न स्नातकोऽवसीदेत वर्तमानः स्वकर्मसु। इति संचिन्त्य मनसा तं देशं बहुशो भ्रमन्
A twice-born should not fall into distress while engaged in his duties—thinking thus in my mind, I wandered much in that region.
विशुद्धणिच्छन्गाङ्गेय धर्मोपेतं प्रतिग्रहम्। अन्तादन्तं परिक्रम्य नाध्यगच्छं पयस्विनीम्
Desiring pure gifts, righteous and free from fault, I searched everywhere but could not find a giver of milk.
यवपिष्टोदकेनैनं लोभयेयं कुमारकम्। पीत्वा पिष्टरसं बालः क्षीरं पीतं मयाऽपि च
With water mixed with flour I tempted the boy; after drinking the flour-water, the child thought he too had drunk milk.
ननर्तोत्थाय कौरव्य हृष्टो बाल्याद्विमोहितः। तं दृष्ट्वा नृत्यमानं तु बालैः परिवृतं सुतम्
Then, rising up, O Kauravya, delighted and deceived by childhood, he danced, surrounded by other boys, my son.
हास्यतामुपसंप्राप्तं कश्मलं तत्र मेऽभवत्। द्रोणं धिगस्त्वधनिनं यो धनं नाधिगच्छति
Seeing him thus, I felt shame and sorrow; 'Fie on Droṇa, who, though alive, cannot obtain wealth!'
पिष्टोदकं सुतो यस्य पीत्वा क्षीरस्य तृष्णया। नृत्यतिस्म मुदाविष्टः क्षीरं पीतं मयाऽप्युत
Whose son, longing for milk, dances joyfully after drinking flour-water, thinking, 'I too have drunk milk'?
इति संभाषतां वाचं श्रुत्वा मे बुद्धिरच्यवत्। आत्मानं चात्मना गर्हन्मनसेदं व्यचिन्तयम्
Hearing these words spoken among them, my mind was shaken; blaming myself, I thought thus in my heart.
अपि चाहं पुरा विप्रैर्वर्जितो गर्हितो वसे। परोपसेवां पापिष्ठां न च कुर्यां धनेप्सया
Moreover, I, once shunned and reproached by the Brahmins, should not, out of greed for wealth, perform the sinful service of others.
इति मत्वा प्रियं पुत्रं भीष्मादाय ततो ह्यहम्। पूर्वस्नेहानुरागित्वात्सदारः सौमकिं गतः
Thinking thus, I took my beloved son Bhishma, and, out of former affection and attachment, I went with my wife to Saumaki.
अभिषिक्तं तु श्रुत्वैव कृतार्थोऽस्मीति चिन्तयन्। प्रियं सखायं सुप्रीतो राज्यस्थं समुपागमम्
Upon hearing that he had been anointed king, I thought, 'My purpose is fulfilled,' and, very pleased, I approached my dear friend who now held the kingdom.
संस्मरन्सङ्गमं चैव वचनं चैव तस्य तत्। ततो द्रुपदमागम्य सखइपूर्वमहं प्रभो
Remembering our meeting and his words, I then went to Drupada, O lord, as a friend from before.
अब्रुवं पुरुषव्याघ्र सखायं विद्धि मामिति। उपस्थितस्तु द्रुपदं सखिवच्चास्मि सङ्गतः
I said, 'O best of men, know me to be your friend,' and I approached Drupada, united with him as with a friend.
स मां निराकारमिव प्रहसन्निदमब्रवीत्। अकृतेयं तव प्रज्ञा ब्रह्मन्नातिसमञ्जसा
He laughed at me, as if I were a stranger, and said this: 'Your understanding, O Brahmin, is not at all appropriate.'
यदात्थ मां त्वं प्रसभं सखा तेऽहमिति द्विज। संगतनीह जीर्यन्ति कालेन परिजीर्यतः
'When you forcibly said to me, "I am your friend," O twice-born, know that relationships here decay with time as people grow old.'
सौहृदं मे त्वया ह्यासीत्पूर्वं सामर्थ्यबन्धनम्। नाश्रोत्रियः श्रोत्रियस्य नारथी रथिनः सखा
'Once, our friendship was bound by ability; a non-learned man is not the friend of a learned one, nor is a charioteerless man the friend of a charioteer.'
