06.103
सञ्जय उवाच॥
sañjaya uvāca॥
[सञ्जय (sañjaya) - Sanjaya; उवाच (uvāca) - said;]
(Sanjaya said:)
Sanjaya said:
युध्यतामेव तेषां तु भास्करेऽस्तमुपागते। सन्ध्या समभवद्घोरा नापश्याम ततो रणम् ॥६-१०३-१॥
yudhyatāmeva teṣāṃ tu bhāskare'stamupāgate। sandhyā samabhavadghorā nāpaśyāma tato raṇam ॥6-103-1॥
[युध्यताम् (yudhyatām) - of those fighting; एव (eva) - indeed; तेषाम् (teṣām) - of them; तु (tu) - but; भास्करे (bhāskare) - the sun; अस्तम् (astam) - setting; उपागते (upāgate) - having arrived; सन्ध्या (sandhyā) - twilight; समभवत् (samabhavat) - became; घोरा (ghorā) - terrible; न (na) - not; अपश्याम (apaśyāma) - we saw; ततः (tataḥ) - then; रणम् (raṇam) - battle;]
(Of those fighting, indeed, but when the sun had set, twilight became terrible; we did not see the battle then.)
As the sun set, the twilight became terrifying for those who were fighting, and we could no longer see the battle.
ततो युधिष्ठिरो राजा सन्ध्यां संदृश्य भारत। वध्यमानं बलं चापि भीष्मेणामित्रघातिना ॥६-१०३-२॥
tato yudhiṣṭhiro rājā sandhyāṃ sandṛśya bhārata। vadhyamānaṃ balaṃ cāpi bhīṣmeṇāmitraghātinā ॥6-103-2॥
[ततः (tataḥ) - then; युधिष्ठिरः (yudhiṣṭhiraḥ) - Yudhishthira; राजा (rājā) - king; सन्ध्याम् (sandhyām) - evening; संदृश्य (sandṛśya) - seeing; भारत (bhārata) - O Bharata; वध्यमानम् (vadhyamānam) - being slaughtered; बलम् (balam) - army; च (ca) - and; अपि (api) - also; भीष्मेण (bhīṣmeṇa) - by Bhishma; अमित्रघातिना (amitraghātinā) - foe-slayer;]
(Then King Yudhishthira, seeing the evening, O Bharata, and the army being slaughtered by Bhishma, the foe-slayer.)
Then King Yudhishthira, observing the evening and noticing the army being decimated by Bhishma, the foe-slayer, addressed his concerns, O Bharata.
मुक्तशस्त्रं परावृत्तं पलायनपरायणम्। भीष्मं च युधि संरब्धमनुयान्तं महारथान् ॥६-१०३-३॥
muktaśastraṃ parāvṛttaṃ palāyanaparāyaṇam। bhīṣmaṃ ca yudhi saṃrabdham anuyāntaṃ mahārathān ॥6-103-3॥
[मुक्तशस्त्रं (muktaśastram) - released weapons; परावृत्तं (parāvṛttam) - turned back; पलायनपरायणम् (palāyanaparāyaṇam) - intent on fleeing; भीष्मं (bhīṣmam) - Bhishma; च (ca) - and; युधि (yudhi) - in battle; संरब्धम् (saṃrabdham) - excited; अनुयान्तं (anuyāntam) - following; महारथान् (mahārathān) - great charioteers;]
(Released weapons turned back, intent on fleeing, and Bhishma, excited in battle, following the great charioteers.)
The warriors, having released their weapons, turned back intent on fleeing, while Bhishma, excited in battle, followed the great charioteers.
सोमकांश्च जितान्दृष्ट्वा निरुत्साहान्महारथान्। चिन्तयित्वा चिरं ध्यात्वा अवहारमरोचयत् ॥६-१०३-४॥
somakāṁśca jitāndṛṣṭvā nirutsāhānmahārathān। cintayitvā ciraṁ dhyātvā avahāramarocayat ॥6-103-4॥
[सोमकान् (somakān) - Somakas; च (ca) - and; जितान् (jitān) - conquered; दृष्ट्वा (dṛṣṭvā) - having seen; निरुत्साहान् (nirutsāhān) - dispirited; महारथान् (mahārathān) - great warriors; चिन्तयित्वा (cintayitvā) - having thought; चिरं (ciraṁ) - for a long time; ध्यात्वा (dhyātvā) - having meditated; अवहारम् (avahāram) - retreat; अरोचयत् (arocayat) - approved;]
(Having seen the conquered and dispirited Somakas and great warriors, and having thought and meditated for a long time, he approved the retreat.)
Upon observing the defeated and demoralized Somakas and great warriors, and after contemplating and reflecting for a considerable time, he decided on a retreat.
ततोऽवहारं सैन्यानां चक्रे राजा युधिष्ठिरः। तथैव तव सैन्यानामवहारो ह्यभूत्तदा ॥६-१०३-५॥
tato'vahāraṃ sainyānāṃ cakre rājā yudhiṣṭhiraḥ। tathaiva tava sainyānāmavahāro hyabhūttadā ॥6-103-5॥
[ततः (tataḥ) - then; अवहारम् (avahāram) - withdrawal; सैन्यानाम् (sainyānām) - of the armies; चक्रे (cakre) - made; राजा (rājā) - king; युधिष्ठिरः (yudhiṣṭhiraḥ) - Yudhishthira; तथैव (tathaiva) - similarly; तव (tava) - your; सैन्यानाम् (sainyānām) - of the armies; अवहारः (avahāraḥ) - withdrawal; हि (hi) - indeed; अभूत् (abhūt) - was; तदा (tadā) - then;]
(Then King Yudhishthira made the withdrawal of the armies. Similarly, there was indeed the withdrawal of your armies at that time.)
Then King Yudhishthira ordered the retreat of the troops. Similarly, your troops also retreated at that time.
ततोऽवहारं सैन्यानां कृत्वा तत्र महारथाः। न्यविशन्त कुरुश्रेष्ठ सङ्ग्रामे क्षतविक्षताः ॥६-१०३-६॥
tato'vahāraṃ sainyānāṃ kṛtvā tatra mahārathāḥ। nyaviśanta kuruśreṣṭha saṅgrāme kṣatavikṣatāḥ ॥6-103-6॥
[ततः (tataḥ) - then; अवहारम् (avahāram) - withdrawal; सैन्यानाम् (sainyānām) - of the armies; कृत्वा (kṛtvā) - having done; तत्र (tatra) - there; महारथाः (mahārathāḥ) - great charioteers; न्यविशन्त (nyaviśanta) - settled; कुरुश्रेष्ठ (kuruśreṣṭha) - O best of the Kurus; सङ्ग्रामे (saṅgrāme) - in the battle; क्षतविक्षताः (kṣatavikṣatāḥ) - wounded and injured;]
(Then, having withdrawn the armies, the great charioteers settled there, O best of the Kurus, wounded and injured in the battle.)
After withdrawing their forces, the great charioteers, though wounded and injured, settled there, O best of the Kurus, in the battlefield.
भीष्मस्य समरे कर्म चिन्तयानास्तु पाण्डवाः। नालभन्त तदा शान्तिं भृशं भीष्मेण पीडिताः ॥६-१०३-७॥
bhīṣmasya samare karma cintayānāstu pāṇḍavāḥ। nālabhanta tadā śāntiṃ bhṛśaṃ bhīṣmeṇa pīḍitāḥ ॥6-103-7॥
[भीष्मस्य (bhīṣmasya) - of Bhishma; समरे (samare) - in battle; कर्म (karma) - deeds; चिन्तयानाः (cintayānāḥ) - thinking; तु (tu) - but; पाण्डवाः (pāṇḍavāḥ) - the Pandavas; न (na) - not; अलभन्त (alabhanta) - obtained; तदा (tadā) - then; शान्तिं (śāntiṃ) - peace; भृशं (bhṛśam) - greatly; भीष्मेण (bhīṣmeṇa) - by Bhishma; पीडिताः (pīḍitāḥ) - afflicted;]
(The Pandavas, thinking of Bhishma's deeds in battle, did not obtain peace then, greatly afflicted by Bhishma.)
The Pandavas were deeply troubled by Bhishma's actions in battle and could not find peace at that time due to his severe affliction.
भीष्मोऽपि समरे जित्वा पाण्डवान्सह सृञ्जयैः। पूज्यमानस्तव सुतैर्वन्द्यमानश्च भारत ॥६-१०३-८॥
bhīṣmo'pi samare jitvā pāṇḍavān saha sṛñjayaiḥ। pūjyamānas tava sutair vandyamānaś ca bhārata ॥6-103-8॥
[भीष्मः (bhīṣmaḥ) - Bhishma; अपि (api) - also; समरे (samare) - in battle; जित्वा (jitvā) - having conquered; पाण्डवान् (pāṇḍavān) - the Pandavas; सह (saha) - with; सृञ्जयैः (sṛñjayaiḥ) - the Srinjayas; पूज्यमानः (pūjyamānaḥ) - being honored; तव (tava) - your; सुतैः (sutaiḥ) - by sons; वन्द्यमानः (vandyamānaḥ) - being worshipped; च (ca) - and; भारत (bhārata) - O Bharata;]
(Bhishma also, having conquered the Pandavas and the Srinjayas in battle, being honored by your sons and being worshipped, O Bharata.)
Bhishma, having defeated the Pandavas and the Srinjayas in battle, was honored and worshipped by your sons, O Bharata.
न्यविशत्कुरुभिः सार्धं हृष्टरूपैः समन्ततः। ततो रात्रिः समभवत्सर्वभूतप्रमोहिनी ॥६-१०३-९॥
nyaviśatkurbhiḥ sārdhaṃ hṛṣṭarūpaiḥ samantataḥ। tato rātriḥ samabhavatsarvabhūtapramohinī ॥6-103-9॥
[न्यविशत् (nyaviśat) - entered; कुरुभिः (kurbhiḥ) - with the Kauravas; सार्धं (sārdhaṃ) - together; हृष्टरूपैः (hṛṣṭarūpaiḥ) - with joyful forms; समन्ततः (samantataḥ) - all around; ततः (tataḥ) - then; रात्रिः (rātriḥ) - night; समभवत् (samabhavat) - became; सर्वभूतप्रमोहिनी (sarvabhūtapramohinī) - deluding all beings;]
(Entered with the Kauravas together, with joyful forms all around. Then night became deluding all beings.)
The Kauravas, filled with joy, entered together from all sides. Then night fell, casting a spell of delusion over all beings.
तस्मिन्रात्रिमुखे घोरे पाण्डवा वृष्णिभिः सह। सृञ्जयाश्च दुराधर्षा मन्त्राय समुपाविशन् ॥६-१०३-१०॥
tasmin rātrimukhe ghore pāṇḍavā vṛṣṇibhiḥ saha। sṛñjayāś ca durādharṣā mantrāya samupāviśan ॥6-103-10॥
[तस्मिन् (tasmin) - in that; रात्रिमुखे (rātrimukhe) - night's beginning; घोरे (ghore) - terrible; पाण्डवाः (pāṇḍavāḥ) - Pāṇḍavas; वृष्णिभिः (vṛṣṇibhiḥ) - with Vṛṣṇis; सह (saha) - together; सृञ्जयाः (sṛñjayāḥ) - Sṛñjayas; च (ca) - and; दुराधर्षाः (durādharṣāḥ) - invincible; मन्त्राय (mantrāya) - for consultation; समुपाविशन् (samupāviśan) - sat down;]
(In that terrible night's beginning, the Pāṇḍavas, together with the Vṛṣṇis and the invincible Sṛñjayas, sat down for consultation.)
At the onset of that dreadful night, the Pāṇḍavas, along with the Vṛṣṇis and the formidable Sṛñjayas, gathered for a strategic meeting.
आत्मनिःश्रेयसं सर्वे प्राप्तकालं महाबलाः। मन्त्रयामासुरव्यग्रा मन्त्रनिश्चयकोविदाः ॥६-१०३-११॥
ātmaniḥśreyasaṃ sarve prāptakālaṃ mahābalāḥ। mantrayāmāsuravyagrā mantraniścayakovidāḥ ॥6-103-11॥
[आत्मनिःश्रेयसं (ātmaniḥśreyasaṃ) - for self-welfare; सर्वे (sarve) - all; प्राप्तकालं (prāptakālaṃ) - appropriate time; महाबलाः (mahābalāḥ) - mighty ones; मन्त्रयामासु: (mantrayāmāsuḥ) - consulted; अव्यग्रा (avyagrā) - attentively; मन्त्रनिश्चयकोविदाः (mantraniścayakovidāḥ) - experts in decision making;]
(For self-welfare, all the mighty ones consulted attentively at the appropriate time, being experts in decision making.)
All the mighty ones, being experts in decision making, attentively consulted at the appropriate time for their self-welfare.
ततो युधिष्ठिरो राजा मन्त्रयित्वा चिरं नृप। वासुदेवं समुद्वीक्ष्य वाक्यमेतदुवाच ह ॥६-१०३-१२॥
tato yudhiṣṭhiro rājā mantrayitvā ciraṃ nṛpa। vāsudevaṃ samudvīkṣya vākyametaduvāca ha ॥6-103-12॥
[ततः (tataḥ) - then; युधिष्ठिरः (yudhiṣṭhiraḥ) - Yudhishthira; राजा (rājā) - king; मन्त्रयित्वा (mantrayitvā) - having consulted; चिरम् (ciram) - for a long time; नृप (nṛpa) - O king; वासुदेवम् (vāsudevam) - Vasudeva; समुद्वीक्ष्य (samudvīkṣya) - having looked at; वाक्यम् (vākyam) - words; एतत् (etat) - this; उवाच (uvāca) - said; ह (ha) - indeed;]
(Then King Yudhishthira, having consulted for a long time, O king, having looked at Vasudeva, said these words indeed.)
Then King Yudhishthira, after consulting for a long time, looked at Vasudeva and spoke these words.
