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.
ततो युधिष्ठिरो वाक्यं भीष्मस्य कुरुनन्दन। शिरसा प्रतिजग्राह भूयस्तमभिवाद्य च
Then Yudhishthira, descendant of the Kurus, accepted Bhishma’s words with bowed head, and again offered him reverence.
प्रायात्पुनर्महाबाहुराचार्यस्य रथं प्रति। पश्यतां सर्वसैन्यानां मध्येन भ्रातृभिः सह
After that, the mighty-armed one departed again, together with his brothers, toward the teacher’s chariot, in the sight of all the armies.
स द्रोणमभिवाद्याथ कृत्वं चाभिप्रदक्षिणम् । उवाच राजा दुर्धर्षमात्मनिःश्रेयसं वचः
He then saluted Drona, circumambulated him, and spoke words seeking his own highest good to the unconquerable king.
आमन्त्रये त्वां भगवन्योत्स्ये विगितकल्मषः । कथं जये रिपून्सर्वाननुज्ञातस्त्वया द्विज
I take leave of you, revered one; I will fight, my sins dispelled. Tell me, O twice-born, how I may conquer all my foes with your permission.
यदि मां नाभिगच्छेथा युद्धाय कृतनिश्चयः। शपेयं त्वां महाराज परीभावाय सर्वशः
If you do not approach me, resolved for battle, I would curse you, O great king, to utter disgrace.
तद्युधिष्ठिर तुष्टोऽस्मि पूजितश्च त्वयाऽनघ। अनुजानामि युध्यस्व विजयं समवाप्नुहि
Then, Yudhishthira, I am pleased and honored by you, O faultless one; I permit you—fight and attain victory.
करवाणि च ते कामं ब्रूहि त्वमभिकाङ्क्षितम् । एवं गते महाराज युद्धादन्यत्किमिच्छसि
I will do whatever you wish; speak what you desire. In this situation, great king, what do you seek besides battle?
अर्थस्य पुरुषो दासो दासस्त्वर्थो न कस्यचित्। इति सत्यं महाराज बद्धोऽस्म्यर्थेन कौरवैःक
A man is the servant of wealth; wealth is not the servant of anyone. This is the truth, great king—I am bound by wealth to the Kauravas.
ब्रवीम्येतत्क्लीबवत्त्वां युद्धादन्यत्किमिच्छसि। योत्स्येऽहं कौरवस्यार्थे तवाशास्यो जयो मया
I say this to you, though it may seem unmanly—what do you desire besides battle? I will fight for the Kaurava’s cause; victory by me is not to be hoped for by you.
जयमाशास्स्व मे ब्रह्मन्मन्त्रयस्व च मद्धितम्। युध्यस्व कौरवस्यार्थे वर एष वृतो मया
Hope for victory from me, O Brahman, and advise me for my good; fight for the Kaurava’s cause, for this is the boon I have chosen.