तस्मान्नूनं महावीर्याद्भार्गवाद्युद्धदुर्मदात्। तेजोवीर्यबलैर्यूयाञ्शिखण्डी द्रुपदात्मजः
Therefore, surely, Shikhandi, son of Drupada, must possess the energy, valor, and strength surpassing even that of the mighty Bhargava and the most formidable warriors.
यः शूरं कृतिनं युद्धे सर्वशस्त्रविशारदम्। परमास्त्रविदं वीरं जघान भग्तर्षभम्
He who struck down the bull among men, a hero skilled in every weapon, accomplished, and master of supreme missiles—
के वीरास्तममित्रघ्नमन्वयुः शस्त्रसंसदि । शंस मे तद्यथा चासीद्युद्भं भीष्मस्य पाण्डवैः
Tell me, who were the heroes that followed that slayer of foes into the assembly of weapons? And how did Bhishma’s fall at the hands of the Pandavas come about?
योषेव हतवीरा मे सेन्म पुत्रस्य सञ्जय । अगोपमिव चोद्भ्रान्तं गोकुलं तद्बलं मम
My son’s army, Sanjaya, is now like a woman bereft of her valiant protectors, or like a herd of cows thrown into confusion without a herdsman.
पौरुषं सर्वलोकस्य परं यस्मिन्महाहवे। परासक्ते च वस्तस्मिन्कथमासीन्मनस्तदा
When, in that great battle, the supreme valor of the whole world was concentrated in him, how was the mind then, when all was thus attached to him?
जीवितेऽप्यद्य सामर्थ्यं किमिवास्मासु सञ्जय। घातयित्वा महावीर्यं पितरं लोकधार्मिकम्
What power remains in us now, Sanjaya, even to live, after slaying our father, the mighty and righteous upholder of the world?
अगाधे सलिले मग्नां नावं दृष्ट्वेव पारगाः । भीष्मे हते भृशं दुःखान्मन्ये शोचन्ति पुत्रकाः
Just as those who would cross are left helpless seeing their boat sunk in deep water, so, with Bhishma slain, my sons, I think, are grieving deeply.
अद्रिसारमयं नूनं हृदयं मम सञ्जय। यच्छ्रुत्वा पुरुषव्याघ्रं हतं भीष्मं न दीर्यते
Surely, my heart is made of stone, Sanjaya, for it does not break on hearing that Bhishma, the tiger among men, has been slain.
यस्मिन्नस्त्राणि मेधा च नीतिश्च पुरुषर्षभे। अप्रमेयाणि दुर्धर्षे कथं स निहतो युधि
How could he, in whom were unmatched weapons, intelligence, and policy—an unassailable bull among men—be slain in battle?
न चास्त्रेण न शौर्येण तपसा मेधया न च। न धृत्या न पुनस्त्यागान्मृत्योः कश्चिद्विमुच्यते
No one escapes death by weapons, nor by valor, nor by austerity, intelligence, steadfastness, or even by renunciation.
कालो नूनं महावीर्यः सर्वलोकदुरत्ययः । यत्र शान्तनवं भीष्मं हतं शंससि सञ्जय
Truly, time is of great might and insurmountable for all worlds, Sanjaya, since you tell me that Bhishma, son of Shantanu, has been slain.
पुत्रशोकाभिसंतप्तो महद्दुःखमचिन्तयन् । आशंसेऽहं परं त्राणं भीष्माच्छान्तनुनन्दनात्
Afflicted by grief for my son, weighed down by immense sorrow, I hoped for supreme protection from Bhishma, son of Shantanu.
यदादित्यमिवापश्यत्पतितं भ्रुवि सञ्जय । दुर्योधनः शान्तनवं किं तदा प्रत्यपद्मत
When Duryodhana saw the son of Shantanu fallen, like the sun from the sky, what did he do then, Sanjaya?
नाहं स्वेषां परेषां वा बुद्ध्या सञ्जय चिन्तयन् । शेषं किंचित्प्रपश्यामि प्रत्यनीके महीक्षिताम्
Thinking with my mind, Sanjaya, I do not see any remnant left among my own or the enemy kings on the battlefield.
दारुणः क्षत्रधर्मोऽयमृषिभिः संप्रदर्शितः । यत्र शान्तनवं हत्वा राज्यमिच्छन्ति पाण्डवाः
This harsh duty of the warrior, as shown by the sages, is where the Pandavas seek the kingdom after slaying Bhishma, son of Shantanu.
