भीष्मो वसूनामन्यतमो दिष्ट्या जीवसि पुत्रक । गाङ्गेयः शन्तनोः पुत्रो वसुरेष महायशाः
Bhīṣma is one among the Vasus—by fortune you live, dear child; Gāṅgeya, son of Śantanu, is this illustrious Vasu.
कथं शक्यस्त्वया जेतुं निवर्तस्वेह भार्गव । अर्जुनः पाण्डवश्रेष्ठः पुरन्दरसुतो बली
How can you defeat him? Withdraw from here, O Bhārgava; Arjuna, best of the Pāṇḍavas, is the mighty son of Purandara.
नरः प्रजापतिर्वीरः पूर्वदेवः सनातनः। सव्यसाचीति विख्यातस्त्रिषु लोकेषु वीर्यवान्। भीष्ममृत्युर्यथाकालं विहितो वै स्वयंभुवा
That man, the heroic Prajapati, the ancient god, renowned as Savyasachi in the three worlds, possessed of great valor, has a death ordained by the Self-born, just as Bhishma's death was fixed in its proper time.
एवमुक्तः स पितृभिः पितॄन्रामोऽब्रवीदिदम्। नाहं युधि निवर्तेयमिति मे व्रतमाहितम्। न निवर्तितपूर्वश्च कदाचिद्रणमूर्धनि
Thus addressed by his ancestors, Rama spoke these words to them: 'I shall not turn back from battle; such is the vow I have undertaken. Never before have I retreated from the forefront of combat.'
निवर्त्यतामापगेयः कामं युद्धात्पितामहाः। न त्वहं विनिवर्तिष्ये युद्धादस्मात्कथंचन
Let the sons of the river, the grandfathers, withdraw from battle as they wish; but I shall not retreat from this fight under any circumstance.
ततस्ते मुनयो राजन्नृचीकप्रमुखास्तदा । नारदेनैव सहिताः समागम्येदमब्रुवन्
Then, O King, the sages led by R̥cīka, together with Narada, assembled and spoke these words.
निवर्तस्व रणात्तात मानयस्व द्विजोत्तमम् । इत्यवोचमहं तांश्च क्षत्रधर्मव्यपेक्षया
Withdraw from battle, dear one, honor the foremost of Brahmins—thus I spoke to them, considering the duty of a warrior.
मम व्रतमिदं लोके नाहं युद्धात्कदाचन। विमुखो विनिवर्तेयं पृष्ठतोऽभ्याहतः शरैः
This is my vow in the world: I shall never turn away from battle, even if struck from behind by arrows.
नाहं लोभान्न कार्पण्यान्न भयान्नार्थकारणात्। त्यजेयं शाश्वतं धर्ममिति मे निश्चिता मतिः
Neither for greed, nor out of weakness, nor from fear, nor for any personal gain, would I abandon the eternal law; such is my firm resolve.
ततस्ते मुनयः सर्वे नारदप्रमुखा नृप। भागीरथी च मे माता रणमध्यं प्रपेदिरे
Then all the sages, led by Narada, O King, and my mother Bhagirathi, entered the midst of the battle.
तथैवात्तशरो धन्वी तथैव दृढनिश्चयः । स्थितोऽहमाहवे योद्धुं ततस्ते राममब्रुवन्
In the same way, with bow drawn and arrows ready, steadfast in resolve, I stood in battle to fight; then they spoke to Rama.
समेत्य सहिता भूयः समरे भृगुनन्दनम् । नावनीतं हि हृदयं विप्राणां शाम्य भार्गव
Having gathered together once more in the battle, they addressed the descendant of Bhrigu: 'The hearts of Brahmins are not hardened; calm yourself, O Bhargava.'
राम राम निवर्तस्व युद्धादस्माद्द्विजोत्तम । अवध्यो वै त्वया भीष्मस्त्वं च भीष्मस्य भार्गव
Rama, Rama, withdraw from this battle, O foremost of Brahmins; Bhishma cannot be slain by you, and you cannot be slain by Bhishma, O Bhargava.
एवं ब्रुवन्तस्ते सर्वे प्रतिरुद्ध्य रणाजिरम् । न्यासयाञ्चक्रिरे शस्त्रं पितरो भृगुनन्दनम्
Thus, as they spoke, all of them blocked the battlefield and laid down their weapons before the son of Bhrigu.
