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.
तानुवाच महाबाहुर्भीष्मः कुरुपितामहः । स्वागतं तव वार्ष्णेय स्वागतं ते धनञ्जय
Then Bhishma, the grandsire of the Kurus, mighty-armed, spoke to them: 'Welcome to you, O descendant of Vrishni, welcome to you, Dhananjaya.'
स्वागतं धर्मपुत्राय भीमाय यमयोस्तथा। किं वा कार्यं करोम्यद्य युष्माकं प्रीतिवर्धनं
Welcome to Yudhishthira, to Bhima, and to the twins as well; what task shall I perform today that will increase your joy?
युद्धादन्यत्र हे वत्साः प्रीयन्तां मा विशङ्कथ ।' सर्वात्मनापि कर्तास्मि यदपि स्यात्सदुष्करम् । तथा ब्रुवाणं गाङ्गेयं प्रीतियुक्तं पुनःपुनः
Apart from battle, dear sons, be at ease and do not worry; I will accomplish for you, with all my power, even what is most difficult.' Thus, as Ganga's son spoke again and again, filled with affection—
उवाच राजा दीनात्मा प्रीतियुक्तमिदं वचः। कथं जयेम सर्वज्ञ कथं राज्यं लभेमहि
The king, his heart troubled, spoke these words with affection: 'How may we achieve victory, O all-knowing one? How may we obtain the kingdom?'
प्रजानां संशयो न स्यात्कथं तन्मे बद प्रभो । भवान्हि नो वधोपायं ब्रवीतु स्वयमात्मनः
'How may there be no doubt among the people? Tell me that, O lord. For you yourself should declare to us the means of your defeat.'
भवन्तं समरे वीर विषहेम कथं वयम्। न हि ते सूक्ष्ममप्यस्ति रन्ध्रं कुरुपितामह
'O hero, how can we overcome you in battle? For there is not the slightest flaw in you, O grandsire of the Kurus.'
मण्डलेनैव धनुषा दृश्यसे संयुगे सदा। आददानं संदधानं विकर्षन्तं धनुर्न च
'In battle you are always seen with your bow in a circle, drawing, stringing, and releasing arrows without pause.'
पश्यामस्त्वां महाबाहो रथे सूर्यमिवापरम् । रथाश्वनरनागानां हन्तारं परवीरहन्
'O mighty-armed one, we see you on your chariot like a second sun, the destroyer of chariots, horses, men, and elephants, O slayer of enemy heroes.'
कोऽथवोत्सहते जेतुं वां पुमान्भरतर्षभ । वर्षता शरवर्षाणि महान्ति पुरुषर्षभ
'Who, then, among men, O bull of the Bharatas, can hope to conquer you, O best of men, as you pour forth great showers of arrows?'
क्षयं निता हि पृतना संयुगे महती मम। यथा युधि जयेम त्वां यथा राज्यं भृशं मम
'My great army has been destroyed in battle; tell me how we may conquer you in war, and how I may firmly regain my kingdom.'