एषा पुष्करिणी दिव्या यथावत्समुपस्थिता। अम्बे त्वच्छोकशमनी माला भुवि भविष्यति
This divine lotus pond has appeared as it should. Amba, this garland will be on earth to relieve your sorrow.
एतां चैव मया दत्तां मालां यो धारयिष्यति। सोऽस्य भीष्मस्य निधने कारणं वै भविष्यति
Whoever wears this garland, which I have given, will be the cause of Bhishma's death.
अन्यपूर्वेति मां साल्वो नाभिनन्दति बालिशः। साहं धर्माच्च कामाच्च विहीना शोकधारिणी
Salva, foolish, does not accept me because of my prior attachment to another. I am bereft of righteousness and desire, bearing sorrow.
अपतिः क्षत्रियान्सर्वानाक्रन्दामि समन्ततः। इयं वः क्षत्रिया माला या भीष्मं निहनिष्यति
Without a husband, I cry out to all the Kshatriyas everywhere. This garland of yours, O Kshatriyas, will slay Bhishma.
अहं च भार्या तस्य स्यां यो भीष्मं घातयिष्यति। तस्याश्चङ्क्रम्यमाणायाः समाः पञ्च गताः पराः
I will be the wife of the one who kills Bhishma. Five more years passed for her as she wandered.
नाभवच्छरणं कश्चित्क्षत्रियो भीष्मजाद्भयात्। अगच्छत्सोमकं साऽम्बा पाञ्चालेषु यशस्विनम्
No Kshatriya gave her refuge, fearing Bhishma. Amba went to the renowned Somaka among the Panchalas.
सत्यसन्धं महेष्वासं सत्यधर्मपरायणम्। सा सभाद्वारमागम्य पाञ्चालैरभिरक्षितम्
She came to the assembly doorway, guarded by the Panchalas, where stood the steadfast, great-armed, ever-truthful devotee of righteousness.
पाञ्चालराजमाक्रन्दत्प्रगृह्य सुभुजा भुजौ। भीष्मेण हन्यमानां मां मज्जन्तीमिव च ह्रदे
The king of the Panchalas cried out, grasping me with his strong arms, as Bhishma struck me down, as if I were sinking in a deep pool.
यज्ञसेनाभिधावेह पाणिमालम्ब्य चोद्धर। तेन मे सर्वधर्माश्च रतिभोगाश्च केवलाः
Yajnasena, come here, take my hand and lift me up; by this, all my duties and pleasures alone are preserved.
उभौ च लोकौ कीर्तिश्च समूलौ सफलौ हृतौ। ***न्त्येवं न विन्दामि राजन्यं शरणं क्वचित्
Both worlds, and my fame, with their roots and fruits, have been seized; thus, I find no kshatriya protector anywhere.
किं नु निःक्षत्रियो लोको यत्रानाथोऽवसीदति। समागम्य तु राजानो मयोक्ता राजसत्तमाः
Is the world now without kshatriyas, where the helpless are abandoned? Yet, the assembled kings, the foremost among rulers, I addressed.
शृण्वन्तु सर्वे राजानो मयोक्तं राजसत्तमाः। इक्ष्वाकूणां तु ये वृद्धाः पाञ्चालानां च ये वराः
Let all the kings, the best among rulers, hear what I say—the elders of the Ikshvakus and the foremost of the Panchalas.
त्वत्प्रसादाद्विवाहेऽस्मिन्मा धर्मो मा पराजयेत्। प्रसीद यज्ञसेनेह गतिर्मे भव सोमक
By your favor in this marriage, may righteousness not be defeated; be gracious, Yajnasena, let my course be with you, O Somaka.
जानामि त्वां बोधयामि राजपुत्रि विशेषतः। यथाशक्ति यथाधर्मं बलं संधारयाम्यहम्
I know you, princess, and I especially instruct you: to the best of my ability and according to righteousness, I maintain my strength.
अन्यस्मात्पार्थिवाद्यत्ते भयं स्यात्पार्थिवात्मजे। तस्यापनयने हेतुं संविधातुमहं प्रभुः
If you fear any other king, O princess, I have the power to remove the cause of that fear.