ततोऽहं पुनरेवाथ तानष्टौ ब्रह्मवादिनः । अद्राक्षं दीप्यमानान्वै ग्रहानष्टाविवोदितान्
Then, once again, I saw those eight Brahmin sages, shining like eight planets, standing before me.
ते मां सप्रणयं वाक्यमब्रुवन्समरे स्थितम् । प्रैहि रामं महाबाहो गुरुं लोकहितं कुरु
They spoke to me affectionately as I stood in battle: 'Go to Rama, mighty-armed one, honor your teacher, do what is good for the world.'
दृष्ट्वा निवर्तितं रामं सुहृद्वाक्येन तेन वै। लोकानां च हितं कुर्वन्नहमप्याददे वचः
Seeing Rama withdrawn by the words of his friend, and acting for the welfare of the worlds, I too accepted their counsel.
ततोऽहं राममासाद्य ववन्दे भृशविक्षतः। रामश्चाभ्युत्स्मयन्प्रेम्णा मामुवाच महातपाः
Then, approaching Rama, I bowed to him, greatly wounded; and Rama, the great ascetic, smiled at me with affection and spoke.
त्वत्समो नास्ति लोकेऽस्मिन्क्षत्रियः पृथिवीचरः । गम्यतां भीष्म युद्धेऽस्मिंस्तोषितोऽहं भृशं त्वया
There is no Kshatriya on earth equal to you, Bhishma; depart, for I am greatly satisfied by you in this battle.
मम चैव समक्षं तां कन्यामाहूय भार्गवः। उक्तवान्दीनया वाचा मध्ये तेषां महात्मनाम्
And then, in the presence of all those great souls, Bhargava summoned that maiden and spoke to her in a humble voice.
प्रत्यक्षमेतल्लोकानां सर्वेषामेव भामिनि । यथाशक्त्या मया युद्धं कृतं वै पौरुषं परम्
This is evident to all people, O fair one: I have fought to the utmost of my ability, displaying supreme valor.
न चैवमपि शक्नोमि भीष्मं शस्त्रभृतां वरम् । विशेषयितुमत्यर्थमुत्तमास्त्राणि दर्शयन्
Yet even so, I am unable to surpass Bhishma, the foremost of warriors, though I have shown the highest weapons.
एषा मे परमा शक्तिरेतन्मे परमं बलम् । यथेष्टं गम्यतां भद्रे किमन्यद्वा करोमि ते
This is my utmost power; this is my highest strength. Go as you wish, gentle lady—what else can I do for you?
भीष्ममेव प्रपद्यस्व न तेऽन्या विद्यते गतिः । निर्जितो ह्यस्मि भीष्मेण महास्त्राणि प्रमुञ्चता
Seek refuge with Bhishma alone; you have no other path. For I have been overcome by Bhishma, who unleashed mighty weapons.
एवमुक्त्वा ततो रामो विनिःश्वस्य महामनाः । तूष्मीमासीत्ततः कनक्या प्रोवाच भृगुनन्दनम्
Having spoken thus, Rama of great soul sighed deeply and fell silent; then the maiden spoke to the descendant of Bhrigu.
भगवन्नेवमेवैतद्यथाऽऽह भगवांस्तथा । अजेयो युधि भीष्मोऽयमपि देवैरुदारधीः
Revered one, it is just as you have said; Bhishma, noble-minded, is invincible in battle, even by the gods.
यथाशक्ति यथोत्साहं मम कार्यं कृतं त्वया । अनिवार्यं रणे वीर्यमस्त्राणि विविधानि च
You have done for me all that was possible and all that you could strive for; his valor and various weapons in battle are irresistible.
ने चैव शक्यते युद्धे विशेषयितुमन्ततः । न चाहमेनं यास्यामि पुनर्भीष्मं कथंचन
Nor indeed can he be surpassed in battle at all; nor will I ever again approach Bhishma.
गमिष्यामि तु तत्राहं यत्र भीष्मं तपोधन । समरे पातयिष्यामि स्वयमेव भृगूद्वह
But I will go there, O ascetic rich in penance, where Bhishma is; in battle I will bring him down myself, O best of Bhrigus.
एवमुक्त्वा ययौ कन्या रोषव्याकुललोचना । तापस्ये धृतसंकल्पा सा मे चिन्तयती वधम्
Having spoken thus, the maiden, her eyes agitated with anger, departed; steadfast in her resolve for austerity, she contemplated his death.