05.171
भीष्म उवाच॥
Bhishma said:
ततोऽहं भरतश्रेष्ठ मातरं वीरमातरम् । अभिगम्योपसङ्गृह्य दाशेयीमिदमब्रुवम् ॥५-१७१-१॥
Then, O esteemed Bharata, I approached and embraced my heroic mother and said this to the maid.
इमाः काशिपतेः कन्या मया निर्जित्य पार्थिवान्। विचित्रवीर्यस्य कृते वीर्यशुल्का उपार्जिताः ॥५-१७१-२॥
I won these daughters of the king of Kāśi by defeating the kings, and they were obtained as a bride-price for Vicitravīrya.
ततो मूर्धन्युपाघ्राय पर्यश्रुनयना नृप। आह सत्यवती हृष्टा दिष्ट्या पुत्र जितं त्वया ॥५-१७१-३॥
Then, with tears in his eyes, the king smelled his son's head and joyfully said to Satyavati, "Fortunately, my son, you have conquered."
सत्यवत्यास्त्वनुमते विवाहे समुपस्थिते। उवाच वाक्यं सव्रीडा ज्येष्ठा काशिपतेः सुता ॥५-१७१-४॥
With Satyavati's consent, as the marriage was taking place, the eldest daughter of the king of Kashi spoke bashfully.
भीष्म त्वमसि धर्मज्ञः सर्वशास्त्रविशारदः। श्रुत्वा च धर्म्यं वचनं मह्यं कर्तुमिहार्हसि ॥५-१७१-५॥
Bhishma, you are well-versed in dharma and all scriptures. Therefore, after hearing my righteous words, you should act accordingly here.
मया शाल्वपतिः पूर्वं मनसाभिवृतो वरः। तेन चास्मि वृता पूर्वं रहस्यविदिते पितुः ॥५-१७१-६॥
I had previously chosen the king of Śālva in my mind as a boon. He, too, had chosen me before, as my father secretly knew.
कथं मामन्यकामां त्वं राजञ्शास्त्रमधीत्य वै। वासयेथा गृहे भीष्म कौरवः सन्विशेषतः ॥५-१७१-७॥
O king, how could you, after studying the scriptures, keep me, who desires another, in the house, especially Bhishma, the Kaurava?
एतद्बुद्ध्या विनिश्चित्य मनसा भरतर्षभ। यत्क्षमं ते महाबाहो तदिहारब्धुमर्हसि ॥५-१७१-८॥
O best of the Bharatas, having determined this with your intellect and mind, you should undertake here what is proper for you, O mighty-armed one.
स मां प्रतीक्षते व्यक्तं शाल्वराजो विशां पते। कृपां कुरु महाबाहो मयि धर्मभृतां वर ॥ त्वं हि सत्यव्रतो वीर पृथिव्यामिति नः श्रुतम् ॥५-१७१-९॥
The king of Śālva, lord of the people, is clearly waiting for me. O mighty-armed one, show mercy upon me, for you are the best among the upholders of dharma. We have heard that you are indeed the hero who upholds truth on earth.
