अभिमानी रणे भीष्मो नित्यं चापि रणप्रियः । स कथं पाण्डवान्युद्धे जेष्यते तात संगतान्
Bhishma is proud in battle and always delights in war; how then, father, will he defeat the united Pandavas in combat?
स त्वं शीघ्रमितो गत्वा भीष्मस्य शिबिरं प्रति । अनुमान्य गुरुं वृद्धं शस्त्रं न्यासय भारत
Therefore, go quickly from here to Bhishma's camp; having obtained the consent of the venerable elder, make him lay down his weapons, O Bharata.
न्यस्तशस्त्रे ततो भीष्मे निहतान्पश्य पाण्डवान् । मयैकेन रणे राजन्ससुहृद्गणबान्धवान्
When Bhishma has laid down his arms, then behold the Pandavas, along with their friends, allies, and kinsmen, slain by me alone in battle, O king.
एवमुक्तस्तु कर्णेन पुत्रो दुर्योधनस्तव । अब्रवीद्भ्रातरं तत्र दुःशासनमिदं वचः
Thus addressed by Karna, your son Duryodhana then spoke these words to his brother Duhshasana there.
अनुयात्रं यथा सर्वं सज्जीभवति सर्वशः । दुःशासन तथा क्षिप्रं सर्वमेवोपपादय
'See to it, Duhshasana, that all the arrangements for the march are made ready in every way, and do so quickly.'
एवमुक्त्वा ततो राजन्कर्णमाह जनेश्वरः । अनुमान्य रणे भीष्ममेषोऽहं द्विपदां वरम्
Having spoken thus, the king then said to Karna, 'Having obtained Bhishma's consent in battle, I will come to you, best among men.'
आगमिष्ये ततः क्षिप्रं त्वत्सकाशमरिन्दम। अपक्रान्ते ततो भीष्मे प्रहरिष्यसि संयुगे
'After that, I will quickly come to you, subduer of foes; when Bhishma has withdrawn, you shall strike in battle.'
निष्पपात ततस्तूर्णं पुत्रस्तव विशांपते । सहितो भ्रातृभिस्तैस्तु देवैरिव शतक्रतुः
Then your son, O lord of the people, swiftly set out, accompanied by his brothers, like Shakra among the gods.
ततस्तं नृपशार्दूलं शार्दूलसमविक्रमम् । आरोपयद्धयं तूर्णं भ्राता दुःशासनस्तदा
Then, Duhshasana swiftly mounted that tiger among men, whose valor was like a tiger's.
अङ्गदी बद्धमुकुटो हस्ताभरणवान्नृप । धार्तराष्ट्रो महाराज विबभौ स पथि व्रजन्
The son of Dhritarashtra, adorned with armlets, a fastened crown, and ornaments on his hands, shone as he proceeded along the road, O King.
भण्डीपुष्पनिकाशेन तपनीयनिभेन च। अनुलिप्तः परार्द्ध्येन चन्दनेन सुगन्धिना
He was anointed with excellent, fragrant sandalwood paste, bright as gold and resplendent like a garland of Bhandi flowers.
अरजोम्बरसंवीतः सिंहखेलगतिर्नृप । शुशुभे विमलार्चिष्मान्नभसीव दिवाकरः
Clad in spotless garments, moving with the gait of a lion, he shone with pure radiance like the sun in the sky.
तं प्रयान्तं नरव्याघ्रं भीष्मस्य शिबिरं प्रति । अनुजग्मुर्महेष्वासाः सर्वलोकस्य धन्विनः । भ्रातरश्च महेष्वासास्त्रिदशा इव वासवम्
As that tiger among men went toward Bhishma's camp, mighty archers and all the bowmen of the world followed him, and his brothers, great archers, surrounded him like the gods surround Indra.
हयानन्ये समारुह्य गजानन्ये च भारत । रथानन्ये नरश्रेष्ठं परिवव्रुः समन्ततः
Some mounted horses, others elephants, and others chariots, and they encircled that best of men on all sides, O Bharata.
पदातयश्च त्वरिता नखरप्रासयोधिनः। परिवव्रुर्महेष्वासं धार्तराष्ट्रं महारथम्
Swift foot-soldiers, armed with claws and spears, surrounded that great archer, the son of Dhritarashtra, the mighty chariot-warrior.