पश्य कृष्ण महात्मानं भीष्मं भीमपराक्रमम्। गजं नलवनानीव विमृद्नन्तं बलं मम ॥६-१०३-१३॥
paśya kṛṣṇa mahātmānaṃ bhīṣmaṃ bhīmaparākramam। gajaṃ nalavanānīva vimṛdnantaṃ balaṃ mama ॥6-103-13॥
[पश्य (paśya) - see; कृष्ण (kṛṣṇa) - Kṛṣṇa; महात्मानं (mahātmānaṃ) - great soul; भीष्मं (bhīṣmaṃ) - Bhīṣma; भीमपराक्रमम् (bhīmaparākramam) - of terrible prowess; गजं (gajaṃ) - elephant; नलवनानीव (nalavanānīva) - like unto Nalavana; विमृद्नन्तं (vimṛdnantaṃ) - crushing; बलं (balaṃ) - army; मम (mama) - my;]
(See Kṛṣṇa, the great soul, Bhīṣma of terrible prowess, crushing my army like an elephant crushes Nalavana.)
Behold Kṛṣṇa, the great soul, and Bhīṣma of immense strength, crushing my forces as an elephant crushes a forest of reeds.
न चैवैनं महात्मानमुत्सहामो निरीक्षितुम्। लेलिह्यमानं सैन्येषु प्रवृद्धमिव पावकम् ॥६-१०३-१४॥
na caivainaṃ mahātmānamutsahāmo nirīkṣitum। lelihyamānaṃ sainyeṣu pravṛddhamiva pāvakam ॥6-103-14॥
[न (na) - not; च (ca) - and; एव (eva) - indeed; एनम् (enam) - this; महात्मानम् (mahātmānam) - great soul; उत्सहामः (utsahāmaḥ) - we are able; निरीक्षितुम् (nirīkṣitum) - to behold; लेलिह्यमानम् (lelihyamānam) - licking; सैन्येषु (sainyeṣu) - among the armies; प्रवृद्धम् (pravṛddham) - grown; इव (iva) - like; पावकम् (pāvakam) - fire;]
(And indeed, we are not able to behold this great soul, licking among the armies, grown like fire.)
We cannot even look at this great soul, who is blazing among the armies like a growing fire.
यथा घोरो महानागस्तक्षको वै विषोल्बणः। तथा भीष्मो रणे कृष्ण तीक्ष्णशस्त्रः प्रतापवान् ॥६-१०३-१५॥
yathā ghorō mahānāgastakṣakō vai viṣōlbaṇaḥ। tathā bhīṣmō raṇē kṛṣṇa tīkṣṇaśastraḥ pratāpavān ॥6-103-15॥
[यथा (yathā) - as; घोरः (ghoraḥ) - terrible; महानागः (mahānāgaḥ) - great serpent; तक्षकः (takṣakaḥ) - Takshaka; वै (vai) - indeed; विषोल्बणः (viṣōlbaṇaḥ) - venomous; तथा (tathā) - so; भीष्मः (bhīṣmaḥ) - Bhishma; रणे (raṇe) - in battle; कृष्ण (kṛṣṇa) - Krishna; तीक्ष्णशस्त्रः (tīkṣṇaśastraḥ) - sharp weapon; प्रतापवान् (pratāpavān) - glorious;]
(As the terrible great serpent Takshaka is indeed venomous, so is Bhishma in battle, Krishna with sharp weapons, glorious.)
Just as the fearsome serpent Takshaka is known for his deadly venom, similarly, in battle, Bhishma is formidable, and Krishna wields sharp weapons with great prowess.
गृहीतचापः समरे विमुञ्चंश्च शिताञ्शरान्। शक्यो जेतुं यमः क्रुद्धो वज्रपाणिश्च देवराट् ॥६-१०३-१६॥
gṛhītacāpaḥ samare vimuñcaṃśca śitāñśarān। śakyo jetuṃ yamaḥ kruddho vajrapāṇiśca devarāṭ ॥6-103-16॥
[गृहीतचापः (gṛhītacāpaḥ) - holding a bow; समरे (samare) - in battle; विमुञ्चंश्च (vimuñcaṃśca) - and releasing; शितान् (śitān) - sharp; शरान् (śarān) - arrows; शक्यः (śakyaḥ) - capable; जेतुम् (jetum) - to conquer; यमः (yamaḥ) - Yama; क्रुद्धः (kruddhaḥ) - angry; वज्रपाणिः (vajrapāṇiḥ) - Vajrapani; च (ca) - and; देवराट् (devarāṭ) - the king of gods;]
(Holding a bow in battle and releasing sharp arrows, one is capable of conquering Yama, the angry Vajrapani, and the king of gods.)
Armed with a bow in the battlefield, releasing sharp arrows, one can overcome even Yama, the furious Vajrapani, and the king of gods.
वरुणः पाशभृद्वापि सगदो वा धनेश्वरः। न तु भीष्मः सुसङ्क्रुद्धः शक्यो जेतुं महाहवे ॥६-१०३-१७॥
varuṇaḥ pāśabhṛdvāpi sagado vā dhaneśvaraḥ। na tu bhīṣmaḥ susaṅkruddhaḥ śakyo jetuṃ mahāhave ॥6-103-17॥
[वरुणः (varuṇaḥ) - Varuna; पाशभृत् (pāśabhṛt) - bearer of noose; वा (vā) - or; अपि (api) - even; सगदः (sagadaḥ) - with mace; वा (vā) - or; धनेश्वरः (dhaneśvaraḥ) - Kubera; न (na) - not; तु (tu) - but; भीष्मः (bhīṣmaḥ) - Bhishma; सुसङ्क्रुद्धः (susaṅkruddhaḥ) - very angry; शक्यः (śakyaḥ) - can be; जेतुम् (jetum) - defeated; महाहवे (mahāhave) - in great battle;]
(Varuna, the bearer of the noose, or even Kubera with a mace, cannot defeat the very angry Bhishma in a great battle.)
Neither Varuna, the god of water, nor Kubera, the lord of wealth, even with all their might, can defeat the enraged Bhishma in a great battle.
सोऽहमेवं गते कृष्ण निमग्नः शोकसागरे। आत्मनो बुद्धिदौर्बल्याद्भीष्ममासाद्य संयुगे ॥६-१०३-१८॥
so'ham evaṃ gate kṛṣṇa nimagnaḥ śokasāgare। ātmano buddhidaurbalyād bhīṣmam āsādya saṃyuge ॥6-103-18॥
[सः (saḥ) - he; अहम् (aham) - I; एवम् (evam) - thus; गते (gate) - gone; कृष्ण (kṛṣṇa) - O Krishna; निमग्नः (nimagnaḥ) - immersed; शोकसागरे (śokasāgare) - in the ocean of sorrow; आत्मनः (ātmanas) - of self; बुद्धिदौर्बल्यात् (buddhidaurbalyāt) - due to weakness of intellect; भीष्मम् (bhīṣmam) - Bhishma; आसाद्य (āsādya) - having approached; संयुगे (saṃyuge) - in battle;]
(He, thus gone, O Krishna, immersed in the ocean of sorrow, due to weakness of intellect, having approached Bhishma in battle.)
Thus, O Krishna, I am immersed in an ocean of sorrow, having approached Bhishma in battle due to my own weakness of intellect.
वनं यास्यामि दुर्धर्ष श्रेयो मे तत्र वै गतम्। न युद्धं रोचये कृष्ण हन्ति भीष्मो हि नः सदा ॥६-१०३-१९॥
vanaṁ yāsyāmi durdharṣa śreyo me tatra vai gatam। na yuddhaṁ rocaye kṛṣṇa hanti bhīṣmo hi naḥ sadā ॥6-103-19॥
[वनम् (vanam) - forest; यास्यामि (yāsyāmi) - I will go; दुर्धर्ष (durdharṣa) - O unassailable one; श्रेयः (śreyaḥ) - better; मे (me) - for me; तत्र (tatra) - there; वै (vai) - indeed; गतम् (gatam) - gone; न (na) - not; युद्धम् (yuddham) - war; रोचये (rocaye) - I like; कृष्ण (kṛṣṇa) - O Krishna; हन्ति (hanti) - kills; भीष्मः (bhīṣmaḥ) - Bhishma; हि (hi) - indeed; नः (naḥ) - us; सदा (sadā) - always;]
(I will go to the forest, O unassailable one, for it is better for me there indeed. I do not like war, O Krishna, for Bhishma always kills us.)
I have decided to go to the forest, O unassailable one, as it is truly better for me there. I do not favor war, O Krishna, because Bhishma is always a threat to us.
यथा प्रज्वलितं वह्निं पतङ्गः समभिद्रवन्। एकतो मृत्युमभ्येति तथाहं भीष्ममीयिवान् ॥६-१०३-२०॥
yathā prajvalitaṃ vahniṃ pataṅgaḥ samabhidravan। ekato mṛtyumabyeti tathāhaṃ bhīṣmamīyivān ॥6-103-20॥
[यथा (yathā) - just as; प्रज्वलितं (prajvalitaṃ) - blazing; वह्निं (vahniṃ) - fire; पतङ्गः (pataṅgaḥ) - moth; समभिद्रवन् (samabhidravan) - rushes towards; एकतः (ekataḥ) - one side; मृत्युम् (mṛtyum) - death; अभ्येति (abyeti) - approaches; तथा (tathā) - so; अहम् (aham) - I; भीष्मम् (bhīṣmam) - Bhishma; ईयिवान् (īyivān) - went.;]
(Just as a moth rushes towards a blazing fire and approaches death on one side, so did I go towards Bhishma.)
Just as a moth rushes towards a blazing fire, meeting its death, so too did I advance towards Bhishma, accepting the inevitable fate.
क्षयं नीतोऽस्मि वार्ष्णेय राज्यहेतोः पराक्रमी। भ्रातरश्चैव मे शूराः सायकैर्भृशपीडिताः ॥६-१०३-२१॥
kṣayaṃ nīto'smi vārṣṇeya rājyahetoḥ parākramī। bhrātaraścaiva me śūrāḥ sāyakairbhṛśapīḍitāḥ ॥6-103-21॥
[क्षयम् (kṣayam) - destruction; नीतः (nītaḥ) - led; अस्मि (asmi) - am; वार्ष्णेय (vārṣṇeya) - O descendant of Vṛṣṇi; राज्यहेतोः (rājyahetoḥ) - for the sake of the kingdom; पराक्रमी (parākramī) - valiant; भ्रातरः (bhrātaraḥ) - brothers; च (ca) - and; एव (eva) - indeed; मे (me) - my; शूराः (śūrāḥ) - heroes; सायकैः (sāyakaiḥ) - by arrows; भृशपीडिताः (bhṛśapīḍitāḥ) - severely afflicted;]
(I am led to destruction, O descendant of Vṛṣṇi, for the sake of the kingdom, being valiant. And my brothers, the heroes, are severely afflicted by arrows.)
I have been brought to ruin, O descendant of Vṛṣṇi, due to my valiant efforts for the kingdom. My brothers, who are heroes, have also been severely wounded by arrows.
मत्कृते भ्रातृसौहार्दाद्राज्यात्प्रभ्रंशनं गताः। परिक्लिष्टा तथा कृष्णा मत्कृते मधुसूदन ॥६-१०३-२२॥
matkṛte bhrātṛsauhārdādrājyātprabhraṁśanaṁ gatāḥ। parikliṣṭā tathā kṛṣṇā matkṛte madhusūdana ॥6-103-22॥
[मत्कृते (matkṛte) - for my sake; भ्रातृसौहार्दात् (bhrātṛsauhārdāt) - due to brotherly affection; राज्यात् (rājyāt) - from the kingdom; प्रभ्रंशनं (prabhraṁśanaṁ) - falling; गताः (gatāḥ) - have gone; परिक्लिष्टा (parikliṣṭā) - distressed; तथा (tathā) - also; कृष्णा (kṛṣṇā) - Kṛṣṇā; मत्कृते (matkṛte) - for my sake; मधुसूदन (madhusūdana) - O Madhusūdana;]
(For my sake, due to brotherly affection, they have fallen from the kingdom. Distressed also is Kṛṣṇā for my sake, O Madhusūdana.)
O Madhusūdana, for my sake, my brothers have lost their kingdom due to their affection for me. Kṛṣṇā is also distressed for my sake.
जीवितं बहु मन्येऽहं जीवितं ह्यद्य दुर्लभम्। जीवितस्याद्य शेषेण चरिष्ये धर्ममुत्तमम् ॥६-१०३-२३॥
jīvitaṃ bahu manye'haṃ jīvitaṃ hyadya durlabham। jīvitasyaadya śeṣeṇa cariṣye dharmamuttamam ॥6-103-23॥
[जीवितं (jīvitaṃ) - life; बहु (bahu) - much; मन््ये (manye) - I consider; अहम् (aham) - I; जीवितं (jīvitaṃ) - life; हि (hi) - indeed; अद्य (adya) - today; दुर्लभम् (durlabham) - rare; जीवितस्य (jīvitasya) - of life; अद्य (adya) - today; शेषेण (śeṣeṇa) - with the remaining; चरिष्ये (cariṣye) - I will practice; धर्मम् (dharmam) - dharma; उत्तमम् (uttamam) - supreme;]
(I consider life to be very valuable; indeed, today life is rare. With the remaining life today, I will practice the supreme dharma.)
I hold life in high regard, for today it is truly rare. With the life that remains today, I shall pursue the highest dharma.
यदि तेऽहमनुग्राह्यो भ्रातृभिः सह केशव। स्वधर्मस्याविरोधेन तदुदाहर केशव ॥६-१०३-२४॥
yadi te'hamanugrāhyo bhrātṛbhiḥ saha keśava। svadharmasyāvirodhena tadudāhara keśava ॥6-103-24॥
[यदि (yadi) - if; ते (te) - you; अहम् (aham) - I; अनुग्राह्यः (anugrāhyaḥ) - worthy of favor; भ्रातृभिः (bhrātṛbhiḥ) - by brothers; सह (saha) - with; केशव (keśava) - O Keśava; स्वधर्मस्य (svadharmasya) - of own duty; अविरोधेन (avirodhena) - without opposition; तत् (tad) - that; उदाहर (udāhara) - speak; केशव (keśava) - O Keśava;]
(If I am worthy of favor by the brothers, O Keśava, speak that without opposition to one's own duty, O Keśava.)
