मद्रराजं व राजानमायान्तं पाण्डवान्प्रति। उपहारैर्वञ्चायत्वा वर्त्मन्येव सुयोधनः
As the king of Madra was coming to the Pandavas, Suyodhana deceived him on the way with gifts.
वरदं तं वरं वव्रे साहाय्यं क्रियतां मम। शल्यस्तस्मै प्रतिश्रुत्य जगामोद्दिश्य पाण्डवान्
That bestower of boons was asked for a boon: 'Grant me your assistance.' Shalya, having promised him, then went to the Pandavas.
शान्तिपूर्वं चाकथयद्यत्रेन्द्रविजयं नृपः। पुरोहितप्रेषणं च पाण्डवैः कौरवान्प्रति
There is recounted how, with peaceful intent, the king narrated Indra's victory, and how the priest was sent by the Pāṇḍavas to the Kauravas.
वैचित्रवीर्यस्य वचः समादाय पुरोधसः। तथेन्द्रविजयं चापि यानं चैव पुरोधसः
There, having accepted the words of the priest of Vicitravīrya, both Indra's victory and the priest's journey are likewise described.
संजयं प्रेषयामास शमार्थी पाण्डवान्प्रति। यत्र दूतं महाराजो धृतराष्ट्रः प्रतापवान्
Desiring peace with the Pāṇḍavas, the mighty king Dhṛtarāṣṭra sent Saṃjaya as an envoy.
श्रुत्वा च पाण्डवान्यत्र वासुदेवपुरोगमान्। प्रजागरः संप्रजज्ञे धृतराष्ट्रस्य चिन्तया
And when the Pāṇḍavas, led by Vāsudeva, were heard of, Dhṛtarāṣṭra, troubled in mind, spent the night awake in anxious thought.
विदुरो यत्र वाक्यानि विचित्राणि हितानि च। श्रावयामास राजानं धृतराष्ट्रं मनीषिणम्
There, Vidura spoke many varied and beneficial words to the wise king Dhṛtarāṣṭra.
तथा सनत्सुजातेन यत्राध्यात्ममनुत्तमम्। मनस्तापान्वितो राजा श्रावितः शोकलालसः
Likewise, Sanatsujāta expounded the supreme teaching of the Self to the grief-laden king, whose mind was afflicted.
प्रभाते राजसमितौ संजयो यत्र वा विभो। ऐकात्म्यं वासुदेवस्य प्रोक्तवानर्जुनस्य च
At dawn, in the royal assembly, Saṃjaya spoke of the unity of Vāsudeva and Arjuna.
यत्र कृष्णो दयापन्नः सन्धिमिच्छन्महामतिः। स्वयमागाच्छणं कर्तुं नगरं नागसाह्वयम्
There, Kṛṣṇa, full of compassion and great wisdom, wishing for peace, himself came to the city called Nāgasāhvaya to make an agreement.
प्रत्याख्यानं च कृष्णस्य राज्ञा दुर्योधनेन वै। शमार्थे याचमानस्य पक्षयोरुभयोर्हितम्
There is also described the refusal by King Duryodhana of Kṛṣṇa's request for peace, though he sought the welfare of both sides.
दम्भोद्भवस्य चाख्यानमत्रैव परिकीर्तितम्। वरान्वेषणमत्रैव मातलेश्च महात्मनः
Here too is narrated the tale of Dambhodbhava, and the seeking of boons by the great-souled Mātali.
महर्षेश्चापि चरितं कथितं गालवस्य वै। विदुलायाश्च पुत्रस्य प्रोक्तं चाप्यनुशासनम्
Also told is the story of the sage Gālava, and the instruction given by Vidulā to her son.
कर्णदुर्योधनादीनां दुष्टं विज्ञाय मन्त्रितम्। योगेश्वरत्पं कृष्णेन यत्र राज्ञां प्रदर्शितम्
Perceiving the wicked counsel of Karṇa, Duryodhana, and the others, Kṛṣṇa, lord of yoga, revealed it to the kings.
रथमारोप्य कृष्णेन यत्र कर्णोऽनुमन्त्रितः। उपायपूर्वं शौटीर्यात्प्रत्याख्यातश्च तेन सः
There, Kṛṣṇa, having placed Karṇa on his chariot, addressed him with various means, but was refused by him because of his loyalty.