नहि शान्तनवस्याहं महास्त्रस्य प्रहारिणः। ईश्वरः क्षत्रियाणां हि बलं धर्मोऽनुवर्तते
I am not the master over Shantanu's son, wielder of mighty weapons; for among kshatriyas, strength follows righteousness.
सा साधु व्रज कल्याणि न मां भीष्मो दहेद्बलात्। न प्रत्यगृह्णंस्ते सर्वे किमित्येव न वेद्म्यहम्
So go, O blessed one, for Bhishma will not burn me by force; I did not accept you—all of them know, but I do not know why.
इत्युक्ता स्रजमासज्य द्वारि राज्ञो व्यपाद्रवत्
Thus addressed, she placed the garland and fled from the king's doorway.
व्युदस्तां सर्वलोकेषु तपसा संशितव्रताम्। तामन्वगच्छद्द्रुपदः सान्त्वं जल्पन्पुनः पुनः
Renowned in all worlds for her austerity and firm vows, Drupada followed her, repeatedly offering words of consolation.
स्रजं गृहाण कल्याणि न नो वैरं प्रसञ्जय
Take the garland, O blessed one, do not incite enmity with us.
एवमेव त्वया कार्यमिति स्म प्रतिकाङ्क्षते। न तु तस्यान्यथा भावो दैवमेतदमानुषम्
Thus it must be done by you—so he kept hoping; but her mind was not otherwise—this is fate, not human doing.
यश्चैनां स्रजमादाय स्वयं वै प्रतिमोक्षते। स भीष्मं समरे हन्ता मम धर्मप्रणाशनम्
Whoever takes up this garland and himself puts it on, he will slay Bhishma in battle, the destroyer of my righteousness.
तां स्रजं द्रुपदो राजा कंचित्कालं ररक्ष सः। ततो विस्रम्भमास्थाय तूष्णीमेतामुपैक्षत
King Drupada kept that garland for some time; then, growing indifferent, he silently neglected it.
तां शिखण्डिन्यबध्नात्तु बाला पितुरवज्ञया। तां पिता त्वत्यजच्छीघ्रं त्रस्तो भीष्मस्य किल्बिषात्
Then Shikhandini, as a child, put on that garland, disregarding her father; and her father quickly abandoned her, fearing Bhishma's wrath.
इषीकं ब्राह्मणं भीता साभ्यगच्छत्तपस्विनम्। गङ्गाद्वारि तपस्यन्तं तुष्टिहेतोस्तपस्विनी
Frightened, she approached a Brahmin ascetic, who was performing austerities at the waters of the Ganga, seeking his favor.
उपचाराभितुष्टस्तामब्रवीदृषिसत्तमः। गङ्गाद्वारे विभजनं भविता नचिरादिव
Pleased by her service, the eminent sage said to her: 'At the ford of the Ganga, a division will soon take place.'
तत्र गन्धर्वराजानं तुम्बुरुं प्रियदर्शनम्। आराधयितुमीहस्व सम्यक्परिचरस्व तम्
There, strive to propitiate Tumburu, the king of the Gandharvas, who is pleasing to behold; serve him well.
अहमप्यत्र साचिव्यं कर्तास्मि तव शोभने। तं तदाचर भद्रं ते स ते श्रेयो विधास्यति
I too, O beautiful one, will assist you in this matter; do as I say, good lady, for he will bring you benefit.
ततो विभजनं तत्र गन्धर्वाणामवर्तत। तत्र द्वाववशिष्येतां गन्धर्वावमितौ जसौ
Then, at that place, a division occurred among the Gandharvas, and two Gandharvas of equal splendor remained.
तयोरेकः समीक्ष्यैनां स्त्रीबुभूषुरुवाच ह। इदं गृह्णीष्व पुंलिङ्गं वृणे स्त्रीलिङ्गमेव ते
One of them, desiring to become a woman, looked at her and said: 'Take this male form; I choose your female form for myself.'