वयं वा राज्यमिच्छामो घातयित्वा महाव्रतम्। क्षत्रधर्मे स्थिताः पार्था नापराध्यन्ति पुत्रकाः
Or we too desire the kingdom after causing the death of the great-vowed one; yet the sons of Pandu, established in the warrior's code, are not at fault, my son.
एतदार्येण कर्तव्यं कृच्छ्रास्वापत्सु सञ्जय । पराक्रमः पराशक्तिस्तत्तु तस्मिन्प्रतिष्ठितम्
This is what must be done by the noble in times of great crisis, Sanjaya; valor and utmost power are to be established in that.
अनीकानि विनिघ्नन्तं ह्रीमन्तमपराजितम् । कथं शान्तनवं तातं पाण्डुपुत्रा न्यवारयन्
How did the sons of Pandu restrain Bhishma, son of Shantanu, who was destroying the armies, possessed of modesty and undefeated, O Sanjaya?
यथायुक्तान्यनीकानि कथं युद्धं महात्मभिः। कथं वा निहतो भीष्मः पिता सञ्जय मे परैः
How did those great souls, properly arrayed in their divisions, fight in battle? And how was my father Bhishma slain by the enemy, Sanjaya?
दुर्योधनश्च कर्णश्च शकुनिश्चापि सौबलः । दुःशासनश्च कितवो हते भीष्मे किमब्रुवन्
What did Duryodhana, Karna, Shakuni son of Subala, and the deceitful Duhshasana say when Bhishma was slain?
यच्छरीरैरुपास्तीर्णां नरवारणवाजिनाम् । शरशक्तिमहाखङ्गतोमराक्षां महाभयाम्। प्राविशन्कितवा मन्दाः सभां युद्धदुरासदाम्
When the hall of battle, dreadful and hard to approach, was strewn with the bodies of men, elephants, and horses, and filled with arrows, spears, great swords, and tomaras, how did those foolish gamblers enter it?
प्राणद्यूते प्रतिभये केऽदीव्यन्त नरर्षभाः । के जीयन्ते जितास्तत्र कृतलक्ष्या निपातिताः । अन्ये भीष्माच्चान्तनवात्तन्ममाचक्ष्व सञ्जय
In that deadly game of life, who among the best of men played, who prevailed, and who were struck down, their marks achieved? Tell me all this, Sanjaya, and also about those who survived Bhishma, son of Shantanu.
न हि मे शान्तिरस्तीह श्रुत्वा देवव्रतं हतम्। पितरं भीमकर्माणं भीष्ममाहवशोभिनम्
I have no peace here after hearing that Devavrata, my father Bhishma, doer of mighty deeds and glorious in battle, has been slain.
आर्तिं मे हृदये रूढां महतीं पुत्रहानिजाम्। त्वं हि मे सर्पिषेवाग्निमुद्दीपयसि सञ्जय
A great pain has taken root in my heart from the loss of my son; you, Sanjaya, only fuel it further, as clarified butter feeds a fire.
महान्तं भारमुद्यम्य विश्रुतं सार्वलौकिकम्। दृष्ट्वा विनिहतं भीष्मं मन्ये शोचन्ति पुत्रकाः
Seeing Bhishma, renowned and bearing a great burden for all the worlds, struck down, I think the sons grieve.
श्रोष्यामि तानि दुःखानि दुर्योधनकृतान्यहम् । तस्मान्मे सर्वमाचक्ष्व यद्वृत्तं तत्र सञ्जय
I shall hear of those sorrows caused by Duryodhana; therefore, tell me everything that happened there, Sanjaya.
यद्वृत्तं तत्र संग्रामे मन्दस्याबुद्धिसंभवम् । अपनीतं सुनीतं यत्तन्ममाचक्ष्व सञ्जय
Tell me, Sanjaya, all that occurred in that battle, born of my folly, what was lost and what was wisely preserved.
यत्कृतं तत्र संग्रामे भीष्मेण जयमिच्छता । तेजोयुक्तं कृतास्त्रेण शंस तच्चाप्यशेषतः
Tell me in full, Sanjaya, what Bhishma did in that battle, seeking victory, with his energy and mastery of weapons.
यथा तदभवद्युद्धं कुरुपाण्डवसेनयोः । क्रमेण येन यस्मिंश्च काले यच्च यथाऽभवत्
How that battle took place between the armies of the Kurus and the Pandavas, in what order, at what time, and in what manner—
त्वद्युक्तोऽयमनुप्रश्नो महाराज यथार्हसि। न तु दुर्योधने दोषमिममासङ्क्तुमर्हसि
This question of yours, O great king, is appropriate as you have asked; but you should not suspect Duryodhana of this fault.