प्रदाय वसुधारां च वृद्धिश्राद्धादिकं तथा । प्राह्मणान्भोजयामास देवांश्च बान्धवांस्तथा
He gave a stream of earth and also performed rites like the growth-shraddha; he fed the Brahmins, gods, and relatives.
वाद्यं च वादयामास कारयामास मङ्गलम् । सुवेषं कारयामास वरस्यापि प्रशंसितम्
He had music played and arranged auspicious ceremonies; he adorned the groom in praised attire.
सज्जं च कारयामास नरयानं सुशोभनम् । एवं राजा भीष्मकश्च विवाहार्हं च मङ्गलम्
He made ready a splendid chariot; thus King Bhishmaka arranged all the auspicious things suitable for the wedding.
पुरोहितैर्वेदमन्त्रैः सर्व कर्म चकार सः । मणिरत्नं धनं चापि मुक्तामाणिक्यहीरकम्
With priests and Vedic mantras, he performed all the rites; he gave jewels, wealth, pearls, rubies, and diamonds.
भक्ष्यद्रव्यं च वस्त्रं चाप्युपहारमनुत्तमम् । भट्टेम्यो ब्राह्मणेभ्योऽपि भिक्षुकेभ्यो ददौ मुदा
He gave food, clothing, and excellent gifts; he joyfully gave to the Brahmins, scholars, and beggars.
वाद्यं च वादयामास कारयामास मङ्गलम् । सुवेषं कारयामास रुक्मिण्याश्च मनोहरम्
He had music played and arranged auspicious ceremonies; he adorned Rukmini in enchanting attire.
राज्ञीभिर्मुनिपत्नीभिर्विधानं च यथोचितम् । ततः शुभे क्षणे प्राप्ते माहेन्द्रे परमोदये
The queens and wives of sages performed the prescribed rites; then, at the auspicious moment, at the great rise of the Indra constellation,
विवाहोचितलग्ने च लग्नाधिपतिसंयुते । सद्ग्रहेक्षणशुद्धे चाप्यसतां दृष्टिवर्जिते
At the proper wedding time, with the lord of the lagna presiding, with the gaze of the auspicious planets pure and the sight of the inauspicious ones avoided,
शुभक्षणे सुभर्क्षे च विशुद्धे चन्द्रतारयोः । वेधदोषादिरहिते शलाकादिविवर्जिते
At the auspicious moment, in a favorable star, with the moon and stars pure, free from defects in the horoscope and devoid of any bad omens,
दंपत्योः शर्मयोग्ये च परिणामसुखप्रदे । एवंभूते च समये भीष्मकप्राङ्गणं हरिः
When the time was fit for the couple's happiness and promised marital bliss, at such a moment, Hari entered Bhishmaka's courtyard.
आजगाम सुरैः सार्ध सुनिविप्रपुरोहितैः । ज्ञातिभिर्बान्धवैः सार्धं पित्रा मात्रानृपैस्तथा
He arrived with the gods, noble sages, and priests, along with relatives, kin, his father, mother, and kings.
गोपालकैः पार्षदैश्च वयस्यैश्च मनोहरैः । भट्टैश्च गणकैर्ज्योतिः शास्त्रज्ञानविशारदैः
With cowherds, attendants, charming friends, scholars, astrologers, and experts in the science of astrology.
वाद्यैर्नानाविधैश्चैव नर्तकैर्गायनैस्तथा । नानाशिल्पकरैश्चैव मालाकारैस्तथाऽपरैः
With various kinds of musical instruments, dancers, singers, and craftsmen of many arts, as well as garland-makers and others,
विद्याधर्यप्सरोभिश्च किन्नरीभिश्च सत्वरम् । स्थलं च ददुशुर्देवा मुनयश्च नृपेश्वराः
With Vidyādharīs, Apsarases, and Kinnara women, quickly the gods, sages, and kings gave the place.
