05.172
भीष्म उवाच॥
Bhishma said:
ततोऽहं समनुज्ञाप्य कालीं सत्यवतीं तदा। मन्त्रिणश्च द्विजांश्चैव तथैव च पुरोहितान् ॥ समनुज्ञासिषं कन्यां ज्येष्ठामम्बां नराधिप ॥५-१७२-१॥
Then, O king, I took leave of Kali, Satyavati, the ministers, brahmins, priests, and the eldest maiden Amba.
अनुज्ञाता ययौ सा तु कन्या शाल्वपतेः पुरम्। वृद्धैर्द्विजातिभिर्गुप्ता धात्र्या चानुगता तदा ॥ अतीत्य च तमध्वानमाससाद नराधिपम् ॥५-१७२-२॥
The maiden, having been permitted, went to the city of the lord of Śālva, accompanied and protected by the elders and the twice-born, along with her nurse. After crossing the path, she reached the king.
सा तमासाद्य राजानं शाल्वं वचनमब्रवीत्। आगताहं महाबाहो त्वामुद्दिश्य महाद्युते ॥५-१७२-३॥
She approached King Śālva and said, "I have come, O mighty-armed and great effulgent one, for you."
तामब्रवीच्छाल्वपतिः स्मयन्निव विशां पते। त्वयान्यपूर्वया नाहं भार्यार्थी वरवर्णिनि ॥५-१७२-४॥
The lord of Śālva, with a smile, said to her, "O lord of men, I do not seek a wife through you, O beautiful lady, who is unlike any other."
गच्छ भद्रे पुनस्तत्र सकाशं भारतस्य वै। नाहमिच्छामि भीष्मेण गृहीतां त्वां प्रसह्य वै ॥५-१७२-५॥
Go back, dear lady, to the presence of Bharata. I do not wish for you to be taken by Bhishma against your will.
त्वं हि निर्जित्य भीष्मेण नीता प्रीतिमती तदा। परामृश्य महायुद्धे निर्जित्य पृथिवीपतीन् ॥ नाहं त्वय्यन्यपूर्वायां भार्यार्थी वरवर्णिनि ॥५-१७२-६॥
Indeed, you were led by Bhishma after conquering, and were pleased then. Reflecting on the great battle, having conquered the rulers of the earth, I am not seeking a wife in you, O beautiful lady, who belonged to another before.
कथमस्मद्विधो राजा परपूर्वां प्रवेशयेत्। नारीं विदितविज्ञानः परेषां धर्ममादिशन् ॥ यथेष्टं गम्यतां भद्रे मा ते कालोऽत्यगादयम् ॥५-१७२-७॥
How could a king like us allow another man's wife to enter? A wise person instructing others on their duty. Go as you wish, dear lady, do not let your time pass away.
अम्बा तमब्रवीद्राजन्ननङ्गशरपीडिता। मैवं वद महीपाल नैतदेवं कथञ्चन ॥५-१७२-८॥
The mother, struck by the arrow of love, addressed him, saying, "O king, do not speak in such a manner, O ruler of the earth, this is not the case at all."
नास्मि प्रीतिमती नीता भीष्मेणामित्रकर्शन। बलान्नीतास्मि रुदती विद्राव्य पृथिवीपतीन् ॥५-१७२-९॥
I am not happy, O tormentor of enemies, being taken away by Bhishma. I am forcibly led away, crying, after having defeated the kings of the earth.
भजस्व मां शाल्वपते भक्तां बालामनागसम्। भक्तानां हि परित्यागो न धर्मेषु प्रशस्यते ॥५-१७२-१०॥
O lord of the Śālvas, worship me, an innocent and devoted girl, for abandoning devotees is not considered virtuous in any duty.
साहमामन्त्र्य गाङ्गेयं समरेष्वनिवर्तिनम्। अनुज्ञाता च तेनैव तवैव गृहमागता ॥५-१७२-११॥
After addressing the steadfast warrior born of the Ganges, and receiving his permission, she returned to your home.
