अस्मिन्रणसमूहे वै वर्तमाने महाभये। उत्सृज्य क्व नु गन्तासि शत्रूनभिमुखो नृप
In this assembly of battle, amidst great danger, where will you go, abandoning us and facing the enemy, O king?
एवमाभाष्यमाणोऽपि भ्रातृभिः कुरुनन्दनः। नोवाच वाग्यतः किंचिद्गच्छत्येव युधिष्ठिरः
Though addressed thus by his brothers, the descendant of the Kurus, Yudhishthira, remained silent and continued onward.
तानुवाच महाप्राज्ञो वासुदेवो महामनाः । अभिप्रायोऽस्य विज्ञातो मयेति प्रहसन्निव
Then the wise and great-minded Vasudeva spoke to them: 'His intention is known to me,' he said, smiling.
एष भीष्मं तथा द्रोणं गौतमं शल्यमेव च। अनुमान्य गुरून्सर्वान्योत्स्यते पार्थिवोऽरिभिः
He will approach Bhishma, Drona, Gautama, and Shalya, and, having sought permission from all his elders, will engage the enemy.
श्रूयते हि पुराकल्पे गुरूनननुमान्य यः। युध्यते स भवेद्व्यक्तमपध्यातो महत्तरैः
For it is heard that in ancient times, one who fights without seeking permission from his elders is surely censured by the great.
अनुमान्य यथाशास्त्रं यस्तु युध्येन्महत्तरैः । ध्रुवस्तस्य जयो युद्धे भवेदिति मतिर्मम
But one who, according to scripture, seeks permission from the elders before fighting, his victory in battle is certain—such is my conviction.
एवं ब्रुवति कृष्णेऽत्र धार्तराष्ट्रचमूं प्रति। हाहाकारो महानासीन्निःशब्दास्त्वपरेऽभवन्
As Krishna spoke thus to the Kaurava army, a great outcry arose among some, while others became silent.
दृष्ट्वा युधिष्ठिरं दूराद्धार्तराष्ट्रस्य सैनिकाः । मिथः संकथयांचक्रुरेषो हि कुलपांसनः
Seeing Yudhishthira from afar, the soldiers of Dhritarashtra began to speak among themselves, 'Indeed, this is the disgrace of his lineage.'
व्यक्तं भीत इवाभ्येति राजासौ भीष्ममन्तिकम् । युधिष्ठिरः ससोदर्यः शरणार्थं प्रयाचकः
Clearly, as if afraid, that king Yudhishthira approaches Bhishma, together with his brothers, seeking protection.
धनञ्जये कथं नाथे पाण्डवे च वृकोदरे । नकुले सहदेवे च भीतिरभ्येति पाण्डवम्
How is it that fear comes upon the Pandava, when Dhananjaya is his protector, and Bhima, Nakula, and Sahadeva are with him?
न नूनं क्षत्रियकुले जातः संप्रथिते भुवि। यथाऽस्य हृदयं भीतमल्पसत्वस्य संयुगे
Surely, he was not born in the Kshatriya line, renowned on earth, seeing how his heart is fearful in battle, being of little spirit.
ततस्ते सैनिकाः सर्वे प्रशंसन्ति स्म कौरवान् । हृष्टाः सुमनसो भूत्वा चेलानि दुधुवुश्च ह
Then all the soldiers, delighted and in good spirits, praised the Kauravas and waved their garments.
व्यनिन्दंश्च तथा सर्वे योधास्तव विशांपते। युधिष्ठिरं ससोदर्यं सहितं केशवनेन हि
And all your warriors, O king, mocked Yudhishthira and his brothers, who were accompanied by Krishna.
ततस्तत्कौरवं सैन्यं धिक्वृत्वा तु युधिष्ठिरम् । निःशब्दमभवत्तूर्णं पुनरेव विशांपते
Then, having reproached Yudhishthira, the Kaurava army quickly became silent again, O king.
किं नु वक्ष्याति राजाऽसौ किं भीष्मः प्रतिवक्ष्यति। किं भीमः समरश्लाघी किं नु कृष्णार्जुनाविति
What will that king say? What will Bhishma reply? What will Bhima, proud of battle, say? And what of Krishna and Arjuna?
