06.094
Pancharatra and Core: Bhishma speaks calmy though angry; gives examples to substantiate the strength of the Pandavas; assures he will fight the battle tomorrow that will be remembered forever.
सञ्जय उवाच॥
Sanjaya said:
वाक्षल्यैस्तव पुत्रेण सोऽतिविद्धः पितामहः। दुःखेन महताविष्टो नोवाचाप्रियमण्वपि ॥६-९४-१॥
The grandfather, deeply affected by the affections of your son and overwhelmed by great sorrow, did not utter even a single unpleasant word.
स ध्यात्वा सुचिरं कालं दुःखरोषसमन्वितः। श्वसमानो यथा नागः प्रणुन्नो वै शलाकया ॥६-९४-२॥
He meditated for a long time, filled with sorrow and anger, breathing heavily like an elephant prodded with a goad.
उद्वृत्य चक्षुषी कोपान्निर्दहन्निव भारत। सदेवासुरगन्धर्वं लोकं लोकविदां वरः ॥ अब्रवीत्तव पुत्रं तु सामपूर्वमिदं वचः ॥६-९४-३॥
With eyes raised in anger, as if burning, O Bharata, the best among the wise in the realms of gods, demons, and gandharvas, spoke to your son, prefacing his words with Sama.
किं नु दुर्योधनैवं मां वाक्षल्यैरुपविध्यसि। घटमानं यथाशक्ति कुर्वाणं च तव प्रियम् ॥ जुह्वानं समरे प्राणांस्तवैव हितकाम्यया ॥६-९४-४॥
Why, Duryodhana, do you speak to me with such harshness? I am striving to the best of my ability, doing what pleases you, and sacrificing my life in battle for your welfare.
यदा तु पाण्डवः शूरः खाण्डवेऽग्निमतर्पयत्। पराजित्य रणे शक्रं पर्याप्तं तन्निदर्शनम् ॥६-९४-५॥
The heroic Pāṇḍava, by satisfying the fire in Khāṇḍava and defeating Indra in battle, provided a sufficient example.
यदा च त्वां महाबाहो गन्धर्वैर्हृतमोजसा। अमोचयत्पाण्डुसुतः पर्याप्तं तन्निदर्शनम् ॥६-९४-६॥
When you, O mighty-armed one, were captured by the Gandharvas with great force, the son of Pandu came to your rescue; that serves as a sufficient example.
द्रवमाणेषु शूरेषु सोदरेषु तथाभिभो। सूतपुत्रे च राधेये पर्याप्तं तन्निदर्शनम् ॥६-९४-७॥
O lord, the example is sufficient among those who are fleeing, the heroes, the brothers, the son of a charioteer, and Radheya.
यच्च नः सहितान्सर्वान्विराटनगरे तदा। एक एव समुद्यातः पर्याप्तं तन्निदर्शनम् ॥६-९४-८॥
The event that brought us all together in the city of Virata, when one alone set out, serves as a sufficient example.
द्रोणं च युधि संरब्धं मां च निर्जित्य संयुगे। कर्णं च त्वां च द्रौणिं च कृपं च सुमहारथम् ॥ वासांसि स समादत्त पर्याप्तं तन्निदर्शनम् ॥६-९४-९॥
After defeating Drona, who was excited in battle, along with me, Karna, you, Drauni, and Kripa, the great chariot-warrior, he took the garments as a sufficient indication.
निवातकवचान्युद्धे वासवेनापि दुर्जयान्। जितवान्समरे पार्थः पर्याप्तं तन्निदर्शनम् ॥६-९४-१०॥
Arjuna, known as Pārtha, conquered the Nivātakavacas, who were invincible even to Indra in battle. This serves as a sufficient example of his prowess.
को हि शक्तो रणे जेतुं पाण्डवं रभसं रणे। त्वं तु मोहान्न जानीषे वाच्यावाच्यं सुयोधन ॥६-९४-११॥
Who can truly defeat the fierce Pāṇḍava in battle? However, Suyodhana, in your delusion, you fail to discern what is appropriate to say and what is not.
मुमूर्षुर्हि नरः सर्वान्वृक्षान्पश्यति काञ्चनान्। तथा त्वमपि गान्धारे विपरीतानि पश्यसि ॥६-९४-१२॥
A man who wishes to die sees all trees as golden, just as you see things in Gandhara in a distorted way.
स्वयं वैरं महत्कृत्वा पाण्डवैः सहसृञ्जयैः। युध्यस्व तानद्य रणे पश्यामः पुरुषो भव ॥६-९४-१३॥
You have created a great enmity with the Pandavas and the Srinjayas yourself. Fight them today in battle; let us see, be a man.
अहं तु सोमकान्सर्वान्सपाञ्चालान्समागतान्। निहनिष्ये नरव्याघ्र वर्जयित्वा शिखण्डिनम् ॥६-९४-१४॥
I will slay all the assembled Somakas and Panchalas, O tiger among men, except for Shikhandi.
तैर्वाहं निहतः सङ्ख्ये गमिष्ये यमसादनम्। तान्वा निहत्य सङ्ग्रामे प्रीतिं दास्यामि वै तव ॥६-९४-१५॥
Either I will be killed by them in battle and go to the abode of Yama, or I will kill them in battle and give you pleasure.
पूर्वं हि स्त्री समुत्पन्ना शिखण्डी राजवेश्मनि। वरदानात्पुमाञ्जातः सैषा वै स्त्री शिखण्डिनी ॥६-९४-१६॥
Once, there was a woman named Śikhaṇḍī who was born in the royal palace. Due to a boon, she transformed into a man and is known as the woman Śikhaṇḍinī.
तामहं न हनिष्यामि प्राणत्यागेऽपि भारत। यासौ प्राङ्निर्मिता धात्रा सैषा वै स्त्री शिखण्डिनी ॥६-९४-१७॥
I will not kill Śikhaṇḍinī even if it costs me my life, O Bhārata. She was created by the creator in the past as a woman.
सुखं स्वपिहि गान्धारे श्वोऽस्मि कर्ता महारणम्। यज्जनाः कथयिष्यन्ति यावत्स्थास्यति मेदिनी ॥६-९४-१८॥
Rest peacefully in Gandhara; tomorrow I will engage in a great battle, a tale that will be told for as long as the world exists.
एवमुक्तस्तव सुतो निर्जगाम जनेश्वर। अभिवाद्य गुरुं मूर्ध्ना प्रययौ स्वं निवेशनम् ॥६-९४-१९॥
After being addressed in this way, your son, O king, departed. He respectfully saluted his teacher and went to his own residence.
आगम्य तु ततो राजा विसृज्य च महाजनम्। प्रविवेश ततस्तूर्णं क्षयं शत्रुक्षयङ्करः ॥ प्रविष्टः स निशां तां च गमयामास पार्थिवः ॥६-९४-२०॥
The king, upon arriving, dismissed the assembly and quickly entered his abode, known for being the destroyer of enemies. There, the prince spent the night.