O Keśava, if I am worthy of favor by the brothers, then speak that which does not oppose one's own duty, O Keśava.
एतच्छ्रुत्वा वचस्तस्य कारुण्याद्बहुविस्तरम्। प्रत्युवाच ततः कृष्णः सान्त्वयानो युधिष्ठिरम् ॥६-१०३-२५॥
etacchrutvā vacastasya kāruṇyādbahu-vistaram। pratyuvāca tataḥ kṛṣṇaḥ sāntvayāno yudhiṣṭhiram ॥6-103-25॥
[एतत् (etat) - this; श्रुत्वा (śrutvā) - having heard; वचः (vacaḥ) - words; तस्य (tasya) - his; कारुण्यात् (kāruṇyāt) - out of compassion; बहु (bahu) - much; विस्तरम् (vistaram) - in detail; प्रत्युवाच (pratyuvāca) - replied; ततः (tataḥ) - then; कृष्णः (kṛṣṇaḥ) - Krishna; सान्त्वयानः (sāntvayānaḥ) - consoling; युधिष्ठिरम् (yudhiṣṭhiram) - Yudhishthira;]
(Having heard these words of his, out of compassion, Krishna then replied in detail, consoling Yudhishthira.)
Upon hearing these extensive and compassionate words, Krishna then replied to Yudhishthira, offering him consolation.
धर्मपुत्र विषादं त्वं मा कृथाः सत्यसङ्गर। यस्य ते भ्रातरः शूरा दुर्जयाः शत्रुसूदनाः ॥६-१०३-२६॥
dharmaputra viṣādaṃ tvaṃ mā kṛthāḥ satyasaṅgara। yasya te bhrātaraḥ śūrā durjayāḥ śatrusūdanāḥ ॥6-103-26॥
[धर्मपुत्र (dharmaputra) - O son of Dharma; विषादं (viṣādam) - despair; त्वं (tvaṃ) - you; मा (mā) - do not; कृथाः (kṛthāḥ) - engage in; सत्यसङ्गर (satyasaṅgara) - O true warrior; यस्य (yasya) - whose; ते (te) - your; भ्रातरः (bhrātaraḥ) - brothers; शूरा (śūrā) - heroes; दुर्जयाः (durjayāḥ) - invincible; शत्रुसूदनाः (śatrusūdanāḥ) - destroyers of enemies;]
(O son of Dharma, do not despair, O true warrior. Your brothers, who are heroes, are invincible and destroyers of enemies.)
O son of Dharma, do not lose heart, O true warrior. Your brothers are valiant and unbeatable, the vanquishers of foes.
अर्जुनो भीमसेनश्च वाय्वग्निसमतेजसौ। माद्रीपुत्रौ च विक्रान्तौ त्रिदशानामिवेश्वरौ ॥६-१०३-२७॥
arjuno bhīmasenaśca vāyvagnisamatejasau। mādrīputrau ca vikrāntau tridaśānāmiveśvarau ॥6-103-27॥
[अर्जुनः (arjunaḥ) - Arjuna; भीमसेनः (bhīmasenaḥ) - Bhimasena; च (ca) - and; वायुः (vāyuḥ) - wind; अग्निः (agniḥ) - fire; समः (samaḥ) - equal; तेजसः (tejasah) - in brilliance; माद्रीपुत्रौ (mādrīputrau) - sons of Madri; च (ca) - and; विक्रान्तौ (vikrāntau) - valiant; त्रिदशानाम् (tridaśānām) - of the gods; इव (iva) - like; ईश्वरौ (īśvarau) - lords;]
(Arjuna and Bhimasena, equal in brilliance to wind and fire, the valiant sons of Madri, like lords of the gods.)
Arjuna and Bhimasena, with brilliance comparable to the wind and fire, stood valiant like the lords among the gods, as the sons of Madri.
मां वा नियुङ्क्ष्व सौहार्दाद्योत्स्ये भीष्मेण पाण्डव। त्वत्प्रयुक्तो ह्यहं राजन्किं न कुर्यां महाहवे ॥६-१०३-२८॥
māṁ vā niyuṅkṣva sauhārdādyotsye bhīṣmeṇa pāṇḍava। tvatprayukto hyahaṁ rājankiṁ na kuryāṁ mahāhave ॥6-103-28॥
[मां (māṁ) - me; वा (vā) - or; नियुङ्क्ष्व (niyuṅkṣva) - appoint; सौहार्दात् (sauhārdāt) - out of friendship; योत्स्ये (yotsye) - I will fight; भीष्मेण (bhīṣmeṇa) - with Bhishma; पाण्डव (pāṇḍava) - O Pandava; त्वत् (tvat) - by you; प्रयुक्तः (prayuktaḥ) - engaged; हि (hi) - indeed; अहम् (aham) - I; राजन् (rājan) - O King; किं (kiṁ) - what; न (na) - not; कुर्याम् (kuryām) - shall I do; महाहवे (mahāhave) - in the great battle;]
(Me or appoint out of friendship, I will fight with Bhishma, O Pandava. Engaged by you indeed, O King, what shall I not do in the great battle?)
"O Pandava, either appoint me out of friendship, and I shall fight with Bhishma. For, O King, being engaged by you, what would I not do in this great battle?"
हनिष्यामि रणे भीष्ममाहूय पुरुषर्षभम्। पश्यतां धार्तराष्ट्राणां यदि नेच्छति फल्गुनः ॥६-१०३-२९॥
haniṣyāmi raṇe bhīṣmamāhūya puruṣarṣabham। paśyatāṃ dhārtarāṣṭrāṇāṃ yadi necchati phalgunaḥ ॥6-103-29॥
[हनिष्यामि (haniṣyāmi) - I shall slay; रणे (raṇe) - in battle; भीष्मम् (bhīṣmam) - Bhishma; आहूय (āhūya) - having called; पुरुषर्षभम् (puruṣarṣabham) - the best among men; पश्यताम् (paśyatām) - in the presence; धार्तराष्ट्राणाम् (dhārtarāṣṭrāṇām) - of the sons of Dhritarashtra; यदि (yadi) - if; न (na) - not; इच्छति (icchati) - wishes; फल्गुनः (phalgunaḥ) - Arjuna;]
(I shall slay Bhishma in battle, having called the best among men, in the presence of the sons of Dhritarashtra, if Arjuna does not wish.)
I will call upon the best among men and slay Bhishma in battle, in front of the sons of Dhritarashtra, if Arjuna does not wish to do so.
यदि भीष्मे हते राजञ्जयं पश्यसि पाण्डव। हन्तास्म्येकरथेनाद्य कुरुवृद्धं पितामहम् ॥६-१०३-३०॥
yadi bhīṣme hate rājañjayaṃ paśyasi pāṇḍava। hantāsmyekarathenādya kuruvṛddhaṃ pitāmaham ॥6-103-30॥
[यदि (yadi) - if; भीष्मे (bhīṣme) - Bhishma; हते (hate) - slain; राजन् (rājan) - O king; जयम् (jayaṃ) - victory; पश्यसि (paśyasi) - you see; पाण्डव (pāṇḍava) - O Pandava; हन्तास्मि (hantāsmi) - I will kill; एकरथेन (ekarathena) - with one chariot; अद्य (adya) - today; कुरुवृद्धम् (kuruvṛddham) - the elder of the Kurus; पितामहम् (pitāmaham) - grandfather;]
(If Bhishma is slain, O king, and you see victory, O Pandava, I will kill the elder of the Kurus, the grandfather, with one chariot today.)
If Bhishma is defeated, O king, and you foresee victory, O Pandava, I shall slay the elder of the Kurus, the grandfather, with a single chariot today.
पश्य मे विक्रमं राजन्महेन्द्रस्येव संयुगे। विमुञ्चन्तं महास्त्राणि पातयिष्यामि तं रथात् ॥६-१०३-३१॥
paśya me vikramaṃ rājanmahendrasyeva saṃyuge। vimuñcantaṃ mahāstrāṇi pātayiṣyāmi taṃ rathāt ॥6-103-31॥
[पश्य (paśya) - see; मे (me) - my; विक्रमं (vikramaṃ) - prowess; राजन् (rājan) - O king; महेन्द्रस्य (mahendrasya) - of Mahendra; इव (iva) - like; संयुगे (saṃyuge) - in battle; विमुञ्चन्तं (vimuñcantaṃ) - releasing; महास्त्राणि (mahāstrāṇi) - great weapons; पातयिष्यामि (pātayiṣyāmi) - I will bring down; तम् (tam) - him; रथात् (rathāt) - from the chariot;]
(See my prowess, O king, like that of Mahendra in battle; releasing great weapons, I will bring him down from the chariot.)
"Behold my prowess, O king, akin to that of Mahendra in battle; as I release mighty weapons, I shall bring him down from his chariot."
यः शत्रुः पाण्डुपुत्राणां मच्छत्रुः स न संशयः। मदर्था भवदर्था ये ये मदीयास्तवैव ते ॥६-१०३-३२॥
yaḥ śatruḥ pāṇḍuputrāṇāṃ macchatruḥ sa na saṃśayaḥ। madarthā bhavadarthā ye ye madīyāstavaiva te ॥6-103-32॥
[यः (yaḥ) - who; शत्रुः (śatruḥ) - enemy; पाण्डुपुत्राणां (pāṇḍuputrāṇāṃ) - of the sons of Pandu; मच्छत्रुः (macchatruḥ) - my enemy; स (sa) - he; न (na) - not; संशयः (saṃśayaḥ) - doubt; मदर्था (madarthā) - for me; भवदर्था (bhavadarthā) - for you; ये (ye) - those who; ये (ye) - those who; मदीयाः (madīyāḥ) - mine; तवैव (tavaiva) - yours indeed; ते (te) - they;]
(He who is the enemy of the sons of Pandu is undoubtedly my enemy. Those who are for me are for you; those who are mine are indeed yours.)
The enemy of the Pandavas is certainly my enemy. Those who support me support you; what is mine is yours.
तव भ्राता मम सखा सम्बन्धी शिष्य एव च। मांसान्युत्कृत्य वै दद्यामर्जुनार्थे महीपते ॥६-१०३-३३॥
tava bhrātā mama sakhā sambandhī śiṣya eva ca। māṁsānyutkṛtya vai dadyāmarjunārthe mahīpate ॥6-103-33॥
[तव (tava) - your; भ्राता (bhrātā) - brother; मम (mama) - my; सखा (sakhā) - friend; सम्बन्धी (sambandhī) - relative; शिष्य (śiṣya) - disciple; एव (eva) - indeed; च (ca) - and; मांसानि (māṁsāni) - flesh; उत्कृत्य (utkṛtya) - cut; वै (vai) - indeed; दद्याम् (dadyām) - I would give; अर्जुनार्थे (arjunārthe) - for Arjuna's sake; महीपते (mahīpate) - O king of the earth;]
(Your brother, my friend, relative, and disciple indeed. Cutting the flesh, I would indeed give it for Arjuna's sake, O king of the earth.)
Your brother is my friend, relative, and disciple. I would indeed cut the flesh and give it for Arjuna's sake, O king.
एष चापि नरव्याघ्रो मत्कृते जीवितं त्यजेत्। एष नः समयस्तात तारयेम परस्परम् ॥ स मां नियुङ्क्ष्व राजेन्द्र यावद्द्वीपो भवाम्यहम् ॥६-१०३-३४॥
eṣa cāpi naravyāghro matkṛte jīvitaṃ tyajet। eṣa naḥ samayastāta tārayema parasparam ॥ sa māṃ niyuṅkṣva rājendra yāvaddvīpo bhavāmyaham ॥6-103-34॥
[एषः (eṣaḥ) - this; च (ca) - and; अपि (api) - also; नरव्याघ्रः (naravyāghraḥ) - tiger among men; मत्कृते (matkṛte) - for my sake; जीवितम् (jīvitam) - life; त्यजेत् (tyajet) - would give up; एषः (eṣaḥ) - this; नः (naḥ) - our; समयः (samayaḥ) - agreement; तात (tāta) - dear; तारयेम (tārayema) - we should save; परस्परम् (parasparam) - each other; सः (saḥ) - he; माम् (mām) - me; नियुङ्क्ष्व (niyuṅkṣva) - command; राजेन्द्र (rājendra) - O king; यावत् (yāvat) - as long as; द्वीपः (dvīpaḥ) - island; भवामि (bhavāmi) - I become; अहम् (aham) - I;]
(This tiger among men would also give up his life for my sake. This is our agreement, dear, that we should save each other. Command me, O king, as long as I become an island.)
This noble warrior is willing to sacrifice his life for my sake. We have a pact, dear friend, to support each other. Command me, O king, as long as I am able to stand firm.
प्रतिज्ञातमुपप्लव्ये यत्तत्पार्थेन पूर्वतः। घातयिष्यामि गाङ्गेयमित्युलूकस्य संनिधौ ॥६-१०३-३५॥
pratijñātamupaplavye yattatpārthena pūrvataḥ। ghātayiṣyāmi gāṅgeyamitīlūkasya saṃnidhau ॥6-103-35॥
[प्रतिज्ञातम् (pratijñātam) - promised; उपप्लव्ये (upaplavye) - at Upaplavya; यत् (yat) - which; तत् (tat) - that; पार्थेन (pārthena) - by Pārtha; पूर्वतः (pūrvataḥ) - before; घातयिष्यामि (ghātayiṣyāmi) - I will kill; गाङ्गेयम् (gāṅgeyami) - Gāṅgeya; इति (iti) - thus; उलूकस्य (ulūkasya) - of Uluka; संनिधौ (saṃnidhau) - in the presence;]
(Promised at Upaplavya, which was that by Pārtha before: 'I will kill Gāṅgeya', thus in the presence of Uluka.)
Pārtha had previously promised at Upaplavya, in the presence of Uluka, that he would kill Gāṅgeya.