विवक्षितं किमस्येति संशयः सुमहानभूत् । उभयो सेनयो राजन्युधिष्ठिरकृते तदा
A great doubt arose in both armies as to what Yudhishthira intended to say at that moment.
सोऽवगाह्य चमूं शत्रोः शरशक्तिसमाकुलाम् । भीष्ममेवाभ्यात्तूर्णं भ्रातृभिः परिवारितः
He then plunged into the enemy ranks, thick with arrows and spears, and swiftly approached Bhishma, surrounded by his brothers.
तमुवाच ततः पादौ कारभ्यां पीड्य पाण्डवः । भीष्मं शान्तनवं राजा युद्धाय समुपस्थितम्
Then, pressing Bhishma's feet with his hands, King Yudhishthira, ready for battle, spoke to the son of Shantanu.
आमन्त्रये त्वां दुर्धर्ष त्वया योत्स्यामहे सह। अनजानीहि मां तात आशिषश्च प्रयोजय
I salute you, unconquerable one; we are about to fight with you. Recognize me, O father, and bestow your blessings.
यद्येवं नाभिगच्छेथा युधि मां पृथिवीपते। शपेयं त्वां महाराज परीभावाय भारत
If you do not approach me in battle, O lord of the earth, I would curse you, O great king, for the sake of reproach, O Bharata.
प्रीतोऽहं पुत्र युध्यस्व जयमाप्नुहि पाण्डव । यत्तेऽभिलषितं चान्यत्तदवाप्नुहि संयुगे
I am pleased, my son; fight and win victory, O Pandava. And whatever else you desire, may you obtain that in battle.
व्रियतां च वरः पार्थ किमस्मत्तोऽभिकाङ्क्षसि । एवं गते महाराज न तवास्ति पराजयः
Choose a boon, O Partha; what do you wish from me? With things thus, O great king, defeat is not yours.
अर्थस्य पुरुषो दासो दासस्त्वर्थो न कस्यचित्। इति सत्यं महाराज बद्धोऽस्म्यर्थेन कौरवैः
A man is the servant of wealth; wealth is servant to none. This is the truth, O great king; I am bound to the Kauravas by wealth.
अतस्त्वां क्लीबवद्वाक्यं ब्रवीमि कुरुनन्दन । भृतोऽस्त्म्यर्थेन कौरव्य युद्धादन्यत्किमिच्छसि
Therefore, O joy of the Kurus, I speak to you words as if unmanly; I am maintained by the Kauravas for wealth—what do you desire from me besides battle?
मन्त्रयस्व महाबाहो हितैषी मम नित्यशः। युध्यस्व कौरवस्यार्थे ममैष सततं वरः
Advise me, mighty-armed one, for you always seek my welfare; fight for the sake of the Kaurava, for this is the boon I have ever granted.
राजन्किमत्र साह्यं ते करोमि कुरुनन्दन। कामं योत्स्ये परस्यार्थे ब्रूहि यत्ते विवक्षितम्
O king, son of the Kurus, what assistance can I render you here? I will certainly fight for another's cause; speak what you desire.
कथं जयेयं संग्रामे भवन्तमपराजितम्। एतन्मे मन्त्रय हितं यदि श्रेयः प्रपश्यसि
How might I conquer you, undefeated in battle? Advise me in this, if you see any good or benefit for me.
नैनं पश्यामि कौन्तेय यो मां युध्यन्तमाहवे। विजयेत पुमान्कश्तित्साक्षादपि शतक्रतुः
O son of Kunti, I do not see anyone who, seeing me fighting in battle, could defeat me—not even the mighty Indra himself.
हन्त पृच्छामि तस्मात्त्वां पितामह नमोस्तु ते। वधोपायं ब्रवीहि त्वमात्मनः समरे परैः
Therefore, I ask you, grandsire—salutations to you—tell me the means of your death at the hands of the enemy in battle.
न स्म तं तात पश्यामि समरे यो जयेत माम्। न तावन्मृत्युकालोऽपि पुनरागमनं कुरु
My child, I do not see anyone in battle who could defeat me; not even the time of death itself would bring my return.