05.179
Pancharatra-Ext: Goddess Ganga intervenes in the battle between Bhishma and Bhargava.
भीष्म उवाच॥
Bhishma spoke:
ततो मामब्रवीद्रामः प्रहसन्निव भारत। दिष्ट्या भीष्म मया सार्धं योद्धुमिच्छसि सङ्गरे ॥५-१७९-१॥
Then Rama, with a smile, said to me, "O Bharata, it is fortunate that you, Bhishma, wish to join me in battle."
अयं गच्छामि कौरव्य कुरुक्षेत्रं त्वया सह। भाषितं तत्करिष्यामि तत्रागच्छेः परन्तप ॥५-१७९-२॥
I am going to Kurukshetra with you, O descendant of Kuru. I will do what was spoken, and you may come there, O subduer of enemies.
तत्र त्वां निहतं माता मया शरशताचितम्। जाह्नवी पश्यतां भीष्म गृध्रकङ्कबडाशनम् ॥५-१७९-३॥
There, you lie slain by my hand, mother, pierced by a hundred arrows. Jahnavi watches as vultures and crows feast on Bhishma.
कृपणं त्वामभिप्रेक्ष्य सिद्धचारणसेविता। मया विनिहतं देवी रोदतामद्य पार्थिव ॥५-१७९-४॥
O king, today the goddess, served by Siddhas and Caranas, is weeping after seeing you in a miserable state, as you have been killed by me.
अतदर्हा महाभागा भगीरथसुता नदी। या त्वामजीजनन्मन्दं युद्धकामुकमातुरम् ॥५-१७९-५॥
The greatly fortunate river, daughter of Bhagiratha, who is unworthy, gave birth to you, who are slow and afflicted with a desire for war.
एहि गच्छ मया भीष्म युद्धमद्यैव वर्तताम्। गृहाण सर्वं कौरव्य रथादि भरतर्षभ ॥५-१७९-६॥
Come with me, Bhishma, and let the battle commence today. Take everything you need, descendant of Kuru, including the chariot, O bull among the Bharatas.
इति ब्रुवाणं तमहं रामं परपुरञ्जयम्। प्रणम्य शिरसा राजन्नेवमस्त्वित्यथाब्रुवम् ॥५-१७९-७॥
I addressed Rama, the conqueror of enemy cities, saying, "O king, let it be so," after bowing my head in respect.
एवमुक्त्वा ययौ रामः कुरुक्षेत्रं युयुत्सया। प्रविश्य नगरं चाहं सत्यवत्यै न्यवेदयम् ॥५-१७९-८॥
After speaking thus, Rama proceeded to Kurukshetra with the intent to battle. Upon entering the city, I conveyed the message to Satyavati.
ततः कृतस्वस्त्ययनो मात्रा प्रत्यभिनन्दितः। द्विजातीन्वाच्य पुण्याहं स्वस्ति चैव महाद्युते ॥५-१७९-९॥
Then, after performing the auspicious rites, he was welcomed by his mother. The Brahmins were to be addressed for the auspicious day and welfare, O highly radiant one.
रथमास्थाय रुचिरं राजतं पाण्डुरैर्हयैः। सूपस्करं स्वधिष्ठानं वैयाघ्रपरिवारणम् ॥५-१७९-१०॥
He mounted the beautiful silver chariot drawn by white horses, which was well-equipped and had a seat covered with tiger-skin.
उपपन्नं महाशस्त्रैः सर्वोपकरणान्वितम्। तत्कुलीनेन वीरेण हयशास्त्रविदा नृप ॥५-१७९-११॥
The noble hero, a king skilled in the science of horses, was equipped with great weapons and all necessary equipment.
युक्तं सूतेन शिष्टेन बहुशो दृष्टकर्मणा। दंशितः पाण्डुरेणाहं कवचेन वपुष्मता ॥५-१७९-१२॥
I have been joined many times by the learned charioteer who has seen many deeds, and I am bitten by the pale armor of the splendid one.
पाण्डुरं कार्मुकं गृह्य प्रायां भरतसत्तम। पाण्डुरेणातपत्रेण ध्रियमाणेन मूर्धनि ॥५-१७९-१३॥
O best of the Bharatas, he took a white bow and set out, with a white umbrella held over his head.
पाण्डुरैश्चामरैश्चापि वीज्यमानो नराधिप। शुक्लवासाः सितोष्णीषः सर्वशुक्लविभूषणः ॥५-१७९-१४॥
The king, dressed in white and adorned with white ornaments, was being fanned with white fans, presenting a majestic appearance.
स्तूयमानो जयाशीर्भिर्निष्क्रम्य गजसाह्वयात्। कुरुक्षेत्रं रणक्षेत्रमुपायां भरतर्षभ ॥५-१७९-१५॥
Praised with blessings for victory, he left Hastinapura and reached the battlefield of Kurukshetra, O best of the Bharatas.
