अप्राप्तवति तस्मिंस्तु यौवनं पुरुषर्षभे। स राजा शान्तनुर्धीमान्कालधर्ममुपेयिवान्
Before that best of men, Vichitravirya, had reached adulthood, the wise King Shantanu departed according to the law of time.
स्वर्गते शान्तनौ भीष्मश्चित्राङ्गदमरिन्दनम्। स्थापयामास वै राज्ये सत्यवत्या मते स्थितः
When Shantanu had gone to heaven, Bhishma, following Satyavati's counsel, installed Chitrangada, the subduer of foes, on the throne.
स तु चित्राङ्गदः शौर्यात्सर्वांश्चिक्षेप पार्थिवान्। मनुष्यं न हि मेन स कंचित्सदृशमात्मनः
But Chitrangada, because of his valor, challenged all the kings; among men, he considered no one his equal.
तं क्षिपन्तं सुरांश्चैव मनुष्यानसुरांस्तथा। गन्धर्वराजो बलवांस्तुल्यनामाऽभ्ययात्तदा
As he challenged gods, men, and asuras, the powerful king of the Gandharvas, bearing the same name, came to him.
त्वं वै सदृशनामासि युद्धं देहि नृपात्मज। नाम वाऽन्यत्प्रगृह्णीष्व यदि युद्धं न दास्यसि
'You bear the same name as I; give me battle, prince. Or else, if you will not fight, take another name.'
त्वयाहं युद्धमिच्छामि त्वत्सकाशं तु नामतः। आगतोस्मि वृथाऽऽभाष्य न गच्छेन्नाम ते मम
'I desire battle with you, and have come to you for that reason. If you refuse, my name shall not remain yours.'
इत्युक्त्वा गर्जमानौ तौ हिरण्वत्यास्तटं गतौ'। तेनास्य सुमहद्युद्धं कुरुक्षेत्रे बभूव ह
Thus, after these roaring words, the two went to the bank of the Hiranyavati; there, a great battle took place in Kurukshetra.
तयोर्बलवतोस्तत्र गन्धर्वकुरुमुख्ययोः। नद्यास्तीरे हिरण्वत्याः समास्तिस्रोऽभवद्रणः
There, on the bank of the Hiranyavati, three fierce combats occurred between those two mighty warriors—the Gandharva and the foremost of the Kurus.
तस्मिन्विमर्दे तुमुले शस्त्रवर्षसमाकुले। मायाधिकोऽवधीद्वीरं गन्धर्वः कुरुसत्तमम्
In that tumultuous clash, filled with a rain of weapons, the Gandharva, endowed with magical power, slew the heroic Kuru chief.
स हत्वा तु नरश्रेष्ठं चित्राङ्गदमरिन्दमम्। अन्ताय कृत्वा गन्धर्वो दिवमाचक्रमे ततः
Having slain the foremost of men, Citrāṅgada, subduer of foes, the Gandharva, having accomplished his purpose, then ascended to heaven.
तस्मिन्पुरुषशार्दूले निहते भूरितेजसि। भीष्मः शान्तनवो राजा प्रेतकार्याण्यकारयत्
When that tiger among men, radiant with great energy, was slain, Bhīṣma, son of Śāntanu, performed the funeral rites.
विचित्रवीर्यं च तदा बालमप्राप्तयौवनम्। कुरुराज्ये महाबाहुरभ्यषिञ्चदनन्तरम्
Then, the mighty-armed Bhīṣma installed Vicitravīrya, who was still a boy and not yet come of age, on the Kuru throne.
विचित्रवीर्यः स तदा भीष्मस्य वचने स्थितः। अन्वशासन्महाराज पितृपैतामहं पदम्
Vicitravīrya, abiding by Bhīṣma's counsel, ruled over the ancestral kingdom, O great king.
हते चित्राङ्गदे भीष्मो बाले भ्रातरि कौरव। पालयामास तद्राज्यं सत्यवत्या मते स्थितः
After Citrāṅgada was slain, Bhīṣma, following Satyavatī's wishes, protected the kingdom for his young Kaurava brother.
तथा विचित्रवीर्यं तु वर्तमानं सुखेऽतुले।' संप्राप्तयौवनं दृष्ट्वा भ्रातरं धीमतां वरः। भीष्मो विचित्रवीर्यस्य विवाहायाकरोन्मतिम्
When Vicitravīrya, flourishing in unparalleled comfort, attained youth, Bhīṣma, foremost among the wise, set his mind on arranging his brother's marriage.
