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.
कृपणं त्वामभिप्रेक्ष्य सिद्धचारणसेविता । मया विनिहतं देवी रोदतामद्य पार्थिव
Seeing you pitiably, attended by Siddhas and Charanas, the goddess will weep today, O king, as you are slain by me.
अतदर्हा महाभागा भगीरथसुताऽनघा । या त्वामजीजनन्मन्दं युद्धकामुकमातुरम्
The blessed, faultless daughter of Bhagiratha, undeserving of such grief, who bore you, slow-witted and obsessed with battle, will lament.
एहि गच्छ मया भीष्म युद्धकामुक दुर्मद । गृहाण सर्वं कौरव्य रथादि भरतर्षभ
Come, go, Bhishma, arrogant and eager for battle. Take all, O Kaurava, chariots and more, O bull among Bharatas.
इति ब्रुवाणं तमहं रामं परपुरंजयमक् । प्रणम्यक शिरसा राममेवमस्त्वित्यथाब्रवम्
To Rama, conqueror of enemy cities, speaking thus, I bowed my head and replied, 'So be it,' to Rama.
एवमुक्त्वा ययौ रामः कुरुक्षेत्रं युयुत्सया । प्रविश्य नगरं चाहं सत्यवत्यै न्यवेदयम्
Having spoken thus, Rama departed for Kurukshetra, eager for battle. Entering the city, I reported to Satyavati.
ततः कृतस्वस्त्ययनो मात्रा च प्रतिनन्दितः। द्विजातीन्वाच्य पुण्याहं स्वस्ति चैव महाद्युते
Then, having performed auspicious rites and greeted by my mother, I instructed the twice-born to recite blessings and auspicious words, O illustrious one.
रथमास्थाय रुचिरं राजतं पाण्डुरैर्हयैः। सूपस्करं स्वधिष्ठानं वैयाघ्रपरिवारणम्
Mounting a splendid silver chariot drawn by white horses, equipped with all accessories, and surrounded by tiger-emblazoned guards,
उपपन्नं महाशस्त्रैः सर्वोपकरणान्वितम् । तत्कुलीनेन वीरेण हयशास्त्रविदा रणे
Furnished with mighty weapons and all implements, driven by a noble warrior skilled in horse lore, born of a noble line, in battle,
यत्तं सूतेन शिष्टेन बहुशो दृष्टकर्मणा । दंशितः पाण्डुरेणाहं कवचेन वपुष्मता
Attended by a skilled charioteer, experienced in many deeds, I was adorned with a shining white armor.
पाण्डुरं कार्मुकं गृह्य प्रायां भरतसत्तम । पाण्डुरेणातपत्रेण ध्रियमाणेन मूर्धनि
Taking a white bow, I set out, O best of Bharatas, with a white parasol held above my head.