05.179
Pancharatra-Ext: Goddess Ganga intervenes in the battle between Bhishma and Bhargava.
bhīṣma uvāca॥
Bhishma spoke:
tato māmabravīdrāmaḥ prahasanniva bhārata। diṣṭyā bhīṣma mayā sārdhaṃ yoddhumicchasi saṅgare ॥5-179-1॥
Then Rama, with a smile, said to me, "O Bharata, it is fortunate that you, Bhishma, wish to join me in battle."
ayaṁ gacchāmi kauravya kurukṣetraṁ tvayā saha। bhāṣitaṁ tatkariṣyāmi tatrāgaccheḥ parantapa ॥5-179-2॥
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.
tatra tvāṃ nihataṃ mātā mayā śaraśatācitam। jāhnavī paśyatāṃ bhīṣma gṛdhrakaṅkabaḍāśanam ॥5-179-3॥
There, you lie slain by my hand, mother, pierced by a hundred arrows. Jahnavi watches as vultures and crows feast on Bhishma.
kṛpaṇaṃ tvām abhiprekṣya siddhacāraṇasevitā। mayā vinihataṃ devī rodatām adya pārthiva ॥5-179-4॥
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.
atadarhā mahābhāgā bhagīrathasutā nadī। yā tvāmajījananmamdaṃ yuddhakāmukamāturam ॥5-179-5॥
The greatly fortunate river, daughter of Bhagiratha, who is unworthy, gave birth to you, who are slow and afflicted with a desire for war.
ehi gaccha mayā bhīṣma yuddhamadyaiva vartatām। gṛhāṇa sarvaṃ kauravya rathādi bharatarṣabha ॥5-179-6॥
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.
iti bruvāṇaṃ tamahaṃ rāmaṃ parapurañjayam। praṇamya śirasā rājannevamastvityathābruvam ॥5-179-7॥
I addressed Rama, the conqueror of enemy cities, saying, "O king, let it be so," after bowing my head in respect.
evamuktvā yayau rāmaḥ kurukṣetraṃ yuyutsayā। praviśya nagaraṃ cāhaṃ satyavatyai nyavedayam ॥5-179-8॥
After speaking thus, Rama proceeded to Kurukshetra with the intent to battle. Upon entering the city, I conveyed the message to Satyavati.
tataḥ kṛtasvastyayano mātṛā pratyabhinanditaḥ। dvijātīnvācya puṇyāhaṃ svasti caiva mahādyute ॥5-179-9॥
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.
ratham āsthāya ruciraṃ rājataṃ pāṇḍurair hayaiḥ। sūpaskaraṃ svadhiṣṭhānaṃ vaiyāghraparivāraṇam ॥5-179-10॥
He mounted the beautiful silver chariot drawn by white horses, which was well-equipped and had a seat covered with tiger-skin.
upapannaṃ mahāśastraiḥ sarvopakaraṇānvitam। tatkulīnena vīreṇa hayaśāstravidā nṛpa ॥5-179-11॥
The noble hero, a king skilled in the science of horses, was equipped with great weapons and all necessary equipment.
yuktaṃ sūtena śiṣṭena bahuśo dṛṣṭakarmaṇā। daṃśitaḥ pāṇḍureṇāhaṃ kavacena vapuṣmatā ॥5-179-12॥
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.
pāṇḍuraṃ kārmukaṃ gṛhya prāyāṃ bharatasattama। pāṇḍureṇātapatreṇa dhriyamāṇena mūrdhani ॥5-179-13॥
O best of the Bharatas, he took a white bow and set out, with a white umbrella held over his head.
pāṇḍuraiścāmaraiścāpi vījyamāno narādhipaḥ। śuklavāsāḥ sitoṣṇīṣaḥ sarvaśuklavibhūṣaṇaḥ ॥5-179-14॥
The king, dressed in white and adorned with white ornaments, was being fanned with white fans, presenting a majestic appearance.
stūyamāno jayāśīrbhirniṣkramya gajasāhvayāt। kurukṣetraṃ raṇakṣetramupāyāṃ bharatarṣabha ॥5-179-15॥
Praised with blessings for victory, he left Hastinapura and reached the battlefield of Kurukshetra, O best of the Bharatas.
te hayāścoditāstena sūtena paramāhave। avahanmāṃ bhṛśaṃ rājanmanomārutaraṃhasaḥ ॥5-179-16॥
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.