परिरक्ष्यं च मम तद्वचः पार्थस्य धीमतः। अनुज्ञातं तु पार्थेन मया कार्यं न संशयः ॥६-१०३-३६॥
parirakṣyaṃ ca mama tadvacaḥ pārthasya dhīmataḥ। anujñātaṃ tu pārthena mayā kāryaṃ na saṃśayaḥ ॥6-103-36॥
[परिरक्ष्यं (parirakṣyaṃ) - to be protected; च (ca) - and; मम (mama) - my; तद्वचः (tadvacaḥ) - that word; पार्थस्य (pārthasya) - of Pārtha; धीमतः (dhīmataḥ) - wise; अनुज्ञातं (anujñātaṃ) - permitted; तु (tu) - but; पार्थेन (pārthena) - by Pārtha; मया (mayā) - by me; कार्यं (kāryaṃ) - to be done; न (na) - no; संशयः (saṃśayaḥ) - doubt;]
(To be protected is my word of Pārtha, the wise. Permitted by Pārtha, by me, it is to be done without doubt.)
The wise Pārtha's word is to be protected, and what is permitted by Pārtha is to be done by me without any doubt.
अथ वा फल्गुनस्यैष भारः परिमितो रणे। निहनिष्यति सङ्ग्रामे भीष्मं परपुरञ्जयम् ॥६-१०३-३७॥
atha vā phalgunasya eṣa bhāraḥ parimito raṇe। nihaniṣyati saṅgrāme bhīṣmaṃ parapurañjayam ॥6-103-37॥
[अथ (atha) - then; वा (vā) - or; फल्गुनस्य (phalgunasya) - of Arjuna; एषः (eṣaḥ) - this; भारः (bhāraḥ) - burden; परिमितः (parimitaḥ) - limited; रणे (raṇe) - in battle; निहनिष्यति (nihaniṣyati) - will slay; सङ्ग्रामे (saṅgrāme) - in the war; भीष्मम् (bhīṣmam) - Bhishma; परपुरञ्जयम् (parapurañjayam) - the conqueror of enemy cities;]
(Then or this burden of Arjuna, limited in battle, will slay Bhishma, the conqueror of enemy cities, in the war.)
Then, or perhaps, this burden of Arjuna, though limited in battle, will be enough to slay Bhishma, the conqueror of enemy cities, in the war.
अशक्यमपि कुर्याद्धि रणे पार्थः समुद्यतः। त्रिदशान्वा समुद्युक्तान्सहितान्दैत्यदानवैः ॥ निहन्यादर्जुनः सङ्ख्ये किमु भीष्मं नराधिप ॥६-१०३-३८॥
aśakyamapi kuryāddhi raṇe pārthaḥ samudyataḥ। tridaśānvā samudyuktān sahitān daityadānavaiḥ ॥ nihanyādarjunaḥ saṅkhye kimu bhīṣmaṃ narādhipa ॥6-103-38॥
[अशक्यम् (aśakyam) - impossible; अपि (api) - even; कुर्यात् (kuryāt) - can do; हि (hi) - indeed; रणे (raṇe) - in battle; पार्थः (pārthaḥ) - Arjuna; समुद्यतः (samudyataḥ) - prepared; त्रिदशान् (tridaśān) - the gods; वा (vā) - or; समुद्युक्तान् (samudyuktān) - equipped; सहितान् (sahitān) - together with; दैत्यदानवैः (daityadānavaiḥ) - with demons and giants; निहन्यात् (nihanyāt) - could slay; अर्जुनः (arjunaḥ) - Arjuna; सङ्ख्ये (saṅkhye) - in battle; किमु (kimu) - what to say of; भीष्मम् (bhīṣmam) - Bhishma; नराधिप (narādhipa) - O king;]
(Even the impossible can be done by Arjuna in battle when prepared; he could slay the gods equipped together with demons and giants, what to say of Bhishma, O king.)
Arjuna, when prepared for battle, can achieve even the impossible; he could defeat the gods along with demons and giants, let alone Bhishma, O king.
विपरीतो महावीर्यो गतसत्त्वोऽल्पजीवितः। भीष्मः शान्तनवो नूनं कर्तव्यं नावबुध्यते ॥६-१०३-३९॥
viparīto mahāvīryo gatasattvo'lpajīvitaḥ। bhīṣmaḥ śāntanavo nūnaṃ kartavyaṃ nāvabudhyate ॥6-103-39॥
[विपरीतः (viparītaḥ) - reversed; महावीर्यः (mahāvīryaḥ) - great hero; गतसत्त्वः (gatasattvaḥ) - devoid of strength; अल्पजीवितः (alpajīvitaḥ) - short-lived; भीष्मः (bhīṣmaḥ) - Bhishma; शान्तनवः (śāntanavaḥ) - son of Shantanu; नूनं (nūnam) - certainly; कर्तव्यम् (kartavyam) - duty; न (na) - not; अवबुध्यते (avabudhyate) - understands;]
(Reversed, great hero, devoid of strength, short-lived, Bhishma, son of Shantanu, certainly does not understand the duty.)
Bhishma, the son of Shantanu, though a great hero, is now reversed in his strength and short-lived, certainly does not understand his duty.
युधिष्ठिर उवाच॥
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca॥
[युधिष्ठिर (yudhiṣṭhira) - Yudhishthira; उवाच (uvāca) - said;]
(Yudhishthira said:)
Yudhishthira spoke:
एवमेतन्महाबाहो यथा वदसि माधव। सर्वे ह्येते न पर्याप्तास्तव वेगनिवारणे ॥६-१०३-४०॥
evam etan mahābāho yathā vadasi mādhava। sarve hy ete na paryāptās tava veganivāraṇe ॥6-103-40॥
[एवम् (evam) - thus; एतत् (etat) - this; महाबाहो (mahābāho) - O mighty-armed one; यथा (yathā) - as; वदसि (vadasi) - you say; माधव (mādhava) - O Mādhava; सर्वे (sarve) - all; हि (hi) - indeed; एते (ete) - these; न (na) - not; पर्याप्ताः (paryāptāḥ) - sufficient; तव (tava) - your; वेग (vega) - force; निवारणे (nivāraṇe) - in stopping;]
(Thus, O mighty-armed one, as you say, O Mādhava, all these are indeed not sufficient to stop your force.)
O mighty-armed Mādhava, as you have said, all these are indeed insufficient to withstand your force.
नियतं समवाप्स्यामि सर्वमेव यथेप्सितम्। यस्य मे पुरुषव्याघ्र भवान्नाथो महाबलः ॥६-१०३-४१॥
niyataṃ samavāpsyāmi sarvameva yathepsitam। yasya me puruṣavyāghra bhavānnātho mahābalaḥ ॥6-103-41॥
[नियतं (niyatam) - certainly; समवाप्स्यामि (samavāpsyāmi) - I will obtain; सर्वम् (sarvam) - all; एव (eva) - indeed; यथ (yatha) - as; इप्सितम् (ipsitam) - desired; यस्य (yasya) - whose; मे (me) - my; पुरुषव्याघ्र (puruṣavyāghra) - tiger among men; भवान् (bhavān) - you; नाथः (nāthaḥ) - protector; महाबलः (mahābalaḥ) - mighty;]
(Certainly, I will obtain all as desired, whose protector you are, O mighty tiger among men.)
Certainly, I will achieve everything I desire, as you, O mighty tiger among men, are my protector.
सेन्द्रानपि रणे देवाञ्जयेयं जयतां वर। त्वया नाथेन गोविन्द किमु भीष्मं महाहवे ॥६-१०३-४२॥
sendrānapi raṇe devāñjayeyaṃ jayatāṃ vara। tvayā nāthena govinda kimu bhīṣmaṃ mahāhave ॥6-103-42॥
[सेन्द्रान् (sendrān) - with Indra and; अपि (api) - even; रणे (raṇe) - in battle; देवान् (devān) - gods; जयेयम् (jayeyam) - I can conquer; जयताम् (jayatām) - of the victorious; वर (vara) - best; त्वया (tvayā) - by you; नाथेन (nāthena) - as the protector; गोविन्द (govinda) - O Govinda; किमु (kimu) - what to say of; भीष्मम् (bhīṣmam) - Bhishma; महाहवे (mahāhave) - in the great battle;]
(With Indra and even in battle, I can conquer the gods, O best of the victorious. With you as the protector, O Govinda, what to say of Bhishma in the great battle?)
O Govinda, with you as my protector, I can conquer even the gods along with Indra in battle. What then of Bhishma in this great war?
न तु त्वामनृतं कर्तुमुत्सहे स्वार्थगौरवात्। अयुध्यमानः साहाय्यं यथोक्तं कुरु माधव ॥६-१०३-४३॥
na tu tvāmanṛtaṃ kartumutsahe svārthagauravāt। ayudhyamānaḥ sāhāyyaṃ yathoktaṃ kuru mādhava ॥6-103-43॥
[न (na) - not; तु (tu) - but; त्वाम् (tvām) - you; अनृतम् (anṛtam) - falsehood; कर्तुम् (kartum) - to do; उत्सहे (utsahe) - I am able; स्वार्थगौरवात् (svārthagauravāt) - for the sake of self-respect; अयुध्यमानः (ayudhyamānaḥ) - not fighting; साहाय्यम् (sāhāyyam) - help; यथोक्तम् (yathoktam) - as stated; कुरु (kuru) - do; माधव (mādhava) - O Mādhava;]
(But I am not able to commit falsehood for the sake of self-respect. O Mādhava, do the help as stated without fighting.)
However, I cannot bring myself to speak falsehood for the sake of my own honor. O Mādhava, please assist as promised without engaging in battle.
समयस्तु कृतः कश्चिद्भीष्मेण मम माधव। मन्त्रयिष्ये तवार्थाय न तु योत्स्ये कथञ्चन ॥ दुर्योधनार्थे योत्स्यामि सत्यमेतदिति प्रभो ॥६-१०३-४४॥
samayastu kṛtaḥ kaścidbhīṣmeṇa mama mādhava। mantrayiṣye tavārthāya na tu yotsye kathañcana ॥ duryodhanārthe yotsyāmi satyametaditi prabho ॥6-103-44॥
[समयः (samayaḥ) - agreement; तु (tu) - but; कृतः (kṛtaḥ) - made; कश्चित् (kaścit) - some; भीष्मेण (bhīṣmeṇa) - by Bhishma; मम (mama) - my; माधव (mādhava) - O Madhava; मन्त्रयिष्ये (mantrayiṣye) - I will counsel; तव (tava) - your; अर्थाय (arthāya) - for the purpose; न (na) - not; तु (tu) - but; योत्स्ये (yotsye) - I will fight; कथञ्चन (kathañcana) - in any way; दुर्योधनार्थे (duryodhanārthe) - for Duryodhana's sake; योत्स्यामि (yotsyāmi) - I will fight; सत्यम् (satyam) - truly; एतत् (etat) - this; इति (iti) - thus; प्रभो (prabho) - O lord;]
(An agreement was made by Bhishma, O Madhava, that I will counsel for your purpose but will not fight in any way. For Duryodhana's sake, I will fight; this is true, O lord.)
O Madhava, Bhishma made an agreement that I will advise you but not engage in battle in any way. However, for Duryodhana's cause, I will indeed fight; this is the truth, O lord.
स हि राज्यस्य मे दाता मन्त्रस्यैव च माधव। तस्माद्देवव्रतं भूयो वधोपायार्थमात्मनः ॥ भवता सहिताः सर्वे पृच्छामो मधुसूदन ॥६-१०३-४५॥
sa hi rājyasya me dātā mantrasyaiva ca mādhava। tasmāddevavrataṃ bhūyo vadhopāyārthamātmanaḥ ॥ bhavatā sahitāḥ sarve pṛcchāmo madhusūdana ॥6-103-45॥
[स (sa) - he; हि (hi) - indeed; राज्यस्य (rājyasya) - of the kingdom; मे (me) - my; दाता (dātā) - giver; मन्त्रस्य (mantrasya) - of counsel; एव (eva) - also; च (ca) - and; माधव (mādhava) - O Mādhava; तस्मात् (tasmāt) - therefore; देवव्रतं (devavrataṃ) - Devavrata; भूयः (bhūyaḥ) - again; वधोपायार्थम् (vadhopāyārtham) - for the means of killing; आत्मनः (ātmanaḥ) - for oneself; भवता (bhavatā) - by you; सहिताः (sahitāḥ) - together; सर्वे (sarve) - all; पृच्छामः (pṛcchāmaḥ) - we ask; मधुसूदन (madhusūdana) - O Madhusudana;]
(He is indeed the giver of my kingdom and counsel, O Mādhava. Therefore, we all ask you together, O Madhusudana, again for the means of killing Devavrata for oneself.)
He is indeed the one who grants me the kingdom and counsel, O Mādhava. Therefore, O Madhusudana, we all seek your guidance once more on how to bring about the end of Devavrata.
तद्वयं सहिता गत्वा भीष्ममाशु नरोत्तमम्। रुचिते तव वार्ष्णेय मन्त्रं पृच्छाम कौरवम् ॥६-१०३-४६॥
tadvayaṃ sahitā gatvā bhīṣmam āśu narottamam। rucite tava vārṣṇeya mantraṃ pṛcchāma kauravam ॥6-103-46॥
[तत् (tat) - that; वयम् (vayam) - we; सहिता (sahitā) - together; गत्वा (gatvā) - having gone; भीष्मम् (bhīṣmam) - Bhishma; आशु (āśu) - quickly; नर-उत्तमम् (nara-uttamam) - best of men; रुचिते (rucite) - pleasing; तव (tava) - your; वार्ष्णेय (vārṣṇeya) - O descendant of Vrishni; मन्त्रं (mantraṃ) - counsel; पृच्छाम (pṛcchāma) - we ask; कौरवम् (kauravam) - Kaurava;]
(Then we, having gone together, quickly to Bhishma, the best of men, ask your pleasing counsel, O descendant of Vrishni, to the Kaurava.)
Then we shall go together to Bhishma, the best of men, and quickly seek your pleasing counsel, O descendant of Vrishni, regarding the Kaurava.
