विनिवृत्तान्कुरून्दृष्ट्वा पाण्डवापि स्वसैनिकान्। रथैः शीघ्राश्वसंयुक्तैः समन्तात्पर्यवारयन्
Seeing the Kurus withdraw, the Pandavas also encircled their own troops on all sides with chariots yoked to swift horses.
निवृत्तेषु च सैन्येषु पारम्पर्येण सर्वशः । निर्मुक्तकवचाः सर्वे भीष्ममीयुर्नराधिपाः
As the armies everywhere withdrew in succession, all the kings, having laid aside their armor, went to Bhishma.
व्युपरम्य ततो युद्धाद्योधाः शतसहस्रशः । उपतस्थुर्महात्मानं प्रजापतिमिवामराः
Then, ceasing from battle, hundreds of thousands of warriors gathered around the great-souled Bhishma, as the immortals would gather around Prajapati.
ते तु भीष्मं समासाद्य शयानं भरतर्षभम् । अभिवाद्यावतिष्ठन्त पाण्डवाः कुरुभिः सह
Approaching Bhishma, who lay fallen, the Pandavas, together with the Kurus, offered their respects and stood by him.
अथ पाण्डून्कुरूंश्चैव प्रणिपत्याग्रतः स्थितान् । अभ्यभाषत धर्मात्मा भीष्मः शान्तनवस्तदा
Then Bhishma, son of Shantanu, righteous in soul, addressed the Pandavas and Kurus, who stood before him after bowing.
स्वागतं वो महाभागाः स्वागतं वो महारथाः । तुष्यामि दर्शनाच्चाहं युष्माकममरोपमाः
"Welcome to you, O greatly fortunate ones! Welcome to you, O mighty chariot-warriors! I am pleased to see you, who are like the immortals."
अभिनन्द्य स तानेवं शिरसा लम्बताऽब्रवीत् । `परपार्श्वे तव सुतान्स्थितानुद्वीक्ष्य भारत।' शिरो मे लम्बतेऽत्यर्थमुपधानं प्रदीयताम्
Having thus greeted them, he spoke with his head hanging low: 'O Bharata, seeing your sons standing on the opposite side, my head droops; let a pillow be brought for me.'
ततो नृपाः समाजह्रुस्तनूनि च मृदूनि च । उपधानानि मुख्यानि नैच्छत्तानि पितामहः
Then the kings brought both soft and excellent pillows, but the grandsire did not accept them.
अथाब्रवीन्नरव्याघ्रः प्रसहन्निव तान्नृपान् । नैतानि वीरशय्यासु युक्तरूपाणि पार्थिवाः
Then the tiger among men, forcefully addressing those kings, said, 'These are not fitting for a warrior's bed, O rulers of the earth.'
ततो वीक्ष्य नरश्रेष्ठमभ्यभाषत पाण्डवम् । धनञ्जयं दीर्घबाहुं सर्वलोकमहारथम्
Then, seeing the best of men, he addressed Pandava Arjuna, long-armed and supreme among all chariot-warriors.
धनञ्जय महाबाहो शिरो मे तात लम्बते। दीयतामुपधानं वै यद्युक्तमिह मन्यसे
O Dhananjaya, mighty-armed one, my head is drooping, dear one; if you think it proper here, please provide me a pillow.
समारोप्य महच्चापमभिवाद्य पितामहम्। नेत्राभ्यामश्रुपूर्णाभ्यामिदं वचनमब्रवीत्
Placing his great bow aside and bowing to the grandsire, with eyes filled with tears, he spoke these words:
आज्ञापय कुरुश्रेष्ठ सर्वशस्त्रभृतां वर। प्रेष्योऽहं तव दुर्धर्ष क्रियतां किं पितामह
Command me, best of the Kurus, foremost among all wielders of weapons; I am your servant, O unconquerable one—what shall I do, grandsire?
तमब्रवीच्छान्तनवः शिरो मे तात लम्बते । `दीयतामुपधानं मे यद्युक्तमिह मन्यसे' उपधानं कुरुश्रेष्ठ उपधेहि ममार्जुन
Shantanava said to him: 'My head is drooping, dear one; if you think it proper here, provide me a pillow, O best of the Kurus, set one for me, Arjuna.'
वीरशय्यानुरूपं वै शीघ्रं वीर प्रयच्छ मे । त्वं हि पार्थ समर्थो वै श्रेष्ठः सर्वधनुष्मताम्
Give me quickly, hero, a pillow suitable for a warrior's bed; for you, Partha, are indeed capable, the best among all archers.
