वासितामनुसंप्राप्तो यूथपो बलिनां वरः। स्त्रीकामस्तिष्ठतिष्ठेति भीष्ममाह स पार्थिवः
The leader of the strong, following the scent, caught up; desiring the woman, the king called out to Bhishma, 'Stop, stop!'
साल्वराजो महाबाहुरमर्षेण प्रचोदितः। ततः स पुरुषव्याघ्रो भीष्मः परबलार्दनः
The king of Shalva, mighty-armed and driven by anger, thus challenged Bhishma, the tiger among men and destroyer of enemy hosts.
तद्वाक्याकुलितः क्रोधाद्विधूमोग्निरिव ज्वलन्। विततेषुधनुष्पाणिर्विकुञ्चितललाटभृत्
Agitated by those words, Bhishma blazed with anger like a smokeless fire, grasping his stretched bow, his brow furrowed.
क्षत्रधर्मं समास्थाय व्यपेतभयसंभ्रमः। निवर्तयामास रथं साल्वं प्रति महारथः
Embracing the duty of a warrior, free from fear or confusion, the great chariot-warrior turned his chariot back toward Shalva.
निवर्तमानं तं दृष्ट्वा राजानः सर्व एव ते। प्रेक्षकाः समपद्यन्त भीष्मसाल्वसमागमे
Seeing him turn back, all the kings there became spectators of the encounter between Bhishma and Shalva.
तौ वृषाविव नर्दन्तौ बलिनौ वासितान्तरे। अन्योन्यमभिवर्तेतां बलविक्रमशालिनौ
Like two roaring bulls in the midst of the herd, those two mighty and valorous warriors advanced upon each other, displaying their strength and prowess.
ततो भीष्मं शान्तनवं शरैः शतसहस्रशः। साल्वराजो नरश्रेष्ठः समवाकिरदाशुगैः
Then, O best of men, the king of Shalva showered Bhishma, son of Shantanu, with hundreds of thousands of swift arrows.
पूर्वमभ्यर्दितं दृष्ट्वा भीष्मं साल्वेन ते नृपाः। विस्मिताः समपद्यन्त साधुसाध्विति चाब्रुवन्
Seeing Bhishma first pressed hard by Shalva, the kings were astonished and exclaimed, 'Well done! Well done!'
लाघवं तस्य ते दृष्ट्वा समरे सर्वपार्थिवाः। अपूजयन्त संहृष्टा वाग्भिः साल्वं नराधिपम्
Witnessing his swiftness in battle, all the kings, delighted, praised King Shalva with words of admiration.
क्षत्रियाणां ततो वाचः श्रुत्वा परपुञ्जयः। क्रुद्धः शान्तनवो भीष्मस्तिष्ठतिष्ठेत्यभाषत
Hearing the words of the Kshatriyas, the subduer of enemies, Bhishma, son of Shantanu, angered, called out, 'Stop! Stop!'
सारथिं चाब्रवीत्क्रुद्धो याहि यत्रैष पार्थिवः। यावदेनं निहन्म्यद्य भुजङ्गमिव पक्षिराट्
Enraged, he said to his charioteer, 'Drive to where that king is; today I will slay him, as the king of birds slays a serpent.'
ततोऽस्त्रं वारुणं सम्यग्योजयामास कौरवः। तेनाश्वांश्चतुरोऽमृद्गात्साल्वराजस्य भूपते
Then the Kaurava properly invoked the Varuna weapon, and with it, struck down the four horses of King Shalva.
अस्त्रैरस्त्राणि संवार्य साल्वराजस्य कौरवः। भीष्मो नृपतिशार्दूल न्यवधीत्तस्य सारथिम्
The Kaurava, Bhishma, tiger among kings, countered the weapons of the king of Salva with his own, and struck down his charioteer.
अस्त्रेण चास्याथैन्द्रेण न्यवधीत्तुरगोत्तमान्। कन्याहेतोर्नरश्रेष्ठ भीष्मः शान्तनवस्तदा
Then Bhishma, son of Shantanu, best of men, using the Indra weapon, struck down the excellent horses for the sake of the maiden.
जित्वा विसर्जयामास जीवन्तं नृपसत्तमम्। ततः साल्वः स्वनगरं प्रययौ भरतर्षभ
Having conquered, he released the best of kings alive; then Salva returned to his own city, bull among the Bharatas.
