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.
विनिश्चित्य स धर्मज्ञो ब्राह्मणैर्वेदपारगैः। अनुजज्ञे तदा ज्येष्ठामम्बां काशिपतेः सुताम्
Having carefully considered, he who knows righteousness, together with Brahmins accomplished in the Vedas, then consented to the eldest daughter of the King of Kashi.
अम्बिकाम्बालिके भार्ये प्रादाद्भ्रात्रे यवीयसे। भीष्मो विचित्रवीर्याय विधिदृष्टेन कर्मणा
Bhishma gave Ambika and Ambalika, as wives, to his younger brother Vichitravirya, performing the act as prescribed by law.
तयोः पाणी गृहीत्वा तु रूपयौवनदर्पितः। विचित्रवीर्यो धर्मात्मा नाम्बामैच्छत्कथंचन
Vichitravirya, filled with pride in his beauty and youth, took the hands of the two, but though righteous, he did not desire Amba in any way.
पापस्य फलमेवैष कामोऽसाधुर्निरर्थकः। परतन्त्रोपभोगो मामार्य नाऽऽयोक्तुमर्हसि
This is only the fruit of sin; desire that is improper is futile. Enjoyment under another's control, noble one, you ought not to urge upon me.
प्रातिष्ठच्छान्तनोर्वंशस्तात यस्य त्वमन्वयः। अकामवृत्तो धर्मात्मन्साधु मन्ये मतं तव
The line of Shantanu, whose descendant you are, continues, father. Acting without desire, righteous one, I consider your view to be good.
इत्युक्त्वाम्बां समालोक्य विधिवद्वाक्यमब्रवीत्। विसृष्टा ह्यसि गच्छ त्वं यथाकाममनिन्दिते
Having spoken thus, he looked at Amba and addressed her with words in accordance with law: 'You are released; go, blameless one, wherever you wish.'
नानियोज्ये समर्थोऽहं नियोक्तुं भ्रातरं प्रियम्। अन्यबावगतां चापि को नारीं वासयेद्गृहे
I am not able to command my dear brother against his will, nor would anyone keep in his house a woman who desires another.
अतस्त्वां न नियोक्ष्यामि अन्यकामासि गम्यताम्। अहमप्यूर्ध्वरेता वै निवृत्तो दारकर्मणि
Therefore, I will not appoint you; you desire another—go. I too am one who has taken the vow of celibacy, withdrawn from the duties of marriage.
इत्युक्ता सा गता तत्र सखीभिः परिवारिता
Thus addressed, she departed from there, surrounded by her companions.
निर्दिष्टा हि शनै राजन्साल्वराजपुरं प्रति। अथाम्बा साल्वंमागम्य साऽब्रवीत्प्रतिपूज्य तं
Directed thus, O King, she slowly made her way toward the city of the King of Salva. Then Amba, having reached Salva, honored him and spoke.