05.186
भीष्म उवाच॥
Bhishma spoke:
ततो हलहलाशब्दो दिवि राजन्महानभूत्। प्रस्वापं भीष्म मा स्राक्षीरिति कौरवनन्दन ॥५-१८६-१॥
Then, O king, a great noise echoed in the sky. The joy of the Kauravas said, "Bhishma, do not let go of your sleep."
अयुञ्जमेव चैवाहं तदस्त्रं भृगुनन्दने। प्रस्वापं मां प्रयुञ्जानं नारदो वाक्यमब्रवीत् ॥५-१८६-२॥
Narada spoke, 'O son of Bhrigu, I have indeed united that weapon, employing sleep upon myself.'
एते वियति कौरव्य दिवि देवगणाः स्थिताः। ते त्वां निवारयन्त्यद्य प्रस्वापं मा प्रयोजय ॥५-१८६-३॥
O descendant of Kuru, these groups of gods are present in the sky and are preventing you from falling asleep today.
रामस्तपस्वी ब्रह्मण्यो ब्राह्मणश्च गुरुश्च ते। तस्यावमानं कौरव्य मा स्म कार्षीः कथञ्चन ॥५-१८६-४॥
Rama, who is an ascetic, devoted to Brahman, a Brahmin, and your teacher, should not be disrespected in any way, O descendant of Kuru.
ततोऽपश्यं दिविष्ठान्वै तानष्टौ ब्रह्मवादिनः। ते मां स्मयन्तो राजेन्द्र शनकैरिदमब्रुवन् ॥५-१८६-५॥
Then I saw those eight Brahma-scholars in the sky. Smiling, they slowly spoke to me, O King.
यथाह भरतश्रेष्ठ नारदस्तत्तथा कुरु। एतद्धि परमं श्रेयो लोकानां भरतर्षभ ॥५-१८६-६॥
O best of the Bharatas, do as Nārada has said. This is indeed the highest good for all the worlds, O bull among the Bharatas.
ततश्च प्रतिसंहृत्य तदस्त्रं स्वापनं मृधे। ब्रह्मास्त्रं दीपयां चक्रे तस्मिन्युधि यथाविधि ॥५-१८६-७॥
Then, having withdrawn the sleep-inducing weapon in the battle, he properly ignited the Brahma weapon in that battle.
ततो रामो रुषितो राजपुत्र; दृष्ट्वा तदस्त्रं विनिवर्तितं वै। जितोऽस्मि भीष्मेण सुमन्दबुद्धि; रित्येव वाक्यं सहसा व्यमुञ्चत् ॥५-१८६-८॥
Then the angry prince Rama, upon seeing his weapon withdrawn, exclaimed suddenly, "I have been defeated by Bhishma, how foolish of me," expressing his frustration.
ततोऽपश्यत्पितरं जामदग्न्यः; पितुस्तथा पितरं तस्य चान्यम्। त एवैनं सम्परिवार्य तस्थु; रूचुश्चैनं सान्त्वपूर्वं तदानीम् ॥५-१८६-९॥
Then Jamadagni's son saw his father, his grandfather, and another. They surrounded him and spoke to him gently at that moment.
मा स्मैवं साहसं वत्स पुनः कार्षीः कथञ्चन। भीष्मेण संयुगं गन्तुं क्षत्रियेण विशेषतः ॥५-१८६-१०॥
Do not, my child, ever again act so rashly, especially in going to battle with Bhishma, a warrior of great distinction.
क्षत्रियस्य तु धर्मोऽयं यद्युद्धं भृगुनन्दन। स्वाध्यायो व्रतचर्या च ब्राह्मणानां परं धनम् ॥५-१८६-११॥
O descendant of Bhrigu, the duty of a Kshatriya is indeed to engage in battle, while for the Brahmanas, self-study and the observance of vows are considered the highest wealth.
इदं निमित्ते कस्मिंश्चिदस्माभिरुपमन्त्रितम्। शस्त्रधारणमत्युग्रं तच्च कार्यं कृतं त्वया ॥५-१८६-१२॥
This was discussed by us for a certain purpose. Bearing arms is a very fierce task, and you have accomplished it.
