02.038
Pancharatra: Shishupala starts insulting Bhishma.
शिशुपाल उवाच॥
Shishupala said.
विभीषिकाभिर्बह्वीभिर्भीषयन्सर्वपार्थिवान्। न व्यपत्रपसे कस्माद्वृद्धः सन्कुलपांसनः ॥२-३८-१॥
Being old and a disgrace to the family, why do you not feel ashamed, frightening all kings by many terrors? (2-38-1)
युक्तमेतत्तृतीयायां प्रकृतौ वर्तता त्वया। वक्तुं धर्मादपेतार्थं त्वं हि सर्वकुरूत्तमः ॥२-३८-२॥
This is proper in the third context as you are acting; to speak something devoid of dharma is not fitting for you, for you are indeed the foremost among all Kurus. (2-38-2)
नावि नौरिव सम्बद्धा यथान्धो वान्धमन्वियात्। तथाभूता हि कौरव्या भीष्म येषां त्वमग्रणीः ॥२-३८-३॥
Just as in a boat, one boat bound to another, a blind man would follow another blind man; so too, O Bhishma, the Kauravas have become, of whom you are the leader. (2-38-3)
पूतनाघातपूर्वाणि कर्माण्यस्य विशेषतः। त्वया कीर्तयतास्माकं भूयः प्रच्यावितं मनः ॥२-३८-४॥
When you recount his deeds, especially those beginning with the slaying of Pūtanā, our minds are once again unsettled. (2-38-4)
अवलिप्तस्य मूर्खस्य केशवं स्तोतुमिच्छतः। कथं भीष्म न ते जिह्वा शतधेयं विदीर्यते ॥२-३८-५॥
O Bhīṣma, how is it that your tongue is not split into a hundred pieces when an arrogant fool desires to praise Keśava? (2-38-5)
यत्र कुत्सा प्रयोक्तव्या भीष्म बालतरैर्नरैः। तमिमं ज्ञानवृद्धः सन्गोपं संस्तोतुमिच्छसि ॥२-३८-६॥
O Bhishma, where reproach is to be uttered by very young men, you, being advanced in knowledge, wish to praise him secretly. (2-38-6)
यद्यनेन हता बाल्ये शकुनिश्चित्रमत्र किम्। तौ वाश्ववृषभौ भीष्म यौ न युद्धविशारदौ ॥२-३८-७॥
If Śakuni was killed in childhood by this person, then what is strange here? Or those two, the horse and the bull, Bhīṣma—are they not skilled in battle? (2-38-7)
चेतनारहितं काष्ठं यद्यनेन निपातितम्। पादेन शकटं भीष्म तत्र किं कृतमद्भुतम् ॥२-३८-८॥
O Bhishma, if this unconscious wood was knocked down by the foot, what is so wonderful done there with the cart? (2-38-8)
वल्मीकमात्रः सप्ताहं यद्यनेन धृतोऽचलः। तदा गोवर्धनो भीष्म न तच्चित्रं मतं मम ॥२-३८-९॥
O Bhīṣma, if he held a mountain the size of an anthill for a week, then I do not consider Govardhana to be a wonder. (2-38-9)
भुक्तमेतेन बह्वन्नं क्रीडता नगमूर्धनि। इति ते भीष्म शृण्वानाः परं विस्मयमागताः ॥२-३८-१०॥
O Bhīṣma, hearing that this one had eaten much food while playing on the mountain top, they were greatly astonished. (2-38-10)
यस्य चानेन धर्मज्ञ भुक्तमन्नं बलीयसः। स चानेन हतः कंस इत्येतन्न महाद्भुतम् ॥२-३८-११॥
It is not at all surprising that the one whose food was eaten by this knower of dharma, and who was stronger, was also killed by him; thus, the slaying of Kaṃsa by him is not very wonderful. (2-38-11)
न ते श्रुतमिदं भीष्म नूनं कथयतां सताम्। यद्वक्ष्ये त्वामधर्मज्ञ वाक्यं कुरुकुलाधम ॥२-३८-१२॥
O Bhīṣma, you have certainly not heard this from the virtuous; what I am about to say to you, O knower of unrighteousness, O lowest of the Kuru dynasty, is unprecedented. (2-38-12)
स्त्रीषु गोषु न शस्त्राणि पातयेद्ब्राह्मणेषु च। यस्य चान्नानि भुञ्जीत यश्च स्याच्छरणागतः ॥२-३८-१३॥
Weapons should not be used against women, cows, or Brāhmaṇas; one should eat the food of those whose food it is, and of those who have sought refuge. (2-38-13)
इति सन्तोऽनुशासन्ति सज्जना धर्मिणः सदा। भीष्म लोके हि तत्सर्वं वितथं त्वयि दृश्यते ॥२-३८-१४॥
Thus, the good and noble always instruct the righteous. But, O Bhīṣma, in this world, all that is seen in you appears false. (2-38-14)
ज्ञानवृद्धं च वृद्धं च भूयांसं केशवं मम। अजानत इवाख्यासि संस्तुवन्कुरुसत्तम ॥ गोघ्नः स्त्रीघ्नश्च सन्भीष्म कथं संस्तवमर्हति ॥२-३८-१५॥
