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.'
अथोपेत्य महाबाहुरभिवाद्य पितामहम् । अतिष्ठत्प्राञ्जलिः प्रह्वः किं करोमीति चाब्रवीत्
Then the mighty-armed one approached, bowed to the grandsire, stood before him with joined palms, and said, 'What shall I do?"
तं दृष्ट्वा पाण्डवं राजन्नभिवाद्याग्रतः स्थितम्। अभ्यभाषत धर्मात्मा भीष्मः प्रीतो धनंजयम्
Seeing the Pāṇḍava standing before him, having bowed, the righteous Bhīṣma, pleased, addressed Dhanañjaya.
दह्यतीव शरीर मे संवृतस्य तवेषुभिः। मर्माणि परिदूयन्ते मुखं च परिशुष्यति
'My body burns, pierced by your arrows; my vital parts are racked with pain, and my mouth is parched.'
वेदनार्तशरीरस्य प्रयच्छापो ममार्जुन। त्वं हि शक्तो महेष्वास दातुमम्भो यथाविधि
'Grant me water, Arjuna, for my body is tormented by pain; you, mighty archer, are able to give me water as is proper.'
अर्जुनस्तु तथेत्युक्त्वा रथमारुह्य वीर्यवान्। अधिज्यं बलवत्कृत्वा गाण्डीवं व्याक्षिपद्धनुः
Arjuna, the mighty one, having said 'so be it,' mounted his chariot, strung his Gandiva bow with great strength, and drew it back powerfully.
तस्य ज्यातलनिर्घोषं विस्फूर्जितमिवाशनेः । वित्रेसुः सर्वभूतानि सर्वे श्रुत्वा च पार्थिवाः
The twang of his bowstring resounded like a thunderclap; all beings were terrified, and all the kings who heard it were shaken.
ततः प्रदक्षिणं कृत्वा रथेन रथिनां वरः। शयानं भरतश्रेष्ठं सर्वशस्त्रभृतां वरम्
Then, the best of chariot-warriors circled with his chariot around the sleeping Bhishma, the foremost among the bearers of all weapons, O best of the Bharatas.
संधाय च शरं दीप्तमभिमन्त्र्य स पाण्डवः। पर्जन्यास्त्रेण संयोज्य सर्वलोकस्य पश्यतः
The Pandava, having fitted a blazing arrow, recited the proper mantras, and, joining it with the Parjanya weapon, released it as all the worlds looked on.
अविध्यत्पृथिवीं पार्थः पार्श्वे भीष्मस्य दक्षिणे । उत्पपात ततो धारा वारिणो विमला शुभा
Partha struck the earth at Bhishma's right side; from there, a pure and auspicious stream of water sprang forth.
शीतस्यामृतकल्पस्य दिव्यगन्धरसस्य च । अतर्पयत्ततः पार्थः शीतया जलधारया
With that cool, nectar-like, divinely fragrant, and flavorful stream, Partha then satisfied Bhishma, cooling him with the flow of water.
भीष्मं कुरूणामृषभं दिव्यं दिव्यपराक्रमम् । कर्मणा तेन पार्थस्य शक्रस्येव विकुर्वतः
By that act of Partha—like Indra performing a wondrous deed—he honored Bhishma, the bull among the Kurus, of divine and extraordinary prowess.
विस्मयं परमं जग्मुस्ततस्ते वसुधाधिपाः । तत्कर्म प्रेक्ष्य बीभत्सोरतिमानुषविक्रमम्
Seeing that superhuman feat of Bhimasena's younger brother, the kings of the earth were filled with the utmost amazement.
संप्रावेपन्त कुरवो गावः शीतार्दिता इव। विस्मयाच्चोत्तरीयाणि व्याविध्यन्सर्वतो नृपाः
The Kauravas trembled like cows afflicted by cold; and out of astonishment, the kings all around cast off their upper garments.
शङ्खदुन्दुभिनिर्घोषस्तुमुलः सर्वतोऽभवत्। तृप्तः शान्तनवश्चापि राजन्बीभत्सुमब्रवीत्
A tumultuous sound of conches and drums arose on all sides; and Santanu's son, now satisfied, spoke to Arjuna, O King.
सर्वपार्थिववीराणां सन्निधौ पूजयन्निव । नैतच्चित्रं महाबाहो त्वयि कौरवनन्दन
In the presence of all the heroic kings, as if honoring you, he said: 'O mighty-armed one, O joy of the Kauravas, this is not surprising in you.'
कथितो नारदेनासि पूर्वर्षिरमितद्युते । वासुदेवसहायस्त्वं महत्कर्म करिष्यसि
'You were foretold by Narada, the ancient sage of boundless splendor, that, aided by Vasudeva, you would accomplish a great deed.'
यन्नोत्सहति देवेन्द्रः सह देवैरपि ध्रुवम् । विदुस्त्वां निधनं पार्थ सर्वक्षत्रस्य तद्विदः
'What even Indra with the gods cannot achieve, those who know the truth know you, Partha, as the destruction of all Kshatriyas.'
धनुर्धराणामेकस्त्वं पृथिव्यां प्रवरो नृषु
'Among all bowmen on earth, you alone are the foremost among men.'
मनुष्या जगति श्रेष्ठाः पक्षिणां पतगेश्वरः। सरितं सागरः श्रेष्ठो गौर्वरिष्ठा चतुष्पदाम्
'Among men, the best are humans; among birds, the king of birds; among rivers, the ocean is supreme; among quadrupeds, the bull is the best.'
आदित्यस्तेजसां श्रेष्ठो गिरीणां हिमवान्वरः । जातीनां ब्राह्मणः श्रेष्ठः श्रेष्ठस्त्वमसि धन्विनां
'Among radiant beings, the sun is supreme; among mountains, the Himalaya is the best; among castes, the Brahmin is foremost; and among archers, you are the best.'