स वक्ष्यति हितं वाक्यं तथ्यं चैव जनार्दन। यथा स वक्ष्यते कृष्ण तथा कर्तास्मि संयुगे ॥६-१०३-४७॥
sa vakṣyati hitaṃ vākyaṃ tathyaṃ caiva janārdana। yathā sa vakṣyate kṛṣṇa tathā kartāsmi saṃyuge ॥6-103-47॥
[स (sa) - he; वक्ष्यति (vakṣyati) - will speak; हितं (hitaṃ) - beneficial; वाक्यं (vākyaṃ) - words; तथ्यं (tathyaṃ) - truthful; च (ca) - and; एव (eva) - indeed; जनार्दन (janārdana) - O Janardana; यथा (yathā) - as; स (sa) - he; वक्ष्यते (vakṣyate) - will speak; कृष्ण (kṛṣṇa) - O Krishna; तथा (tathā) - so; कर्ता (kartā) - I will do; अस्मि (asmi) - am; संयुगे (saṃyuge) - in battle;]
(He will speak beneficial, truthful words, indeed, O Janardana. As he will speak, O Krishna, so I will do in battle.)
He will speak beneficial and truthful words, O Janardana. As he speaks, O Krishna, so shall I act in battle.
स नो जयस्य दाता च मन्त्रस्य च धृतव्रतः। बालाः पित्रा विहीनाश्च तेन संवर्धिता वयम् ॥६-१०३-४८॥
sa no jayasya dātā ca mantrasya ca dhṛtavrataḥ। bālāḥ pitrā vihīnāśca tena saṁvardhitā vayam ॥6-103-48॥
[स (sa) - he; नः (naḥ) - us; जयस्य (jayasya) - of victory; दाता (dātā) - giver; च (ca) - and; मन्त्रस्य (mantrasya) - of the counsel; च (ca) - and; धृतव्रतः (dhṛtavrataḥ) - steadfast in vows; बालाः (bālāḥ) - children; पित्रा (pitrā) - by the father; विहीनाः (vihīnāḥ) - deprived; च (ca) - and; तेन (tena) - by him; संवर्धिता (saṁvardhitā) - nurtured; वयम् (vayam) - we;]
(He, the giver of victory and of counsel, steadfast in vows, we, the children deprived of a father, were nurtured by him.)
He, who is steadfast in his vows, has been both the giver of victory and wise counsel to us. We, as children who were deprived of our father, have been nurtured by him.
तं चेत्पितामहं वृद्धं हन्तुमिच्छामि माधव। पितुः पितरमिष्टं वै धिगस्तु क्षत्रजीविकाम् ॥६-१०३-४९॥
taṁ cetpitāmahaṁ vṛddhaṁ hantumicchāmi mādhava। pituḥ pitaramiṣṭaṁ vai dhigastu kṣatrajīvikām ॥6-103-49॥
[तं (taṁ) - that; चेत् (cet) - if; पितामहम् (pitāmaham) - grandfather; वृद्धम् (vṛddham) - old; हन्तुम् (hantum) - to kill; इच्छामि (icchāmi) - I wish; माधव (mādhava) - Madhava; पितुः (pituḥ) - of father; पितरम् (pitaram) - father; इष्टम् (iṣṭam) - beloved; वै (vai) - indeed; धिगस्तु (dhigastu) - shame; क्षत्रजीविकाम् (kṣatrajīvikām) - warrior's life;]
(If I wish to kill that old grandfather, Madhava, the beloved father of my father, indeed, shame on the warrior's life.)
Madhava, if I desire to kill that aged grandfather, who is the beloved father of my father, then indeed, shame on the life of a warrior.
सञ्जय उवाच॥
sañjaya uvāca॥
[सञ्जय (sañjaya) - Sanjaya; उवाच (uvāca) - said;]
(Sanjaya said:)
Sanjaya said:
ततोऽब्रवीन्महाराज वार्ष्णेयः कुरुनन्दनम्। रोचते मे महाबाहो सततं तव भाषितम् ॥६-१०३-५०॥
tato'bravīn mahārāja vārṣṇeyaḥ kurunandanam। rocate me mahābāho satataṃ tava bhāṣitam ॥6-103-50॥
[ततः (tataḥ) - then; अब्रवीत् (abravīt) - said; महाराज (mahārāja) - O great king; वार्ष्णेयः (vārṣṇeyaḥ) - descendant of Vṛṣṇi; कुरुनन्दनम् (kurunandanam) - descendant of Kuru; रोचते (rocate) - pleases; मे (me) - me; महाबाहो (mahābāho) - O mighty-armed one; सततं (satatam) - always; तव (tava) - your; भाषितम् (bhāṣitam) - speech;]
(Then the descendant of Vṛṣṇi said to the descendant of Kuru, "O great king, O mighty-armed one, your speech always pleases me.")
Then the descendant of Vṛṣṇi addressed the descendant of Kuru, saying, "O great king, your words are always pleasing to me, O mighty-armed one."
देवव्रतः कृती भीष्मः प्रेक्षितेनापि निर्दहेत्। गम्यतां स वधोपायं प्रष्टुं सागरगासुतः ॥ वक्तुमर्हति सत्यं स त्वया पृष्टो विशेषतः ॥६-१०३-५१॥
devavrataḥ kṛtī bhīṣmaḥ prekṣitenāpi nirdahēt। gamyatāṁ sa vadhopāyaṁ praṣṭuṁ sāgaragāsutaḥ ॥ vaktumarhati satyaṁ sa tvayā pṛṣṭo viśēṣataḥ ॥6-103-51॥
[देवव्रतः (devavrataḥ) - Devavrata; कृती (kṛtī) - wise; भीष्मः (bhīṣmaḥ) - Bhishma; प्रेक्षितेन (prekṣitena) - by sight; अपि (api) - even; निर्दहेत् (nirdahēt) - can burn; गम्यतां (gamyatāṁ) - let it be approached; स (sa) - he; वधोपायं (vadhopāyaṁ) - means of killing; प्रष्टुं (praṣṭuṁ) - to ask; सागरगासुतः (sāgaragāsutaḥ) - son of the river; वक्तुमर्हति (vaktumarhati) - is worthy to speak; सत्यं (satyaṁ) - truth; स (sa) - he; त्वया (tvayā) - by you; पृष्टः (pṛṣṭaḥ) - asked; विशेषतः (viśēṣataḥ) - especially;]
(Devavrata, the wise Bhishma, can even burn by sight. Let it be approached to ask the son of the river about the means of killing. He is worthy to speak the truth, especially when asked by you.)
Devavrata, known as the wise Bhishma, possesses the power to destroy with just a glance. Approach him to inquire about the means to defeat him, as he, the son of the river, is the one who can truthfully reveal this, especially when questioned by you.
ते वयं तत्र गच्छामः प्रष्टुं कुरुपितामहम्। प्रणम्य शिरसा चैनं मन्त्रं पृच्छाम माधव ॥ स नो दास्यति यं मन्त्रं तेन योत्स्यामहे परान् ॥६-१०३-५२॥
te vayaṃ tatra gacchāmaḥ praṣṭuṃ kurupitāmaham। praṇamya śirasā cainaṃ mantraṃ pṛcchāma mādhava ॥ sa no dāsyati yaṃ mantraṃ tena yotsyāmahe parān ॥6-103-52॥
[ते (te) - they; वयम् (vayam) - we; तत्र (tatra) - there; गच्छामः (gacchāmaḥ) - go; प्रष्टुम् (praṣṭum) - to ask; कुरुपितामहम् (kurupitāmaham) - Kuru grandfather; प्रणम्य (praṇamya) - having bowed; शिरसा (śirasā) - with head; च (ca) - and; एनम् (enam) - him; मन्त्रं (mantraṃ) - counsel; पृच्छाम (pṛcchāma) - we ask; माधव (mādhava) - Madhava; सः (saḥ) - he; नः (naḥ) - to us; दास्यति (dāsyati) - will give; यम् (yam) - which; मन्त्रं (mantraṃ) - counsel; तेन (tena) - by that; योत्स्यामहे (yotsyāmahe) - we will fight; परान् (parān) - enemies;]
(They, we go there to ask the Kuru grandfather. Having bowed with head and him, we ask counsel, Madhava. He will give to us which counsel, by that we will fight the enemies.)
We will go there to ask the Kuru grandfather. After bowing our heads to him, we will ask for his counsel, Madhava. He will give us the counsel with which we will fight the enemies.
एवं संमन्त्र्य वै वीराः पाण्डवाः पाण्डुपूर्वज। जग्मुस्ते सहिताः सर्वे वासुदेवश्च वीर्यवान् ॥ विमुक्तशस्त्रकवचा भीष्मस्य सदनं प्रति ॥६-१०३-५३॥
evaṃ saṃmantrya vai vīrāḥ pāṇḍavāḥ pāṇḍupūrvaja। jagmuste sahitāḥ sarve vāsudevaśca vīryavān ॥ vimuktaśastrakavacā bhīṣmasya sadanaṃ prati ॥6-103-53॥
[एवं (evaṃ) - thus; संमन्त्र्य (saṃmantrya) - having consulted; वै (vai) - indeed; वीराः (vīrāḥ) - heroes; पाण्डवाः (pāṇḍavāḥ) - Pandavas; पाण्डुपूर्वज (pāṇḍupūrvaja) - eldest of the Pandavas; जग्मुः (jagmuḥ) - went; ते (te) - they; सहिताः (sahitāḥ) - together; सर्वे (sarve) - all; वासुदेवः (vāsudevaḥ) - Vasudeva; च (ca) - and; वीर्यवान् (vīryavān) - mighty; विमुक्तशस्त्रकवचा (vimuktaśastrakavacā) - unarmed; भीष्मस्य (bhīṣmasya) - of Bhishma; सदनं (sadanaṃ) - abode; प्रति (prati) - towards;]
(Thus, having consulted, indeed the heroes, the Pandavas, the eldest of the Pandavas, they all went together with the mighty Vasudeva, unarmed, towards the abode of Bhishma.)
After consulting among themselves, the heroic Pandavas, along with the mighty Vasudeva, proceeded unarmed towards Bhishma's abode.
प्रविश्य च तदा भीष्मं शिरोभिः प्रतिपेदिरे। पूजयन्तो महाराज पाण्डवा भरतर्षभ ॥ प्रणम्य शिरसा चैनं भीष्मं शरणमन्वयुः ॥६-१०३-५४॥
praviśya ca tadā bhīṣmaṃ śirobhiḥ pratipedire। pūjayanto mahārāja pāṇḍavā bharatarṣabha ॥ praṇamya śirasā cainaṃ bhīṣmaṃ śaraṇamanvayuḥ ॥6-103-54॥
[प्रविश्य (praviśya) - having entered; च (ca) - and; तदा (tadā) - then; भीष्मम् (bhīṣmam) - Bhishma; शिरोभिः (śirobhiḥ) - with heads; प्रतिपेदिरे (pratipedire) - approached; पूजयन्तः (pūjayantaḥ) - honoring; महाराज (mahārāja) - O great king; पाण्डवाः (pāṇḍavāḥ) - the Pandavas; भरतर्षभ (bharatarṣabha) - O bull of Bharata; प्रणम्य (praṇamya) - having bowed; शिरसा (śirasā) - with head; च (ca) - and; एनम् (enam) - him; भीष्मम् (bhīṣmam) - Bhishma; शरणम् (śaraṇam) - refuge; अन्वयुः (anvayuḥ) - sought;]
(Having entered, then they approached Bhishma with heads, honoring, O great king, the Pandavas, O bull of Bharata. Having bowed with head, and him, Bhishma, refuge sought.)
The Pandavas, having entered, approached Bhishma with bowed heads, honoring him. They sought refuge in Bhishma, O great king, O bull of Bharata.
तानुवाच महाबाहुर्भीष्मः कुरुपितामहः। स्वागतं तव वार्ष्णेय स्वागतं ते धनञ्जय ॥ स्वागतं धर्मपुत्राय भीमाय यमयोस्तथा ॥६-१०३-५५॥
tānuvāca mahābāhurbhīṣmaḥ kurupitāmahaḥ। svāgataṃ tava vārṣṇeya svāgataṃ te dhanañjaya ॥ svāgataṃ dharmaputrāya bhīmāya yamayostathā ॥6-103-55॥
[तानुवाच (tānuvāca) - thus spoke; महाबाहुः (mahābāhuḥ) - mighty-armed; भीष्मः (bhīṣmaḥ) - Bhishma; कुरुपितामहः (kurupitāmahaḥ) - the grandsire of the Kurus; स्वागतं (svāgatam) - welcome; तव (tava) - to you; वार्ष्णेय (vārṣṇeya) - O descendant of Vrishni; स्वागतं (svāgatam) - welcome; ते (te) - to you; धनञ्जय (dhanañjaya) - O Dhananjaya; स्वागतं (svāgatam) - welcome; धर्मपुत्राय (dharmaputrāya) - to Yudhishthira; भीमाय (bhīmāya) - to Bhima; यमयोः (yamayoḥ) - to the twins; तथा (tathā) - also;]
(Thus spoke the mighty-armed Bhishma, the grandsire of the Kurus: "Welcome to you, O descendant of Vrishni, welcome to you, O Dhananjaya. Welcome to Yudhishthira, to Bhima, and also to the twins.")
The mighty-armed Bhishma, the grandsire of the Kurus, addressed them, extending his welcome to Krishna, Arjuna, Yudhishthira, Bhima, and the twins, Nakula and Sahadeva.
किं कार्यं वः करोम्यद्य युष्मत्प्रीतिविवर्धनम्। सर्वात्मना च कर्तास्मि यद्यपि स्यात्सुदुष्करम् ॥६-१०३-५६॥
kiṁ kāryaṁ vaḥ karomyadya yuṣmatprītivivardhanam। sarvātmanā ca kartāsmi yadyapi syātsuduṣkaram ॥6-103-56॥
[किं (kiṁ) - what; कार्यं (kāryaṁ) - task; वः (vaḥ) - for you; करोमि (karomi) - I do; अद्य (adya) - today; युष्मत् (yuṣmat) - your; प्रीति (prīti) - pleasure; विवर्धनम् (vivardhanam) - enhancement; सर्वात्मना (sarvātmanā) - with all my heart; च (ca) - and; कर्तास्मि (kartāsmi) - I shall do; यद्यपि (yadyapi) - even if; स्यात् (syāt) - it is; सुदुष्करम् (suduṣkaram) - very difficult;]
(What task shall I do for you today to enhance your pleasure? I shall do it with all my heart, even if it is very difficult.)
