नैष धर्मो महीपालाः शरतल्पगतस्य मे । एभिरेव शरैश्चाहं दग्धव्योऽग्नौ नराधिपाः
This is not the proper conduct, O kings, for one lying upon a bed of arrows; with these very arrows, O rulers of men, I must be burned in fire.
तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं तस्य पुत्रो दुर्योधनस्तव। वैद्यान्विसर्जयामास पूजयित्वा यथार्हतः
Hearing his words, your son Duryodhana dismissed the physicians, having honored them as was fitting.
ततस्ते विस्मयं जग्मुर्नानाजनपदेश्वराः । स्थितिं धर्मे परां दृष्ट्वा भीष्मस्यामिततेजसः
Then the lords of many lands were struck with wonder, seeing Bhishma of immeasurable energy established in supreme righteousness.
उपधानं ततो दत्त्वा पितुस्ते मनुजेश्वराः । सहिताः पाण्डवाः सर्वे कुरवश्च महारथाः
Then, after placing a cushion for your father, all the Pandavas together with the mighty Kurus assembled.
उपगम्य महात्मानं शयानं शयने शुभे
Approaching the great-souled one, lying upon his splendid bed,
तेऽभिवाद्य ततो भीष्मं कृत्वा च त्रिःप्रदक्षिणम्। विधाय रक्षां भीष्मस्य सर्व एव समन्ततः
They then saluted Bhishma, circumambulated him three times, and arranged protection for Bhishma on all sides.
वीराः स्वशिबिराण्येव ध्यायन्तः परमातुराः । निवेशायाभ्युपागच्छन्सायाह्ने रुधिरोक्षिताः
The warriors, deeply afflicted, returned to their own camps in the evening, stained with blood, lost in thought.
निविष्टान्पाण्डवांश्चैव प्रीयमाणान्महारथान् । भीष्मस्य पतनं दृष्ट्वा उपगम्य महाबलः
The mighty one, seeing the Pandavas and the honored great chariot-warriors settled, approached after witnessing Bhishma's fall.
उवाच माधवः काले धर्मपुत्रं युधिष्ठिरम् । दिष्ट्या जयसि कौरव्य दिष्ट्या भीष्मो निपातितः
Madhava then spoke at the right moment to Dharmaputra Yudhishthira: By fortune you are victorious, O Kaurava; by fortune Bhishma has been struck down.
अवध्यो मानुषैरेव सत्यसन्धो महारथः । अथवा दैवतैः सार्धं सर्वशास्त्रस्य पारगः
He was invincible to men, truthful, a great chariot-warrior; or even together with the gods, he was master of all scriptures.
त्वां तु चक्षुर्हणं प्राप्य दग्धो घोरेण चक्षुष
But having received the destruction of his sight from you, he was burned by the fierce gaze.
तव प्रसादाद्विजयः क्रोधात्तव पराजयः । त्वं हि नः शरणं कृष्ण भक्तानामभयंकरः
By your favor comes victory, by your wrath defeat; for you are our refuge, O Krishna, giver of fearlessness to your devotees.
अनाश्चर्यो जयस्तेषां येषां त्वमसि केशव । रक्षिता समरे नित्यं नित्यं चापि हिते रतः
Their victory is not surprising, those for whom you, O Kesava, are always the protector in battle and always devoted to their welfare.
एवमुक्तः प्रत्युवाच स्मयमानो जनार्दनः। तवैवैतद्युक्तरूपं वचनं पार्थिवोत्तम
Thus addressed, Janardana, smiling, replied: O foremost of kings, your words are indeed fitting and true.
व्युष्टायां तु महाराज शर्वर्यां सर्वपार्थिवाः। पाण्डवा धार्तराष्ट्राश्च उपातिष्ठन्पितामहम्
When the night had passed, O king, all the rulers, the Pandavas and the sons of Dhritarashtra, approached the grandsire.
तं वीरशयने वीरं शयानं कुरुसत्तम। अभिवाद्योपतस्थुर्वै क्षत्रियाः क्षत्रियर्षभम्
There, upon the hero's bed, lay the hero, best of the Kurus; the Kshatriyas, saluting him, gathered around the bull among Kshatriyas.
