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.
ता इमाः पृथिवीपाला जिहीर्षामि बलादितः। ते यतध्वं परं शक्त्या विजयायेतराय वा
These are the ways, O rulers of the earth, by which I wish to take her, by strength; so strive with all your power, to win or be defeated.
एवमुक्त्वा महीपालान्काशिराजं च वीर्यवान्
Having spoken thus to the kings and to the powerful king of Kāśi—
सर्वाः कन्याः स कौरव्यो रथमारोप्य च स्वकम्। आमन्त्र्य च स तान्प्रायाच्छीघ्रं कन्याः प्रगृह्य ताः
That Kaurava, having placed all the maidens on his own chariot, and taking leave of them, swiftly departed, seizing the maidens.
ततस्ते पार्थिवाः सर्वे समुत्पेतुरमर्षिताः। संस्पृशन्तः स्वकान्बाहून्दशन्तो दशनच्छदान्
Then all those kings, enraged, sprang up, grasping their own arms and biting their lips in fury.
तेषामाभरणान्याशु त्वरितानां विमुञ्चताम्। आमुञ्चतां च वर्माणि संभ्रमः सुमहानभूत्
As they hurriedly donned their ornaments and armor, a great confusion arose among them.
ताराणामिव संपातो बभूव जनमेजय। भूषणानां च सर्वेषां कवचानां च सर्वशः
There was a tumult like the gathering of stars, O Janamejaya, as all their ornaments and armor were scattered everywhere.
सवर्मभिर्भूषणैश्च प्रकीर्यद्बिरितस्ततः। सक्रोधामर्षजिह्मभ्रूकषायीकृतलोचनाः
With armor and ornaments strewn about, their eyes reddened with anger, brows furrowed in wrath and indignation—
सूतोपक्लृप्तान् रुचिरान्सदश्वैरुपकल्पितान्। रथानास्थाय ते वीराः सर्वप्रहरणान्विताः
Those heroes mounted splendid chariots, prepared by charioteers and yoked with fine horses, equipped with all weapons.
प्रयान्तमथ कौरव्यमनुसस्रुरुदायुधाः। ततः समभवद्युद्धं तेषां तस्य च भारत। एकस्य च बहूनां च तुमुलं रोमहर्षणम्
Then, armed with weapons, they pursued the Kaurava as he departed; there arose a tumultuous and hair-raising battle between him and the many kings, O Bhārata.
ते त्विषून्दशसाहस्रांस्तस्मिन्युगपदाक्षिपन्। अप्राप्तांश्चैव तानाशु भीष्मः सर्वांस्तथाऽन्तरा
They simultaneously hurled ten thousand arrows at him; but before they could reach him, Bhīṣma intercepted them all.