What can I do for you today to increase your happiness? I will do it wholeheartedly, even if it is extremely difficult.
तथा ब्रुवाणं गाङ्गेयं प्रीतियुक्तं पुनः पुनः। उवाच वाक्यं दीनात्मा धर्मपुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः ॥६-१०३-५७॥
tathā bruvāṇaṃ gāṅgeyaṃ prītiyuktaṃ punaḥ punaḥ। uvāca vākyaṃ dīnātmā dharmaputro yudhiṣṭhiraḥ ॥6-103-57॥
[तथा (tathā) - thus; ब्रुवाणं (bruvāṇam) - speaking; गाङ्गेयं (gāṅgeyam) - to the son of Ganga; प्रीतियुक्तं (prītiyuktam) - with affection; पुनः (punaḥ) - again; पुनः (punaḥ) - again; उवाच (uvāca) - said; वाक्यं (vākyaṃ) - words; दीनात्मा (dīnātmā) - with a distressed soul; धर्मपुत्रः (dharmaputraḥ) - the son of Dharma; युधिष्ठिरः (yudhiṣṭhiraḥ) - Yudhishthira;]
(Thus, speaking to the son of Ganga with affection again and again, the son of Dharma, Yudhishthira, with a distressed soul, said these words.)
Yudhishthira, the son of Dharma, repeatedly spoke with affection to Bhishma, the son of Ganga, expressing his distressed feelings.
कथं जयेम धर्मज्ञ कथं राज्यं लभेमहि। प्रजानां सङ्क्षयो न स्यात्कथं तन्मे वदाभिभो ॥६-१०३-५८॥
kathaṁ jayema dharmajña kathaṁ rājyaṁ labhemahi। prajānāṁ saṅkṣayo na syātkathaṁ tanme vadābhibho ॥6-103-58॥
[कथं (kathaṁ) - how; जयेम (jayema) - we may conquer; धर्मज्ञ (dharmajña) - O knower of dharma; कथं (kathaṁ) - how; राज्यं (rājyaṁ) - kingdom; लभेमहि (labhemahi) - we may obtain; प्रजानां (prajānāṁ) - of the people; सङ्क्षयः (saṅkṣayaḥ) - destruction; न (na) - not; स्यात् (syāt) - may be; कथं (kathaṁ) - how; तत् (tat) - that; मे (me) - to me; वद (vada) - tell; अभिभो (abhibho) - O lord;]
(How may we conquer, O knower of dharma? How may we obtain the kingdom? How may there be no destruction of the people? Tell me that, O lord.)
O knower of dharma, how can we achieve victory and secure the kingdom without causing harm to the people? Please tell me, O lord.
भवान्हि नो वधोपायं ब्रवीतु स्वयमात्मनः। भवन्तं समरे राजन्विषहेम कथं वयम् ॥६-१०३-५९॥
bhavān hi no vadhopāyaṃ bravītu svayam ātmanaḥ। bhavantaṃ samare rājan viṣahema kathaṃ vayam ॥6-103-59॥
[भवान् (bhavān) - you; हि (hi) - indeed; नः (naḥ) - our; वध-उपायम् (vadha-upāyam) - means of killing; ब्रवीतु (bravītu) - tell; स्वयम् (svayam) - yourself; आत्मनः (ātmanaḥ) - of yourself; भवन्तम् (bhavantam) - you; समरे (samare) - in battle; राजन् (rājan) - O king; विषहेम (viṣahema) - can withstand; कथम् (katham) - how; वयम् (vayam) - we;]
(You indeed tell us the means of killing yourself. How can we withstand you in battle, O king?)
You should tell us the way to kill you yourself. O king, how can we possibly withstand you in battle?
न हि ते सूक्ष्ममप्यस्ति रन्ध्रं कुरुपितामह। मण्डलेनैव धनुषा सदा दृश्योऽसि संयुगे ॥६-१०३-६०॥
na hi te sūkṣmamapyasti randhraṃ kurupitāmaha। maṇḍalenaiva dhanuṣā sadā dṛśyo'si saṃyuge ॥6-103-60॥
[न (na) - not; हि (hi) - indeed; ते (te) - your; सूक्ष्मम् (sūkṣmam) - subtle; अपि (api) - even; अस्ति (asti) - is; रन्ध्रं (randhraṃ) - gap; कुरुपितामह (kurupitāmaha) - O grandsire of the Kurus; मण्डलेन (maṇḍalena) - by the circle; एव (eva) - indeed; धनुषा (dhanuṣā) - by the bow; सदा (sadā) - always; दृश्यः (dṛśyaḥ) - visible; असि (asi) - you are; संयुगे (saṃyuge) - in battle;]
(There is not even a subtle gap in you, O grandsire of the Kurus. You are always visible in battle by the circle of the bow.)
O grandsire of the Kurus, there is not even the slightest gap in your defense. You are perpetually visible in battle, encircled by the bow.
नाददानं संदधानं विकर्षन्तं धनुर्न च। पश्यामस्त्वा महाबाहो रथे सूर्यमिव स्थितम् ॥६-१०३-६१॥
nādadānaṃ saṃdadhānaṃ vikarṣantaṃ dhanurna ca। paśyāmastvā mahābāho rathe sūryamiva sthitam ॥6-103-61॥
[नाददानम् (nādadānam) - making sound; संदधानम् (saṃdadhānam) - fixing; विकर्षन्तम् (vikarṣantam) - drawing; धनुः (dhanuḥ) - bow; न (na) - not; च (ca) - and; पश्यामः (paśyāmaḥ) - we see; त्वा (tvā) - you; महाबाहो (mahābāho) - O mighty-armed; रथे (rathe) - in the chariot; सूर्यम् (sūryam) - sun; इव (iva) - like; स्थितम् (sthitam) - standing;]
(We do not see you making sound, fixing, or drawing the bow, O mighty-armed, standing in the chariot like the sun.)
O mighty-armed one, we see you standing in the chariot like the sun, without making a sound, fixing, or drawing the bow.
नराश्वरथनागानां हन्तारं परवीरहन्। क इवोत्सहते हन्तुं त्वां पुमान्भरतर्षभ ॥६-१०३-६२॥
narāśvarathanāgānāṃ hantāraṃ paravīrahan। ka ivotsahate hantuṃ tvāṃ pumānbharatarṣabha ॥6-103-62॥
[नर (nara) - man; अश्व (aśva) - horse; रथ (ratha) - chariot; नाग (nāga) - elephant; आनां (ānāṃ) - of the; हन्तारं (hantāraṃ) - slayer; पर (para) - enemy; वीर (vīra) - hero; हन् (han) - killer; क (ka) - who; इव (iva) - indeed; उत्सहते (utsahate) - dares; हन्तुं (hantuṃ) - to kill; त्वां (tvāṃ) - you; पुमान् (pumān) - man; भरतर्षभ (bharatarṣabha) - bull of the Bharatas;]
(The slayer of men, horses, chariots, and elephants, the killer of enemy heroes. Who indeed dares to kill you, O bull of the Bharatas?)
Who can dare to kill you, the slayer of men, horses, chariots, and elephants, and the destroyer of enemy heroes, O bull of the Bharatas?
वर्षता शरवर्षाणि महान्ति पुरुषोत्तम। क्षयं नीता हि पृतना भवता महती मम ॥६-१०३-६३॥
varṣatā śaravarṣāṇi mahānti puruṣottama। kṣayaṃ nītā hi pṛtanā bhavatā mahatī mama ॥6-103-63॥
[वर्षता (varṣatā) - raining; शरवर्षाणि (śaravarṣāṇi) - arrow-showers; महान्ति (mahānti) - great; पुरुषोत्तम (puruṣottama) - O best of men; क्षयं (kṣayam) - destruction; नीता (nītā) - led; हि (hi) - indeed; पृतना (pṛtanā) - army; भवता (bhavatā) - by you; महती (mahatī) - great; मम (mama) - my;]
(Raining great arrow-showers, O best of men, my great army has indeed been led to destruction by you.)
O best of men, your relentless shower of arrows has led my mighty army to its destruction.
यथा युधि जयेयं त्वां यथा राज्यं भवेन्मम। भवेत्सैन्यस्य वा शान्तिस्तन्मे ब्रूहि पितामह ॥६-१०३-६४॥
yathā yudhi jayeyam tvāṃ yathā rājyaṃ bhavenmama। bhavetsainyasya vā śāntistanme brūhi pitāmaha ॥6-103-64॥
[यथा (yathā) - as; युधि (yudhi) - in battle; जयेयं (jayeyam) - I may conquer; त्वां (tvāṃ) - you; यथा (yathā) - as; राज्यम् (rājyam) - kingdom; भवेत् (bhavet) - may become; मम (mama) - my; भवेत् (bhavet) - may be; सैन्यस्य (sainyasya) - of the army; वा (vā) - or; शान्तिः (śāntiḥ) - peace; तत् (tat) - that; मे (me) - to me; ब्रूहि (brūhi) - tell; पितामह (pitāmaha) - grandfather;]
(As I may conquer you in battle, as the kingdom may become mine, or there may be peace for the army, tell me that, grandfather.)
Grandfather, tell me how I may conquer you in battle, how the kingdom may become mine, or how there may be peace for the army.
ततोऽब्रवीच्छान्तनवः पाण्डवान्पाण्डुपूर्वज। न कथञ्चन कौन्तेय मयि जीवति संयुगे ॥६-१०३-६५॥
tato'bravīcchāntanavaḥ pāṇḍavānpāṇḍupūrvaja। na kathañcana kaunteya mayi jīvati saṃyuge ॥6-103-65॥
[ततः (tataḥ) - then; अब्रवीत् (abravīt) - said; शान्तनवः (śāntanavaḥ) - son of Śantanu; पाण्डवान् (pāṇḍavān) - to the Pāṇḍavas; पाण्डुपूर्वज (pāṇḍupūrvaja) - elder brother of Pāṇḍu; न (na) - not; कथञ्चन (kathañcana) - in any way; कौन्तेय (kaunteya) - son of Kunti; मयि (mayi) - while I; जीवति (jīvati) - am alive; संयुगे (saṃyuge) - in battle;]
(Then the son of Śantanu said to the Pāṇḍavas, the elder brother of Pāṇḍu: "O son of Kunti, not in any way while I am alive in battle.")
Then Bhishma, the son of Śantanu, addressed the Pāṇḍavas, saying that as long as he is alive in the battle, Arjuna, the son of Kunti, will not be able to defeat him.
युष्मासु दृश्यते वृद्धिः सत्यमेतद्ब्रवीमि वः ॥६-१०३-६५॥
yuṣmāsu dṛśyate vṛddhiḥ satyam etad bravīmi vaḥ ॥6-103-65॥
[युष्मासु (yuṣmāsu) - in you all; दृश्यते (dṛśyate) - is seen; वृद्धिः (vṛddhiḥ) - growth; सत्यम् (satyam) - truth; एतत् (etat) - this; ब्रवीमि (bravīmi) - I speak; वः (vaḥ) - to you;]
(In you all, growth is seen; this truth I speak to you.)
I truly tell you that growth is evident among you.
निर्जिते मयि युद्धे तु ध्रुवं जेष्यथ कौरवान्। क्षिप्रं मयि प्रहरत यदीच्छथ रणे जयम् ॥६-१०३-६६॥
nirjite mayi yuddhe tu dhruvaṁ jeṣyatha kauravān। kṣipraṁ mayi praharata yadīcchatha raṇe jayam ॥6-103-66॥
[निर्जिते (nirjite) - conquered; मयि (mayi) - by me; युद्धे (yuddhe) - in battle; तु (tu) - but; ध्रुवं (dhruvam) - certainly; जेष्यथ (jeṣyatha) - you will conquer; कौरवान् (kauravān) - the Kauravas; क्षिप्रं (kṣipram) - quickly; मयि (mayi) - at me; प्रहरत (praharata) - strike; यदि (yadi) - if; इच्छथ (icchatha) - you desire; रणे (raṇe) - in battle; जयम् (jayam) - victory;]
(If I am conquered in battle, you will certainly conquer the Kauravas. Quickly strike at me if you desire victory in battle.)
If I am defeated in this battle, you will surely defeat the Kauravas. Quickly attack me if you wish to achieve victory in the battle.
अनुजानामि वः पार्थाः प्रहरध्वं यथासुखम् ॥६-१०३-६६॥
anujānāmi vaḥ pārthāḥ praharadhvaṃ yathāsukham ॥6-103-66॥
[अनुजानामि (anujānāmi) - I permit; वः (vaḥ) - you; पार्थाः (pārthāḥ) - sons of Pritha; प्रहरध्वं (praharadhvaṃ) - fight; यथासुखम् (yathāsukham) - as you please;]
(I permit you, sons of Pritha, to fight as you please.)
I allow you, sons of Pritha, to engage in battle as you wish.
एवं हि सुकृतं मन्ये भवतां विदितो ह्यहम्। हते मयि हतं सर्वं तस्मादेवं विधीयताम् ॥६-१०३-६७॥
evaṃ hi sukṛtaṃ manye bhavatāṃ vidito hyaham। hate mayi hataṃ sarvaṃ tasmādevaṃ vidhīyatām ॥6-103-67॥
[एवम् (evam) - thus; हि (hi) - indeed; सुकृतम् (sukṛtam) - good deed; मन््ये (manye) - I think; भवताम् (bhavatām) - of you; विदितः (viditaḥ) - known; हि (hi) - indeed; अहम् (aham) - I; हते (hate) - when killed; मयि (mayi) - I; हतम् (hatam) - destroyed; सर्वम् (sarvam) - all; तस्मात् (tasmāt) - therefore; एवम् (evam) - thus; विधीयताम् (vidhīyatām) - let it be done;]
(Thus indeed, I think your good deed is known. When I am killed, all is destroyed; therefore, let it be done thus.)