वत्स पर्याप्तमेतावद्भीष्मेण सह संयुगे। विमर्दस्ते महाबाहो व्यपयाहि रणादितः ॥५-१८६-१३॥
O child, it is enough of this conflict with Bhishma in battle. O mighty-armed one, withdraw from the battlefield now.
पर्याप्तमेतद्भद्रं ते तव कार्मुकधारणम्। विसर्जयैतद्दुर्धर्ष तपस्तप्यस्व भार्गव ॥५-१८६-१४॥
This is enough for you, O Bhārgava, to bear the bow. Abandon this formidable penance and perform your duties.
एष भीष्मः शान्तनवो देवैः सर्वैर्निवारितः। निवर्तस्व रणादस्मादिति चैव प्रचोदितः ॥५-१८६-१५॥
Bhishma, the son of Shantanu, was stopped by all the gods and urged to turn back from the battle.
रामेण सह मा योत्सीर्गुरुणेति पुनः पुनः। न हि रामो रणे जेतुं त्वया न्याय्यः कुरूद्वह ॥ मानं कुरुष्व गाङ्गेय ब्राह्मणस्य रणाजिरे ॥५-१८६-१६॥
Do not engage in battle with Rama alongside the elder repeatedly. It is not right for you to defeat Rama in combat, O esteemed Kuru. Show respect to the Brahmin on the battlefield, O son of Ganga.
वयं तु गुरवस्तुभ्यं ततस्त्वां वारयामहे। भीष्मो वसूनामन्यतमो दिष्ट्या जीवसि पुत्रक ॥५-१८६-१७॥
We, the elders, are here to restrain you. It is fortunate that Bhishma, one of the Vasus, is alive, dear son.
गाङ्गेयः शन्तनोः पुत्रो वसुरेष महायशाः। कथं त्वया रणे जेतुं राम शक्यो निवर्त वै ॥५-१८६-१८॥
The son of Ganga, Vasu, who is greatly renowned, how can you conquer Rama in battle? Turn back indeed.
अर्जुनः पाण्डवश्रेष्ठः पुरंदरसुतो बली। नरः प्रजापतिर्वीरः पूर्वदेवः सनातनः ॥५-१८६-१९॥
Arjuna, the foremost of the Pandavas, son of Purandara, is strong and heroic, an ancient and eternal god, and the lord of all creatures.
सव्यसाचीति विख्यातस्त्रिषु लोकेषु वीर्यवान्। भीष्ममृत्युर्यथाकालं विहितो वै स्वयम्भुवा ॥५-१८६-२०॥
The ambidextrous one, thus renowned in the three worlds for his prowess, was Bhishma's death, ordained at the right time by the self-existent one.
एवमुक्तः स पितृभिः पितॄन्रामोऽब्रवीदिदम्। नाहं युधि निवर्तेयमिति मे व्रतमाहितम् ॥५-१८६-२१॥
Upon being addressed in this manner by his ancestors, Rama declared: "I shall not retreat in battle; this is the vow I have taken."
न निवर्तितपूर्वं च कदाचिद्रणमूर्धनि। निवर्त्यतामापगेयः कामं युद्धात्पितामहाः ॥ न त्वहं विनिवर्तिष्ये युद्धादस्मात्कथञ्चन ॥५-१८६-२२॥
It has never been the case that anyone has retreated in the forefront of battle. Let Bhishma, the son of the river, retreat from the battle if he wishes, O grandsire. However, I will not retreat from this battle under any circumstances.
ततस्ते मुनयो राजन्नृचीकप्रमुखास्तदा। नारदेनैव सहिताः समागम्येदमब्रुवन् ॥५-१८६-२३॥
Then, O king, those sages, led by Ṛcīka and accompanied by Nārada, gathered and spoke these words.
निवर्तस्व रणात्तात मानयस्व द्विजोत्तमान्। नेत्यवोचमहं तांश्च क्षत्रधर्मव्यपेक्षया ॥५-१८६-२४॥
Father, return from the battle and honor the best of the Brahmins. I told them 'No,' disregarding the warrior's duty.