साम्याद्धि सख्यं भवति वैषम्यान्नोपपद्यते। न सख्यमजरं लोके विद्यते जातु कस्यचित्
'Friendship arises from equality; it does not occur from inequality. In this world, there is never any friendship that is ageless for anyone.'
कामो वैनं विहरति क्रोधो वैनं रहत्युत। मैवं जीर्णमुपास्स्व त्वं सख्यं भवदुपाधिकृत्
'Desire enjoys it, and anger abandons it. Do not cling to this worn-out friendship, which was made by you for your own purpose.'
आसीत्सख्यं द्विजश्रेष्ठ त्वया मेऽर्थनिबन्धनम्। नह्यनाढ्यः सखाऽऽढ्यस्य नाविद्वान्विदुषः सखा
'O best of twice-born, our friendship was once based on need. The poor is not the friend of the rich, nor the unlearned of the learned.'
न शूरस्य सखा क्लीबः सखिपूर्वं किमिष्यते। न हि राज्ञामुदीर्णानामेवं भूतैर्नरैः क्वचित्
'A coward is not the friend of a hero, nor is friendship formerly accepted by such. Never do kings of great power have such men as friends.'
सख्यं भवति मन्दात्मञ्छ्रिया हीनैर्धनच्युतैः। नाश्रोत्रियः श्रोत्रियस्य नारथी रथिनः सखा
'Friendship arises with the dull, the deprived of fortune, and those who have lost wealth. A non-learned man is not the friend of a learned one, nor is a charioteerless man the friend of a charioteer.'
नाराजा पार्थिवस्यापि सखिपूर्वं किमिष्यते। अहं त्वया न जानामि राज्यार्थे संविदं कृताम्
'A non-king is not the friend of a king, nor is friendship formerly accepted by such. I do not know of any agreement made with you for the sake of the kingdom.'
एकरात्रं तु ते ब्रह्मन्कामं दास्यामि भोजनम्। एवमुक्तस्त्वहं तेन सदारः प्रस्थितस्तदा
'O Brahmin, I will give you food for a single night as you wish.' Thus addressed by him, I then departed with my wife.
तां प्रतिज्ञां प्रतिज्ञाय यां कर्ताऽस्म्यचिरादिव। द्रुपदेनैवमुक्तोऽहं मन्युनाऽभिपरिप्लुतः
Having resolved to fulfill that vow soon, I, thus spoken to by Drupada, was filled with anger.
अभ्यागच्छं कुरून्भीष्म शिष्यैरर्थी गुणान्वितैः। ततोऽहं भवतः कामं संवर्धयितुमागतः
I came to the Kurus, O Bhishma, with disciples who were capable and virtuous, and so I have come to you, wishing to fulfill my desire.
इदं नागपुरं रम्यं ब्रूहि किं करवाणि ते
This beautiful city of the Nagas is before you; tell me, what shall I do for you?
अपज्यं क्रियतां चापं साध्वस्त्रं प्रतिपादय। भुङ्क्ष भोगान्भृशं प्रीतः पूज्यमानः कुरुक्षये
Let a bow be made that cannot be broken, and provide excellent weapons; enjoy pleasures greatly, being honored in Kurukshetra.
कुरूणामस्ति यद्वित्तं राज्यं चेदं सराष्ट्रकम्। त्वमेव परमो राजा सर्वे वाक्यकरास्तव
All the wealth of the Kurus, and this entire kingdom with its provinces, belongs to you; you alone are the supreme king, and all obey your command.
यच्च ते प्रार्थितं ब्रह्मन्कृतं तदिति चिन्त्यताम्। दिष्ट्या प्राप्तोऽसि विप्रर्षे महान्मेऽनुग्रहः कृतः
Whatever you have requested, O Brahman, has been accomplished; let this be considered. By fortune you have arrived, O sage among Brahmins, and a great favor has been done to me.
प्रतिजग्राह तं भीष्मो गुरुं पाण्डुसुतैः सह। पौत्रानादाय तान्सर्वान्वसूनि विविधानि च
Bhishma accepted him as teacher, together with the sons of Pandu, and brought all his grandsons and various treasures.
शिष्य इति ददौ राजन्द्रोणाय विधिपूर्वकम्। तदा द्रोणोऽब्रवीद्वाक्यं भीष्मं बुद्धिमतां वरम्
The king formally gave his grandsons as disciples to Drona; then Drona spoke to Bhishma, foremost among the wise.