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.
आगताहं महाबाहो त्वामुद्दिश्य महामते। `अभिनन्दस्व मां राजन्सदा प्रियहिते रताम्
I have come, O mighty-armed, with you in mind, O wise king; welcome me, O king, who am always devoted to your pleasure and welfare.
प्रतिपादय मां राजन्धर्मादींश्चर धर्मतः । त्वं हि मे मनसा ध्यातस्त्वया चाप्युपमन्त्रिता
Accept me, O king, and righteously perform the duties of a husband; for you were the one I contemplated in my heart, and you also invited me.
तामब्रवीत्साल्वपतिः स्मयन्निव विशांपते। त्वयाऽन्यपूर्वया नाहं भार्यार्थी वरवर्णिनि
The lord of Salva, smiling a little, said to her, O lord of the people: 'I do not seek a wife who has belonged to another, O fair-complexioned one.'
गच्छ भद्रे पुनस्तत्र सकाशं भीष्मकस्य वै। नाहमिच्छामि भीष्मेण गृहीतां त्वां प्रसह्य वै
Go back, O gentle one, to the presence of Bhishma; I do not wish to accept you, who were seized by Bhishma by force.
त्वं हि भीष्मेण निर्जित्य नीता प्रीतिमती तदा। परामृश्य महायुद्धे निर्जित्य पृथिवीपतीन्
For you were taken away by Bhishma, after defeating the kings in great battle, and brought here with affection.
नाहं त्वय्यन्यपूर्वायां भार्यार्थी वरवर्णिनि । कथमस्मद्विधो राजा परपूर्वां प्रवेशयेत्
I do not seek a wife who has belonged to another, O fair-complexioned one; how can a king like me accept a woman previously possessed by another?
नारीं विदितविज्ञानः परेषां धर्ममादिशन्। यथेष्टं गम्यतां भद्रे मा त्वां कालोऽत्यगादयम्
A wise man, knowing the law, does not accept a woman who has belonged to another; go wherever you wish, O gentle one, let not this time pass you by.
अम्बा तमब्रवीद्राजन्ननङ्गशरपीडिता। नैवं वद महीपाल नैतदेवं कथंचन
Ambā said to him, afflicted by the arrows of love: 'Do not speak thus, O king; it is never so, in any way.'
नास्मि प्रीतिमती नीता भीष्मेणामित्रकर्शन । बलान्नीतास्मि रुदती विद्राव्य पृथिवीपतीन्
I was not taken by Bhishma, O tormentor of foes, with affection; I was led away by force, weeping, after he had routed the kings of the earth.
भजस्व मां साल्वपते भक्तां बालामनागसम् । भक्तानां हि परित्यागो न धर्मेषु प्रशस्यते
Take me, O lord of the Salvas, devoted, innocent, and blameless; for abandonment of the devoted is not praised in righteousness.