05.178
भीष्म उवाच॥
Bhishma said:
ततस्तृतीये दिवसे समे देशे व्यवस्थितः। प्रेषयामास मे राजन्प्राप्तोऽस्मीति महाव्रतः ॥५-१७८-१॥
On the third day, being in the same place, the one with a great vow sent a message to me, O king, saying 'I have arrived'.
तमागतमहं श्रुत्वा विषयान्तं महाबलम्। अभ्यगच्छं जवेनाशु प्रीत्या तेजोनिधिं प्रभुम् ॥५-१७८-२॥
Upon hearing of his arrival, I swiftly and affectionately approached the lord, who is the repository of splendor and great strength, to conclude the matter.
गां पुरस्कृत्य राजेन्द्र ब्राह्मणैः परिवारितः। ऋत्विग्भिर्देवकल्पैश्च तथैव च पुरोहितैः ॥५-१७८-३॥
O King, having placed the cow in front, you were surrounded by Brahmins, priests who are like gods, and also by family priests.
स मामभिगतं दृष्ट्वा जामदग्न्यः प्रतापवान्। प्रतिजग्राह तां पूजां वचनं चेदमब्रवीत् ॥५-१७८-४॥
Upon seeing me approach, the mighty Jamadagnya accepted the offering and spoke these words.
भीष्म कां बुद्धिमास्थाय काशिराजसुता त्वया। अकामेयमिहानीता पुनश्चैव विसर्जिता ॥५-१७८-५॥
Bhishma, by what intelligence did you bring here the unwilling daughter of the King of Kashi, and then dismiss her again?
विभ्रंशिता त्वया हीयं धर्मावाप्तेः परावरात्। परामृष्टां त्वया हीमां को हि गन्तुमिहार्हति ॥५-१७८-६॥
Indeed, this has fallen from the attainment of righteousness from the highest to the lowest, and having been touched by you, who indeed is able to proceed here?
प्रत्याख्याता हि शाल्वेन त्वया नीतेति भारत। तस्मादिमां मन्नियोगात्प्रतिगृह्णीष्व भारत ॥५-१७८-७॥
O Bhārata, since this has been rejected by Śālva and brought by you, therefore, by my command, accept it.
स्वधर्मं पुरुषव्याघ्र राजपुत्री लभत्वियम्। न युक्तमवमानोऽयं कर्तुं राज्ञा त्वयानघ ॥५-१७८-८॥
O tiger among men, let the princess obtain her rightful duty. It is not appropriate for you, O sinless one, to disrespect the king in this manner.
ततस्तं नातिमनसं समुदीक्ष्याहमब्रुवम्। नाहमेनां पुनर्दद्यां भ्रात्रे ब्रह्मन्कथञ्चन ॥५-१७८-९॥
Then, noticing that he was not very intelligent, I said, "O Brahman, I would never give this back to the brother under any circumstances."
शाल्वस्याहमिति प्राह पुरा मामिह भार्गव। मया चैवाभ्यनुज्ञाता गता सौभपुरं प्रति ॥५-१७८-१०॥
O Bhārgava, he once said to me here, 'I belong to Śālva.' With my permission, she has gone to the city of Saubha.
न भयान्नाप्यनुक्रोशान्न लोभान्नार्थकाम्यया। क्षत्रधर्ममहं जह्यामिति मे व्रतमाहितम् ॥५-१७८-११॥
I have established a vow that I will not abandon my warrior's duty out of fear, compassion, greed, or desire for wealth.
अथ मामब्रवीद्रामः क्रोधपर्याकुलेक्षणः। न करिष्यसि चेदेतद्वाक्यं मे कुरुपुङ्गव ॥५-१७८-१२॥
Then Rama, with eyes filled with anger, said to me: "O best of the Kurus, if you do not carry out this command of mine."
हनिष्यामि सहामात्यं त्वामद्येति पुनः पुनः। संरम्भादब्रवीद्रामः क्रोधपर्याकुलेक्षणः ॥५-१७८-१३॥
Rama, with eyes rolling in anger, repeatedly said in fury, "I will kill you along with your ministers today."
तमहं गीर्भिरिष्टाभिः पुनः पुनररिंदमम्। अयाचं भृगुशार्दूलं न चैव प्रशशाम सः ॥५-१७८-१४॥
I repeatedly requested the great sage, the tiger among the Bhrigus, with pleasing words, but he did not relent.
