तथोक्तवति गाङ्गेये परलोकाय दीक्षिते। अर्जुनो दुःखसंतप्तः सव्रीडमिदमब्रवीत्
When Ganga's son had spoken thus, having resolved for the next world, Arjuna, afflicted with sorrow and shame, spoke these words.
गुरुणा कुरुवृद्धेन कृतप्रज्ञेन धीमता । पितामहेन संग्रामे कथं योद्धास्मि माधव
How shall I fight in battle, O Madhava, against my teacher, the elder of the Kurus, wise and learned, my grandfather?
क्रीडता हि मया बाल्ये वासुदेव महामनाः । पांसुरूषितगात्रेण महात्मा परुषीकृतः
For, O Vasudeva of great mind, when I was a child playing, my body covered in dust, that great soul became rough with me.
यस्याहमधिरुह्याङ्कं वालः किल गदाग्रज । तातेत्यवोचं पितरं पितुः पाण्डोर्महात्मनः
Upon whose lap I once climbed as a boy, O mighty one, and called him 'father,' the father of Pandu, the great soul.
नाहं तातस्तव पितुस्तातोऽस्मि तव भारत । इति मामब्रवीद्बाल्ये यः स वध्यः कथं मया
'I am not your father, nor your father's father; I am your grandfather, O Bharata,'—he said this to me in childhood; how can I kill him?
कामं वध्यतु सैन्यं मे नाहं योत्स्ये महात्मना । जयो वास्तु वधो वा मे कथं वा कृष्ण मन्यसे
Let my army be slain as it may, but I shall not fight against that great soul; whether victory or death be mine, what do you think, O Krishna?
कथमस्माद्विधः कृष्ण जानन्धर्मं सनातनम् । न्यस्तशस्त्रे च वृद्धे च प्रहरेद्धि पितामहे
How could one such as this, O Krishna, who knows the eternal law, strike his grandfather, who has laid down his weapons and is aged?
प्रतिज्ञाय वधं जिष्णो पुरा भीष्मस्य संयुगे। क्षत्रधर्मे स्थितः पार्थ कथं नैनं हनिष्यसि
Having once vowed to slay Bhishma in battle, and standing firm in the warrior's duty, how is it, O Partha, that you will not kill him?
पातयैनं रथात्पार्थ क्षत्रियं युद्धदुर्मदम् । नाहत्वा युधि गाङ्गेयं विजयस्ते भविष्यति
Bring him down from his chariot, O Partha, for he is a Kshatriya proud in battle; without slaying Ganga's son in combat, your victory will not be won.
दृष्टमेतत्पुरा देवैर्भविष्यत्यवशस्य ते। यद्दृष्टं हि पुरा पार्थ तत्तथा न तदन्यथा
This has already been seen by the gods before; it will surely come to pass for you, for what was seen before, O Partha, will indeed happen just so, not otherwise.
न हि भीष्मं दुराधर्षं व्यात्ताननमिवान्तकम् । त्वदन्यः शक्नुयाद्योद्धुमपि वज्रधरः स्वयम्
For none but you could withstand Bhishma, formidable as Death with open mouth; not even the wielder of the thunderbolt himself could fight him.
जहि भीष्मं स्थिरो भूत्वा शृणु चेदं वचो मम। यथोवाच पुरा शक्रं महाबुद्धिर्बृहस्पतिः
Slay Bhishma, standing firm, and listen to these words of mine, as once the wise Brihaspati spoke to Indra.
ज्यायांसमपि चेद्वृद्धं गुणैरपि समन्वितम् । आततायिनमायान्तं हन्याद्धातकमात्मनः
Even if one is older or superior, and endowed with virtues, if he comes as an armed aggressor, one should slay him to protect oneself.
शाश्वतोऽयं स्थितो धर्मः क्षत्रियाणां धनञ्जय । योद्धव्यं रक्षितव्यं च यष्टव्यं चानसूयुभिः
This is the eternal law established for Kshatriyas, O Dhananjaya: they must fight, protect, and offer sacrifices, without envy.
शिखण्डी निधनं कृष्ण भीष्मस्य भविता ध्रुवम् । दृष्ट्वैव हि सदा भीष्मः पाञ्चाल्यं विनिवर्तते
It is certain, O Krishna, that Shikhandi will be the cause of Bhishma's death; for whenever he sees the Panchala prince, Bhishma always turns away.
