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.
दृष्ट्वा कृष्णं तथा यान्तं प्रतपन्तमिवौजसा। यथार्हं केशवे वृत्तिमवशाः प्रतिपेदिरे
Seeing Krishna advancing thus, blazing with might, all, powerless, rendered him due honor as was fitting.
तानुवाच महाबाहुर्महाऽसुरनिबर्हणः। वृष्णिवीरस्तदा राजन्सान्त्वयन्परवीरहा
Then the mighty-armed, destroyer of great asuras, the Vrishni hero, O king, consoled the assembled kings, speaking these words.
अपेत सबलाः सर्व आस्वस्ता मम शासनात्। मा दृष्टो दूषयेत्पाप एष वः सर्वपार्थिपाः
All of you, with your forces, withdraw and be at ease by my command; let not this wicked one insult you in my presence, O kings.
एष नः शत्रुरत्यन्तमेष वृष्णिविमर्दनः। सात्वतां सात्वतीपुत्रो वैरं चरति शाश्वतम्
This one is our relentless enemy, the oppressor of the Vrishnis; the son of Satyavati bears eternal enmity toward the Satvatas.
प्राग्ज्योतिषपुरं यातानस्माञ्ज्ञात्वा नृशंसकृत्। अदहद्द्वारकामेष स्वस्त्रीयः सन्नराधिपाः
Knowing that we had gone to Prāgjyotiṣapura, this cruel one, desiring Dvārakā, set fire to it, though he was related to us by marriage and was a king.
क्रीडतो भोजराजस्य एव रैवतके गिरौ। हत्वा बध्वा च तान्सार्वानुपायात्स्वपुरं पुरा
While the Bhoja king was playing on Mount Raivataka, he killed and bound all those men, and by deceit, took them earlier to his own city.
अश्वमेधे हयं मेध्यमुत्सृष्टं रक्षिभिर्वृतम्। पितुर्मे यज्ञविघ्नार्थमहरत्पापनिश्चयः
During the Aśvamedha sacrifice, he seized the consecrated horse, which was guarded, with the intention of obstructing my father's sacrifice, determined to commit sin.
सौवीरान्प्रतियातां च बभ्रोरेष तपस्विनः। भार्यामभ्यहरन्मोहादकामां तामितो गताम्
He abducted the wife of the ascetic Babhru, who had gone to the Sauvīras, out of delusion, though she was unwilling and had come here.
एष मायाप्रतिच्छन्नः कारूशार्थे तपस्विनीम्। जहार भद्रां वैशालीं मातुलस्य नृशंसकृत्
Disguised by illusion, this cruel one abducted Bhadrā of Vaiśālī, the ascetic, for the sake of the Kāruśa king, though she was my maternal uncle’s daughter.
वृष्णिदारान्विलाप्यैव हत्वा च कुकुरान्धकान्। पापाबुद्धिरुपातिष्ठत्स प्रविश्य ससम्भ्रमम्
Having caused grief to the wives of the Vṛṣṇis and slain the Kukuras and Andhakas, this wicked-minded one entered with agitation.