आत्तशस्त्राश्च सुहृदो रक्षणार्थं महीपतेः । प्रादुर्बभूवुः सहिताः शक्रस्येवामरा दिवि
His friends, weapons in hand, appeared together for the king's protection, like the immortals for Shakra in heaven.
स पूज्यमानः कुरुभिः कौरवाणां महाबलः । प्रययौ सदनं राजा गाङ्गेयस्य यशस्विनः । अन्वीयमानः सततं सोदरैः परिवारितः
Honored by the Kurus, that mighty lord of the Kauravas went to the illustrious Ganga-born's residence, always attended by his brothers.
दक्षिणं दक्षिणः काले संभृत्य स्वभुजं तदा। हस्तिहस्तोपमं सौम्यं सर्वशत्रुनिबर्हणम्
At that time, he respectfully raised his right arm, strong as an elephant's trunk, the destroyer of all enemies.
प्रगृह्णन्नञ्जलीन्नॄणामुद्यतान्सर्वतो दिशः। शुश्राव मधुरा वाचो नानादेशनिवासिनाम्
He accepted the raised greetings of the people from all directions, and listened to their sweet words, spoken by those from many lands.
संस्तूयमानः सूतैश्च मागधैश्च महायशाः। पूजयानश्च तान्सर्वान्सर्वलोकेश्वरेश्वरः
Praised by bards and Magadhas, that highly renowned lord honored them all, he who was lord of all the world.
प्रदीपैः काञ्चनैस्तत्र गन्धतैलावसेचितैः । परिवव्रुर्महाराजं प्रज्वलद्भिः समन्ततः
There, golden lamps filled with fragrant oil surrounded the great king, blazing on all sides.
स तैः परिवृतो राजा प्रदीपैः काञ्चनैर्ज्वलन्। शुशुभे चन्द्रमायुक्तो दीप्तैरिव महाग्रहैः
Encircled by those shining golden lamps, the king shone like the moon surrounded by brilliant planets.
कञ्चुकोष्णीषिणस्तत्र वेत्रझर्झरपाणयः। प्रोत्सारयन्तः शनकैस्तं जनं सर्वतो दिशम्
There, attendants with sashes and turbans, holding fans and whisks, gently cleared the people away in all directions.
संप्राप्य तु ततो राजा भीष्मस्य सदनं शुभम् । अवतीर्य हयाच्चापि भीष्मं प्राप्य जनेश्वरः
Then, having reached Bhishma's splendid abode, the king dismounted from his horse and approached Bhishma, lord of men.
अभिवाद्य ततो भीष्मं निषण्णः परमासने। काञ्चने सर्वतोभद्रे स्पर्द्ध्यास्तरणसंवृते। उवाच प्राञ्जलिर्भीष्मं बाष्पकण्ठोऽश्रुलोचनः
After bowing to Bhishma, he sat on a supreme golden seat, covered with costly cloth, and, with joined palms, his throat choked with tears and his eyes filled with weeping, spoke to Bhishma.
त्वां वयं हि समाश्रित्य संयुगे शत्रुसूदन । उत्सहेम रणे जेतुं सेन्द्रानपि सुरासुरान् । किमु पाण्डुसुतान्वीरान्ससुहृद्गणबान्धवान्
Relying on you, O slayer of foes, we are confident to conquer even the gods and demons with Indra in battle—what then of the sons of Pandu, though they are heroes with their friends and kinsmen?
तस्मादर्हसि गाङ्गेय कृपां कर्तुं मयि प्रभो। जहि पाणडुसुतान्वारान्महेन्द्र इव दानवान्
Therefore, O son of Ganga, you ought to show me compassion, O lord. Strike down the sons of Pandu and their allies, as Mahendra did the Danavas.
पूर्वमुक्तं महाबाहो हनिष्यामि ससोमकान् । पाञ्चालान्केकयैः सार्धं करूपांश्चेति भारत
O mighty-armed one, I have previously declared: I will slay the Panchalas along with the Kekayas and the Somakas, O Bharata.
त्वद्वचः सत्यमेवास्तु जहि पार्थान्समागतान् । सोमकांश्च महेष्वासान्सत्यवाग्भव भारत
Let your words prove true—slay the assembled sons of Pritha and the great bowmen of the Somakas. Be truthful, O Bharata.
दयया यदि वा राजन्द्वेष्यभावान्मम प्रभो । मन्दभाग्यतया वापि मम रक्षसि पाण्डवान्
If, O king, out of compassion, or from enmity towards me, or perhaps due to my ill fortune, you are protecting the Pandavas—