01.096
Core:Vichitra Veerya's marriage and death.
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana said:
हते चित्राङ्गदे भीष्मो बाले भ्रातरि चानघ । पालयामास तद्राज्यं सत्यवत्या मते स्थितः ॥१-०९६-१॥
O sinless one, when Citrāṅgada was slain and the brother was still young, Bhīṣma protected the kingdom, abiding by the counsel of Satyavatī.
सम्प्राप्तयौवनं पश्यन्भ्रातरं धीमतां वरम् । भीष्मो विचित्रवीर्यस्य विवाहायाकरोन्मतिम् ॥१-०९६-२॥
Seeing that his brother Vicitravīrya, the best among the wise, had reached youth, Bhīṣma decided to arrange his marriage.
अथ काशिपतेर्भीष्मः कन्यास्तिस्रोऽप्सरःसमाः । शुश्राव सहिता राजन्वृण्वतीर्वै स्वयं वरम् ॥१-०९६-३॥
Then Bhīṣma heard that the three daughters of the king of Kāśi, equal to apsarases, were together holding a svayaṁvara ceremony, O king.
ततः स रथिनां श्रेष्ठो रथेनैकेन वर्मभृत् । जगामानुमते मातुः पुरीं वाराणसीं प्रति ॥१-०९६-४॥
Then he, the best among charioteers, clad in armor and alone in his chariot, went toward the city of Vārāṇasī with his mother’s permission.
तत्र राज्ञः समुदितान्सर्वतः समुपागतान् । ददर्श कन्यास्ताश्चैव भीष्मः शन्तनुनन्दनः ॥१-०९६-५॥
There, Bhīṣma, the son of Śantanu, saw the assembled kings who had come from all directions and also saw those maidens.
कीर्त्यमानेषु राज्ञां तु नामस्वथ सहस्रशः । भीष्मः स्वयं तदा राजन्वरयामास ताः प्रभुः ॥१-०९६-६॥
While the names of kings were being announced by the thousands, then Bhīṣma himself, O king, chose those maidens, the mighty one.
उवाच च महीपालान्राजञ्जलदनिःस्वनः । रथमारोप्य ताः कन्या भीष्मः प्रहरतां वरः ॥१-०९६-७॥
Bhīṣma, the foremost among warriors, placing the maidens on his chariot, addressed the kings, O king, with a voice like the roar of a cloud.
आहूय दानं कन्यानां गुणवद्भ्यः स्मृतं बुधैः । अलङ्कृत्य यथाशक्ति प्रदाय च धनान्यपि ॥१-०९६-८॥
The wise regard the summoning and gifting of maidens to worthy men, after adorning them and giving wealth according to one's means, as a proper form of marriage.
प्रयच्छन्त्यपरे कन्यां मिथुनेन गवामपि । वित्तेन कथितेनान्ये बलेनान्येऽनुमान्य च ॥१-०९६-९॥
Some give the maiden with a pair of cows; others with specified wealth; others by force; and others with consent.
प्रमत्तामुपयान्त्यन्ये स्वयमन्ये च विन्दते । अष्टमं तमथो वित्त विवाहं कविभिः स्मृतम् ॥१-०९६-१०॥
Others approach an intoxicated maiden, and some seize her themselves; thus, the eighth form of marriage based on wealth is considered by sages.
स्वयंवरं तु राजन्याः प्रशंसन्त्युपयान्ति च । प्रमथ्य तु हृतामाहुर्ज्यायसीं धर्मवादिनः ॥१-०९६-११॥
Princes praise and attend the svayaṁvara ceremony; but those who speak of dharma consider her who is carried away by force as the superior form.
ता इमाः पृथिवीपाला जिहीर्षामि बलादितः । ते यतध्वं परं शक्त्या विजयायेतराय वा ॥ स्थितोऽहं पृथिवीपाला युद्धाय कृतनिश्चयः ॥१-०९६-१२॥
O kings, I desire to take these maidens by force; now exert yourselves to the utmost—either for victory or for the other. I stand here, O kings, resolved for battle.