तमहं प्रणम्य शिरसा भूयो ब्राह्मणसत्तमम्। अब्रुवं कारणं किं तद्यत्त्वं योद्धुमिहेच्छसि ॥५-१७८-१५॥
I bowed my head once more to the revered Brahmana and asked, "Why do you wish to engage in battle here?"
इष्वस्त्रं मम बालस्य भवतैव चतुर्विधम्। उपदिष्टं महाबाहो शिष्योऽस्मि तव भार्गव ॥५-१७८-१६॥
O mighty-armed Bhargava, you have indeed taught my boy the four types of weapons. I am your disciple.
ततो मामब्रवीद्रामः क्रोधसंरक्तलोचनः। जानीषे मां गुरुं भीष्म न चेमां प्रतिगृह्णसे ॥ सुतां काश्यस्य कौरव्य मत्प्रियार्थं महीपते ॥५-१७८-१७॥
Then Rama, with eyes reddened by anger, said to me: "You know me, Bhishma, as your teacher, yet you do not accept this daughter of Kashya, O Kauravya, for my sake, O king."
न हि ते विद्यते शान्तिरन्यथा कुरुनन्दन। गृहाणेमां महाबाहो रक्षस्व कुलमात्मनः ॥ त्वया विभ्रंशिता हीयं भर्तारं नाभिगच्छति ॥५-१७८-१८॥
O descendant of Kuru, you will not find peace otherwise. Accept this responsibility, O mighty-armed one, and protect your family. If you abandon it, this will not approach the husband.
तथा ब्रुवन्तं तमहं रामं परपुरञ्जयम्। नैतदेवं पुनर्भावि ब्रह्मर्षे किं श्रमेण ते ॥५-१७८-१९॥
I, Rama, the conqueror of enemy cities, addressed him saying, "O sage, this will not happen again, so why exert yourself?"
गुरुत्वं त्वयि सम्प्रेक्ष्य जामदग्न्य पुरातनम्। प्रसादये त्वां भगवंस्त्यक्तैषा हि पुरा मया ॥५-१७८-२०॥
O Lord, recognizing the ancient greatness in you, I seek your forgiveness, for I had indeed abandoned this before.
को जातु परभावां हि नारीं व्यालीमिव स्थिताम्। वासयेत गृहे जानन्स्त्रीणां दोषान्महात्ययान् ॥५-१७८-२१॥
Who would ever keep a woman, who is like a subdued serpent, in the house knowing the great dangers of women's faults?
न भयाद्वासवस्यापि धर्मं जह्यां महाद्युते। प्रसीद मा वा यद्वा ते कार्यं तत्कुरु माचिरम् ॥५-१७८-२२॥
I will not forsake my duty even out of fear of Vāsava, O great one. Please be gracious, or do what you must without delay.
अयं चापि विशुद्धात्मन्पुराणे श्रूयते विभो। मरुत्तेन महाबुद्धे गीतः श्लोको महात्मना ॥५-१७८-२३॥
This verse, sung by the great soul Marutta, is also heard in the Purana, O pure-souled lord of great intellect.
गुरोरप्यवलिप्तस्य कार्याकार्यमजानतः। उत्पथप्रतिपन्नस्य कार्यं भवति शासनम् ॥५-१७८-२४॥
Even an arrogant teacher who does not know what should and should not be done, when engaged in the wrong path, deserves punishment.
स त्वं गुरुरिति प्रेम्णा मया संमानितो भृशम्। गुरुवृत्तं न जानीषे तस्माद्योत्स्याम्यहं त्वया ॥५-१७८-२५॥
You are regarded as a teacher by me with great love, but since you do not understand the conduct of a teacher, I will therefore engage in battle with you.
गुरुं न हन्यां समरे ब्राह्मणं च विशेषतः। विशेषतस्तपोवृद्धमेवं क्षान्तं मया तव ॥५-१७८-२६॥
I would not kill a teacher or a Brahmin in battle, especially an ascetic, thus forgiven by me, your.
