भीष्म कां बुद्धिमास्थाय काशिराजसुता तदा। अकामेन त्वया नीता पुनश्चैव विसर्जिता
O Bhishma, having acted with such resolve, you took the daughter of the King of Kashi against her will, and then you released her again.
विभ्रंशिता त्वया हीयं धर्मादास्ते यशस्विनी । परामृष्टां त्वया हीमां को हि गन्तुमिहार्हति
By you, this illustrious woman was deprived of her rightful path; who indeed would accept her, having been touched by you and then abandoned?
प्रत्याख्याता हि साल्वेन त्वया नीतेति भारत। तस्मादिमां मन्नियोगात्प्रतिगृह्णीष्व भारत
She was rejected by Salva, O Bharata, because you had taken her; therefore, at my command, accept her, O Bharata.
स्वधर्मं पुरुषव्याघ्र राजपुत्री लभत्वियम्। न युक्तस्त्ववमानोऽयं राज्ञां कर्तुं त्वयाऽनघ
Let this princess obtain her proper duty, O tiger among men; it is not right for you, O faultless one, to bring dishonor upon kings.
ततस्तं वै विमनसमुदीक्ष्याहमथाब्रुवम्। नाहमेनां पुनर्दद्यां ब्रह्मन्भ्रात्रे कथञ्चन
Then, seeing him dejected, I spoke: 'O Brahman, I would never give her again to my brother under any circumstance.'
साल्वस्याहमिति प्राह पुरा मामेव भार्गव। मया चैवाभ्यनुज्ञाता गतेयं नगरं प्रति
Before, O descendant of Bhrigu, she herself declared, 'I belong to Salva,' and with my consent, she departed for his city.
न भयान्नाप्यनुक्रोशान्नार्थलोभान्न काम्यया। क्षात्रं धर्ममहं जह्यमिति मे व्रतमाहितम्
Not out of fear, nor pity, nor greed for wealth, nor desire, would I abandon the Kshatriya code; such is the vow I have undertaken.
अथ मामब्रवीद्रामः क्रोधपर्याकुलेक्षणः। न करिष्यसि चेदेतद्वाक्यं मे नरपुङ्गव
Then Rama, his eyes red with anger, said to me: 'If you do not obey my words, O best of men, I will slay you today along with your counselors.'
हनिष्यामि सहामात्यं त्वामद्येति पुनः पुनः । संरम्भादब्रवीद्रामः क्रोधपर्याकुलेक्षणः
Again and again, Rama, his eyes inflamed with wrath, declared in his fury, 'I will kill you today together with your ministers.'
तमहं गीर्भिरिष्टाभि पुनः पुनररिन्दम। अयाचं भृगुशार्दूलं न चैव प्रशशाम सः
But I, O subduer of foes, repeatedly pleaded with the tiger among the Bhrigus with gentle words, yet he was not appeased.
प्रणम्य तमहं मूर्ध्ना भूयो ब्राह्मणसत्तमम् । अब्रुवं कारणं किं तद्यत्त्वं युद्धं मयेच्छसि
Bowing my head to him, the foremost of Brahmins, I asked again: 'What is the reason, O Brahman, that you desire battle with me?'
इष्वस्त्रं मम बालस्य भवतैव चतुर्विधम्। उपदिष्टं महाबाहो शिष्योऽस्मि तव भार्गव
O mighty-armed one, it was you alone who taught me, while still a boy, the fourfold science of archery; I am your disciple, O descendant of Bhrigu.
ततो मामब्रवीद्रामः क्रोधसंरक्तलोचनः । जानीषे मां गुरुं भीष्म गृह्णासीमां न चैव ह
Then Rama, his eyes bloodshot with anger, said to me: 'You know me as your teacher, Bhishma, yet you do not accept her.'
सुतां काश्यस्य कौरव्य मत्प्रियार्थं महामते। न हि मे विद्यते शान्तिरन्यथा कुरुनन्दन
O Kaurava, for my sake, O wise one, accept the daughter of Kashi; otherwise, O joy of the Kurus, I will find no peace.
गृहाणेमां महाबाहो रक्षस्व कुलमात्मनः। त्वया विभ्रंशिता हीयं भर्तारं नाधिगच्छति
Take her, O mighty-armed one, and protect your lineage; because of you, she has been deprived and cannot obtain a husband.
