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.
ताभ्यां सह समाः सप्त विहरन्पृथिवीपतिः। विचित्रवीर्यस्तरुणो यक्ष्मणा समगृह्यत
For seven years, the youthful king Vichitravirya sported with them, but was seized by consumption.
सुहृदां यतमानानामाप्तैः सह चिकित्सकैः। जगामास्तमिवादित्यः कौरव्यो यमसादनम्
Though his friends and skilled physicians strove, the Kaurava went to the abode of Yama, like the sun setting.
धर्मात्मा स तु गाङ्गेयः चिन्ताशोकपरायणः। प्रेतकार्याणि सर्वाणि तस्य सम्यगकारयत्
That righteous son of Ganga, wholly absorbed in thought and sorrow, duly performed all the funeral rites for him.
राज्ञो विचित्रवीर्यस्य सत्यवत्या मते स्थितः। ऋत्विग्बिः सहितो भीष्मः सर्वैश्च कुरुपुङ्गवैः।। प्रसीद यज्ञसेनेह गतिर्मे भव सोमक
Bhishma, steadfast in Satyavati’s counsel, together with the officiating priests and all the foremost of the Kurus, completed the ceremonies for King Vichitravirya. O Somaka, O Yajnasena, be gracious here and guide my course.
ततः सत्यवती दीना कृपणा पुत्रगृद्धिनी। पुत्रस्य कृत्वा कार्याणि स्नुषाभ्यां सह भारत
Then Satyavati, afflicted, pitiable, longing for a son, having performed her son’s rites together with her daughters-in-law, O Bharata—
समाश्वास्य स्नुषे ते च भर्तृशोकनिपीडिते। धर्मं च पितृवंशं च मातृवंशं च भामिनी। प्रसमीक्ष्य महाभागा गाङ्गेयं वाक्यमब्रवीत्
Consoling your daughters-in-law, who were oppressed by the grief of widowhood, and having carefully considered the law of the paternal and maternal lineages, the blessed Satyavati spoke these words to Bhishma.
दुःखार्दिता तु सा देवी मज्जन्ती शोकसागरे। शन्तनोर्धर्मनित्यस्य कौरव्यस्य यशस्विनः।' त्वयि पिण्डश्च कीर्तिश्च संतानश्च प्रतिष्ठितः
That queen, overwhelmed by sorrow and sinking in an ocean of grief, said: ‘In you, O Bhishma, are established the offerings, the fame, and the lineage of Shantanu, ever devoted to righteousness and renowned among the Kurus.’
भ्राता विचित्रवीर्यस्ते भूतानामन्तमेयिवान्।' यथाकर्म शुभं कृत्वा स्वर्गोपगमनं ध्रुवम्। यथा चायुर्ध्रुवं सत्ये त्वयि धर्मस्तथा ध्रुवः
Your brother Vichitravirya, who has gone beyond, performed virtuous deeds and has surely attained heaven; just as life is certain in truth, so too is righteousness certain in you.
वेत्थ धर्मांश्च धर्मज्ञ समासेनेतरेण च। विविधास्त्वं श्रुतीर्वेत्थ वेदाङ्गानि च सर्वशः
You know the laws, O knower of righteousness, both in summary and in detail; you are versed in the various scriptures and in all the limbs of the Veda.
व्यवस्थानं च ते धर्मे कुलाचारं च लक्षये। प्रतिपत्तिं च कृच्छ्रेषु शुक्राङ्गिरसयोरिव
I observe in you the proper conduct in righteousness and the customs of the family, and your discernment in difficult situations is like that of Shukra and Angiras.