05.178
bhīṣma uvāca॥
Bhishma said:
tatas tṛtīye divase same deśe vyavasthitaḥ। preṣayām āsa me rājanprāpto'smīti mahāvrataḥ ॥5-178-1॥
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'.
tamāgatamahaṃ śrutvā viṣayāntaṃ mahābalam। abhyagacchaṃ javenāśu prītyā tejonidhiṃ prabhum ॥5-178-2॥
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.
gāṃ puraskṛtya rājendra brāhmaṇaiḥ parivāritaḥ। ṛtvigbhirdevakalpaiśca tathaiva ca purohitaiḥ ॥5-178-3॥
O King, having placed the cow in front, you were surrounded by Brahmins, priests who are like gods, and also by family priests.
sa māmabhigataṃ dṛṣṭvā jāmadagnyaḥ pratāpavān। pratijagrāha tāṃ pūjāṃ vacanaṃ cedamabravīt ॥5-178-4॥
Upon seeing me approach, the mighty Jamadagnya accepted the offering and spoke these words.
bhīṣma kāṃ buddhimāsthāya kāśirājasutā tvayā। akāme'yamihānītā punaścaiva visarjitā ॥5-178-5॥
Bhishma, by what intelligence did you bring here the unwilling daughter of the King of Kashi, and then dismiss her again?
vibhraṁśitā tvayā hīyaṁ dharmāvāpteḥ parāvarāt. parāmṛṣṭāṁ tvayā hīmāṁ ko hi gantumihārhati ॥5-178-6॥
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?
pratyākhyātā hi śālvena tvayā nīteti bhārata। tasmādimāṃ manniyogāt pratigṛhṇīṣva bhārata ॥5-178-7॥
O Bhārata, since this has been rejected by Śālva and brought by you, therefore, by my command, accept it.
svadharmaṃ puruṣavyāghra rājaputrī labhatviyam। na yuktamavamāno'yaṃ kartuṃ rājñā tvayānagha ॥5-178-8॥
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.
tatastaṁ nātimānasaṁ samudīkṣyāhamabruvam। nāhamenāṁ punardadyāṁ bhrātre brahmankathañcana ॥5-178-9॥
Then, noticing that he was not very intelligent, I said, "O Brahman, I would never give this back to the brother under any circumstances."
śālvasya aham iti prāha purā mām iha bhārgava। mayā ca eva abhyanujñātā gatā saubhapuraṃ prati ॥5-178-10॥
O Bhārgava, he once said to me here, 'I belong to Śālva.' With my permission, she has gone to the city of Saubha.
na bhayānnāpyanukrośānna lobhānna arthakāmyayā। kṣatradharmaṁahaṁ jahyāmiti me vratamāhitam ॥5-178-11॥
I have established a vow that I will not abandon my warrior's duty out of fear, compassion, greed, or desire for wealth.
atha mām abravīd rāmaḥ krodha-paryākula-īkṣaṇaḥ। na kariṣyasi ced etad vākyaṃ me kuru-puṅgava ॥5-178-12॥
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."
haniṣyāmi sahāmātyaṃ tvāmadye'ti punaḥ punaḥ। saṃrambhādabravīdrāmaḥ krodhaparyākulekṣaṇaḥ ॥5-178-13॥
Rama, with eyes rolling in anger, repeatedly said in fury, "I will kill you along with your ministers today."
tam ahaṁ gīrbhir iṣṭābhiḥ punaḥ punar ariṁdamam। ayācaṁ bhṛguśārdūlaṁ na caiva praśaśāma saḥ ॥5-178-14॥
I repeatedly requested the great sage, the tiger among the Bhrigus, with pleasing words, but he did not relent.
tam ahaṃ praṇamya śirasā bhūyo brāhmaṇasattamam। abruvaṃ kāraṇaṃ kiṃ tadyat tvaṃ yoddhum ihecchasi ॥5-178-15॥
I bowed my head once more to the revered Brahmana and asked, "Why do you wish to engage in battle here?"
iṣvastraṃ mama bālasya bhavataiva caturvidham। upadiṣṭaṃ mahābāho śiṣyo'smi tava bhārgava ॥5-178-16॥
O mighty-armed Bhargava, you have indeed taught my boy the four types of weapons. I am your disciple.
tato māmabravīdrāmaḥ krodhasaṁraktalocanaḥ। jānīṣe māṁ guruṁ bhīṣma na cemāṁ pratigṛhṇase ॥ sutāṁ kāśyasya kauravya matpriyārthaṁ mahīpate ॥5-178-17॥
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."
na hi te vidyate śāntiranyathā kurunandana। gṛhāṇemāṃ mahābāho rakṣasva kulamātmanaḥ ॥ tvayā vibhraṃśitā hīyaṃ bhartāraṃ nābhigacchati ॥5-178-18॥
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.
tathā bruvantaṃ tamahaṃ rāmaṃ parapurañjayam। naitadevaṃ punarbhāvi brahmarṣe kiṃ śrameṇa te ॥5-178-19॥
I, Rama, the conqueror of enemy cities, addressed him saying, "O sage, this will not happen again, so why exert yourself?"
