न्यविशत्कुरुभिः सार्धं हृष्टरूपैः समन्ततः । ततो रात्रिः समभवत्सर्वभूतप्रमोहिनी
He rested together with the Kurus, who were delighted on all sides; then night fell, bewildering all creatures.
तस्मिन्रात्रिमुखे घोरे पाण्डवा वृष्णिभिः सह । सृञ्जयाश्च दुराधर्षा मन्त्राय समुपाविशन्
At the onset of that dreadful night, the Pandavas, together with the Vrishnis and the indomitable Srinjayas, gathered for counsel.
आत्मनिःश्रेयसं सर्वे प्राप्तकालं महाबलाः। मन्त्रयामासुरव्यग्रा मन्त्रनिश्चयकोविदाः
All those mighty warriors, intent and skilled in deliberation, began to consult together about their own supreme welfare, as the time had come.
ततो युधिष्ठिरो राजा मन्त्रयित्वा चिरं नृप । वासुदेवं समुद्वीक्ष्य वचनं चेदमाददे
Then King Yudhishthira, after long deliberation, looked toward Vasudeva and spoke these words.
कृष्ण पश्य माहात्मानं भीष्मं भीमपराक्रमम् । गजं नलवनानीव विमृद्गन्तं बलं मम
Krishna, see the great-souled Bhishma, whose valor equals Bhima’s; like an elephant trampling a forest of reeds, he crushes my army.
न चैवैनं महात्मानमुत्सहामो निरीक्षितुम् । लेलिह्यमानं सैन्येषु प्रवृद्धमिव पावकम्
And we are not able to even look upon that great soul, who blazes among the troops like a growing fire consuming all.
यथा घोरो महानागस्तक्षको वै विषोल्बणः। तथा भीष्मो रणे क्रुद्धस्तीक्ष्णशस्त्रः प्रतापवान्
Just as the fierce serpent Takshaka, filled with venom, so is Bhishma in battle when enraged, armed with sharp weapons and radiant with power.
गृहीतचापः समरे प्रमुञ्चन्निशिताञ्छरान्। शक्यो जेतुं यमः क्रुद्धो वज्रपाणिश्च देवराट्
With bow in hand, releasing keen arrows in battle, even the wrathful Yama or Indra, wielder of the thunderbolt, could be overcome, but not Bhishma.
वरुणः पाशभृच्चापि सगदो वा धनेश्वरः । न तु भीष्मः सुसंक्रुद्धः शक्यो जेतुं महाहवे
Neither Varuna, bearer of the noose, nor Kubera with his mace, nor even the enraged Bhishma can be conquered in great battle.
सोऽहमेवं गते कृष्ण निमग्नः शोकसागरे। आत्मनो बुद्धिदौर्बल्याद्भीष्ममासाद्य संयुगे
Thus, O Krishna, I am plunged in an ocean of sorrow, having encountered Bhishma in battle due to the weakness of my own judgment.
वनं यास्यामि दुर्धर्ष श्रेयो वै तत्र मे गतम् । न युद्धं रोचते कृष्ण हन्ति भीष्मो हि नः सदा
I will go to the forest, O unconquerable one; there lies my true welfare. Battle does not please me, Krishna, for Bhishma always slays us.
यथा प्रज्वलितं वह्निं पतङ्गः समभिद्रवन्। एकतो मृत्युमभ्येति तथाऽहं भीष्ममेयिवान्
Just as a moth rushes toward a blazing fire and meets death, so have I approached Bhishma.
क्षयं नीतोऽस्मि वार्ष्णेय राज्यहेतोः पराक्रमी । भ्रातरश्चैव मे शुराः सायकैर्भृशपीडिताः
For the sake of the kingdom, O descendant of Vrishni, I have been led to ruin; and my heroic brothers are grievously afflicted by arrows.
मत्कृते भ्रातृसौहार्दाद्राज्यभ्रष्टा वनं गताः। परिक्लिष्टा तथा कृष्णा मत्कृते मधुसूदन
Because of me, out of brotherly affection, my brothers lost their kingdom and went to the forest; and likewise Krishna has suffered much on my account, O Madhusudana.
जीवितं बहु मन्येऽहं जीवितं ह्यद्य दुर्लभम्। जीवितस्याद्य शेषेण चरिष्ये धर्ममुत्तमम्
I consider life to be of great value; today, life is indeed hard to obtain. With the portion of life that remains to me today, I will pursue the highest righteousness.
