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.
वचः श्रुत्वैव भीष्मस्य चेदिराडुरुविक्रमः। युयुत्सुर्वासुदेवेन वासुदेवमुवाच ह
Hearing Bhishma's words, the mighty king of Cedi, eager to fight with Vasudeva, spoke to Vasudeva.
आह्वये त्वां रणं गच्छ मया सार्धं जनार्दन। यावदद्य निहन्मि त्वां सहितं सर्वपाण्डवैः
I challenge you to battle, Janardana; come fight me now, and today I will slay you together with all the Pandavas.
सह त्वया हि मे वध्याः सर्वथा कृष्ण पाण्डवाः। नृपतीन्समतिक्रम्य यैरराजा त्वमर्चितः
For with you, Krishna, the Pandavas must surely be slain by me—those kings who, disregarding other rulers, have worshipped you.
ये त्वां दासमराजानं बाल्यादर्चन्ति दुर्मतिम्। अनर्हमर्हवत्कृष्ण वध्यास्त इति मे मतिः
Those who, out of folly, honor you, Krishna, as a king or as a servant, though you are unworthy, as if you were worthy—they too deserve death, so I think.
इत्युक्त्वा राजशार्दूल `शार्दूल इव नादयन्। पश्यतां सर्वभूतानां शिशुपालः प्रतापवान्
Having spoken thus, O tiger among kings, roaring like a lion, the valiant Shishupala, before all beings, made his challenge.
स रणायैव सङ्क्रुद्धः सन्नद्धः सर्वराजभिः। सुनीथः प्रययौ क्षिप्रं पार्थयज्ञजिघांसया
Then, enraged for battle, armored and joined by all the kings, Sunitha quickly advanced, intent on disrupting the Pandava's sacrifice.
ततश्चक्रगदापाणिः केशवः केशिहा हरिः। सध्वजं रथमास्थाय दारुकेण सुसत्कृतम्। भीष्मेण दत्तहस्तोऽसावारुहोह रथोत्तमम्
Then Krishna, slayer of Kesi, Hari, armed with discus and mace, ascended the splendid chariot, well-attended by Daruka, and, with Bhishma's hand upon him, mounted the excellent car.
तेन पापस्वभावेन कोपितान्सर्वपार्थिवान्। आससाद रणे कृष्णः सज्जितैकरथः स्थितः
With his wicked nature, he incited all the kings to anger; Krishna, ready on his single chariot, stood firm on the battlefield.
ततः पुष्करपत्राक्षं तार्क्ष्यध्वजरथे स्थितम्। दिवाकरमिवोद्यन्तं ददृशुः सर्वपार्थिवाः
Then all the kings beheld Krishna, with lotus-petal eyes, standing on a chariot bearing the banner of Garuda, shining like the rising sun.
आरोपयन्तं ज्यां कृष्णं प्रतपन्तमिवौजसा। स्थितं पुष्परथे दिव्ये पुष्पकेतुमिवापरम्
They saw Krishna stringing his bow, blazing with energy, standing on his divine flower-adorned chariot, like another Pushpaka-bannered one.