एवमुक्त्वा महीपालान्काशिराजं च वीर्यवान् । सर्वाः कन्याः स कौरव्यो रथमारोपयत्स्वकम् । आमन्त्र्य च स तान्प्रायाच्छीघ्रं कन्याः प्रगृह्य ताः ॥१-०९६-१३॥
Thus addressing the kings and the king of Kāśi, the valiant Kaurava placed all the maidens on his own chariot, took leave of them, and swiftly departed, having seized those maidens.
ततस्ते पार्थिवाः सर्वे समुत्पेतुरमर्षिताः । संस्पृशन्तः स्वकान्बाहून्दशन्तो दशनच्छदान् ॥१-०९६-१४॥
Then all the kings sprang up in fury, touching their arms and biting their lips in rage.
तेषामाभरणान्याशु त्वरितानां विमुञ्चताम् । आमुञ्चतां च वर्माणि सम्भ्रमः सुमहानभूत् ॥१-०९६-१५॥
As they hastily cast off their ornaments and donned their armors, a great confusion arose among them.
ताराणामिव सम्पातो बभूव जनमेजय । भूषणानां च शुभ्राणां कवचानां च सर्वशः ॥१-०९६-१६॥
O Janamejaya, there was a fall like that of stars — of shining ornaments and armors everywhere.
सवर्मभिर्भूषणैस्ते द्राग्भ्राजद्भिरितस्ततः । सक्रोधामर्षजिह्मभ्रूसकषायदृशस्तथा ॥१-०९६-१७॥
They, adorned with shining armor and ornaments, quickly moved about here and there, with wrathful, furrowed brows and bloodshot eyes.
सूतोपकॢप्तान्रुचिरान्सदश्वोद्यतधूर्गतान् । रथानास्थाय ते वीराः सर्वप्रहरणान्विताः ॥ प्रयान्तमेकं कौरव्यमनुसस्रुरुदायुधाः ॥१-०९६-१८॥
Mounting splendid chariots prepared by charioteers and drawn by ten well-yoked horses, the warriors, armed with all weapons, pursued the lone Kaurava with raised arms.
ततः समभवद्युद्धं तेषां तस्य च भारत । एकस्य च बहूनां च तुमुलं लोमहर्षणम् ॥१-०९६-१९॥
Then there arose a tumultuous, hair-raising battle, O Bhārata, between him and them — one against many.
ते त्विषून्दशसाहस्रांस्तस्मै युगपदाक्षिपन् । अप्राप्तांश्चैव तानाशु भीष्मः सर्वांस्तदाच्छिनत् ॥१-०९६-२०॥
They hurled ten thousand arrows at him at once, but Bhīṣma swiftly cut off all those arrows before they could reach him.
ततस्ते पार्थिवाः सर्वे सर्वतः परिवारयन् । ववर्षुः शरवर्षेण वर्षेणेवाद्रिमम्बुदाः ॥१-०९६-२१॥
Then all the kings surrounded him from all sides and rained down showers of arrows, like clouds pouring rain upon a mountain.
स तद्बाणमयं वर्षं शरैरावार्य सर्वतः । ततः सर्वान्महीपालान्प्रत्यविध्यत्त्रिभिस्त्रिभिः ॥१-०९६-२२॥
He warded off that shower of arrows from all sides with his own, and then pierced each of the kings with three arrows.
तस्याति पुरुषानन्याँल्लाघवं रथचारिणः । रक्षणं चात्मनः सङ्ख्ये शत्रवोऽप्यभ्यपूजयन् ॥१-०९६-२३॥
Even his enemies praised his unparalleled swiftness as a charioteer and his self-defense in battle, recognizing him as beyond ordinary men.
तान्विनिर्जित्य तु रणे सर्वशस्त्रविशारदः । कन्याभिः सहितः प्रायाद्भारतो भारतान्प्रति ॥१-०९६-२४॥
Having vanquished them in battle, the expert in all weapons, Bhārata, departed with the maidens toward the Bhāratas.
