05.188
bhīṣma uvāca॥
Bhishma said:
tataste tāpasāḥ sarve tapase dhṛtaniścayām। dṛṣṭvā nyavartayaṃstāta kiṃ kāryamiti cābruvan ॥5-188-1॥
Then all the ascetics, firmly resolved in their penance, upon seeing something, turned back and said, "O dear, what should be done?"
tānuvāca tataḥ kanyā tapovṛddhānṛṣīṃstadā। nirākṛtāsmi bhīṣmeṇa bhraṃśitā patidharmataḥ ॥5-188-2॥
The maiden then addressed the ascetically advanced sages, saying that she had been rejected by Bhishma and deprived of her marital rights.
vadhārthaṃ tasya dīkṣā me na lokārthaṃ tapodhanāḥ। nihatya bhīṣmaṃ gaccheyaṃ śāntimityeva niścayaḥ ॥5-188-3॥
My vow is to kill him, not for the benefit of the world, O ascetics. By killing Bhishma, I am determined to attain peace.
yatkṛte duḥkhavasatimimāṃ prāptāsmi śāśvatīm। patilokādvihīnā ca naiva strī na pumāniha ॥5-188-4॥
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.
nāhatvā yudhi gāṅgeyaṃ nivarteyaṃ tapodhanāḥ। eṣa me hṛdi saṅkalpo yadarthamidamudyatam ॥5-188-5॥
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.
strībhāve parinirviṇṇā puṃstvārthe kṛtaniścayā। bhīṣme praticikīrṣāmi nāsmi vāryeti vai punaḥ ॥5-188-6॥
Disenchanted with being a woman and determined to pursue manhood, I intend to act against Bhishma; I shall not be stopped again, indeed.
tāṃ devo darśayāmāsa śūlapāṇirumā patiḥ। madhye teṣāṃ maharṣīṇāṃ svena rūpeṇa bhāminīm ॥5-188-7॥
The god Shiva, holding a trident and husband to Uma, revealed her radiant form among the great sages.
chandyamānā vareṇātha sā vavre matparājayam। vadhiṣyasīti tāṃ devaḥ pratyuvāca manasvinīm ॥5-188-8॥
Tempted by the boon, she chose my defeat. The god replied to her, "You will kill," addressing the wise one.
tataḥ sā punarevātha kanyā rudramuvāca ha। upapadyetkathaṁ deva striyo mama jayo yudhi ॥ strībhāvena ca me gāḍhaṁ manaḥ śāntamumāpate ॥5-188-9॥
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."
pratiśrutaśca bhūteśa tvayā bhīṣmaparājayaḥ। yathā sa satyo bhavati tathā kuru vṛṣadhvaja ॥ yathā hanyāṃ samāgamya bhīṣmaṃ śāntanavaṃ yudhi ॥5-188-10॥
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.
tām uvāca mahādevaḥ kanyāṃ kila vṛṣadhvajaḥ। na me vāg anṛtaṃ bhadre prāha satyaṃ bhaviṣyati ॥5-188-11॥
Mahadeva, known as Vrishadhvaja, assured the girl, saying: "O auspicious one, my words are true and will come to pass."
vadhiṣyasi raṇe bhīṣmaṃ puruṣatvaṃ ca lapsyase। smariṣyasi ca tatsarvaṃ dehamanyaṃ gatā satī ॥5-188-12॥
You will kill Bhishma in battle and attain manhood. You will remember all this when you have moved to another body.
drupadasya kule jātā bhaviṣyasi mahārathaḥ। śīghrāstraścitrayodhī ca bhaviṣyasi susammataḥ ॥5-188-13॥
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.
yathoktameva kalyāṇi sarvametadbhaviṣyati। bhaviṣyasi pumānpaścātkasmāccitkālaparyayāt ॥5-188-14॥
As foretold, O auspicious one, everything will happen as stated. You will become a man after some time.
evamuktvā mahātejāḥ kapardī vṛṣabhadhvajaḥ। paśyatāmeva viprāṇāṃ tatraivāntaradhīyata ॥5-188-15॥
After speaking thus, the immensely powerful Kapardi, known as Vrishabhadhvaja, vanished right there before the eyes of the sages.
tataḥ sā paśyatāṃ teṣāṃ maharṣīṇāmaninditā। samāhṛtya vanāttasmātkāṣṭhāni varavarṇinī ॥5-188-16॥
Then the blameless lady, admired by the great sages, gathered the woods from that forest.
citāṁ kṛtvā sumahatīṁ pradāya ca hutāśanam। pradīpte'gnau mahārāja roṣadīptena cetasā ॥5-188-17॥
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.
uktvā bhīṣmavadhāyeti praviveśa hutāśanam। jyeṣṭhā kāśisutā rājanyamunāmabhito nadīm ॥5-188-18॥
Having declared her intention to kill Bhishma, she entered the fire. The eldest daughter of Kashi was near the royal Yamuna river.