तथा ब्रुवन्तं तमहं रामं परपुरंयम्। नैतदेवं पुनर्भावि ब्रह्मर्षे किं श्रमेण ते
To Rama, who spoke thus, O conqueror of cities, I replied: 'It shall not be so again, O Brahmarshi; why do you labor in vain?'
गुरुत्वं त्वयि संप्रेक्ष्य जामदग्न्य पुरातनम् । प्रसादये त्वां भगवंस्त्यक्तैषा तु पुरा मया
Recognizing your ancient status as my teacher, O son of Jamadagni, I beseech you, O blessed one; but she was already renounced by me before.
को जातु परभावां हि नारीं व्यालीमिव स्थिताम् । वासयेत गृहे जानन्स्त्रीणां दोषो महात्ययः
Who would ever knowingly keep in his house a woman who has been rejected by another, like a serpent, knowing well the great danger in women?
न भयाद्वासवस्यापि धर्मं जह्यां महाव्रत । प्रसीद मा वा यद्वा ते कार्यं तत्कुरु मा चिरम्
Even out of fear of Indra, I would not abandon righteousness, O great vow-holder; be gracious, or not, as you wish—do what you must without delay.
अयं चापि विशुद्धात्मन्पुराणे श्रूयते विभो। मरुत्तेन महाबुद्धे गीतः श्लोको महात्मना
And, O mighty one, this verse sung by the great-souled Marutta, of pure mind, is heard in the ancient tradition.
गुरोरप्यवलिप्तस्य कार्याकार्यमजानतः। उत्पथं प्रतिपन्नस्य परित्यागो विधीयते
Abandonment is prescribed for a teacher who is arrogant, ignorant of right and wrong, and who has strayed from the proper path.
स त्वं गुरुरिति प्रेम्णा मया संमानितो भृशम् । गुरुवृत्तिं न जानीषे तस्माद्योत्स्यामि वै त्वया
You have been honored by me with deep affection as a teacher, but you do not know the conduct of a teacher; therefore, I will indeed fight with you.
गुरुं न हन्यां समरे ब्राह्मणं च विशेषतः । विशेषतस्तपोवृद्धमेवं क्षान्तं मया तव
I would not slay a teacher in battle, nor especially a Brahmin—particularly one advanced in austerity; thus have I restrained myself toward you.
उद्यतेषुमथो दृष्ट्वा ब्राह्मणं क्षत्रबन्धुवत्। यो हन्यात्समरे क्रुद्धं युध्यन्तमपलायिनम्
But if a Brahmin, with weapons raised, acts like a warrior and attacks in battle, whoever slays him, whether enraged or fighting or fleeing—
ब्रह्महत्या न तस्य स्यादिति धर्मेषु निश्चयः । क्षत्रियाणां स्थितो धर्म क्षत्रियोऽस्मि तपोधन
For him, there is no sin of Brahmin-slaying—so is the settled law; this is the duty established for Kshatriyas, and I am a Kshatriya, O ascetic.
यो यथा वर्तते यस्मिंस्तस्मिन्नेव प्रवर्तयन् । नाधर्मं समवाप्नोति न चाश्रेयश्च विन्दति
Whoever acts toward another as that person acts toward him, does not incur unrighteousness, nor does he fail to attain what is good.
अर्थे वा यदि वा धर्मे समर्थो देशकालवित् । अर्थसंशयमापन्नः श्रोयान्निःसंशयो नरः
Whether for gain or for righteousness, one who knows time and place and is capable, if faced with uncertainty, should choose the course free from doubt.
यस्मात्संशयितेऽप्यर्थेऽयथान्यायं प्रवर्तसे । तस्माद्योत्स्यामि सहितस्त्वया राम महाहवे
Since, even in a doubtful matter, you act contrary to justice, therefore, O Rama, I will fight with you in this great battle.
पश्य मे बाहुवीर्यं च विक्रमं चातिमानुषम् । एवं गतेऽपि तु मया यच्छक्यं भृगुनन्दन
Behold my strength of arms and my extraordinary valor; even so, O descendant of Bhrigu, I will do whatever is possible under these circumstances.
तत्करिष्ये कुरुक्षेत्रे योत्स्ये विप्र त्वया सह । द्वन्द्वे राम यथेष्टं मे सञ्जीभव महाद्युते
That I will do on Kurukshetra—I will fight with you, O Brahmin; in single combat, O Rama, revive your spirit as you wish, O mighty one.