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.
तस्मात्सुभृशमाश्वस्य त्वयि धर्मभृतां वर। कार्ये त्वां विनियोक्ष्यामि तच्छ्रुत्वा कर्तुमर्हसि
Therefore, being greatly assured in you, best of the upholders of righteousness, I will appoint you to this task; having heard this, you should act accordingly.
मम पुत्रस्तव भ्राता वीर्यवान्सुप्रियश्च ते। बाल एव गतः स्वर्गमपुत्रः पुरुषर्षभ
My son, your brother, was valiant and dear to you; though still young, he has gone to heaven without an heir, O best of men.
इमे महिष्यौ भ्रातुस्ते काशिराजसुते शुभे। रूपयौवनसंपन्ने पुत्रकामे च भारत
Here are your brother’s two queens, daughters of the King of Kashi, endowed with beauty and youth, and longing for sons, O Bharata.
तयोरुत्पादयापत्यं सन्तानाय कुलस्य नः। मन्नियोगान्महाबाहो धर्मं कर्तुमिहार्हसि
By my command, mighty-armed one, you should raise offspring from them for the continuation of our lineage, in accordance with righteousness.
राज्ये चैवाभिषिच्यस्व भारताननुशाधि च। दारांश्च कुरु धर्मेण मा निमज्जीः पितामहान्
Assume the sovereignty and rule the Bharatas according to righteousness; take wives in accordance with dharma, and do not let our ancestors’ line be submerged.
तथोच्यमानो मात्रा स सुहृद्भिश्च परन्तपः। इत्युवाचाथ धर्मात्मा धर्म्यमेवोत्तरं वचः
Thus addressed by his mother and by his friends, that subduer of foes, devoted to righteousness, replied with a fitting answer.
असंशयं परो धर्मस्त्वया मातरुदाहृतः। त्वमपत्यं प्रति च मे प्रतिज्ञां वेत्थ वै परां
Without doubt, mother, you have spoken the highest righteousness; and you know well my supreme vow regarding offspring.
जानासि च यथावृत्तं शुल्कहेतोस्त्वदन्तरे। स सत्यवति सत्यं ते प्रतिजानाम्यहं पुनः
You also know, Satyavati, what transpired for the sake of the bride-price in your presence; I swear to you again, O Satyavati, this is the truth.
परित्यजेयं त्रैलोक्यं राज्यं देवेषु वा पुनः। यद्वाऽप्यधिकमेताभ्यां न तु सत्यं कथंचन
I would renounce the three worlds, or even the kingdom of the gods, or anything greater than these, but never, under any circumstance, the truth.
त्यजेच्च पृथिवी गन्धमापश्च रसमात्मनः। ज्योतिस्तथा त्यजेद्रूपं वायुः स्पर्शगुणं त्यजेत्
Earth may abandon its scent, water its taste, fire its form, and wind its quality of touch—