सर्वे समागता ये च विवाहदर्शनोत्सुकाः । रम्भास्तम्भसहस्रैश्च पट्टसूत्रपरिष्कृतैः
All those who had gathered, eager to witness the wedding, with thousands of pillars adorned with silk cords,
चम्बकानां चन्दनानां रसालानां च पल्लवैः । माल्यैर्नानाविधैश्चैव पीतरक्तसितान्वितैः
With the fresh leaves of champaka, sandalwood, and mango trees, and with garlands of many kinds, adorned with yellow, red, and white flowers,
परितो मङ्गलघटैः फलपल्लवसंयुतैः । कस्तूरीचन्दनाक्तैश्च कुङ्कुमेन विराजितैः
All around with auspicious pots, joined with fruits and fresh leaves, anointed with musk and sandalwood, and brightened with saffron,
पर्णैर्लाजैः फलैः पुष्पैर्दूर्वाभिरुपशोभितैः । मुनिभिर्ब्राह्मणैश्चैव राजेन्द्रैरपि वेष्टितम्
Adorned with leaves, popped rice, fruits, flowers, and sacred grass, surrounded by sages, brāhmaṇas, and also by kings,
रत्नेन्द्रसारनिर्माणवेदीयुक्तं मनोहरम् । चर्चितं चन्दनस्निग्धैः कस्तूरीकुङ्कुमान्वितैः
Beautiful, furnished with a platform made from the best of jewels and excellent wood, anointed with fragrant sandal, musk, and saffron,
सुगन्धिशीतमन्दैश्च पवनैः सुरभीकृतम् । रत्नानां च सहस्रैश्च ज्वलितं ज्वलदीप्तकैः
Made fragrant by cool, gentle, and sweet-smelling breezes, shining with thousands of gems blazing with radiant light,
नानाप्रकारधूपैश्च गन्धद्रव्यैः सुवासतम् । चित्रैर्विचित्रैर्विविधैः शिल्पिनांपुण्यकारिणाम्
Perfumed with various kinds of incense and fragrant substances, adorned with marvelous and diverse works of virtuous artisans,
परितः परितश्चैव शोभनार्हैः सुशोभनैः । गन्धर्वाणां च संगीतैमधुरंर्मधुरीकृतम्
All around, beautifully decorated with splendid ornaments, sweetened by the melodious singing of the Gandharvas,
विद्याधरीणांनृत्यैश्च नर्तकीनां च शिल्पिनाम् । तत्र निश्चेष्टचित्रैश्च जनराजिविराजितम्
With the dances of Vidyādharī women, dancers, and artisans, there it was further adorned by the still and wondrous presence of the assembled people and kings,
गुप्तद्वारैर्गवाक्षैश्च युवतीभिश्च वीक्षितम् । मङ्गलेन घटेनैव विधुषा च पुरोधसा
With hidden doors and windows, watched by young women, with the auspicious pot and the learned priest at the front,
कुशहस्तेन भूपेन दानेन दानवस्तुना । दृष्ट्वा च प्राङ्गणं राज्ञो देवा ब्रह्मादयस्तथा
With the king holding sacred kusha grass, and giving gifts of valuable items, seeing the courtyard of the king, the gods led by Brahmā,
अवरुह्य रथात्तूणं तिष्टन्ति प्राङ्गणे मुदा । राजेन्द्रा दानवेन्द्राश्च सुनयः सनकादयः
Having descended quickly from their chariots, stood joyfully in the courtyard—the kings, the lords of the Dānavas, the wise, and the sages like Sanaka,
श्रीकृष्णश्चापि भगवान्पार्षदप्रवरैः सह । तान्दृष्ट्वा सहसोत्थाय जवेन भीष्मकस्तथा
And the blessed Śrī Kṛṣṇa, together with his foremost attendants, seeing them, Bhīṣmaka at once rose swiftly,
मूर्घ्ना ववन्दे देवाश्च मुनोन्द्रांश्च नृपांस्तथा । रत्नसिहासनेष्वेव सुरम्येषु पृथवपृथक्
He bowed his head to the gods, the sages, and the kings, and seated them separately on beautiful jeweled thrones,
क्रमतो वासयामास संपूज्य सादरेण च । राजा तुष्टाव भक्त्या च तान्सर्वान्भक्तिपूर्वकम् वसुदेवं वासुदेवं साश्रुनेत्रः पुटाञ्जलिः
He seated them in order, having honored them with respect; the king praised them all with devotion, and with tears in his eyes and folded hands, he praised Vasudeva, Vāsudeva,
भीष्मक उवाच अद्य मे सफलं जन्म जीवितं च सुजीवितम् । बभूव जन्मकोटीनां कर्ममूलनिकृन्तनम्
Bhīṣmaka said: Today my birth is fulfilled, and my life well-lived; it has become the destroyer of the roots of karma accumulated over millions of births.