मम व्रतमिदं लोके नाहं युद्धात्कथञ्चन। विमुखो विनिवर्तेयं पृष्ठतोऽभ्याहतः शरैः ॥५-१८६-२५॥
In this world, it is my vow that I shall never turn away from battle, even if I am struck by arrows from behind.
नाहं लोभान्न कार्पण्यान्न भयान्नार्थकारणात्। त्यजेयं शाश्वतं धर्ममिति मे निश्चिता मतिः ॥५-१८६-२६॥
My mind is firmly resolved that I will not abandon the eternal dharma due to greed, miserliness, fear, or for any material reason.
ततस्ते मुनयः सर्वे नारदप्रमुखा नृप। भागीरथी च मे माता रणमध्यं प्रपेदिरे ॥५-१८६-२७॥
Then, O king, all the sages led by Narada, along with my mother Bhagirathi, entered the battlefield.
तथैवात्तशरो धन्वी तथैव दृढनिश्चयः। स्थितोऽहमाहवे योद्धुं ततस्ते राममब्रुवन् ॥ समेत्य सहिता भूयः समरे भृगुनन्दनम् ॥५-१८६-२८॥
In the same manner, the archer with an arrow ready and firm resolve stood to fight in the battle. Then they approached Rama and spoke to him, having gathered together once more in the battlefield, pleasing the descendant of Bhrigu.
नावनीतं हि हृदयं विप्राणां शाम्य भार्गव। राम राम निवर्तस्व युद्धादस्माद्द्विजोत्तम ॥ अवध्यो हि त्वया भीष्मस्त्वं च भीष्मस्य भार्गव ॥५-१८६-२९॥
The wise have a softened heart, calm yourself, O descendant of Bhṛgu. Rama, Rama, withdraw from this battle, O best of the twice-born. Bhishma cannot be defeated by you, and you are connected to Bhishma, O descendant of Bhṛgu.
एवं ब्रुवन्तस्ते सर्वे प्रतिरुध्य रणाजिरम्। न्यासयां चक्रिरे शस्त्रं पितरो भृगुनन्दनम् ॥५-१८६-३०॥
Thus, all of them, while speaking, blocked the battlefield and the fathers placed the weapons, O descendant of Bhrigu.
ततोऽहं पुनरेवाथ तानष्टौ ब्रह्मवादिनः। अद्राक्षं दीप्यमानान्वै ग्रहानष्टाविवोदितान् ॥५-१८६-३१॥
Then I saw those eight sages again, shining brightly like eight planets that had risen.
ते मां सप्रणयं वाक्यमब्रुवन्समरे स्थितम्। प्रैहि रामं महाबाहो गुरुं लोकहितं कुरु ॥५-१८६-३२॥
They addressed me with affection while I stood in battle, saying, 'Send Rama, O mighty-armed one, and act for the welfare of the world.'
दृष्ट्वा निवर्तितं रामं सुहृद्वाक्येन तेन वै। लोकानां च हितं कुर्वन्नहमप्याददे वचः ॥५-१८६-३३॥
Seeing that Rama was persuaded to return by his friend's words, and considering the welfare of the worlds, I too accepted the advice.
ततोऽहं राममासाद्य ववन्दे भृशविक्षतः। रामश्चाभ्युत्स्मयन्प्रेम्णा मामुवाच महातपाः ॥५-१८६-३४॥
Then I approached Rama and bowed, though I was severely wounded. Rama, with a smile of affection, spoke to me, acknowledging my great asceticism.
त्वत्समो नास्ति लोकेऽस्मिन्क्षत्रियः पृथिवीचरः। गम्यतां भीष्म युद्धेऽस्मिंस्तोषितोऽहं भृशं त्वया ॥५-१८६-३५॥
There is no warrior like you on this earth, O Bhishma. Go forth, for I am greatly pleased with you in this battle.
मम चैव समक्षं तां कन्यामाहूय भार्गवः। उवाच दीनया वाचा मध्ये तेषां तपस्विनाम् ॥५-१८६-३६॥
Bhārgava called the girl in my presence and spoke humbly among the ascetics.