You describe Keśava, who is grown in knowledge, aged, and greater than me, as if you do not know, praising him, O best of Kurus. How does Bhīṣma, being a killer of cows and women, deserve praise? (2-38-15)
असौ मतिमतां श्रेष्ठो य एष जगतः प्रभुः। सम्भावयति यद्येवं त्वद्वाक्याच्च जनार्दनः ॥ एवमेतत्सर्वमिति सर्वं तद्वितथं ध्रुवम् ॥२-३८-१६॥
That Janardana, the best among the intelligent and lord of the world, considers thus if it is so from your statement. Thus, all this, all that, is certainly false. (2-38-16)
न गाथा गाथिनं शास्ति बहु चेदपि गायति। प्रकृतिं यान्ति भूतानि भूलिङ्गशकुनिर्यथा ॥२-३८-१७॥
A song does not teach the singer, even if he sings much. Beings return to their nature, just as a trained bird does. (2-38-17)
नूनं प्रकृतिरेषा ते जघन्या नात्र संशयः। अतः पापीयसी चैषां पाण्डवानामपीष्यते ॥२-३८-१८॥
Indeed, this is your nature, the lowest; there is no doubt about it. Therefore, this is considered even more sinful among the Pāṇḍavas. (2-38-18)
येषामर्च्यतमः कृष्णस्त्वं च येषां प्रदर्शकः। धर्मवाक्त्वमधर्मज्ञः सतां मार्गादवप्लुतः ॥२-३८-१९॥
You, Kṛṣṇa, who are the most worshipful among them, and their guide, speaker of dharma, knower of adharma, have deviated from the path of the righteous. (2-38-19)
को हि धर्मिणमात्मानं जानञ्ज्ञानवतां वरः। कुर्याद्यथा त्वया भीष्म कृतं धर्ममवेक्षता ॥२-३८-२०॥
O Bhishma, who among the wise, knowing himself to be righteous, would act as you have done, performing duty with such careful consideration? (2-38-20)
अन्यकामा हि धर्मज्ञ कन्यका प्राज्ञमानिना। अम्बा नामेति भद्रं ते कथं सापहृता त्वया ॥२-३८-२१॥
Ambā, who desired another and was knowledgeable in dharma, was taken away by you, who considered yourself wise. How did this happen? May you fare well. (2-38-21)
यां त्वयापहृतां भीष्म कन्यां नैषितवान्नृपः। भ्राता विचित्रवीर्यस्ते सतां वृत्तमनुष्ठितः ॥२-३८-२२॥
The maiden whom you, Bhīṣma, had taken away, the king sought to marry; your brother Vicitrapīrya acted according to the conduct of the virtuous. (2-38-22)
दारयोर्यस्य चान्येन मिषतः प्राज्ञमानिनः। तव जातान्यपत्यानि सज्जनाचरिते पथि ॥२-३८-२३॥
Your children, born of your two wives, in the presence of another who considers himself wise, have been set on the path practiced by the virtuous. (2-38-23)
न हि धर्मोऽस्ति ते भीष्म ब्रह्मचर्यमिदं वृथा। यद्धारयसि मोहाद्वा क्लीबत्वाद्वा न संशयः ॥२-३८-२४॥
O Bhishma, this celibacy you maintain is not truly righteousness, for it is in vain—whether you uphold it out of delusion or impotence, there is no doubt about it. (2-38-24)
न त्वहं तव धर्मज्ञ पश्याम्युपचयं क्वचित्। न हि ते सेविता वृद्धा य एवं धर्ममब्रुवन् ॥२-३८-२५॥
O knower of dharma, I do not see any increase of your (virtue) anywhere. Indeed, your elders who spoke thus about dharma were not served by you. (2-38-25)
इष्टं दत्तमधीतं च यज्ञाश्च बहुदक्षिणाः। सर्वमेतदपत्यस्य कलां नार्हति षोडशीम् ॥२-३८-२६॥
All that has been sacrificed, given, studied, and all the sacrifices performed with many gifts—none of this is worthy of even a sixteenth part of a son. (2-38-26)
व्रतोपवासैर्बहुभिः कृतं भवति भीष्म यत्। सर्वं तदनपत्यस्य मोघं भवति निश्चयात् ॥२-३८-२७॥
O Bhīṣma, whatever is performed by many vows and fasts, all of that certainly becomes fruitless for one who has no offspring. (2-38-27)
सोऽनपत्यश्च वृद्धश्च मिथ्याधर्मानुशासनात्। हंसवत्त्वमपीदानीं ज्ञातिभ्यः प्राप्नुया वधम् ॥२-३८-२८॥
He, being childless and aged, because of false instruction on righteousness, like a swan, you too may now meet your death at the hands of your kinsmen. (2-38-28)
एवं हि कथयन्त्यन्ये नरा ज्ञानविदः पुरा। भीष्म यत्तदहं सम्यग्वक्ष्यामि तव शृण्वतः ॥२-३८-२९॥
Thus, as others—men who are knowers of knowledge—have narrated in former times, O Bhīṣma, that which I shall properly explain to you as you listen.
