma.
केचिदूचुर्महेष्वासाः श्रुत्वा भीष्मस्य यद्वचः। पापोऽवलिप्तो वृद्धश्च नायं भीष्मोऽर्हति क्षमाम्
Hearing Bhīṣma's words, some great archers said: 'He is sinful, arrogant, and old; this Bhīṣma does not deserve forbearance.'
हन्यतां दुर्मतिर्भीष्मः पशुवत्साध्वयं नृपाः। सर्वैः समेत्य संरब्धैर्दह्यतां वा कटाग्निना
'Let this evil-minded Bhīṣma be slain like a beast, O kings! Or let him be burned with blazing fire by all of us together in anger.'
इति तेषां वचः श्रुत्वा ततः कुरुपितामहः। उवाच मतिमान्भीष्मस्तानेव वसुधाधिपान्
Hearing these words, the wise Bhīṣma, grandfather of the Kurus, then spoke to those very kings of the earth.
उक्तस्योक्तस्य नेहान्तमहं समुपलक्षये। यत्तु वक्ष्यामि तत्सर्वं शृणुध्वं वसुधाधिपाः
In all that has been said and replied, I perceive no conclusion here; therefore, O lords of the earth, listen to all that I will now declare.
पशुवद्घातनं वा मे दहनं वा कटाग्निना। क्रियतां मूर्ध्नि वो न्यस्तं मयेदं सकलं पदम्
Let me be slain like a beast, or burned in a blazing fire—upon my head I place the entire responsibility for this.
एष तिष्ठति गोविन्दः पूजितोऽस्माभिरच्युतः। यस्य वस्त्वरते बुद्धिर्मरणाय स माधवम्
Here stands Govinda, worshipped by us, the infallible one; whoever's mind turns away from him, seeks only death.
कृष्णमाह्वयतामद्य युद्धे चक्रगदाधरम्। यादवस्यैव देवस्य देहं विशतु पातितः
Today, let him who calls Krishna, bearer of discus and mace, to battle—let him, when struck down, enter the body of this Yadava god.