ते वयं प्रमुखे तस्य पुरस्कृत्य शिखण्डिनम्। गाङ्गेयं पातयिष्याम उपायेनेति मे मतिः
Therefore, in his presence, placing Shikhandi at the forefront, we shall bring down Ganga's son by this means—such is my thought.
अहमन्यान्महेष्वासान्वारयिष्यामि सायकैः । शिखण्ड्यपि युधां श्रेष्ठं भीष्ममेवाभियोधयेत्
I will hold back the other great bowmen with my arrows, while Shikhandi, best among warriors, will engage Bhishma in battle.
श्रुतं हि कुरुमुख्यस्य नाहं हन्यां शिखण्डिनम् । कन्या ह्येषा पुरा भूत्वा पुरुषः समपद्यत
For I have heard that the chief of the Kurus said, 'I will not strike Shikhandi, for this one was once a woman and later became a man.'
अर्जुनस्य वचः श्रुत्वा भीष्मस्य वधसंयुतम्। जहृषुर्हृष्टरोमाणः सकृष्णाः पाण्डवास्तदा
Hearing Arjuna's words concerning Bhishma's death, the Pandavas, together with Krishna, rejoiced, their hair standing on end.
इत्येवं निश्चयं कृत्वा पाण्डवाः सहमाधवाः। अनुमान्य महात्मानं प्रययुर्हृष्टमानसाः। शयनानि यथा स्वानि भेजिरे पुरुषर्षभाः
Thus having resolved, the Pandavas with Madhava, after taking leave of the great-souled one, departed with joyful hearts and retired to their respective beds.
कथं शिखण्डी गाङ्गेयमभ्यवर्तत संयुगे। पाण्डवाश्च कथं भीष्मं तन्ममाचक्ष्व सञ्जय
How did Shikhandi approach Ganga's son in battle, and how did the Pandavas confront Bhishma? Tell me this, Sanjaya.
ततः प्रभाते विमले सूर्यस्योदयनं प्रति। ताड्यमानासु भेरीषु मृदङ्गेष्वानकेषु च
Then, at dawn, as the sun was about to rise, with drums, mridangas, and anvils being struck,
ध्मायमानेषु शङ्खेषु पाण्डरेषु समन्ततः । शिखण्डिनं पुरस्कृत्य निर्याप्ताः पाण्डवा युधि
And as conches, white as the moon, were being blown all around, the Pandavas set out to battle, placing Shikhandi at the front.
कृत्वा व्यूहं महाराज सर्वशत्रुनिबर्हणम् । शिखण्डी सर्वसैन्यानामग्र आसीद्विशांपते
Forming a battle array, O King, that could destroy all enemies, Shikhandi stood at the head of all the troops, O lord of men.
चक्ररक्षौ ततस्तस्य भीमसेनधनंजयौ । पृष्ठतो द्रौपदेयाश्च सौभद्रश्चैव वीर्यवान्
Then Bhimasena and Dhananjaya guarded his chariot wheels, while the sons of Draupadi and the valiant son of Subhadra stood behind.
सात्यकिश्चेकितानश्च तेषां गोप्ता महारथः। धृष्टद्युम्नस्ततः पश्चात्पाञ्चालैरभिरक्षितः
Satyaki and Chekitana, both great chariot-warriors, protected them; behind them was Dhrishtadyumna, shielded by the Panchalas.
ततो युधिष्ठिरो राजा यमाभ्यां सहितः प्रभुः। प्रययौ सिंहनादेन नादयन्भरतर्षभ
After that, King Yudhishthira, mighty and accompanied by the two sons of Yama, advanced, roaring like a lion, O bull among the Bharatas.
विराटस्तु ततः पश्चात्स्वेन सैन्येन संवृत्तः । द्रुपदश्च महाबाहो ततः पञ्चादुपाद्रवत्
Then Virata followed, surrounded by his own army, and the mighty-armed Drupada advanced next with the Panchalas.
केकया भ्रातरः पञ्च धृष्टकेतुश्च वीर्यवान् । जघनं पालयामासुः पाण्डवेयश्च राक्षसः
The five brothers of the Kekayas and the valiant Dhrishtaketu guarded the rear, along with the Rakshasa, son of Pandu.
एवं व्यूह्य महासैन्यं पाण्डवास्तव वाहिनीम् । अभ्यद्रवन्त संग्रामे त्यक्त्वा जीवितमात्मनः
Thus, having arrayed their great army, the Pandavas charged your forces in battle, having abandoned concern for their own lives.