05.021
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
Vaishampayana spoke:
tasya tadvacanaṁ śrutvā prajñāvṛddho mahādyutiḥ। sampūjyainaṁ yathākālaṁ bhīṣmo vacanamabravīt ॥5-21-1॥
Upon hearing those words, the wise and radiant elder Bhishma, after duly honoring him at the appropriate time, spoke.
diṣṭyā kuśalinaḥ sarve pāṇḍavāḥ saha bāndhavaiḥ। diṣṭyā sahāyavantaśca diṣṭyā dharme ca te ratāḥ ॥5-21-2॥
Fortunately, all the Pāṇḍavas are well along with their relatives. They are fortunate to have allies and to be engaged in righteousness.
diṣṭyā ca sandhikāmāste bhrātaraḥ kurunandanāḥ। diṣṭyā na yuddhamanasaḥ saha dāmodareṇa te ॥5-21-3॥
Fortunately, the Kuru brothers are seeking peace and are not inclined to engage in battle with Damodara.
bhavatā satyam uktaṃ ca sarvam etan na saṃśayaḥ। atitīkṣṇaṃ tu te vākyaṃ brāhmaṇyād iti me matiḥ ॥5-21-4॥
You have spoken the truth, and there is no doubt about it. However, I find your words to be very sharp, perhaps because of your Brahmin nature, this is my opinion.
asaṁśayaṁ kleśitāste vane ceha ca pāṇḍavāḥ। prāptāśca dharmataḥ sarvaṁ piturdhanamasaṁśayam ॥5-21-5॥
There is no doubt that the Pandavas, who have suffered both in the forest and here, have rightfully gained all of their father's wealth.
kirīṭī balavānpārthaḥ kṛtāstraśca mahābalaḥ। ko hi pāṇḍusutaṃ yuddhe viṣaheta dhanañjayam ॥5-21-6॥
Arjuna, the one with a diadem, is strong, the son of Pritha, skilled in weapons and mighty. Who indeed can withstand Arjuna, the son of Pandu, in battle?
api vajradharaḥ sākṣātkimutānye dhanurbhṛtaḥ। trayāṇāmapi lokānāṃ samartha iti me matiḥ ॥5-21-7॥
Even Vajradhara himself is capable of handling the three worlds, let alone other archers. This is my belief.
bhīṣme bruvati tadvākyaṃ dhṛṣṭamākṣipya manyumān। duryodhanaṃ samālokya karṇo vacanamabravīt ॥5-21-8॥
While Bhishma was speaking, Karna, looking at Duryodhana and interrupting boldly in anger, said.
na tan na viditaṃ brahmaṁlloke bhūtena kenacit। punaruktena kiṃ tena bhāṣitena punaḥ punaḥ ॥5-21-9॥
Brahman is not known in the world by any being or anyone. What is the use of repeating the same speech again and again?
duryodhanārthe śakunirdyūte nirjitavānpurā। samayena gato'raṇyaṃ pāṇḍuputro yudhiṣṭhiraḥ ॥5-21-10॥
In the past, for the sake of Duryodhana, Shakuni defeated Yudhishthira in the game of dice. As per the agreement, Yudhishthira, the son of Pandu, went to the forest.
na taṃ samayamādṛtya rājyamicchati paitṛkam। balamāśritya matsyānāṃ pāñcālānāṃ ca pārthivaḥ ॥5-21-11॥
The prince, disregarding that time, seeks his ancestral kingdom, relying on the strength of the Matsyas and the Panchalas.
duryodhano bhayādvidvanna dadyātpadamantataḥ। dharmatastu mahīṃ kṛtsnāṃ pradadyācchatrave'pi ca ॥5-21-12॥
Duryodhana, out of fear, would not ultimately give up his position, O wise one; but rightfully, he would give the entire earth even to his enemy.
yadi kāṅkṣanti te rājyaṃ pitṛpaitāmahaṃ punaḥ। yathāpratijñaṃ kālaṃ taṃ carantu vanamāśritāḥ ॥5-21-13॥
If they wish to regain the ancestral kingdom, as promised, let them fulfill the time dwelling in the forest.
tato duryodhanasyāṅke vartantāmakutobhayāḥ। adhārmikāmimāṃ buddhiṃ kuryurmaurkhyāddhi kevalam ॥5-21-14॥
Then, in Duryodhana's lap, the fearless ones are present. They might act on this unrighteous intention purely out of foolishness.
atha te dharmam utsṛjya yuddham icchanti pāṇḍavāḥ। āsādya imān kuruśreṣṭhān smariṣyanti vaco mama ॥5-21-15॥
Then the Pandavas, having abandoned their duty, desire war. Upon approaching these esteemed Kurus, they will recall my words.
bhīṣma uvāca॥
Bhishma said:
kiṁ nu rādheya vācā te karma tatsmartumarhasi। eka eva yadā pārthaḥ ṣaḍrathāñjitavānyudhi ॥5-21-16॥
O son of Radha, you should remember your words and actions, especially when Arjuna alone conquered six chariots in battle.
na cedevaṃ kariṣyāmo yadayam brāhmaṇo'bravīt। dhruvaṃ yudhi hatāstena bhakṣayiṣyāma pāṃsukān ॥5-21-17॥
If we do not follow what this Brahmin has said, we will surely be defeated in battle by him and will end up eating dust.
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
Vaiśampāyana spoke:
dhṛtarāṣṭrastato bhīṣmamanumānya prasādya ca। avabhartsya ca rādheyamidaṃ vacanamabravīt ॥5-21-18॥
Then Dhritarashtra, after showing respect and pleasing Bhishma, and reproaching Radheya, spoke these words.
asmaddhitamidaṁ vākyaṁ bhīṣmaḥ śāntanavo'bravīt। pāṇḍavānāṁ hitaṁ caiva sarvasya jagatastathā ॥5-21-19॥
Bhishma, the son of Shantanu, spoke these words for our benefit, as well as for the benefit of the Pandavas and the whole world.
cintayitvā tu pārthebhyaḥ preṣayiṣyāmi sañjayam। sa bhavānpratiyātvadya pāṇḍavāneva māciram ॥5-21-20॥
After considering, I will send Sañjaya to the sons of Pṛthā. You should return to the Pāṇḍavas today without any delay.
sa taṃ satkṛtya kauravyaḥ preṣayāmāsa pāṇḍavān। sabhāmadhye samāhūya sañjayaṃ vākyamabravīt ॥5-21-21॥
After honoring him, the Kuru descendant sent the Pandavas. In the assembly, he called Sanjaya and spoke.