क्षत्रधर्मस्य वेत्ता च बुद्धिसत्वगुणान्वितः । फल्गुनोऽपि तथेत्युक्त्वा व्यवसायं परंजयः
You know the duties of a kshatriya and are endowed with wisdom and noble qualities; Phalguna, having said 'so be it,' resolute, prepared himself.
गृह्यानुमन्त्र्य गाण्डीवं शरान्सन्नतपर्वणः । अनुमान्य महात्मानं भरतानां महारथम्
Taking up the Gandiva and arrows with well-feathered shafts, and having saluted the great-souled, mighty car-warrior of the Bharatas,
त्रिभिस्तीक्ष्णैर्महावेगैरुदगृह्णाच्छिरः शरैः । अभिप्राये तु विदिते धर्मात्मा स्वयसाचिना
With three sharp, swift arrows, he supported the head; understanding the intention, the righteous Savyasacin did so.
अतुष्यद्भरतश्रेष्ठो भीष्मो धर्मार्थतत्त्ववित् । उपधानेन दत्तेन प्रत्यनन्दद्धनञ्जयम्
Bhishma, best of the Bharatas and knower of righteousness and its essence, was pleased with the pillow given and expressed his approval to Dhananjaya.
प्राह सर्वान्समुद्वीक्ष्य भरतान्भारतं प्रति। कुन्तीपुत्रं युधां श्रेष्ठं सुहृदां प्रीतिवर्धनम्
Looking at all the Bharatas, he spoke regarding the son of Kunti, Yudhishthira, foremost of warriors, increaser of his friends' joy.
शयनस्यानुरूपं मे पाण्डवोपहितं त्वया। यद्यन्यथा प्रपद्येथाः शपेयं त्वामहं पुरा
The bed you have provided, Pandava, is fitting for me; if you had acted otherwise, I would have cursed you before.
एवमेव महाबाहो धर्मेषु परितिष्ठता। स्वप्तव्यं क्षत्रियेणाजौ शरतल्पगतेन वै
Indeed, mighty-armed one, one who abides in righteousness should sleep thus; a kshatriya lying on a bed of arrows in battle must rest in this way.
एवमुक्त्वा तु बीभत्सुं सर्वांस्तानब्रवीद्वचः । राज्ञश्च राजपुत्रांश्च पाण्डवैरभिसंवृतान्
Having spoken thus to Bhimasena, he addressed all those kings and princes gathered with the Pandavas:
पश्यध्वमुपधानं मे पाणडवेनाभिसन्धितम् । शयेयमस्यां शय्यायां यावदावर्तनं रवेः
Behold the pillow arranged for me by the Pandava; I shall lie on this bed until the sun turns back on its course.
ये तदा धारयिष्यन्ति ते च प्रेक्ष्यन्ति मां नृपाः। दिशं वैश्रवणाक्रान्तां यदा गन्ता दिवाकरः
Those who will support me then, and those kings who will witness me, when the sun goes to the region ruled by Vaishravana,
नूनं सप्ताश्वयुक्तेन रथेनोत्तमतेजसा । रक्ष्येऽहं वै मम प्राणान्सुहृदः सुप्रियानिव
Surely, with the chariot yoked to seven horses and of supreme brilliance, I shall protect my life as one would their most beloved friends.
परिखाः खन्यतामत्र ममावसदने नृपाः । उपासिष्ये विवस्वन्तमेवं शरशताचितः । उपारमध्वं संग्रामाद्वैरमुत्सृज्य पार्थिवाः
Let moats be dug here at my resting place, O kings; I shall await the sun, lying thus on a bed of arrows. Cease the battle, O rulers, abandoning enmity.
उपातिष्ठन्नथो वैद्याः शल्योद्धरणकोविदाः। सर्वोपकरणैर्युक्ताः कुशलैः साधुशिक्षिताः
Then physicians skilled in extracting arrows, equipped with all instruments, well-trained and expert, attended upon him.
तान्दृष्ट्वा जाह्नवीपुत्रः प्रोवाच तनयं तव । दत्तदेया विसृज्यन्तां पूजयित्वा चिकित्सकाः
Seeing them, the son of Jahnavi spoke to your son: Let the gifts due to physicians be given, after honoring them, let them depart.
एवंगते मयेदानीं वैद्यैः कार्यमिहास्ति किम्। क्षत्रधर्मे प्रशस्तां हि प्राप्तोऽस्मि परमां गतिम्
With things thus, what need have I now for physicians here? For I have attained the highest state praised in the warrior's duty.