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.'
नियमं चक्रतुस्तत्र स्त्री पुमांश्चैव तावुभौ। ततः पुमान्समभवच्छिखण्डी परवीरहा
There, the two made an agreement: one to be a woman, the other a man; thus Shikhandi, the destroyer of enemy heroes, became a man.
स्त्री भूत्वा ह्यपचक्राम स गन्धर्वो मुदान्वितः। लब्ध्वा तु महतीं प्रीतिं याज्ञसेनिर्महायशाः
Having become a woman, that Gandharva departed joyfully; and Yajnaseni, of great fame, attained immense satisfaction.
ततो बुद्बुदकं गत्वा पुनरस्त्राणि सोऽकरोत्। तत्र चास्त्राणि दिव्यानि कृत्वा स सुमहाद्युतिः
Then, going to Budbudaka, he again acquired weapons; there, that radiant one obtained divine weapons.
स्वदेशमभिसंपदे पाञ्चालं कुरुनन्दन। सोऽभिवाद्य पितुः पादौ महेष्वासः कृताञ्जलिः
He returned to his own land, Panchala, O joy of the Kurus, and, with joined palms, bowed to his father's feet, that mighty archer.
उवाच भवता भीष्मान्न भेतव्यं कथंचन
He said, 'By you, Bhishma need not be feared in any way.'
अम्बायां निर्गतायां तु भीष्मः शान्तनवस्तदा। न्यायेन कारयामास राज्ञो वैवाहिकीं क्रियाम्
When Amba had departed, Bhishma, son of Shantanu, then caused the king's marriage rites to be performed according to law.
अम्बिकाम्बालिके चैव परिणीयाग्निसंनिधौ। `तयोः पाणी गृहीत्वा तु कौरव्यो रूपदर्पितः।' विचित्रवीर्यो धर्मात्मा कामात्मा समपद्यत
Having married Ambika and Ambalika in the presence of fire, the Kaurava, proud of his beauty, Vichitravirya, righteous yet passionate, became their husband.
ते चापि बृहतीश्यामे नीलकुञ्चितमूर्धजे। रक्ततुङ्गनखोपेते पीनश्रोणिपयोधऱे
Both were tall and dark, with hair curled and black, adorned with red, prominent nails, and with broad hips and full breasts.
आत्मनः प्रतिरूपोऽसौ लब्धः पतिरिति स्थिते। विचित्रवीर्यं कल्याण्यौ पूजयामासतुः शुभे
Thinking, 'We have obtained a husband worthy of ourselves,' the auspicious maidens honored Vichitravirya.
अन्योन्यं प्रति सक्ते च एकभावे इव स्थिते।' स चाश्विरूपसदृशो देवतुल्यपराक्रमः। सर्वासामेव नारीणां चित्तप्रमथनो रहः
Attached to each other and united in feeling, he, resembling the twin Ashvins and equal to the gods in valor, captivated the hearts of all women in private.