स्वराज्यमन्वशाच्चैव धर्मेण नृपतिस्तदा। राजानो ये च तत्रासन्स्वयंवरदिदृक्षवः
At that time, the king, following righteousness, resumed his own kingdom, as did the other kings who had come to witness the svayamvara.
स्वान्येव तेऽपि राष्ट्राणि जग्मुः परपुरञ्जयाः। एवं विजित्य ताः कन्या भीष्मः प्रहरतां वरः
Those conquerors of other cities also returned to their own realms; thus, having won the maidens, Bhishma, foremost of warriors,
प्रययौ हास्तिनपुरं यत्र राजा स कौरवः। विचित्रवीर्यो धर्मात्मा प्रशास्ति वसुधामिमाम्
Set out for Hastinapura, where the Kaurava king, righteous Vicitravirya, rules this earth.
यथा पितास्य कौरव्यः शान्तनुर्नृपसत्तमः। सोऽचिरेणैव कालेन अत्यक्रामन्नराधिप
Just as his father Shantanu, best of kings, had done, so did that lord of men in a short time.
वनानि सरितश्चैव शैलांश्च विनिधान्द्रुमान्। अक्षतः क्षपयित्वाऽरीन्सङ्ख्येऽसङ्ख्येयविक्रमः
Having subdued forests, rivers, mountains, and treasuries of trees, unharmed, he destroyed his foes in battle, his valor immeasurable.
आनयामास काश्यस्य सुताः सागरगासुतः। स्नुषा इव स धर्मात्मा भगिनीरिव चानुजाः
The son of the ocean-going king brought the daughters of the king of Kashi as daughters-in-law, and as sisters for his younger brother, with righteousness.
यथा दुहितश्चैव परिगृह्य ययौ कुरून्। आनिन्ये स महाबाहुर्भ्रातुः प्रियचिकीर्षया
Having accepted them as his own daughters, he went to the Kurus; that mighty-armed one brought them out of love for his brother.
ताः सर्वगुणसंपन्ना भ्राता भ्रात्रे यवीयसे। भीष्मो विचित्रवीर्याय प्रददौ विक्रमाहृताः
All those maidens, endowed with every virtue, Bhishma gave to his younger brother Vicitravirya, having won them by his prowess.
एवं धर्मेण धर्मज्ञः कृत्वा कर्मातिमानुषम्। भ्रातुर्विचित्रवीर्यस्य विवाहायोपचक्रमे
Thus, knowing righteousness, Bhishma performed a deed beyond human power, and began preparations for his brother Vicitravirya's marriage.
सत्यवत्या सह मिथः कृत्वा निश्चयमात्मवान्। विवाहं कारयिष्यन्तं भीष्मं काशिपतेः सुता। ज्येष्ठा तासामिदं वाक्यमब्रवीद्धसती तदा
Having made a firm decision together with Satyavati, Bhishma, self-controlled, was arranging the marriage of the Kashi king's daughters, when the eldest of them, steadfast in truth, spoke these words.
मया सौभपतिः पूर्वं मनसा हि वृतः पतिः। तेन चास्मि वृता पूर्वमेष कामश्च मे पितुः
The lord of Saubha was previously chosen by me in my heart as my husband; and I was also chosen by him before—this is also my father's wish.
मया वरयितव्योऽभूत्साल्वस्तस्मिन्स्वयंवरे। एतद्विज्ञाय धर्मज्ञ धर्मतत्त्वं समाचर
Salva was to be chosen by me at that svayamvara; knowing this, O knower of righteousness, act according to the true principle of dharma.
एवमुक्तस्तया भीष्मः कन्यया विप्रसंसदि। चिन्तामभ्यगमद्वीरो युक्तां तस्यैव कर्मणः
Thus addressed by the maiden in the assembly of Brahmins, Bhishma, the hero, entered into deep and fitting thought concerning his own deed.
अन्यसक्ता त्वियं कन्या ज्येष्ठा त्वम्बा मया जिता। वाचा दत्ता मनोदत्ता कृतमङ्गलवाचना
This maiden is attached to another; the eldest, Amba, was won by me, given by word, given by mind, and auspicious words were spoken.
निर्दिष्टा तु परस्यैव सा त्याज्या परचिन्तिनी। इत्युक्त्वा चानुमान्यैव भ्रातरं स्ववशानुगम्
But since she was designated for another, she must be relinquished, for her thoughts are with another; having said this and obtained his brother's consent, he acted according to his own will.