यदि तेऽहमनुग्राह्यो भ्रातृभिः स केशव । स्वधर्मस्याविरोधेन हितं व्याहर केशव
If I am worthy of your compassion, O Keshava, together with my brothers, then, without violating my own duty, speak what is beneficial, O Keshava.
एवं श्रुत्वा वचस्तस्य कारुण्याद्बहुविस्तरम्। प्रत्युवाच ततः कृष्णः सान्त्वयानो युधिष्ठिरम्
Having heard his words, so full of compassion and greatly detailed, Krishna then replied, consoling Yudhishthira.
धर्मपुत्र विषादं त्वं मा कृथाः सत्यसंगर । यस्य ते भ्रातरः शूरा दुर्जयाः सत्रुसूदनाः
O son of Dharma, do not give in to despair, you who are steadfast in truth; your brothers are valiant, unconquerable, and destroyers of foes.
अर्जुनो भीमसेनश्च वाय्वग्निसमतेजसौ। माद्रीपुत्रौ च विक्रान्तौ त्रिदशानामिविश्वरौ
Arjuna and Bhimasena possess energy equal to wind and fire, and the sons of Madri are mighty, like the lords of the gods among the immortals.
मां वा नियुङ्क्ष्व सौहार्दाद्योत्स्ये भीष्मेण पाण्डव । त्वप्रयुक्तो महाराज किं न कुर्यां महाहवे
Out of friendship, command me, O Pandava, and I will fight with Bhishma. O great king, if you send me forth, what would I not do in this great battle?
हनिष्यामि रणे भीष्ममाहूय पुरुषर्षभम् । पश्यतां धार्तराष्ट्राणां यदि नेच्छति फल्गुनः
I will slay Bhishma in battle, challenging that bull among men, in the sight of the Dhartarashtras, if Phalguna does not wish to do so.
यदि भीष्मे हते वीरे जयं पश्यसि पण्डव। हन्तास्म्येकरथेनाद्य कुरुवृद्धं पितामहम्
If, O Pandava, you see victory in the death of the heroic Bhishma, then today I will slay the elder of the Kurus, the grandsire, with a single chariot.
पश्य मे विक्रमं राजन्महेन्द्रस्येव संयुगे। विमुञ्चन्तं महास्त्रामि पातयिष्यामि तं रथात्
Behold my prowess, O king, like that of mighty Indra in battle, as I release great weapons and bring him down from his chariot.
यः शत्रुः पाण्डुपुत्राणां मच्छत्रुः स न संशयः। मदर्था भवदर्था ये ये मदीयास्तवैव ते
Whoever is an enemy of the sons of Pandu is certainly my enemy as well; those who are mine for my sake or yours, O king, are indeed yours.
तव भ्राता मम सखा संबन्धी शिष्य एव च । मांसान्युत्कृत्य दास्यामि फल्गुनार्थे महीपते
Your brother is my friend, relative, and even disciple; I would cut my own flesh and give it for the sake of Phalguna, O king.
एष चापि नरव्याघ्रो मत्कृते जीवितं त्यजेत्। एष नः समयस्तात तारयेम परस्परम्
And this tiger among men would even give up his life for my sake; this is our agreement, dear one, that we should save each other.
स मां नियुङ्क्ष्व राजेन्द्र यावत्सज्जो भवाम्यहम् । प्रतिज्ञातमुपप्लाव्ये यत्तत्पार्थेन पूर्वतः
So command me, O king of kings, while I am still prepared; that which Partha vowed earlier at Upaplavya must be fulfilled.
पातयिष्यामि गाङ्गेयमित्युलूकस्य संनिधौ। परिरक्ष्यमिदं तावद्वचः पार्थस्य धीमतः
In the presence of Uluka, he vowed, 'I will bring down Ganga's son.' Until then, this word of wise Partha must be preserved.
अनुज्ञातेन पार्थेन मया कार्यं न संशयः। अथवा फल्गुनस्यैष भारः परिमितो रणे
There is no doubt that I must act only with Partha's permission; otherwise, this burden in battle belongs solely to Phalguna.
स हनिष्यति संग्रामे भीष्मं परपुरंजयम् । अशक्यमपि कुर्याद्धि रणे पार्थः समुद्यतः
He will slay Bhishma, the conqueror of enemy cities, in battle; for when Partha is determined, he can accomplish even the impossible in war.