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.
पाण्डुरैश्चापि व्यजनैर्वीज्यमानो नराधिप । शुक्लवासाः सितोष्णीषः सर्वशुक्लविभूषणः
Fanned by white fans, O king, wearing white garments, a white turban, and all white ornaments.
स्तूयमानो जयाशीर्भिर्निष्क्रम्य गजसाह्वयात्। कुरुक्षेत्रं रणक्षेत्रमुपायां भरतर्षभ
Praised with blessings for victory, I departed from the elephant-gate and approached Kurukshetra, the field of battle, O bull among Bharatas.
ते हयाश्चोदितास्तेन सूतेन परमाहवे । अवहन्मां भृशं राजन्मनोमारुतरंहसः
Those horses, urged by the charioteer in the great contest, carried me swiftly, O king, with the speed of mind and wind.
गत्वाऽहं तत्कुरुक्षेत्रं स च रामः प्रतापवान् । युद्धाय सहसा राजन्पराक्रान्तौ परस्परम्
Having reached Kurukshetra, I and the mighty Rama, O king, both advanced against each other for battle with great valor.
ततः सदर्शनेऽतिष्ठं रामस्यातितपस्विनः । प्रगृह्य शङ्खप्रवरंक ततः प्राधममुत्तमम्
Then I stood before the exceedingly austere Rāma, holding the foremost of conch shells, and sounded it, producing a supreme and excellent note.
ततस्तत्र द्विजा राजंस्तापसाश्च वनौकसः। अपश्यन्त रणं दिव्यं देवाः सेन्द्रगणास्तदा
Thereupon, O King, the twice-born and the ascetics dwelling in the forest, along with the gods and the hosts of Indra, beheld that divine battle.
ततो दिव्यानि माल्यानि प्रादुरासंस्ततस्ततः। वादित्राणि च दिव्यानि मेघवृन्दानि चैव ह
Then, from all sides, divine garlands appeared, as well as celestial instruments and clusters of clouds.
ततस्ते तापसाः सर्वे भार्गवस्यानुयायिनः । प्रेक्षकाः समपद्यन्त परिवार्य रणाजिरम्
All the ascetics who followed Bhārgava gathered as spectators, encircling the field of battle.
ततो मामब्रवीद्देवी सर्वभूतहितैषिणी । माता स्वरूपिणी राजन्किमिदं ते चिकीर्षितम्
Then the goddess, my mother, who desires the welfare of all beings, addressed me: 'O King, what is this that you intend to do?'
गत्वाऽहं जामदग्न्यं तु प्रयाचिष्ये कुरूद्वह । भूष्मेण सह मा योत्सीः शिष्येणेति पुनः पुनः
'I will go to Jāmadagnya and repeatedly entreat him, O joy of the Kurus, not to fight with Bhīṣma, his disciple.'