तस्य दारक्रियां तात चिकीर्षुरहमप्युत । अनुरूपादिव कुलादित्येव च मनो दधे
Desiring to arrange his marriage, O father, I set my mind on finding a bride from a suitable family.
तथाऽश्रौषं महाबाहो तिस्रः कन्याः स्वयंवरे । रूपेणाप्रतिमाः सर्वाः काशिराजसुतास्तदा । अम्बां चैवाम्बिकां चैव तथैवाम्बालिकामपि
Thus, O mighty-armed one, I heard that three princesses, daughters of the king of Kashi, unmatched in beauty, were present at the svayamvara: Ambā, Ambikā, and Ambālikā.
राजानश्च समाहूताः पृथिव्यां भरतर्षभ। अम्बा ज्येष्ठाभवत्तासामम्बिका त्वथ मध्यमा
O bull among the Bharatas, kings from all over the earth were summoned; among them, Ambā was the eldest, Ambikā was the middle one,
अम्बालिका च राजेन्द्र राजकन्या यवीयसी । सोऽहमेकरथेनैव गतः काशिपतेः पुरीम्
and Ambālikā, O king of kings, was the youngest royal maiden. I went alone in a single chariot to the city of the king of Kāśi.
अपश्यं ता महाबाहो तिस्रः कन्याः स्वलङ्कृताः। राज्ञश्चैव समाहूतान्पार्थिवान्पृथिवीपते
There I saw those three maidens, mighty-armed one, adorned with ornaments, and also the assembled kings, rulers of the earth, who had been invited.
ततोऽहं तान्नृपान्सर्वानाहूय समरे स्थितान्। रथमारोपयाञ्चक्रे कन्यास्ता भरतर्षभ
Then, O bull among the Bharatas, I summoned all those kings who stood ready for battle, and placed those maidens on my chariot.
वीर्यशुल्काश्च ता ज्ञात्वा समारोप्य रथं तदा। अवोचं पार्थिवान्सर्वानहं तत्र समागतान्। भीष्मः शान्तनवः कन्या हरतीति पुनःपुनः
Knowing that they were to be won by prowess, I set them on the chariot and then addressed all the assembled kings: 'Bhīṣma, son of Śāntanu, is carrying away the maidens!' I proclaimed this again and again.
ते यतध्वं परं शक्त्या सर्वे मोक्षाय पार्थिवाः । प्रसह्य हि हराम्येष मिषतां वो नरर्षभाः
'Now exert yourselves to the utmost, all you kings, if you wish to free them! For I am seizing them by force before your very eyes, O best of men!'
ततस्ते पृथिवीपालाः समुत्पतुरुदायुधाः । योगो योग इति क्रुद्धाः सारथीनभ्यचोदयन्
Then those rulers of the earth, weapons in hand, rose up in anger, shouting 'Prepare! Prepare!' and urged on their charioteers.
ते रथैर्गसङ्काशैर्गजैश्च गजयोधिनः। पुष्टैश्वाश्वैर्महीपालाः समुत्पेतुरुदायुधाः
Those kings, with chariots like clouds and warriors on elephants, mounted on well-trained horses, rose up with weapons in hand.
ततस्ते मां महीपालाः सर्व एव विशां पते। रथव्रातेन महता सर्वतः पर्यवारयन्
Then, O lord of the people, all those kings surrounded me on every side with a great host of chariots.
तानहं शरवर्षेण समन्तात्पर्यवारयम् । सर्वान्नृपांश्चाप्यजयं देवराडिव दानवान्
I repelled them all with a shower of arrows from every side, and I defeated all those kings, just as the lord of the gods defeats the Dānavas.
अपातयं शरैर्दीप्तैः प्रहसन्भरतर्षभ । तेषामापततां चित्रान्ध्वजान्हेमपरिष्कृतान्
Laughing, O bull among the Bharatas, I struck down with blazing arrows the splendid banners adorned with gold of those who rushed at me.
एकैकेन हि बाणेन भूमौ पातितवानहम् । हयांस्तेषां गजांश्चैव सारथींश्चाप्यहं रणे
With a single arrow each, I brought down to the ground their horses, their elephants, and also their charioteers in battle.
ते निवृत्ताश्च भग्नाश्च दृष्ट्वा तल्लाघवं मम। `प्रणिपेतुश्च सर्वे वै प्रशशंसुश्च पार्थिवाः
Seeing my swiftness, they turned back, broken and defeated; all the kings bowed to me and praised me.