अथ काशिपतेर्भीष्मः कन्यास्तिस्रोऽप्सरोपमाः। शुश्राव सहिता राजन्वृण्वाना वै स्वयंवरम्
Then Bhīṣma heard that the king of Kāśī's three daughters, equal to celestial nymphs, were holding a svayaṃvara together, O king.
ततः स रथिनां श्रेष्ठो रथेनैकेन शत्रुजित्। जगामानुमते मातुः पुरीं वाराणसीं प्रभुः
Thereupon, that foremost of chariot-warriors, with his mother's approval, went alone in his chariot to the city of Vārāṇasī.
तत्र राज्ञः समुदितान्सर्वतः समुपागतान्। ददर्श कन्यास्ताश्वै भीष्मः शान्तनुनन्दनः
There Bhīṣma, son of Śāntanu, saw the assembled kings from all sides and those maidens as well.
तासां कामेन संमत्ताः सहिताः काशिकोसलाः। वङ्गाः पुण्ड्राः कलिङ्गाश्च ते जग्मुस्तां पुरीं प्रति
Intoxicated by desire for those maidens, the kings of Kāśī, Kośala, Vaṅga, Puṇḍra, and Kaliṅga all went to that city together.
कीर्त्यमानेषु राज्ञां तु तदा नामसु सर्वशः। एकाकिनं तदा भीष्मं वृद्धं शान्तनुनन्दनम्
As the names of the kings were being proclaimed in every direction, Bhīṣma, son of Śāntanu, stood there alone and aged.
सोद्वेगा इव तं दृष्ट्वा कन्याः परमशोभनाः। अपाक्रामन्त ताः सर्वा वृद्ध इत्येव चिन्तया
Seeing him, all those supremely beautiful maidens, anxious, withdrew, thinking only that he was old.
वृद्धः परमधर्मात्मा वलीपलितधारणः। किकारणमिहायातो निर्लज्जो भरतर्षभः
Old, supremely righteous, bearing wrinkles and gray hair—what reason has this bull among the Bharatas come here, shamelessly?
मिथ्याप्रतिज्ञो लोकेषु किं वदिष्यति भारत। ब्रह्मचारीति भीष्मो हि वृथैव प्रथितो भुवि
What will people say in the world of Bhīṣma, who is falsely renowned as a celibate? In vain is he so proclaimed on earth.
क्षत्रियाणां वचः श्रुत्वा भीष्मश्चुक्रोध भारत
Hearing the words of the Kṣatriyas, Bhīṣma became angry, O Bhārata.
भीष्मस्तदा स्वयं कन्या वरयामास ताः प्रभुः। उवाच च महीपालान्राजञ्जलदनिःस्वनः
Then Bhīṣma himself chose those maidens, and, like the roar of thunder, addressed the assembled kings, O king.
रथमारोप्य ताः कन्या भीष्मः प्रहरतां वरः। आहूय दानं कन्यानां गुणवद्भ्यः स्मृतं बुधैः
Bhīṣma, best among warriors, placed those maidens on his chariot, declaring that the giving of maidens to the worthy is praised by the wise.
अलङ्कृत्य यथाशक्ति प्रदाय च धनान्यपि। प्रयच्छन्त्यपरे कन्यां मिथुनेन गवामपि
Adorning her as best they can and giving wealth as well, some give the maiden, even with a pair of cows.
वित्तेन कथितेनान्ये बलेनान्येऽनुमान्य च। प्रमत्तामुपयन्त्यन्ये स्वयमन्ये च विन्दते
Some obtain her by the declared price, others by force, with consent; others approach her when she is careless, and some win her by their own effort.
आर्षं विधिं पुरस्कृत्य दारान्विन्दन्ति चापरे। अष्टमं तमथो वित्त विवाहं कविभिर्वृतम्
Others, following the Ṛṣa marriage rite, obtain wives; the eighth, the wealth-marriage, is approved by the wise.
स्वयंवरं तु राजन्याः प्रशंसन्त्युपयान्ति च। प्रमथ्य तु हृतामाहुर्ज्यायसीं धर्मवादिनः
The royal class praises and accepts svayaṃvara; but the righteous declare that seizing her by force is the highest.