05.188
भीष्म उवाच॥
Bhishma said:
ततस्ते तापसाः सर्वे तपसे धृतनिश्चयाम्। दृष्ट्वा न्यवर्तयंस्तात किं कार्यमिति चाब्रुवन् ॥५-१८८-१॥
Then all the ascetics, firmly resolved in their penance, upon seeing something, turned back and said, "O dear, what should be done?"
तानुवाच ततः कन्या तपोवृद्धानृषींस्तदा। निराकृतास्मि भीष्मेण भ्रंशिता पतिधर्मतः ॥५-१८८-२॥
The maiden then addressed the ascetically advanced sages, saying that she had been rejected by Bhishma and deprived of her marital rights.
वधार्थं तस्य दीक्षा मे न लोकार्थं तपोधनाः। निहत्य भीष्मं गच्छेयं शान्तिमित्येव निश्चयः ॥५-१८८-३॥
My vow is to kill him, not for the benefit of the world, O ascetics. By killing Bhishma, I am determined to attain peace.
यत्कृते दुःखवसतिमिमां प्राप्तास्मि शाश्वतीम्। पतिलोकाद्विहीना च नैव स्त्री न पुमानिह ॥५-१८८-४॥
Because of which, I have come to this eternal abode of sorrow, deprived of my husband's world, and here I am neither a woman nor a man.
नाहत्वा युधि गाङ्गेयं निवर्तेयं तपोधनाः। एष मे हृदि सङ्कल्पो यदर्थमिदमुद्यतम् ॥५-१८८-५॥
I will not turn back without defeating Bhishma, the son of Ganga, in battle, O revered sages. This is the resolve in my heart for which I have undertaken this endeavor.
स्त्रीभावे परिनिर्विण्णा पुंस्त्वार्थे कृतनिश्चया। भीष्मे प्रतिचिकीर्षामि नास्मि वार्येति वै पुनः ॥५-१८८-६॥
Disenchanted with being a woman and determined to pursue manhood, I intend to act against Bhishma; I shall not be stopped again, indeed.
तां देवो दर्शयामास शूलपाणिरुमापतिः। मध्ये तेषां महर्षीणां स्वेन रूपेण भामिनीम् ॥५-१८८-७॥
The god Shiva, holding a trident and husband to Uma, revealed her radiant form among the great sages.
छन्द्यमाना वरेणाथ सा वव्रे मत्पराजयम्। वधिष्यसीति तां देवः प्रत्युवाच मनस्विनीम् ॥५-१८८-८॥
Tempted by the boon, she chose my defeat. The god replied to her, "You will kill," addressing the wise one.
ततः सा पुनरेवाथ कन्या रुद्रमुवाच ह। उपपद्येत्कथं देव स्त्रियो मम जयो युधि ॥ स्त्रीभावेन च मे गाढं मनः शान्तमुमापते ॥५-१८८-९॥
Then the girl again spoke to Rudra: "O god, how can women achieve victory in battle? And my mind is deeply peaceful, O lord of Uma."
प्रतिश्रुतश्च भूतेश त्वया भीष्मपराजयः। यथा स सत्यो भवति तथा कुरु वृषध्वज ॥ यथा हन्यां समागम्य भीष्मं शान्तनवं युधि ॥५-१८८-१०॥
O Lord of beings, you have promised the defeat of Bhishma. Ensure that it becomes true, O bull-bannered one, so that I may confront and slay Bhishma, the son of Shantanu, in battle.
तामुवाच महादेवः कन्यां किल वृषध्वजः। न मे वागनृतं भद्रे प्राह सत्यं भविष्यति ॥५-१८८-११॥
Mahadeva, known as Vrishadhvaja, assured the girl, saying: "O auspicious one, my words are true and will come to pass."
वधिष्यसि रणे भीष्मं पुरुषत्वं च लप्स्यसे। स्मरिष्यसि च तत्सर्वं देहमन्यं गता सती ॥५-१८८-१२॥
You will kill Bhishma in battle and attain manhood. You will remember all this when you have moved to another body.
द्रुपदस्य कुले जाता भविष्यसि महारथः। शीघ्रास्त्रश्चित्रयोधी च भविष्यसि सुसंमतः ॥५-१८८-१३॥
You will be born in the family of Drupada and will become a highly esteemed great charioteer, known for your swiftness in weapons and as a wonderful warrior.
यथोक्तमेव कल्याणि सर्वमेतद्भविष्यति। भविष्यसि पुमान्पश्चात्कस्माच्चित्कालपर्ययात् ॥५-१८८-१४॥
As foretold, O auspicious one, everything will happen as stated. You will become a man after some time.
एवमुक्त्वा महातेजाः कपर्दी वृषभध्वजः। पश्यतामेव विप्राणां तत्रैवान्तरधीयत ॥५-१८८-१५॥
After speaking thus, the immensely powerful Kapardi, known as Vrishabhadhvaja, vanished right there before the eyes of the sages.
ततः सा पश्यतां तेषां महर्षीणामनिन्दिता। समाहृत्य वनात्तस्मात्काष्ठानि वरवर्णिनी ॥५-१८८-१६॥
Then the blameless lady, admired by the great sages, gathered the woods from that forest.
चितां कृत्वा सुमहतीं प्रदाय च हुताशनम्। प्रदीप्तेऽग्नौ महाराज रोषदीप्तेन चेतसा ॥५-१८८-१७॥
O great king, having constructed a very large funeral pyre and offered it to the fire, with a mind inflamed by anger, in the blazing fire.
उक्त्वा भीष्मवधायेति प्रविवेश हुताशनम्। ज्येष्ठा काशिसुता राजन्यमुनामभितो नदीम् ॥५-१८८-१८॥
Having declared her intention to kill Bhishma, she entered the fire. The eldest daughter of Kashi was near the royal Yamuna river.