उद्यतेषुमथो दृष्ट्वा ब्राह्मणं क्षत्रबन्धुवत्। यो हन्यात्समरे क्रुद्धो युध्यन्तमपलायिनम् ॥ ब्रह्महत्या न तस्य स्यादिति धर्मेषु निश्चयः ॥५-१७८-२७॥
If a Brahmin, seen with a raised weapon like a Kshatriya's relative, kills in anger during battle while fighting and not fleeing, it is certain according to the laws that it is not considered Brahmin murder.
क्षत्रियाणां स्थितो धर्मे क्षत्रियोऽस्मि तपोधन। यो यथा वर्तते यस्मिंस्तथा तस्मिन्प्रवर्तयन् ॥ नाधर्मं समवाप्नोति नरः श्रेयश्च विन्दति ॥५-१७८-२८॥
O ascetic, I am a Kshatriya, situated in the duty of the Kshatriyas. A man who acts according to his duty does not attain unrighteousness and finds prosperity.
अर्थे वा यदि वा धर्मे समर्थो देशकालवित्। अनर्थसंशयापन्नः श्रेयान्निःसंशयेन च ॥५-१७८-२९॥
Whether in wealth or in duty, one who is capable and knows the right place and time, even if fallen into doubt of misfortune, is better without any doubt.
यस्मात्संशयितेऽर्थेऽस्मिन्यथान्यायं प्रवर्तसे। तस्माद्योत्स्यामि सहितस्त्वया राम महाहवे ॥ पश्य मे बाहुवीर्यं च विक्रमं चातिमानुषम् ॥५-१७८-३०॥
Because you are acting unjustly in this uncertain situation, I will join you, Rama, in the great battle. Witness my extraordinary strength and valor.
एवं गतेऽपि तु मया यच्छक्यं भृगुनन्दन। तत्करिष्ये कुरुक्षेत्रे योत्स्ये विप्र त्वया सह ॥ द्वंद्वे राम यथेष्टं ते सज्जो भव महामुने ॥५-१७८-३१॥
Even though the situation has come to this, O son of Bhrigu, I will do what I can. I will fight with you, O wise one, in Kurukshetra. Be ready, O great sage, for a duel with Rama as you desire.
तत्र त्वं निहतो राम मया शरशताचितः। लप्स्यसे निर्जिताँल्लोकाञ्शस्त्रपूतो महारणे ॥५-१७८-३२॥
There, O Rama, you will be slain by me, pierced by hundreds of arrows, and thus you will attain the worlds conquered and purified by weapons in the great battle.
स गच्छ विनिवर्तस्व कुरुक्षेत्रं रणप्रिय। तत्रैष्यामि महाबाहो युद्धाय त्वां तपोधन ॥५-१७८-३३॥
Go back to Kurukshetra, O lover of battle. I will come there, O mighty-armed one, to fight with you, O ascetic.
अपि यत्र त्वया राम कृतं शौचं पुरा पितुः। तत्राहमपि हत्वा त्वां शौचं कर्तास्मि भार्गव ॥५-१७८-३४॥
Where you, Rama, once performed purification for your father, there I too shall perform purification after killing you, O descendant of Bhrigu.
तत्र गच्छस्व राम त्वं त्वरितं युद्धदुर्मद। व्यपनेष्यामि ते दर्पं पौराणं ब्राह्मणब्रुव ॥५-१७८-३५॥
There, Rama, go quickly to the battle, for I will remove your ancient pride, O Brahmin speaker.
यच्चापि कत्थसे राम बहुशः परिषत्सु वै। निर्जिताः क्षत्रिया लोके मयैकेनेति तच्छृणु ॥५-१७८-३६॥
O Rama, you often boast in assemblies that you alone have conquered the warriors of the world. Listen to what I have to say about that.
न तदा जायते भीष्मो मद्विधः क्षत्रियोऽपि वा। यस्ते युद्धमयं दर्पं कामं च व्यपनाशयेत् ॥५-१७८-३७॥
At that time, no one like Bhishma or any warrior is born who can destroy your pride and desire for battle.
सोऽहं जातो महाबाहो भीष्मः परपुरञ्जयः। व्यपनेष्यामि ते दर्पं युद्धे राम न संशयः ॥५-१७८-३८॥
O mighty-armed Rama, I am Bhishma, the conqueror of enemy cities, born to remove your pride in battle. There is no doubt.