आगम्य हास्तिनपुरादुपप्लाव्यमरिंदमः। पाण्डवानां यथावृत्तं सर्वमाख्यातवान्हरिः
Having come from Hastinapura to Upaplavya, the subduer of foes, Hari, recounted to the Pāṇḍavas all that had transpired.
ते तस्य वचनं श्रुत्वा मन्त्रयित्वा च यद्धितम्। साङ्ग्रामिकं ततः सर्वं सञ्जं चक्रुः परंतपाः
Hearing his words, and after deliberating on what was beneficial, the destroyers of enemies then made all their preparations for battle.
ततो युद्धाय निर्याता नराश्वरथदन्तिनः। नगराद्धास्तिनपुराद्वलसंख्यानमेवच
Then, from the city of Hastinapura, men, horses, chariots, and elephants set out for war, with their numbers described.
यत्र राज्ञा ह्युलूकस्य प्रेषणं पाम्डवान्प्रति। श्वोभाविनि महायुद्धे दौत्येन कृतवान्प्रभुः
There, the king sent Ulūka as a messenger to the Pāṇḍavas, to deliver his message on the eve of the great battle.
रथातिरथसंख्यानमम्बोपाख्यानमेव च। एतत्सुबहुवृत्तान्तं पञ्चमं पर्व भारते
The enumeration of charioteers and great warriors, and the tale of Amba, are here recounted; thus is the fifth book of the Bhārata, containing many events.
उद्योगपर्व निर्दिष्टं सन्धिविग्रहमिश्रितम्। अध्यायानां शतं प्रोक्तं षडशीतिर्महर्षिणा
The Udyoga Parva, which contains both negotiations and conflict, is described as having one hundred and eighty-six chapters, as declared by the great sage.
श्लोकानां षट् सहस्राणि तावन्त्येव शतानि च। श्लोकाश्च नवतिः प्रोक्तास्तथैवाष्टौ महात्मना
It is said by the noble-minded sage that this section contains six thousand ninety-eight verses, and in addition, ninety-eight more.
व्यासेनोदारमतिना पर्वण्यस्मिंस्तपोधनाः। अतः परं विचित्रार्थं भीष्मपर्व प्रचक्षते
By Vyasa, of noble intellect, this section was composed, O ascetics; after this, the Bhishma Parva, with its diverse themes, is recounted.
जम्बूखण्डविनिर्माणं यत्रोक्तं संजयेन ह। यत्र यौधिष्ठिरं सैन्यं विषादमगमत्परम्
In it, the construction of Jambudvipa is described by Sanjaya, and there the army of Yudhishthira was overcome by deep despondency.
यत्र युद्धमभूद्धोरं दसाहानि सुदारुणम्। कश्मलं यत्र पार्थस्य वासुदेवो महामतिः
There occurred a fierce and dreadful battle lasting ten days, and there, the great-minded Vasudeva dispelled Arjuna's confusion.
मोहजं नाशयामास हेतुभिर्मोक्षदर्शिभिः। समीक्ष्यादोक्षजः क्षिप्रं युधिष्ठिरहिते रतः
He destroyed the delusion born of ignorance with reasons drawn from the teachings of those who see liberation, carefully considering the situation, being devoted to Yudhishthira's welfare.
रथादाप्लुत्य वेगेन स्वयं कृष्ण उदारधीः। प्रतोदपाणिराधावद्भीष्मं हन्तुं व्यपेतभीः
Then Krishna, of noble mind, swiftly leapt from his chariot, whip in hand, and rushed fearlessly to slay Bhishma.
वाक्यप्रतोदाभिहतो यत्र कृष्णेन पाण्डवः। गाण्डीवधन्वा समरे सर्वशस्त्रभृतां वरः
There, struck by Krishna's words like a whip, Arjuna, the wielder of Gandiva and foremost among all warriors, stood in battle.
शिखण्डिनं पुरस्कृत्य यत्र पार्थो महाधनुः। विनिघ्नन्निशितैर्बाणै रथाद्भीष्ममपातयत्
There, Arjuna, the mighty archer, placing Shikhandin in front, struck down Bhishma from his chariot with sharp arrows.
शरतल्पगतश्चैव भीष्मो यत्र बभूव ह। षष्ठमेतत्समाख्यातं भारते पर्व विस्तृतम्
And there, Bhishma lay upon a bed of arrows; this, the sixth parva, is thus described in detail in the Bharata.