I believe that your good deeds are indeed recognized. If I am killed, everything will be destroyed; therefore, let it be done in this manner.
युधिष्ठिर उवाच॥
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca॥
[युधिष्ठिर (yudhiṣṭhira) - Yudhishthira; उवाच (uvāca) - said;]
(Yudhishthira said:)
Yudhishthira said:
ब्रूहि तस्मादुपायं नो यथा युद्धे जयेमहि। भवन्तं समरे क्रुद्धं दण्डपाणिमिवान्तकम् ॥६-१०३-६८॥
brūhi tasmādupāyaṃ no yathā yuddhe jayemahi। bhavantaṃ samare kruddhaṃ daṇḍapāṇimivāntakam ॥6-103-68॥
[ब्रूहि (brūhi) - tell; तस्मात् (tasmāt) - therefore; उपायम् (upāyam) - means; नः (naḥ) - us; यथा (yathā) - so that; युद्धे (yuddhe) - in battle; जयेमहि (jayemahi) - we may conquer; भवन्तम् (bhavantam) - you; समरे (samare) - in battle; क्रुद्धम् (kruddham) - angry; दण्डपाणिम् (daṇḍapāṇim) - with a staff in hand; इव (iva) - like; अन्तकम् (antakam) - Yama, the god of death;]
(Tell us therefore the means so that we may conquer in battle, you who are angry in battle like Yama with a staff in hand.)
Tell us the strategy by which we can win the battle, as you stand in the battlefield, fierce like Yama wielding a staff.
शक्यो वज्रधरो जेतुं वरुणोऽथ यमस्तथा। न भवान्समरे शक्यः सेन्द्रैरपि सुरासुरैः ॥६-१०३-६९॥
śakyo vajradharo jetuṃ varuṇo'tha yamastathā। na bhavānsamare śakyaḥ sendrairapi surāsuraiḥ ॥6-103-69॥
[शक्यः (śakyaḥ) - capable; वज्रधरः (vajradharaḥ) - wielder of the thunderbolt; जेतुम् (jetum) - to conquer; वरुणः (varuṇaḥ) - Varuna; अथ (atha) - and; यमः (yamaḥ) - Yama; तथा (tathā) - also; न (na) - not; भवान् (bhavān) - you; समरे (samare) - in battle; शक्यः (śakyaḥ) - capable; सेन्द्रैः (sendraiḥ) - with Indra; अपि (api) - even; सुरासुरैः (surāsuraiḥ) - by gods and demons;]
(The wielder of the thunderbolt is capable of being conquered, as are Varuna and Yama. But you are not capable of being conquered in battle, even by gods and demons with Indra.)
Even the wielder of the thunderbolt, Varuna, and Yama can be conquered, but you cannot be defeated in battle, not even by gods and demons along with Indra.
भीष्म उवाच॥
bhīṣma uvāca॥
[भीष्म (bhīṣma) - Bhishma; उवाच (uvāca) - said;]
(Bhishma said:)
Bhishma said:
सत्यमेतन्महाबाहो यथा वदसि पाण्डव। नाहं शक्यो रणे जेतुं सेन्द्रैरपि सुरासुरैः ॥६-१०३-७०॥
satyam etan mahābāho yathā vadasi pāṇḍava। nāhaṃ śakyo raṇe jetuṃ sendrair api surāsuraiḥ ॥6-103-70॥
[सत्यम् (satyam) - truth; एतत् (etat) - this; महाबाहो (mahābāho) - O mighty-armed one; यथा (yathā) - as; वदसि (vadasi) - you say; पाण्डव (pāṇḍava) - O son of Pandu; न (na) - not; अहम् (aham) - I; शक्यः (śakyaḥ) - capable; रणे (raṇe) - in battle; जेतुम् (jetum) - to conquer; स-इन्द्रैः (sa-indraiḥ) - with Indra; अपि (api) - even; सुर-असुरैः (sura-asuraiḥ) - by gods and demons;]
(This is the truth, O mighty-armed one, as you say, O son of Pandu. I am not capable of being conquered in battle even by gods and demons with Indra.)
Indeed, O mighty-armed Pandava, what you say is true. I cannot be defeated in battle even by the gods and demons together with Indra.
आत्तशस्त्रो रणे यत्तो गृहीतवरकार्मुकः। न्यस्तशस्त्रं तु मां राजन्हन्युर्युधि महारथाः ॥६-१०३-७१॥
āttaśastro raṇe yatto gṛhītavarakārmukaḥ। nyastaśastraṃ tu māṃ rājanhanyuryudhi mahārathāḥ ॥6-103-71॥
[आत्तशस्त्रः (āttaśastraḥ) - armed with weapons; रणे (raṇe) - in battle; यत्तः (yattaḥ) - engaged; गृहीतवरकार्मुकः (gṛhītavarakārmukaḥ) - holding the best bow; न्यस्तशस्त्रम् (nyastaśastram) - having laid down weapons; तु (tu) - but; माम् (mām) - me; राजन् (rājan) - O king; हन्युः (hanyuḥ) - would kill; युधि (yudhi) - in battle; महारथाः (mahārathāḥ) - great warriors;]
(Armed with weapons, engaged in battle, holding the best bow; but having laid down weapons, O king, the great warriors would kill me in battle.)
Armed and ready with the best bow in battle, but if I lay down my weapons, O king, the great warriors would kill me in the fight.
निक्षिप्तशस्त्रे पतिते विमुक्तकवचध्वजे। द्रवमाणे च भीते च तवास्मीति च वादिनि ॥६-१०३-७२॥
nikṣiptaśastre patite vimuktakavacadhvaje। dravamāṇe ca bhīte ca tavāsmīti ca vādini ॥6-103-72॥
[निक्षिप्त (nikṣipta) - abandoned; शस्त्रे (śastre) - weapons; पतिते (patite) - fallen; विमुक्त (vimukta) - discarded; कवच (kavaca) - armor; ध्वजे (dhvaje) - banner; द्रवमाणे (dravamāṇe) - fleeing; च (ca) - and; भीते (bhīte) - frightened; च (ca) - and; तव (tava) - your; अस्मि (asmi) - am; इति (iti) - thus; च (ca) - and; वादिनि (vādini) - speaking;]
(When the weapons were abandoned, the armor and banner discarded, fleeing and frightened, and saying 'I am yours'.)
When the weapons were laid down, and the armor and banner were discarded, while fleeing in fear, someone declared, 'I am yours.'
स्त्रियां स्त्रीनामधेये च विकले चैकपुत्रके। अप्रसूते च दुष्प्रेक्ष्ये न युद्धं रोचते मम ॥६-१०३-७३॥
striyāṃ strīnāmadheye ca vikale caikaputrake। aprasūte ca duṣprekṣye na yuddhaṃ rocate mama ॥6-103-73॥
[स्त्रियां (striyām) - in women; स्त्री-नामधेये (strī-nāmadheye) - in one named after a woman; च (ca) - and; विकले (vikale) - in one who is deficient; च (ca) - and; एक-पुत्रके (eka-putrake) - in one with only one son; अप्रसूते (aprasūte) - in one who is barren; च (ca) - and; दुष्प्रेक्ष्ये (duṣprekṣye) - in one who is unpleasant to look at; न (na) - not; युद्धं (yuddham) - war; रोचते (rocate) - pleases; मम (mama) - me;]
(In women, in one named after a woman, and in one who is deficient, and in one with only one son, in one who is barren, and in one who is unpleasant to look at, war does not please me.)
I do not find pleasure in war with women, those named after women, the deficient, those with only one son, the barren, or those unpleasant to look at.
इमं च शृणु मे पार्थ सङ्कल्पं पूर्वचिन्तितम्। अमङ्गल्यध्वजं दृष्ट्वा न युध्येयं कथञ्चन ॥६-१०३-७४॥
imaṁ ca śṛṇu me pārtha saṅkalpaṁ pūrvacintitam। amaṅgalyadhvajaṁ dṛṣṭvā na yudhye yaṁ kathaṁcana ॥6-103-74॥
[इमं (imam) - this; च (ca) - and; शृणु (śṛṇu) - hear; मे (me) - my; पार्थ (pārtha) - O son of Pritha; सङ्कल्पं (saṅkalpam) - resolve; पूर्वचिन्तितम् (pūrvacintitam) - previously considered; अमङ्गल्यध्वजं (amaṅgalyadhvajam) - inauspicious banner; दृष्ट्वा (dṛṣṭvā) - having seen; न (na) - not; युध्ये (yudhye) - fight; यं (yaṁ) - that; कथञ्चन (kathaṁcana) - in any way;]
(And hear my resolve, O son of Pritha, previously considered: Having seen the inauspicious banner, I will not fight in any way.)
Listen to my decision, O Arjuna, which I have thought about before: Upon seeing the inauspicious banner, I shall not engage in battle under any circumstances.
य एष द्रौपदो राजंस्तव सैन्ये महारथः। शिखण्डी समराकाङ्क्षी शूरश्च समितिञ्जयः ॥६-१०३-७५॥
ya eṣa draupado rājaṁstava sainye mahārathaḥ। śikhaṇḍī samarākāṅkṣī śūraśca samitiñjayaḥ ॥6-103-75॥
[य (ya) - who; एष (eṣa) - this; द्रौपदः (draupadaḥ) - Draupada; राजन् (rājan) - O king; तव (tava) - your; सैन्ये (sainye) - in the army; महारथः (mahārathaḥ) - great chariot-warrior; शिखण्डी (śikhaṇḍī) - Shikhandi; समराकाङ्क्षी (samarākāṅkṣī) - desirous of battle; शूरः (śūraḥ) - heroic; च (ca) - and; समितिञ्जयः (samitiñjayaḥ) - victor in battle;]
(Who is this Draupada, O king, a great chariot-warrior in your army? Shikhandi, desirous of battle, heroic and a victor in battle.)
This is Draupada, O king, a great chariot-warrior in your army. He is Shikhandi, eager for battle, heroic and victorious in combat.
यथाभवच्च स्त्री पूर्वं पश्चात्पुंस्त्वमुपागतः। जानन्ति च भवन्तोऽपि सर्वमेतद्यथातथम् ॥६-१०३-७६॥
yathābhavacca strī pūrvaṃ paścātpuṃstvamupāgataḥ। jānanti ca bhavanto'pi sarvametadyathātatham ॥6-103-76॥
[यथा (yathā) - as; अभवत् (abhavat) - became; च (ca) - and; स्त्री (strī) - woman; पूर्वं (pūrvaṃ) - before; पश्चात् (paścāt) - afterwards; पुंस्त्वम् (puṃstvam) - manhood; उपागतः (upāgataḥ) - attained; जानन्ति (jānanti) - know; च (ca) - and; भवन्तः (bhavantaḥ) - you; अपि (api) - also; सर्वम् (sarvam) - everything; एतत् (etat) - this; यथातथम् (yathātatham) - truly;]
(As it happened, a woman before, afterwards attained manhood. And you also know all this truly.)
As it happened, she was a woman before and later attained manhood. You also know all this truly.
अर्जुनः समरे शूरः पुरस्कृत्य शिखण्डिनम्। मामेव विशिखैस्तूर्णमभिद्रवतु दंशितः ॥६-१०३-७७॥
arjunaḥ samare śūraḥ puraskṛtya śikhaṇḍinam। māmeva viśikhaistūrṇamabhidravatu daṃśitaḥ ॥6-103-77॥
[अर्जुनः (arjunaḥ) - Arjuna; समरे (samare) - in battle; शूरः (śūraḥ) - heroic; पुरस्कृत्य (puraskṛtya) - placing in front; शिखण्डिनम् (śikhaṇḍinam) - Shikhandi; माम् (mām) - me; एव (eva) - only; विशिखैः (viśikhaiḥ) - with arrows; तूर्णम् (tūrṇam) - swiftly; अभिद्रवतु (abhidravatu) - attack; दंशितः (daṃśitaḥ) - urged on;]
(Arjuna, heroic in battle, placing Shikhandi in front, should swiftly attack me with arrows, urged on.)
Arjuna, known for his heroism in battle, should place Shikhandi in front and swiftly attack me with arrows, being urged on.
अमङ्गल्यध्वजे तस्मिन्स्त्रीपूर्वे च विशेषतः। न प्रहर्तुमभीप्सामि गृहीतेषुं कथञ्चन ॥६-१०३-७८॥
amaṅgalyadhvaje tasminstrīpūrve ca viśeṣataḥ। na prahartumabhipsāmi gṛhīteṣuṃ kathaṃcana ॥6-103-78॥
[अमङ्गल्यध्वजे (amaṅgalyadhvaje) - inauspicious banner; तस्मिन् (tasmin) - in that; स्त्रीपूर्वे (strīpūrve) - preceded by women; च (ca) - and; विशेषतः (viśeṣataḥ) - especially; न (na) - not; प्रहर्तुम् (prahartum) - to strike; अभीप्सामि (abhipsāmi) - I wish; गृहीतेषुम् (gṛhīteṣuṃ) - with drawn arrow; कथञ्चन (kathaṃcana) - in any way;]
(I do not wish to strike in any way with a drawn arrow at that inauspicious banner, especially one preceded by women.)
I do not desire to attack the inauspicious banner, especially one led by women, with a drawn arrow in any manner.
तदन्तरं समासाद्य पाण्डवो मां धनञ्जयः। शरैर्घातयतु क्षिप्रं समन्ताद्भरतर्षभ ॥६-१०३-७९॥
tadantaraṃ samāsādya pāṇḍavo māṃ dhanañjayaḥ। śarairghātayatu kṣipraṃ samantādbharatarṣabha ॥6-103-79॥
[तदन्तरं (tadantaram) - then; समासाद्य (samāsādya) - approaching; पाण्डवः (pāṇḍavaḥ) - the Pandava; माम् (mām) - me; धनञ्जयः (dhanañjayaḥ) - Dhananjaya; शरैः (śaraiḥ) - with arrows; घातयतु (ghātayatu) - let him kill; क्षिप्रम् (kṣipram) - quickly; समन्तात् (samantāt) - from all sides; भरतर्षभ (bharatarṣabha) - O best of the Bharatas;]
(Then, approaching me, the Pandava Dhananjaya, let him kill quickly with arrows from all sides, O best of the Bharatas.)