तत आदाय ताः कन्या नृपतींश्च विसृज्य तान्।' अथाऽहं हास्तिनपुरमायां जित्वा महीक्षितः
Then, having taken those maidens and released the kings, I returned victorious to Hastinapura, O ruler of the earth.
ततोऽहं ताश्च कन्या वै भ्रातुरर्थाय भारत। तच्च कर्म महाबाहो सत्यवत्यै न्यवेदयम्
Then, O mighty-armed one, I presented those maidens for my brother's sake, and reported that deed to Satyavatī.
ततोऽहं भरतश्रेष्ठ मातरं वीरमातरम् । अभिगम्योपसंगृह्य दाशेयीमिदमब्रुवम्
Then, O best of the Bharatas, I approached my mother, the mother of heroes, and after embracing her, I spoke these words to the daughter of the fisherman:
इमाः काशिपतेः कन्या मया निर्जित्य पार्थिवान् । विचित्रवीर्यस्य कृते वीर्यशुल्का हृता इति
'These daughters of the king of Kāśi I have won by defeating the assembled kings for the sake of Vicitravīrya, as the prize of valor.'
ततो मूर्धन्युपाघ्राय पर्यश्रुनयना नृप। आह सत्यवती हृष्टा दिष्ट्या पुत्र जितं त्वया
Then Satyavatī, her eyes filled with tears, joyfully smelled my head and said, 'By good fortune, my son, you have achieved victory.'
सत्यवत्यास्त्वनुमते विवाहे समुपस्थिते। उवाच वाक्यं सव्रीडा ज्येष्ठा काशिपतेः सुता
With Satyavati's consent, when the marriage was arranged, the eldest daughter of the King of Kashi, with modesty, spoke these words:
भीष्म त्वमसि धर्मज्ञः सर्वशास्त्रविशारदः । श्रुत्वा च वचनं धर्म्यं मह्यं कर्तुमिहार्हसि
Bhishma, you are one who knows righteousness, skilled in all the scriptures; having heard my just words, you ought to act accordingly.
मया साल्वपत्तिः पूर्वं मनसाऽभिवृतो वरः। तेन चास्मि वृता पूर्वं रहस्यविदिते पितुः
Previously, in my heart, I had chosen the lord of Salva as my husband; and by him, too, I was chosen before, in secret, unknown to my father.
कथं मामन्यकामां त्वं राजधर्ममतीत्य वै । वासयेथा गृहे भीष्म कौरवः सन्विशेषतः
How can you, Bhishma, especially as a Kaurava, keep me in your house against my will, transgressing royal duty?
एतद्बुद्ध्या विनिश्चित्य मनसा भरतर्षभ । यत्क्षमं ते महाबाहो तदिहारब्धुमर्हसि
Reflecting on this with your mind, O bull among the Bharatas, you should do here what is proper for you, O mighty-armed one.
स मां प्रतीक्षते व्यक्तं साल्वराजो विशांपते । तस्मान्मां त्वं कुरुश्रेष्ठ समनुज्ञातुमर्हसि
The king of Salva, lord of the people, surely awaits me; therefore, O best of the Kurus, you ought to grant me permission.
कृपां कुरु महाबाहो मयि धर्मभृतां वर। त्वं हि सत्यव्रतो वीर पृथिव्यामिति नः श्रुतम्
Show compassion to me, O mighty-armed one, best among upholders of righteousness; for you are known on earth as a man of truth, O hero.
ततोऽहं समनुज्ञाप्य कालीं गन्धवतीं तदा। मन्त्रिणश्चर्त्विजश्चैव तथैव च पुरोहितान्। समनुज्ञामिषं कन्यामम्बां ज्येष्ठां नराधिप
Then, having obtained permission from Kali and Gandhavati, and likewise from the ministers, priests, and family priests, I give permission for the maiden Ambā, the eldest, O king.
अनुज्ञाता ययौ सा तु कन्या साल्वपतेः पुरम्। वृद्धैर्द्विजातिभिर्गुप्ता धात्र्या चानुगता तदा
Thus permitted, that maiden went to the city of the lord of Salva, protected by aged Brahmins and accompanied by her nurse.
अतीत्य च तमध्वानमासमाद नराधिपम । सा तमासाद्य राजानं साल्वं वचनमब्रवीत्
Having traversed that road, she reached the king of Salva; approaching him, she spoke these words.