ततस्तं पृष्ठतो राजञ्शाल्वराजो महारथः । अभ्याहनदमेयात्मा भीष्मं शान्तनवं रणे ॥१-०९६-२५॥
Then, O king, the mighty chariot-warrior Śālva, of immeasurable spirit, struck Bhīṣma, son of Śāntanu, from behind in battle.
वारणं जघने निघ्नन्दन्ताभ्यामपरो यथा । वाशितामनुसम्प्राप्तो यूथपो बलिनां वरः ॥१-०९६-२६॥
Just as another strong elephant strikes the hind part of a roaring one with its tusks, the strongest leader of the herd comes upon it.
स्त्रीकाम तिष्ठ तिष्ठेति भीष्ममाह स पार्थिवः । शाल्वराजो महाबाहुरमर्षेणाभिचोदितः ॥१-०९६-२७॥
The king Śālva, mighty-armed and impelled by indignation, said to Bhīṣma: “O woman-seeker, stop, stop!”
ततः स पुरुषव्याघ्रो भीष्मः परबलार्दनः । तद्वाक्याकुलितः क्रोधाद्विधूमोऽग्निरिव ज्वलन् ॥१-०९६-२८॥
Then Bhīṣma, the tiger among men and destroyer of enemy forces, agitated by those words, blazed with anger like a smokeless fire.
क्षत्रधर्मं समास्थाय व्यपेतभयसम्भ्रमः । निवर्तयामास रथं शाल्वं प्रति महारथः ॥१-०९६-२९॥
Freed from fear and confusion, adopting the warrior's code, the great chariot-warrior turned his chariot back toward Śālva.
निवर्तमानं तं दृष्ट्वा राजानः सर्व एव ते । प्रेक्षकाः समपद्यन्त भीष्मशाल्वसमागमे ॥१-०९६-३०॥
Seeing him turn back, all the kings became spectators at the encounter of Bhīṣma and Śālva.
तौ वृषाविव नर्दन्तौ बलिनौ वाशितान्तरे । अन्योन्यमभिवर्तेतां बलविक्रमशालिनौ ॥१-०९६-३१॥
Like two roaring bulls in the midst of a challenge, the two mighty warriors, endowed with strength and valor, charged toward each other.
ततो भीष्मं शान्तनवं शरैः शतसहस्रशः । शाल्वराजो नरश्रेष्ठः समवाकिरदाशुगैः ॥१-०९६-३२॥
Then the king of Śālva, best among men, showered Bhīṣma, son of Śāntanu, with hundreds of thousands of swift arrows.
पूर्वमभ्यर्दितं दृष्ट्वा भीष्मं शाल्वेन ते नृपाः । विस्मिताः समपद्यन्त साधु साध्विति चाब्रुवन् ॥१-०९६-३३॥
Seeing Bhīṣma at first overpowered by Śālva, the kings were amazed and said, “Well done, well done.”
लाघवं तस्य ते दृष्ट्वा संयुगे सर्वपार्थिवाः । अपूजयन्त संहृष्टा वाग्भिः शाल्वं नराधिपाः ॥१-०९६-३४॥
Seeing his agility in battle, all the kings praised Śālva with delighted words, the rulers of men honoring him.
क्षत्रियाणां तदा वाचः श्रुत्वा परपुरञ्जयः । क्रुद्धः शान्तनवो भीष्मस्तिष्ठ तिष्ठेत्यभाषत ॥१-०९६-३५॥
Hearing the words of the kṣatriyas, Bhīṣma, son of Śāntanu and conqueror of enemy cities, enraged, cried out, “Stop! Stop!”
सारथिं चाब्रवीत्क्रुद्धो याहि यत्रैष पार्थिवः । यावदेनं निहन्म्यद्य भुजङ्गमिव पक्षिराट् ॥१-०९६-३६॥
Enraged, he said to his charioteer, “Go to where this king is, until I strike him down today like a serpent by the king of birds.”
