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.
तत्र त्वं निहतो राम मया शरशतार्दितः । प्राप्स्यसे निर्जिताँल्लोकाञ्शस्त्रपूतो महारणे
There, O Rama, struck down by me and pierced with hundreds of arrows, you will attain the worlds conquered in battle, purified by weapons.
स गच्छ विनिवर्तस्व कुरुक्षोत्रं रणप्रिय । तत्रैष्यामि महाबाहो युद्धाय त्वांतपोधन
So go, turn back, O battle-loving one, to Kurukshetra; there, O mighty-armed ascetic, I will come to fight you.
अपि यत्र त्वया राम कृतं शौचं पुरा पितुः । तत्राहमपि हत्वा त्वां शौचं कर्तास्मि भार्गव
And where, O Rama, you once performed the funeral rites for your father, there too, O Bhargava, after slaying you, I will perform the rites.
तत्र राम समागच्छ त्वरितं युद्धदुर्मद । व्यपनेष्यामि ते दर्पं पौराणं ब्राह्मणब्रुव
There, O Rama, come quickly, intoxicated with battle; I will remove your ancient Brahmin pride.
यच्चापि कत्थसे राम बहुशः परिवत्सरे । निर्जिताः क्षत्रिया लोके मयैकेनेति तच्छ्रुणु
And as for your boasting, O Rama, repeated over many years, that you alone have conquered the Kshatriyas of the world—hear the truth of that.
न तदा जातवान्भीष्मः क्षत्रियो वापि मद्विधः । पञ्चाञ्चातानि तेजांसि तृणेषु ज्वलितं त्वया
At that time, neither Bhishma nor any Kshatriya like me was born; the five fires you kindled blazed only among dry grass.
यस्ते युद्धमयं दर्पं कामं च व्यपनाशयेत्। सोऽहं जातो महाबाहो भीष्मः परपुरंजयः। व्यपनेष्यामि ते दर्पं युद्धे राम न संशयः
O mighty-armed one, I am Bhishma, conqueror of enemy cities, born to dispel your pride for battle and your desire for combat. In battle, O Rama, I will destroy your arrogance—there is no doubt.
ततो मामब्रवीद्रामः प्रहसन्निव भारत। दिष्ट्या भीष्म मया सार्धं योद्धुमिच्छसि संगरे
Then Rama spoke to me, Bharata, as if laughing: 'Fortune favors that you wish to fight me in battle, Bhishma.'
अयं गच्छामि कौरव्य कुरुक्षेत्रं त्वया सह। भाषितं ते करिष्यामि तत्रागच्छ परंतप
O descendant of Kuru, I now go with you to Kurukshetra. I will do as you have spoken—come there, O scorcher of foes.
तत्र त्वां निहतं माता मया शरशताचितम् । जाह्नवी पश्यतां भीष्म गृध्रकङ्कबलाशनम्
There, Bhishma, your mother will see you slain by me, covered with hundreds of arrows, as the Ganga witnesses you, food for vultures and crows.