न स भीष्मो महाबाहुर्मामिच्छति विशां पते। भ्रातृहेतोः समारम्भो भीष्मस्येति श्रुतं मया ॥५-१७२-१२॥
I have heard that the mighty-armed Bhishma does not wish for me, O lord of the people, due to the endeavor for the sake of his brother.
भगिन्यौ मम ये नीते अम्बिकाम्बालिके नृप। प्रादाद्विचित्रवीर्याय गाङ्गेयो हि यवीयसे ॥५-१७२-१३॥
The son of Ganga indeed gave my sisters, Ambika and Ambalika, to the younger Vichitravirya, O king.
यथा शाल्वपते नान्यं नरं ध्यामि कथञ्चन। त्वामृते पुरुषव्याघ्र तथा मूर्धानमालभे ॥५-१७२-१४॥
O lord of the Śālvas, I consider no other man but you, O tiger among men, and thus I bow my head.
न चान्यपूर्वा राजेन्द्र त्वामहं समुपस्थिता। सत्यं ब्रवीमि शाल्वैतत्सत्येनात्मानमालभे ॥५-१७२-१५॥
O King, I have approached you without any precedent. I speak the truth, O Śālva, and I affirm myself by the truth.
भजस्व मां विशालाक्ष स्वयं कन्यामुपस्थिताम्। अनन्यपूर्वां राजेन्द्र त्वत्प्रसादाभिकाङ्क्षिणीम् ॥५-१७२-१६॥
O King, worship me, the large-eyed one, who is present here as an unprecedented daughter, desiring your favor.
तामेवं भाषमाणां तु शाल्वः काशिपतेः सुताम्। अत्यजद्भरतश्रेष्ठ त्वचं जीर्णामिवोरगः ॥५-१७२-१७॥
Śālva, after hearing her speak in such a manner, abandoned the daughter of the king of Kāśi, just as a serpent sheds its old skin, O best of the Bharatas.
एवं बहुविधैर्वाक्यैर्याच्यमानस्तयानघ। नाश्रद्दधच्छाल्वपतिः कन्याया भरतर्षभ ॥५-१७२-१८॥
Despite being earnestly requested in many ways by her, the lord of the Śālvas, O sinless one, did not believe the maiden, O best of the Bharatas.
ततः सा मन्युनाविष्टा ज्येष्ठा काशिपतेः सुता। अब्रवीत्साश्रुनयना बाष्पविह्वलया गिरा ॥५-१७२-१९॥
Then the eldest daughter of the king of Kashi, overwhelmed with anger, spoke with tear-filled eyes and a voice trembling with emotion.
त्वया त्यक्ता गमिष्यामि यत्र यत्र विशां पते। तत्र मे सन्तु गतयः सन्तः सत्यं यथाब्रुवम् ॥५-१७२-२०॥
O lord of men, having been abandoned by you, I shall go wherever I can; may my paths be righteous there, as I have truthfully declared.
एवं सम्भाषमाणां तु नृशंसः शाल्वराट्तदा। पर्यत्यजत कौरव्य करुणं परिदेवतीम् ॥५-१७२-२१॥
Thus, while they were speaking, the cruel king of the Śālvas abandoned the lamenting and pitiful descendant of Kuru.
गच्छ गच्छेति तां शाल्वः पुनः पुनरभाषत। बिभेमि भीष्मात्सुश्रोणि त्वं च भीष्मपरिग्रहः ॥५-१७२-२२॥
Śālva repeatedly urged her to go, saying, 'Go, go.' O beautiful-hipped one, I fear Bhīṣma, and you are under Bhīṣma's protection.
एवमुक्ता तु सा तेन शाल्वेनादीर्घदर्शिना। निश्चक्राम पुराद्दीना रुदती कुररी यथा ॥५-१७२-२३॥
Having been addressed in this manner by Śālva, the far-sighted one, she left the city, sorrowful and crying, like a female curlew.