ततोऽस्त्रं वारुणं सम्यग्योजयामास कौरवः । तेनाश्वांश्चतुरोऽमृद्नाच्छाल्वराज्ञो नराधिप ॥१-०९६-३७॥
Then the Kaurava properly applied the Varuṇa weapon and with it struck down the four horses of King Śālva, O lord of men.
अस्त्रैरस्त्राणि संवार्य शाल्वराज्ञः स कौरवः । भीष्मो नृपतिशार्दूल न्यवधीत्तस्य सारथिम् । अस्त्रेण चाप्यथैकेन न्यवधीत्तुरगोत्तमान् ॥१-०९६-३८॥
Countering the weapons of King Śālva with his own, Bhīṣma, tiger among kings, slew his charioteer and then with one weapon struck down his excellent horses as well.
कन्याहेतोर्नरश्रेष्ठ भीष्मः शान्तनवस्तदा । जित्वा विसर्जयामास जीवन्तं नृपसत्तमम् । ततः शाल्वः स्वनगरं प्रययौ भरतर्षभ ॥१-०९६-३९॥
Then Bhīṣma, son of Śāntanu and best of men, having defeated him for the sake of the maidens, let the best of kings go alive. Śālva then returned to his city, O bull among the Bharatas.
राजानो ये च तत्रासन्स्वयंवरदिदृक्षवः । स्वान्येव तेऽपि राष्ट्राणि जग्मुः परपुरञ्जय ॥१-०९६-४०॥
The kings who had come there to witness the svayaṁvara also returned to their own kingdoms, O conqueror of enemy cities.
एवं विजित्य ताः कन्या भीष्मः प्रहरतां वरः । प्रययौ हास्तिनपुरं यत्र राजा स कौरवः ॥१-०९६-४१॥
Thus having conquered, Bhīṣma, the best among warriors, took those maidens and departed to Hastinapura, where the Kaurava king resided.
सोऽचिरेणैव कालेन अत्यक्रामन्नराधिप । वनानि सरितश्चैव शैलांश्च विविधद्रुमान् ॥१-०९६-४२॥
In a short time, the lord of men passed through forests, rivers, and mountains filled with diverse trees.
अक्षतः क्षपयित्वारीन्सङ्ख्येऽसङ्ख्येयविक्रमः । आनयामास काश्यस्य सुताः सागरगासुतः ॥१-०९६-४३॥
Uninjured and of immeasurable valor, he subdued the enemies in battle and brought back the daughters of the king of Kāśi — the son of the river did so.
स्नुषा इव स धर्मात्मा भगिन्य इव चानुजाः । यथा दुहितरश्चैव प्रतिगृह्य ययौ कुरून् ॥१-०९६-४४॥
That righteous Bhīṣma received them as if they were daughters-in-law, sisters, or daughters, and returned to the Kurus.
ताः सर्वा गुणसम्पन्ना भ्राता भ्रात्रे यवीयसे । भीष्मो विचित्रवीर्याय प्रददौ विक्रमाहृताः ॥१-०९६-४५॥
All those virtuous maidens, won by valor, Bhīṣma, the elder brother, gave to his younger brother Vicitravīrya.
सतां धर्मेण धर्मज्ञः कृत्वा कर्मातिमानुषम् । भ्रातुर्विचित्रवीर्यस्य विवाहायोपचक्रमे ॥ सत्यवत्या सह मिथः कृत्वा निश्चयमात्मवान् ॥१-०९६-४६॥
Having performed a superhuman deed in accordance with dharma, the righteous Bhīṣma began arrangements for the marriage of his brother Vicitravīrya, having made a mutual decision with Satyavatī.
विवाहं कारयिष्यन्तं भीष्मं काशिपतेः सुताः । ज्येष्ठा तासामिदं वाक्यमब्रवीद्ध सती तदा ॥१-०९६-४७॥
As Bhīṣma was preparing for the marriage, the eldest of the daughters of the king of Kāśi, a virtuous woman, said these words to him.