कन्याश्चन्दनचूर्णैश्च लाजैर्माल्यैश्च सर्वशः । अवाकिरञ्छान्तनवं तत्र गत्वा सहस्रशः
The maidens, with sandalwood powder, parched rice, and garlands, went there by the thousands and scattered them over Śāntanu's son.
स्त्रियो वृद्धास्तथा बालाः प्रेक्षकाश्च पृथग्जनाः । समभ्ययुः शान्तनवं भूतानीव तमोनुदम्
Women, the elderly, children, and various onlookers all approached Śāntanu's son, as beings would approach the dispeller of darkness.
तूर्याणि शतसङ्ख्यानि तथैव नटनर्तकाः। शिल्पिनश्च तथाऽऽजग्मुः कुरुवृद्धं पितामहम्
Hundreds of musical instruments, dancers, and actors, as well as artisans, likewise came to the grandsire of the Kurus.
उपागम्य च राजेन्द्र सन्नहान्विप्रमुच्य ते। आयुधानि च निक्षिप्य सहिताः कुरुपाण्डवाः
Having come together, O king, both the Kauravas and Pāṇḍavas, laying aside their armor and weapons, gathered there.
अन्वासन्त दुराधर्षं देवव्रतमरिंदमम्। अन्योन्यं प्रीतिमन्तस्ते यथापूर्वं यथावयः
They surrounded the unconquerable Devavrata, subduer of foes, showing each other affection as before, according to age and custom.
सा पार्थिवशताकीर्णा समितिर्भीष्मशोभिता। शुशुभे भारती दीप्ता दिवीवादित्यमण्डलम्
That assembly, filled with hundreds of kings and graced by Bhīṣma, shone brilliantly, O Bhārata, like the blazing orb of the sun.
विबभौ च नृपाणां सा गङ्गासुतमुपासताम्। देवानामिव देवेशं पितामहमुपासताम्
And that gathering of kings, attending upon the son of Gaṅgā, shone as the gods would shine attending upon their lord, the grandsire.
भीष्मस्तु वेदनां धैर्यान्निगृह्य भरतर्षभ । अभितप्तः शरैश्चैव नातिहृष्टमनाऽब्रवीत्
But Bhīṣma, scorched by arrows, restrained his pain with fortitude, O bull of the Bharatas, and, though greatly afflicted, spoke without much joy.
शराभितप्तकायो हि शस्त्रसंपातमूर्च्छितः । पानीयमित संप्रेक्ष्य राज्ञस्तान्प्रत्यभाषत
His body tormented by arrows, his senses overcome by the onslaught of weapons, he looked at those kings and spoke, asking for water.
ततस्ते क्षत्रिया राजन्नुपाजह्रुः समन्ततः । भक्ष्यानुच्चावचान्राजन्वारिकुम्भांश्च शीतलान्
Then, O king, the Kṣatriyas brought from all sides various foods, both rich and simple, and cool jars of water.
उपानीतं तु पानीयं दृष्ट्वा शान्तनवोऽब्रवीत्। न मेऽद्य सेवितुं योग्या भोगाः केवलमानुषाः
Seeing the water brought near, Śāntanu's son said: 'Today, I am not fit to partake of merely human enjoyments.'
अपक्रान्तो मनुष्येभ्यः शरशय्यां गतो ह्यहम्। प्रतीक्षमाणस्तिष्ठामि निवृत्तिं शशिसूर्ययोः
'I have departed from human affairs and now lie upon a bed of arrows, awaiting the setting of the sun and moon.'
एवमुक्त्वा तदोवाच भीष्मः शरशतैश्चितः। पयः पास्यामि गोपाला गोमयं न तु गोमयम्। गोपयेनाग्निवर्णेन गोमयं न तु गोमयम्
Having spoken thus, Bhīṣma, covered with hundreds of arrows, said: 'I will drink milk, O cowherds, not cow dung; let it be milk of fiery color, not cow dung.'
एवमुक्त्वा शान्तनवो निन्दन्वाक्येन पार्थिवान्। अर्जुनं द्रष्टुमिच्छामीत्यभ्यभाषत भारत
Having spoken thus, Śāntanu's son, with words of reproach to the kings, said: 'I wish to see Arjuna.'