gatvāhaṃ tatkurukṣetraṃ sa ca rāmaḥ pratāpavān। yuddhāya sahasā rājanparākrāntau parasparam ॥5-179-17॥
Having reached Kurukshetra, I and the mighty Rama suddenly confronted each other valiantly for battle, O king.
tataḥ saṃdarśane'tiṣṭhaṃ rāmasyātitapasvinaḥ। pragṛhya śaṅkhapravaraṃ tataḥ prādhamamuttamam ॥5-179-18॥
Then, in the presence of the great ascetic Rama, he stood holding the excellent conch and blew it with great skill.
tatastatra dvijā rājan tāpasāśca vanaukasaḥ। apaśyanta raṇaṃ divyaṃ devāḥ sarṣigaṇāstadā ॥5-179-19॥
Then, O king, the brahmins, sages, and forest dwellers witnessed the divine battle alongside the gods and sages.
tato divyāni mālyāni prādurāsan muhurmuhuḥ। vāditrāṇi ca divyāni meghavṛndāni caiva ha ॥5-179-20॥
Then, divine garlands appeared repeatedly, along with divine musical instruments and groups of clouds.
tataste tāpasāḥ sarve bhārgavasyānuyāyinaḥ। prekṣakāḥ samapadyanta parivārya raṇājiram ॥5-179-21॥
Then all the ascetics who were followers of Bhārgava gathered around the battlefield as spectators.
tato māmabravīddevi sarvabhūtahitaiṣiṇī। mātā svarūpiṇī rājankimidaṃ te cikīrṣitam ॥5-179-22॥
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?'
gatvāhaṃ jāmadagnyaṃ taṃ prayāciṣye kurūdvaha। bhīṣmeṇa saha mā yotsīḥ śiṣyeṇeti punaḥ punaḥ ॥5-179-23॥
Having gone to Jamadagni's descendant, I will request him repeatedly, 'O descendant of Kuru, do not fight with Bhishma and the disciple.'
mā maivaṃ putra nirbandhaṃ kuru vipreṇa pārthiva। jāmadagnyena samare yoddhumityavabhartsayat ॥5-179-24॥
He admonished, "Do not insist, O son, on fighting in battle with the sage, O king, who is Jamadagni's son."
kiṁ na vai kṣatriyaharo haratulyaparākramaḥ। viditaḥ putra rāmaste yatastvaṁ yoddhumicchasi ॥5-179-25॥
Isn't your son Rama, known for his valor equal to Lord Shiva, the destroyer of warriors? Why do you wish to fight?
tato'ham abruvaṁ devīm abhivādya kṛtāñjaliḥ। sarvaṁ tad bharataśreṣṭha yathāvṛttaṁ svayaṁvare ॥5-179-26॥
Then, having saluted the goddess with joined palms, I narrated everything as it happened in the self-choice ceremony, O best of the Bharatas.
yathā ca rāmo rājendra mayā pūrvaṃ prasāditaḥ। kāśirājasutāyāśca yathā kāmaḥ purātanaḥ ॥5-179-27॥
Just as Rama was pleased by me before, O King, so was the ancient desire of the daughter of the King of Kashi fulfilled.
tataḥ sā rāmamabhyetya jananī me mahānadī। madarthaṃ tamṛṣiṃ devī kṣamayāmāsa bhārgavam ॥ bhīṣmeṇa saha mā yotsīḥ śiṣyeṇeti vaco'bravīt ॥5-179-28॥
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."
sa ca tām āha yācantīṃ bhīṣmam eva nivartaya। na hi me kurute kāmam ity ahaṃ tam upāgamam ॥5-179-29॥
He told her, who was pleading, to turn back only Bhishma, as he does not fulfill his wish, and thus I approached him.
sañjaya uvāca॥
Sanjaya spoke:
tato gaṅgā sutasnehādbhīṣmaṃ punarupāgamat. na cāsyāḥ so'karodvākyaṃ krodhaparyākulekṣaṇaḥ ॥5-179-30॥
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.
athādṛśyata dharmātmā bhṛguśreṣṭho mahātapāḥ। āhvayāmāsa ca punaryuddhāya dvijasattamaḥ ॥5-179-31॥
Then the righteous soul, the great ascetic Bhṛgu, was seen. The best among the twice-born invited again for battle.