मया सौभपतिः पूर्वं मनसाभिवृतः पतिः । तेन चास्मि वृता पूर्वमेष कामश्च मे पितुः ॥१-०९६-४८॥
Formerly I accepted the lord of Śālva in my heart as husband, and he too had chosen me before — this was the wish of both me and my father.
मया वरयितव्योऽभूच्छाल्वस्तस्मिन्स्वयंवरे । एतद्विज्ञाय धर्मज्ञ ततस्त्वं धर्ममाचर ॥१-०९६-४९॥
Śālva was to be chosen by me in that svayaṁvara; knowing this, O knower of dharma, do now what is right.
एवमुक्तस्तया भीष्मः कन्यया विप्रसंसदि । चिन्तामभ्यगमद्वीरो युक्तां तस्यैव कर्मणः ॥१-०९६-५०॥
Thus addressed by the maiden in the Brāhmaṇa assembly, the heroic Bhīṣma entered into reflection fitting to that situation and his deed.
स विनिश्चित्य धर्मज्ञो ब्राह्मणैर्वेदपारगैः । अनुजज्ञे तदा ज्येष्टामम्बां काशिपतेः सुताम् ॥१-०९६-५१॥
Having taken counsel with Veda-knowing Brāhmaṇas, the righteous Bhīṣma then consented to release Ambā, the eldest daughter of the king of Kāśi.
अम्बिकाम्बालिके भार्ये प्रादाद्भ्रात्रे यवीयसे । भीष्मो विचित्रवीर्याय विधिदृष्टेन कर्मणा ॥१-०९६-५२॥
Bhīṣma gave Ambikā and Ambālikā as wives to his younger brother Vicitravīrya, according to proper rites.
तयोः पाणिं गृहीत्वा स रूपयौवनदर्पितः । विचित्रवीर्यो धर्मात्मा कामात्मा समपद्यत ॥१-०९६-५३॥
Having taken the hands of both, Vicitravīrya, though righteous, became sensual-minded, proud of beauty and youth.
ते चापि बृहती श्यामे नीलकुञ्चितमूर्धजे । रक्ततुङ्गनखोपेते पीनश्रोणिपयोधरे ॥१-०९६-५४॥
They were tall, dark, with curly dark hair, red raised nails, and full hips and breasts.
आत्मनः प्रतिरूपोऽसौ लब्धः पतिरिति स्थिते । विचित्रवीर्यं कल्याणं पूजयामासतुस्तु ते ॥१-०९६-५५॥
Thinking that they had obtained a worthy husband, the two maidens worshipped the auspicious Vicitravīrya.
स चाश्विरूपसदृशो देवसत्त्वपराक्रमः । सर्वासामेव नारीणां चित्तप्रमथनोऽभवत् ॥१-०९६-५६॥
He, with the form like the Ashvins and divine strength, became the captor of the hearts of all women.
ताभ्यां सह समाः सप्त विहरन्पृथिवीपतिः । विचित्रवीर्यस्तरुणो यक्ष्माणं समपद्यत ॥१-०९६-५७॥
Enjoying with both for seven years, the young king Vicitravīrya contracted consumption.
सुहृदां यतमानानामाप्तैः सह चिकित्सकैः । जगामास्तमिवादित्यः कौरव्यो यमसादनम् ॥१-०९६-५८॥
Despite the efforts of his friends and trusted physicians, the Kaurava prince went to the abode of Yama, like the sun setting in the west.
प्रेतकार्याणि सर्वाणि तस्य सम्यगकारयत् । राज्ञो विचित्रवीर्यस्य सत्यवत्या मते स्थितः । ऋत्विग्भिः सहितो भीष्मः सर्वैश्च कुरुपुङ्गवैः ॥१-०९६-५९॥
Bhīṣma, abiding by the counsel of Satyavatī and assisted by priests and all the foremost of the Kurus, properly conducted all the funeral rites of King Vicitravīrya.
