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.
त्रिदशान्वा समुद्युक्तान्सहितान्दैत्यदानवैः । निहन्त्यादर्जुनः सङ्ख्ये किमु भीष्मं नराधिप
Arjuna, when roused, can defeat even the gods together with the Daityas and Danavas in battle; what then of Bhishma, O king of men?
विपरीतो महावीर्यो गतसत्वोऽल्पजीवनः । भीष्मः शान्तनवो नूनं कर्तव्यं नावबुध्यते
Bhishma, son of Shantanu, is indeed turned away, though possessing great might; his spirit is gone, his life is short, and he does not understand what ought to be done.
एवमेतन्महाबाहो यथा वदसि माधव। सर्वे ह्येते न पर्याप्तास्तव वेगविधारणे
So it is, O mighty-armed one, just as you say, Madhava; for all these together are not sufficient to withstand your force.
नियतं समावाप्स्यामि सर्वमेतद्यथेप्सितम् । यस्य मे पुरुषव्याघ्र भवान्पक्षे व्यवस्थितः
Certainly, I shall accomplish all this as desired, O tiger among men, since you are steadfastly on my side.
सेन्द्रानपि रणे देवाञ्जयेयं जयतां वर। त्वया नाथेन गोविन्द किमु भीष्मं महारथम्
With you as my protector, Govinda, I could conquer even the gods with Indra in battle, best of the victorious—what then of Bhishma, the great chariot-warrior?
न तु त्वामनृतं कर्तुमुत्सहे स्वात्मगौरवात्। अयुध्यमानाः सहाय्यं यथोक्तं कुरु माधव
But I am not able to act falsely toward you, out of self-respect; so, Madhava, do as you have said—aid us without fighting.
समयस्तु कृतः कश्चिन्मम भीष्मेण संयुगे। मन्त्रयिष्ये तवार्थाय न तु योत्स्ये कथंचन
Some agreement has been made between me and Bhishma in battle; I shall consult for your sake, but I will not fight in any way.
दुर्योधनार्थं योत्स्यामि सत्यमेतदिति प्रभो। स हि राज्यस्य मे दाता मन्त्रस्यैव च माधव
I will fight for Duryodhana—this is the truth, O lord—for he is the giver of my kingdom and my counsel, O Madhava.
तस्माद्देवव्रतं भूयो वधोपायार्थमात्मनः । भवता सहिताः सर्वे प्रयाम मधुसूदन
Therefore, together with you, Madhusudana, let us all go again to Devavrata to seek a means for his own defeat.
तद्वयं सहिता गत्वा भीष्ममाशु नरोत्तमम् । रुचिते तव पृच्छामि मन्त्रं वार्ष्णेय माचिरम्
So let us go together at once to Bhishma, the foremost of men, and as you wish, O descendant of Vrishni, I will promptly ask him for counsel.
स वक्ष्यति हितं वाक्यं सत्यमस्माज्जनार्दन। यथा च वक्ष्यते कृष्ण तथा कर्तास्मि संयुगे
He will speak words that are beneficial and true, Janardana; and as Krishna declares, so shall I act in battle.
स नो जयस्य दाता स्यान्मन्त्रस्य च दृढव्रतः । बालाः पित्रा विहीनाश्च तेन संवर्धिता वयम्
He, firm in his vows, will be the giver of victory and counsel for us; we, who were children bereft of our father, were raised by him.
तं चेत्पितामहं वृद्धं हन्तुमिच्छामि माधव। पितुः पितरमिष्टं च धिगस्तु क्षत्रजीविकाम्
If I wish to slay that aged grandsire, O Madhava, who is dear as a father’s father, then shame upon the warrior’s life.
ततोऽब्रवीन्महाराज वार्ष्णेयः कुरुनन्दनम् । रोचते मे महाप्राज्ञ राजेन्द्र तव भाषितम्
Then, O king, the descendant of Vrishni spoke to the joy of the Kurus: 'Your words, O wise one, please me, O king among rulers.'
देवव्रतः कृती भीष्मः प्रेक्षितेनापि निर्दहेत्। गम्यतां स्ववधोपायं प्रष्टुं सागरगासुतम्
Devavrata, accomplished Bhishma, could burn even with a glance; let us go to ask the son of the river for the means of his own defeat.
वक्तमर्हति सत्यं स त्वया पृष्टो विशेषतः । ते वयं तत्र गच्छामः प्रष्टुं कुरुपितामहम्
He is worthy to speak the truth, especially when questioned by you; so let us go there to ask the grandsire of the Kurus.
गत्वा शान्तनवं वृद्धं मन्त्रं पृच्छाम भारत । स नो दास्यति मन्त्रं यं तेन योत्स्यामहे परान्
Going to the aged son of Shantanu, let us ask him for counsel, O Bharata; he will give us the strategy by which we shall fight the others.
एवमामन्त्र्य ते वीराः पाण्डवाः पाण्डुपूर्वज। जग्मुस्ते सहिताः सर्वे वासुदेवश्च वीर्यवान्
Thus having resolved, the heroic Pandavas, led by the eldest son of Pandu, all went together, along with the mighty Vasudeva.
विमुक्तशस्त्रकवचा भीष्मस्य सदनं प्रति। प्रविश्य च तदा भीष्मं शिरोभिः प्रणिपेदिरे
Having set aside their weapons and armor, they proceeded toward Bhishma’s abode; and entering, they bowed their heads to Bhishma.
पूजयन्तो महाराज पाण्डवा भरतर्षभम् । प्रणम्य शिरसा चैनं भीष्मं शरणमभ्ययुः
Honoring Bhishma, the bull among the Bharatas, O king, the Pandavas, bowing their heads, approached him for refuge.