05.171
bhīṣma uvāca॥
Bhishma said:
tato'haṃ bharataśreṣṭha mātaraṃ vīramātaram । abhigamyopasaṅgṛhya dāśeyīm idam abruvam ॥5-171-1॥
Then, O esteemed Bharata, I approached and embraced my heroic mother and said this to the maid.
imāḥ kāśipateḥ kanyā mayā nirjitya pārthivān। vicitravīryasya kṛte vīryaśulkā upārjitāḥ ॥5-171-2॥
I won these daughters of the king of Kāśi by defeating the kings, and they were obtained as a bride-price for Vicitravīrya.
tato mūrdhanyupāghrāya paryaśrunayanā nṛpaḥ। āha satyavatī hṛṣṭā diṣṭyā putra jitaṃ tvayā ॥5-171-3॥
Then, with tears in his eyes, the king smelled his son's head and joyfully said to Satyavati, "Fortunately, my son, you have conquered."
satyavatyāstvanumate vivāhe samupasthite। uvāca vākyaṃ savrīḍā jyeṣṭhā kāśipateḥ sutā ॥5-171-4॥
With Satyavati's consent, as the marriage was taking place, the eldest daughter of the king of Kashi spoke bashfully.
bhīṣma tvam asi dharmajñaḥ sarvaśāstraviśāradaḥ। śrutvā ca dharmyaṃ vacanaṃ mahyaṃ kartum ihārhasi ॥5-171-5॥
Bhishma, you are well-versed in dharma and all scriptures. Therefore, after hearing my righteous words, you should act accordingly here.
mayā śālvapatiḥ pūrvaṃ manasābhivṛto varaḥ। tena cāsmi vṛtā pūrvaṃ rahasyavidite pituḥ ॥5-171-6॥
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.
kathaṁ māmanyakāmāṁ tvaṁ rājañśāstramadhītya vai। vāsayethā gṛhe bhīṣma kauravaḥ sanviśeṣataḥ ॥5-171-7॥
O king, how could you, after studying the scriptures, keep me, who desires another, in the house, especially Bhishma, the Kaurava?
etadbuddhyā viniścitya manasā bharatarṣabha। yatkṣamaṃ te mahābāho tadihārabdhum arhasi ॥5-171-8॥
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.
sa māṃ pratīkṣate vyaktaṃ śālvarājo viśāṃ pate। kṛpāṃ kuru mahābāho mayi dharmabhṛtāṃ vara ॥ tvaṃ hi satyavrato vīra pṛthivyāmiti naḥ śrutam ॥5-171-9॥
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.