ते हयाश्चोदितास्तेन सूतेन परमाहवे। अवहन्मां भृशं राजन्मनोमारुतरंहसः ॥५-१७९-१६॥
The horses, driven by the charioteer, swiftly carried me in the great battle, O king, with a speed akin to that of the mind and wind.
गत्वाहं तत्कुरुक्षेत्रं स च रामः प्रतापवान्। युद्धाय सहसा राजन्पराक्रान्तौ परस्परम् ॥५-१७९-१७॥
Having reached Kurukshetra, I and the mighty Rama suddenly confronted each other valiantly for battle, O king.
ततः संदर्शनेऽतिष्ठं रामस्यातितपस्विनः। प्रगृह्य शङ्खप्रवरं ततः प्राधममुत्तमम् ॥५-१७९-१८॥
Then, in the presence of the great ascetic Rama, he stood holding the excellent conch and blew it with great skill.
ततस्तत्र द्विजा राजंस्तापसाश्च वनौकसः। अपश्यन्त रणं दिव्यं देवाः सर्षिगणास्तदा ॥५-१७९-१९॥
Then, O king, the brahmins, sages, and forest dwellers witnessed the divine battle alongside the gods and sages.
ततो दिव्यानि माल्यानि प्रादुरासन्मुहुर्मुहुः। वादित्राणि च दिव्यानि मेघवृन्दानि चैव ह ॥५-१७९-२०॥
Then, divine garlands appeared repeatedly, along with divine musical instruments and groups of clouds.
ततस्ते तापसाः सर्वे भार्गवस्यानुयायिनः। प्रेक्षकाः समपद्यन्त परिवार्य रणाजिरम् ॥५-१७९-२१॥
Then all the ascetics who were followers of Bhārgava gathered around the battlefield as spectators.
ततो मामब्रवीद्देवी सर्वभूतहितैषिणी। माता स्वरूपिणी राजन्किमिदं ते चिकीर्षितम् ॥५-१७९-२२॥
Then the goddess, who is the well-wisher of all beings and appears in her true form, addressed me, 'O king, what is your intention with this?'
गत्वाहं जामदग्न्यं तं प्रयाचिष्ये कुरूद्वह। भीष्मेण सह मा योत्सीः शिष्येणेति पुनः पुनः ॥५-१७९-२३॥
Having gone to Jamadagni's descendant, I will request him repeatedly, 'O descendant of Kuru, do not fight with Bhishma and the disciple.'
मा मैवं पुत्र निर्बन्धं कुरु विप्रेण पार्थिव। जामदग्न्येन समरे योद्धुमित्यवभर्त्सयत् ॥५-१७९-२४॥
He admonished, "Do not insist, O son, on fighting in battle with the sage, O king, who is Jamadagni's son."
किं न वै क्षत्रियहरो हरतुल्यपराक्रमः। विदितः पुत्र रामस्ते यतस्त्वं योद्धुमिच्छसि ॥५-१७९-२५॥
Isn't your son Rama, known for his valor equal to Lord Shiva, the destroyer of warriors? Why do you wish to fight?
ततोऽहमब्रुवं देवीमभिवाद्य कृताञ्जलिः। सर्वं तद्भरतश्रेष्ठ यथावृत्तं स्वयंवरे ॥५-१७९-२६॥
Then, having saluted the goddess with joined palms, I narrated everything as it happened in the self-choice ceremony, O best of the Bharatas.
यथा च रामो राजेन्द्र मया पूर्वं प्रसादितः। काशिराजसुतायाश्च यथा कामः पुरातनः ॥५-१७९-२७॥
Just as Rama was pleased by me before, O King, so was the ancient desire of the daughter of the King of Kashi fulfilled.
ततः सा राममभ्येत्य जननी मे महानदी। मदर्थं तमृषिं देवी क्षमयामास भार्गवम् ॥ भीष्मेण सह मा योत्सीः शिष्येणेति वचोऽब्रवीत् ॥५-१७९-२८॥
Then my mother, the great river goddess, approached Rama and forgave the sage Bhargava for my sake. She advised, "Do not engage in battle with Bhishma, who is with his disciple."
स च तामाह याचन्तीं भीष्ममेव निवर्तय। न हि मे कुरुते काममित्यहं तमुपागमम् ॥५-१७९-२९॥
He told her, who was pleading, to turn back only Bhishma, as he does not fulfill his wish, and thus I approached him.
सञ्जय उवाच॥
Sanjaya spoke:
ततो गङ्गा सुतस्नेहाद्भीष्मं पुनरुपागमत्। न चास्याः सोऽकरोद्वाक्यं क्रोधपर्याकुलेक्षणः ॥५-१७९-३०॥
Then, out of affection for her son, Ganga approached Bhishma again. However, he did not respond to her, as his eyes were filled with anger and agitation.
अथादृश्यत धर्मात्मा भृगुश्रेष्ठो महातपाः। आह्वयामास च पुनर्युद्धाय द्विजसत्तमः ॥५-१७९-३१॥
Then the righteous soul, the great ascetic Bhṛgu, was seen. The best among the twice-born invited again for battle.
