05.191
भीष्म उवाच॥
Bhishma said:
एवमुक्तस्य दूतेन द्रुपदस्य तदा नृप। चोरस्येव गृहीतस्य न प्रावर्तत भारती ॥५-१९१-१॥
After being addressed by the messenger of Drupada, O king, the speech did not proceed as if it were that of a captured thief.
स यत्नमकरोत्तीव्रं सम्बन्धैरनुसान्त्वनैः। दूतैर्मधुरसम्भाषैर्नैतदस्तीति संदिशन् ॥५-१९१-२॥
He made a great effort using connections and conciliations, sending messengers with sweet words, instructing them to say, "This is not the case."
स राजा भूय एवाथ कृत्वा तत्त्वत आगमम्। कन्येति पाञ्चालसुतां त्वरमाणोऽभिनिर्ययौ ॥५-१९१-३॥
The king, after realizing the truth, quickly went to the daughter of Panchala, referring to her as 'girl'.
ततः सम्प्रेषयामास मित्राणाममितौजसाम्। दुहितुर्विप्रलम्भं तं धात्रीणां वचनात्तदा ॥५-१९१-४॥
Then, following the words of the nurses, he sent the message of the daughter's separation to the friends of immense strength.
ततः समुदयं कृत्वा बलानां राजसत्तमः। अभियाने मतिं चक्रे द्रुपदं प्रति भारत ॥५-१९१-५॥
Then, the best of kings, having gathered the forces, decided to march towards Drupada, O Bharata.
ततः संमन्त्रयामास मित्रैः सह महीपतिः। हिरण्यवर्मा राजेन्द्र पाञ्चाल्यं पार्थिवं प्रति ॥५-१९१-६॥
Then King Hiranyavarma consulted with his friends regarding the Panchala prince, O King.
तत्र वै निश्चितं तेषामभूद्राज्ञां महात्मनाम्। तथ्यं चेद्भवति ह्येतत्कन्या राजञ्शिखण्डिनी ॥ बद्ध्वा पाञ्चालराजानमानयिष्यामहे गृहान् ॥५-१९१-७॥
There was indeed a certainty among the great kings that if this truth is the daughter, O king, Śikhaṇḍinī, then having captured the king of the Pāñcālas, we shall bring him home.
अन्यं राजानमाधाय पाञ्चालेषु नरेश्वरम्। घातयिष्याम नृपतिं द्रुपदं सशिखण्डिनम् ॥५-१९१-८॥
We will install another king among the Panchalas and then kill King Drupada along with Shikhandi.
स तदा दूतमाज्ञाय पुनः क्षत्तारमीश्वरः। प्रास्थापयत्पार्षताय हन्मीति त्वां स्थिरो भव ॥५-१९१-९॥
The lord, after commanding the messenger once more, sent the minister to the son of Pritha with the message, 'Be resolute in your intent to kill.'
स प्रकृत्या च वै भीरुः किल्बिषी च नराधिपः। भयं तीव्रमनुप्राप्तो द्रुपदः पृथिवीपतिः ॥५-१९१-१०॥
King Drupada, naturally fearful and sinful, was overtaken by intense fear as the lord of the earth.
विसृज्य दूतं दाशार्णं द्रुपदः शोककर्शितः। समेत्य भार्यां रहिते वाक्यमाह नराधिपः ॥५-१९१-११॥
Drupada, overwhelmed with sorrow, dismissed the messenger to the Daśārṇas and spoke to his wife in private.
भयेन महताविष्टो हृदि शोकेन चाहतः। पाञ्चालराजो दयितां मातरं वै शिखण्डिनः ॥५-१९१-१२॥
The king of Panchala, overwhelmed by great fear and struck by sorrow in his heart, was indeed the beloved mother of Shikhandi.
अभियास्यति मां कोपात्सम्बन्धी सुमहाबलः। हिरण्यवर्मा नृपतिः कर्षमाणो वरूथिनीम् ॥५-१९१-१३॥
The very powerful King Hiranyavarma, who is related to me, will angrily approach, dragging his army.
किमिदानीं करिष्यामि मूढः कन्यामिमां प्रति। शिखण्डी किल पुत्रस्ते कन्येति परिशङ्कितः ॥५-१९१-१४॥
What should I do now, confused about this girl? It is suspected that Shikhandi is indeed your son, thus considered a daughter.
इति निश्चित्य तत्त्वेन समित्रः सबलानुगः। वञ्चितोऽस्मीति मन्वानो मां किलोद्धर्तुमिच्छति ॥५-१९१-१५॥
Having truly decided this, with his friends and followers, he thinks, 'I am deceived' and indeed wants to rescue me.
किमत्र तथ्यं सुश्रोणि किं मिथ्या ब्रूहि शोभने। श्रुत्वा त्वत्तः शुभे वाक्यं संविधास्याम्यहं तथा ॥५-१९१-१६॥
O beautiful-hipped one, tell me what is true and what is false here, O lovely one. After hearing your words, O auspicious one, I will act accordingly.
अहं हि संशयं प्राप्तो बाला चेयं शिखण्डिनी। त्वं च राज्ञि महत्कृच्छ्रं सम्प्राप्ता वरवर्णिनि ॥५-१९१-१७॥
I am indeed in doubt, and this young girl is Shikhandini. You, O queen, have encountered great difficulty, O beautiful lady.
सा त्वं सर्वविमोक्षाय तत्त्वमाख्याहि पृच्छतः। तथा विदध्यां सुश्रोणि कृत्यस्यास्य शुचिस्मिते ॥ शिखण्डिनि च मा भैस्त्वं विधास्ये तत्र तत्त्वतः ॥५-१९१-१८॥
She, please declare the truth for universal liberation to the one who is asking. Thus, O beautiful-hipped one, I shall perform this duty, O pure-smiled one. O peacock-bannered one, do not fear, I shall truly arrange everything there.
क्रिययाहं वरारोहे वञ्चितः पुत्रधर्मतः। मया दाशार्णको राजा वञ्चितश्च महीपतिः ॥ तदाचक्ष्व महाभागे विधास्ये तत्र यद्धितम् ॥५-१९१-१९॥
O beautiful lady, I was deceived from my duty as a son by my actions. The king of the Daśārṇas and the lord of the earth were also deceived by me. O fortunate one, please tell me what is beneficial to do there, and I shall do it.
जानतापि नरेन्द्रेण ख्यापनार्थं परस्य वै। प्रकाशं चोदिता देवी प्रत्युवाच महीपतिम् ॥५-१९१-२०॥
Even though the king knew, he urged the goddess to proclaim openly about the other, and she replied to the king.
