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.'
ततोऽब्रवीच्छान्तनवः पाण्डवान्पाण्डुपूर्वज
Then Shantanava spoke to the Pandavas, to the eldest son of Pandu.
न कथंचन कौन्तेय मयि जीवति संयुगे। जयो भवति सर्वज्ञ सत्यमेतद्ब्रवीमि ते
'O son of Kunti, so long as I live in battle, victory will not be yours, O all-knowing one; this I tell you truly.'
निर्जिते मयि युद्धेन रणे जेष्यथ पाण्डवाः । क्षिप्रं मयि प्रहरत यदीच्छथ रणे जयम्
'If I am vanquished in battle, then you Pandavas will win in war; therefore, strike at me swiftly if you desire victory in battle.'
अनुजानामि वः पार्थाः प्रहरध्वं यथासुखम् । एवं हि सुकृतं मन्ये भवतां विदितो ह्यहम् । हते मयि हतं सर्वं तस्मादेवं विधीयताम्
'I permit you, O sons of Pritha, strike as you wish; for this I consider right, and I know you well. When I am slain, all is slain; therefore, let it be done thus.'
ब्रूहि तस्मादुपायं नो यथा युद्धे जयेमहि। भवन्तं समरे क्रुद्धं दण्डहस्तमिवान्तकम्
'Therefore, tell us the means by which we may conquer you in battle, for you are like Death himself, enraged and holding the rod, in the fight.'
शक्यो वज्रधरो जेतुं वरुणोऽथ यमस्तथा। न भवान्समरे शक्यः सेन्द्रैरपि सुरासुरैः
'Even the wielder of the thunderbolt, or Varuna, or Yama may be conquered; but you cannot be overcome in battle, not even by the gods and demons together with Indra.'
सत्यमेतन्महाबाहो यथा वदसि पाण्डव
'It is true, O mighty-armed one, just as you say, O son of Pandu.'
नाहं जेतुं रणे शक्यः सेन्द्रैरपि सुरासुरैः। आत्तशस्त्रो रणे यत्तो गृहीतवरकार्मुकः । ततो मां न्यस्तशस्त्रं तु एते हन्युर्महारथाः
'I cannot be conquered in battle, not even by the gods and demons with Indra, when I am armed, alert, and holding my chosen bow; but if I lay down my weapons, then these great chariot-warriors may slay me.'
निक्षिप्तशस्त्रे पतिते विमुक्तकवचध्वजे । द्रवमाणे च भीते च तवास्मीति च वादिनि
When the weapon has been cast aside, the banner and armor discarded, and one flees in fear while declaring, 'I am yours,'
स्त्रीजिते स्त्रीप्रधाने च स्त्रीप्रधायिनि धर्मज' स्त्रियां स्त्रीनामधेये च विकले चैकपुत्रिणि । अप्रसूते च षण्डे च न युद्धं रोचते मम
In a battle won by women, led by women, or where women are foremost, O righteous one; among women, those named as women, the weak, the only child, the barren, or the impotent—war does not appeal to me.