वृद्धः किल समुद्रान्ते कश्चिद्धंसोऽभवत्पुरा। धर्मवागन्यथावृत्तः पक्षिणः सोऽनुशास्ति ह ॥२-३८-३०॥
Once, there was an old swan at the edge of the ocean; though he spoke of righteousness, he acted otherwise, and he used to instruct the other birds. (2-38-30)
धर्मं चरत माधर्ममिति तस्य वचः किल। पक्षिणः शुश्रुवुर्भीष्म सततं धर्मवादिनः ॥२-३८-३१॥
"Practice righteousness, not unrighteousness"—such was his statement, O Bhishma, which the birds, always devoted to righteousness, heard. (2-38-31)
अथास्य भक्ष्यमाजह्रुः समुद्रजलचारिणः। अण्डजा भीष्म तस्यान्ये धर्मार्थमिति शुश्रुम ॥२-३८-३२॥
Then, O Bhīṣma, those who move in the ocean and water, the egg-born beings, brought him food. Others also, for the sake of dharma, did likewise, as we have heard. (2-38-32)
तस्य चैव समभ्याशे निक्षिप्याण्डानि सर्वशः। समुद्राम्भस्यमोदन्त चरन्तो भीष्म पक्षिणः ॥२-३८-३३॥
And near him, having placed all their eggs, the fearsome birds moved about rejoicing in the waters of the ocean. (2-38-33)
तेषामण्डानि सर्वेषां भक्षयामास पापकृत्। स हंसः सम्प्रमत्तानामप्रमत्तः स्वकर्मणि ॥२-३८-३४॥
The evil-doer ate all their eggs. The swan, unlike the careless ones, was attentive to his own duty. (2-38-34)
ततः प्रक्षीयमाणेषु तेष्वण्डेष्वण्डजोऽपरः। अशङ्कत महाप्राज्ञस्तं कदाचिद्ददर्श ह ॥२-३८-३५॥
Then, as those eggs were being destroyed, another egg-born creature became suspicious; at some point, the great wise one saw him. (2-38-35)
ततः स कथयामास दृष्ट्वा हंसस्य किल्बिषम्। तेषां परमदुःखार्तः स पक्षी सर्वपक्षिणाम् ॥२-३८-३६॥
Then, having seen the swan's wrongdoing, he, the bird who was most afflicted with sorrow among all the birds, spoke to them. (2-38-36)
ततः प्रत्यक्षतो दृष्ट्वा पक्षिणस्ते समागताः। निजघ्नुस्तं तदा हंसं मिथ्यावृत्तं कुरूद्वह ॥२-३८-३७॥
Then, O best of the Kurus, the birds, having seen the swan acting falsely, assembled together and killed him. (2-38-37)
ते त्वां हंससधर्माणमपीमे वसुधाधिपाः। निहन्युर्भीष्म सङ्क्रुद्धाः पक्षिणस्तमिवाण्डजम् ॥२-३८-३८॥
O Bhishma, even these kings of the earth, if greatly enraged, would slay you, who are as pure as a swan, just as birds would kill one of their own kind hatched from an egg. (2-38-38)
गाथामप्यत्र गायन्ति ये पुराणविदो जनाः। भीष्म यां तां च ते सम्यक्कथयिष्यामि भारत ॥२-३८-३९॥
O Bhārata, I shall properly narrate to you that song which the people who know the Purāṇas sing here, and which Bhīṣma also sang. (2-38-39)
अन्तरात्मनि विनिहिते; रौषि पत्ररथ वितथम्। अण्डभक्षणमशुचि ते; कर्म वाचमतिशयते ॥२-३८-४०॥
When the inner self is established, O Rishi, the leaf-chariot is false. Eating eggs is impure; your action surpasses your words. (2-38-40)
