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.
इमं मे शृणु राजेन्द्र संकल्पं पूर्वचिन्तितम् । असंकल्पध्वजं दृष्ट्वा न युध्येयं कदाचन
Hear from me, O king, this resolve previously contemplated: upon seeing a banner without resolve, I would never fight.
य एष द्रौपदो राजंस्तव सैन्ये महारथः । शिखण्डी समरामर्षी शूरश्च समितिंजयः
This Draupada's son in your army, O king, is a mighty warrior—Shikhandi, eager for battle, valiant, and victorious in combat.
यथाऽभवच्च स्त्रीपूर्वं पश्चात्पुंस्त्वं समागतः। जानन्ति च भवन्तोऽपि सर्वमेतद्यथातथम्
He was once a woman, and later attained manhood; you all know this matter fully and exactly.
अर्जुनः समरे शूरः पुरस्कृत्य शिखण्डीनम् । मामेव विशिखैस्तीक्ष्णैरभिद्रवतु दंशितः
Arjuna, courageous in battle, placing Shikhandi at the forefront, may attack me with sharp arrows, fiercely determined.
असंकल्पध्वजे तस्मिन्स्त्रीपूर्वे च विशेषतः । न प्रहर्तुमभीप्सामि गृहीतेषु कथंचन
When the banner lacks resolve, especially when one was formerly a woman, I do not wish to strike, no matter what is grasped.
तदन्तरं समासाद्य पाण्डवो मां धनञ्जयः। शरैर्घातयतु क्षिप्रं समन्ताद्भरतर्षभ
At that moment, let Dhananjaya, the Pandava, swiftly strike me down with arrows from all sides, O bull among Bharatas.
न तं पश्यामि लोकेष मां हन्याद्यः समुद्यतम्। ऋते कृष्णान्महाभागात्पाण्डवाद्वा धनञ्जयात्
I do not see anyone in the world who could slay me when I am ready, except for the blessed Krishna or Dhananjaya among the Pandavas.
पार्षतं तु पुरोधाय क्लीबमद्य ममाग्रतः । आत्तशस्त्रो रणे यत्तो गृहीतवरकार्मुकः । मां पातयतु बीभत्सुरेवं तव जयो ध्रुवम्
Let the son of Prishata, bearing the mark of impotence, stand before me; armed and prepared in battle, with his excellent bow in hand, let Bhībhatsu bring me down—then your victory is certain.
एतत्कुरुष्व कौन्तेय यथोक्तं मम सुव्रत । ततो जेष्वसि संग्रामे धार्तराष्ट्रान्समागतान्
Do this, O son of Kunti, as I have spoken, O steadfast one; then you will surely conquer the assembled Dhartarashtras in battle.
तेऽनुज्ञातास्ततः पार्था जग्मुः स्वशिबिरं प्रति। अभिवाद्य महात्मानं भीष्मं कुरुपितामहम्
Thus permitted, the sons of Pritha departed for their own camp, after respectfully saluting the great-souled Bhishma, the elder of the Kurus.