gurutvaṁ tvayi samprekṣya jāmadagnya purātanam। prasādaye tvāṁ bhagavaṁstyaktaiṣā hi purā mayā ॥5-178-20॥
O Lord, recognizing the ancient greatness in you, I seek your forgiveness, for I had indeed abandoned this before.
ko jātu parabhāvāṃ hi nārīṃ vyālīmiva sthitām। vāsayeta gṛhe jānanstrīṇāṃ doṣānmahātyayān ॥5-178-21॥
Who would ever keep a woman, who is like a subdued serpent, in the house knowing the great dangers of women's faults?
na bhayād vāsavasyāpi dharmaṃ jahyāṃ mahādyute। prasīda mā vā yadvā te kāryaṃ tat kuru māciram ॥5-178-22॥
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.
ayaṃ cāpi viśuddhātmanpurāṇe śrūyate vibho। maruttena mahābuddhe gītaḥ śloko mahātmanā ॥5-178-23॥
This verse, sung by the great soul Marutta, is also heard in the Purana, O pure-souled lord of great intellect.
guror apy avaliptasya kāryākāryam ajānataḥ। utpatha pratipannasya kāryaṃ bhavati śāsanam ॥5-178-24॥
Even an arrogant teacher who does not know what should and should not be done, when engaged in the wrong path, deserves punishment.
sa tvaṁ gururiti premṇā mayā saṁmānito bhṛśam। guruvṛttaṁ na jānīṣe tasmādyotsyāmyahaṁ tvayā ॥5-178-25॥
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.
guruṁ na hanyāṁ samare brāhmaṇaṁ ca viśeṣataḥ। viśeṣatastapovṛddhamevaṁ kṣāntaṁ mayā tava ॥5-178-26॥
I would not kill a teacher or a Brahmin in battle, especially an ascetic, thus forgiven by me, your.
udyateṣumatho dṛṣṭvā brāhmaṇaṃ kṣatrabandhuvat। yo hanyātsamare kruddho yudhyantamapālāyinam ॥ brahmahatyā na tasya syāditi dharmeṣu niścayaḥ ॥5-178-27॥
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.
kṣatriyāṇāṃ sthito dharme kṣatriyo'smi tapodhana। yo yathā vartate yasmiṃstathā tasminpravartayan ॥ nādharmaṃ samavāpnoti naraḥ śreyaśca vindati ॥5-178-28॥
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.
arthe vā yadi vā dharme samartho deśakālavit। anarthasaṃśayāpannaḥ śreyānniḥsaṃśayena ca ॥5-178-29॥
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.
yasmāt saṃśayite'rthe'smin yathānyāyaṃ pravartase। tasmād yotsyāmi sahitas tvayā rāma mahāhave ॥ paśya me bāhuvīryaṃ ca vikramaṃ cātimānuṣam ॥5-178-30॥
Because you are acting unjustly in this uncertain situation, I will join you, Rama, in the great battle. Witness my extraordinary strength and valor.
evaṃ gate'pi tu mayā yacchakyaṃ bhṛgunandana। tatkariṣye kurukṣetre yotsye vipra tvayā saha ॥ dvaṃdve rāma yatheṣṭaṃ te sajjo bhava mahāmune ॥5-178-31॥
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.
tatra tvaṁ nihato rāma mayā śaraśatācitaḥ। lapsyase nirjitāṁllokāñśastrapūto mahāraṇe ॥5-178-32॥
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.
sa gaccha vinivartasva kurukṣetraṃ raṇapriya। tatraiṣyāmi mahābāho yuddhāya tvāṃ tapodhana ॥5-178-33॥
Go back to Kurukshetra, O lover of battle. I will come there, O mighty-armed one, to fight with you, O ascetic.
api yatra tvayā rāma kṛtaṃ śaucaṃ purā pituḥ। tatrāhamapi hatvā tvāṃ śaucaṃ kartāsmi bhārgava ॥5-178-34॥
Where you, Rama, once performed purification for your father, there I too shall perform purification after killing you, O descendant of Bhrigu.
tatra gacchasva rāma tvaṃ tvaritaṃ yuddhadurmada। vyapaneṣyāmi te darpaṃ paurāṇaṃ brāhmaṇabruva ॥5-178-35॥
There, Rama, go quickly to the battle, for I will remove your ancient pride, O Brahmin speaker.
yaccāpi katthase rāma bahuśaḥ pariṣatsu vai| nirjitāḥ kṣatriyā loke mayaikeneti tacchṛṇu ॥5-178-36॥
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.
na tadā jāyate bhīṣmo madvidhaḥ kṣatriyo'pi vā। yaste yuddhamayaṃ darpaṃ kāmaṃ ca vyapanāśayet ॥5-178-37॥
At that time, no one like Bhishma or any warrior is born who can destroy your pride and desire for battle.
so'haṁ jāto mahābāho bhīṣmaḥ parapurañjayaḥ। vyapaneṣyāmi te darpaṁ yuddhe rāma na saṁśayaḥ ॥5-178-38॥
O mighty-armed Rama, I am Bhishma, the conqueror of enemy cities, born to remove your pride in battle. There is no doubt.