Then, as the Pandava Dhananjaya approached me, let him swiftly strike with arrows from every direction, O best of the Bharatas.
न तं पश्यामि लोकेषु यो मां हन्यात्समुद्यतम्। ऋते कृष्णान्महाभागात्पाण्डवाद्वा धनञ्जयात् ॥६-१०३-८०॥
na taṃ paśyāmi lokeṣu yo māṃ hanyātsamudyatam। ṛte kṛṣṇānmahābhāgātpāṇḍavādvā dhanañjayāt ॥6-103-80॥
[न (na) - not; तम् (tam) - him; पश्यामि (paśyāmi) - I see; लोकेषु (lokeṣu) - in the worlds; यः (yaḥ) - who; माम् (mām) - me; हन्यात् (hanyāt) - would kill; समुद्यतम् (samudyatam) - prepared; ऋते (ṛte) - except; कृष्णात् (kṛṣṇāt) - from Krishna; महाभागात् (mahābhāgāt) - the great fortunate; पाण्डवात् (pāṇḍavāt) - from the Pandava; वा (vā) - or; धनञ्जयात् (dhanañjayāt) - from Dhananjaya (Arjuna);]
(I do not see anyone in the worlds who would kill me when I am prepared, except for Krishna, the greatly fortunate, or from the Pandava, Dhananjaya (Arjuna).)
I see no one in the world who can defeat me when I am ready, except for the great Krishna or Arjuna, the son of Pandu.
एष तस्मात्पुरोधाय कञ्चिदन्यं ममाग्रतः। मां पातयतु बीभत्सुरेवं ते विजयो भवेत् ॥६-१०३-८१॥
eṣa tasmātpurodhāya kañcidanyaṃ mamāgrataḥ। māṃ pātayatu bībhatsurevaṃ te vijayo bhavet ॥6-103-81॥
[एष (eṣa) - this; तस्मात् (tasmāt) - therefore; पुरोधाय (purodhāya) - placing in front; कञ्चित् (kañcit) - someone; अन्यम् (anyam) - else; मम (mama) - my; अग्रतः (agrataḥ) - before; माम् (mām) - me; पातयतु (pātayatu) - let him cause to fall; बीभत्सुः (bībhatsuḥ) - Bibhatsu; एवम् (evam) - thus; ते (te) - your; विजयः (vijayaḥ) - victory; भवेत् (bhavet) - may be;]
(This, therefore, placing someone else in front of me, let Bibhatsu cause me to fall; thus your victory may be.)
Therefore, let Bibhatsu place someone else in front of me and cause me to fall; in this way, your victory will be assured.
एतत्कुरुष्व कौन्तेय यथोक्तं वचनं मम। ततो जेष्यसि सङ्ग्रामे धार्तराष्ट्रान्समागतान् ॥६-१०३-८२॥
etat kuruṣva kaunteya yathoktaṃ vacanaṃ mama। tato jeṣyasi saṅgrāme dhārtarāṣṭrān samāgatān ॥6-103-82॥
[एतत् (etat) - this; कुरुष्व (kuruṣva) - do; कौन्तेय (kaunteya) - O son of Kunti; यथोक्तं (yathoktam) - as said; वचनं (vacanam) - word; मम (mama) - my; ततः (tataḥ) - then; जेष्यसि (jeṣyasi) - you will conquer; सङ्ग्रामे (saṅgrāme) - in battle; धार्तराष्ट्रान् (dhārtarāṣṭrān) - the sons of Dhritarashtra; समागतान् (samāgatān) - assembled;]
(Do this, O son of Kunti, as my word is said: Then you will conquer the sons of Dhritarashtra assembled in battle.)
"O son of Kunti, follow my instructions as stated. Then you will defeat the assembled sons of Dhritarashtra in battle."
सञ्जय उवाच॥
sañjaya uvāca॥
[सञ्जय (sañjaya) - Sanjaya; उवाच (uvāca) - said;]
(Sanjaya said:)
Sanjaya said:
तेऽनुज्ञातास्ततः पार्था जग्मुः स्वशिबिरं प्रति। अभिवाद्य महात्मानं भीष्मं कुरुपितामहम् ॥६-१०३-८३॥
te'anujñātāstataḥ pārthā jagmuḥ svaśibiraṃ prati। abhivādya mahātmānaṃ bhīṣmaṃ kurupitāmaham ॥6-103-83॥
[ते (te) - they; अनुज्ञाताः (anujñātāḥ) - having been permitted; ततः (tataḥ) - then; पार्थाः (pārthāḥ) - sons of Pritha; जग्मुः (jagmuḥ) - went; स्वशिबिरं (svaśibiraṃ) - to their camp; प्रति (prati) - towards; अभिवाद्य (abhivādya) - having saluted; महात्मानं (mahātmānaṃ) - the great soul; भीष्मं (bhīṣmaṃ) - Bhishma; कुरुपितामहम् (kurupitāmaham) - the grandsire of the Kurus;]
(They, having been permitted, then the sons of Pritha went towards their camp, having saluted the great soul Bhishma, the grandsire of the Kurus.)
After receiving permission, the sons of Pritha returned to their camp, paying respects to the noble Bhishma, the grandsire of the Kurus.
तथोक्तवति गाङ्गेये परलोकाय दीक्षिते। अर्जुनो दुःखसन्तप्तः सव्रीडमिदमब्रवीत् ॥६-१०३-८४॥
tathoktavati gāṅgeye paralokāya dīkṣite। arjuno duḥkhasantaptaḥ savrīḍamidamabravīt ॥6-103-84॥
[तथोक्तवति (tathoktavati) - thus having spoken; गाङ्गेये (gāṅgeye) - to the son of Ganga; परलोकाय (paralokāya) - for the other world; दीक्षिते (dīkṣite) - consecrated; अर्जुनः (arjunaḥ) - Arjuna; दुःखसन्तप्तः (duḥkhasantaptaḥ) - afflicted with sorrow; सव्रीडम् (savrīḍam) - with shame; इदम् (idam) - this; अब्रवीत् (abravīt) - said;]
(Thus having spoken to the son of Ganga, consecrated for the other world, Arjuna, afflicted with sorrow and with shame, said this.)
After Bhishma, the son of Ganga, had spoken and was consecrated for his journey to the other world, Arjuna, overwhelmed with grief and shame, spoke these words.
गुरुणा कुलवृद्धेन कृतप्रज्ञेन धीमता। पितामहेन सङ्ग्रामे कथं योत्स्यामि माधव ॥६-१०३-८५॥
guruṇā kulavṛddhena kṛtaprajñena dhīmatā। pitāmahena saṅgrāme kathaṃ yotsyāmi mādhava ॥6-103-85॥
[गुरुणा (guruṇā) - by the teacher; कुलवृद्धेन (kulavṛddhena) - by the elder of the family; कृतप्रज्ञेन (kṛtaprajñena) - by the wise one; धीमता (dhīmatā) - by the intelligent one; पितामहेन (pitāmahena) - by the grandfather; सङ्ग्रामे (saṅgrāme) - in battle; कथं (kathaṃ) - how; योत्स्यामि (yotsyāmi) - shall I fight; माधव (mādhava) - O Mādhava;]
(By the teacher, the elder of the family, the wise one, the intelligent one, by the grandfather, in battle, how shall I fight, O Mādhava?)
O Mādhava, how can I fight against my teacher, the elder of my family, the wise and intelligent grandfather, in this battle?
क्रीडता हि मया बाल्ये वासुदेव महामनाः। पांसुरूषितगात्रेण महात्मा परुषीकृतः ॥६-१०३-८६॥
krīḍatā hi mayā bālye vāsudeva mahāmanāḥ। pāṃsurūṣitagātreṇa mahātmā paruṣīkṛtaḥ ॥6-103-86॥
[क्रीडता (krīḍatā) - playing; हि (hi) - indeed; मया (mayā) - by me; बाल्ये (bālye) - in childhood; वासुदेव (vāsudeva) - Vasudeva; महामनाः (mahāmanāḥ) - great-minded; पांसुरूषितगात्रेण (pāṃsurūṣitagātreṇa) - with dust-covered limbs; महात्मा (mahātmā) - the great soul; परुषीकृतः (paruṣīkṛtaḥ) - was made rough;]
(While playing in childhood, Vasudeva, the great-minded, was made rough by me with dust-covered limbs.)
In my childhood, while playing, I made Vasudeva, the great-minded soul, rough with dust-covered limbs.
यस्याहमधिरुह्याङ्कं बालः किल गदाग्रज। तातेत्यवोचं पितरं पितुः पाण्डोर्महात्मनः ॥६-१०३-८७॥
yasyāham adhiruhyāṅkaṃ bālaḥ kila gadāgrajaḥ। tātetyavocaṃ pitaraṃ pituḥ pāṇḍor mahātmanaḥ ॥6-103-87॥
[यस्य (yasya) - whose; अहम् (aham) - I; अधिरुह्य (adhiruhya) - having ascended; अङ्कं (aṅkaṃ) - lap; बालः (bālaḥ) - as a child; किल (kila) - indeed; गदाग्रज (gadāgraja) - O elder brother of Gada; तात (tāta) - father; इति (iti) - thus; अवोचम् (avocam) - I said; पितरं (pitaraṃ) - to the father; पितुः (pituḥ) - of the father; पाण्डोः (pāṇḍoḥ) - of Pandu; महात्मनः (mahātmanaḥ) - the great soul;]
(Whose lap I, as a child, indeed ascended, O elder brother of Gada, I said thus to the father of the great soul Pandu.)
As a child, I sat on the lap of the great soul Pandu's father and addressed him as 'father', O elder brother of Gada.
नाहं तातस्तव पितुस्तातोऽस्मि तव भारत। इति मामब्रवीद्बाल्ये यः स वध्यः कथं मया ॥६-१०३-८८॥
nāhaṃ tātastava pitustāto'smi tava bhārata। iti māmabravīdbālye yaḥ sa vadhyaḥ kathaṃ mayā ॥6-103-88॥
[न (na) - not; अहम् (aham) - I; तातः (tātaḥ) - father; तव (tava) - your; पितुः (pituḥ) - of father; तातः (tātaḥ) - father; अस्मि (asmi) - am; तव (tava) - your; भारत (bhārata) - O Bharata; इति (iti) - thus; माम् (mām) - to me; अब्रवीत् (abravīt) - said; बाल्ये (bālye) - in childhood; यः (yaḥ) - who; सः (saḥ) - he; वध्यः (vadhyaḥ) - to be killed; कथम् (katham) - how; मया (mayā) - by me;]
(I am not your father, nor am I your father's father, O Bharata. Thus he said to me in childhood, who is to be killed by me, how?)
In my childhood, someone told me, 'I am not your father, nor your grandfather, O Bharata.' How can I kill him?
कामं वध्यतु मे सैन्यं नाहं योत्स्ये महात्मना। जयो वास्तु वधो वा मे कथं वा कृष्ण मन्यसे ॥६-१०३-८९॥
kāmaṃ vadhyatu me sainyaṃ nāhaṃ yotsye mahātmanā। jayo vāstu vadho vā me kathaṃ vā kṛṣṇa manyase ॥6-103-89॥
[कामं (kāmaṃ) - as desired; वध्यतु (vadhyatu) - let be killed; मे (me) - my; सैन्यं (sainyaṃ) - army; न (na) - not; अहं (ahaṃ) - I; योत्स्ये (yotsye) - will fight; महात्मना (mahātmanā) - with the great soul; जयः (jayaḥ) - victory; वा (vā) - or; अस्तु (astu) - let it be; वधः (vadhaḥ) - defeat; वा (vā) - or; मे (me) - my; कथं (kathaṃ) - how; वा (vā) - or; कृष्ण (kṛṣṇa) - O Krishna; मन्यसे (manyase) - do you think;]
(As desired, let my army be killed; I will not fight with the great soul. Whether it is victory or defeat for me, what do you think, O Krishna?)
I am willing to let my army be destroyed; I will not fight against the great soul. Whether it results in victory or defeat for me, what is your opinion, O Krishna?
श्रीकृष्ण उवाच॥
śrīkṛṣṇa uvāca॥
[श्रीकृष्ण (śrīkṛṣṇa) - Shri Krishna; उवाच (uvāca) - said;]
(Shri Krishna said:)
Shri Krishna said:
प्रतिज्ञाय वधं जिष्णो पुरा भीष्मस्य संयुगे। क्षत्रधर्मे स्थितः पार्थ कथं नैनं हनिष्यसि ॥६-१०३-९०॥
pratijñāya vadhaṃ jiṣṇo purā bhīṣmasya saṃyuge। kṣatradharme sthitaḥ pārtha kathaṃ nainaṃ haniṣyasi ॥6-103-90॥
[प्रतिज्ञाय (pratijñāya) - having vowed; वधं (vadham) - killing; जिष्णो (jiṣṇo) - O conqueror; पुरा (purā) - formerly; भीष्मस्य (bhīṣmasya) - of Bhishma; संयुगे (saṃyuge) - in battle; क्षत्रधर्मे (kṣatradharme) - in the duty of a warrior; स्थितः (sthitaḥ) - situated; पार्थ (pārtha) - O son of Pritha; कथं (kathaṃ) - how; न (na) - not; एनं (enam) - him; हनिष्यसि (haniṣyasi) - will you kill;]
(Having vowed the killing, O conqueror, formerly of Bhishma in battle, situated in the duty of a warrior, O son of Pritha, how will you not kill him?)
O Arjuna, having once vowed to kill Bhishma in battle, as a warrior, how can you now refrain from killing him?
पातयैनं रथात्पार्थ वज्राहतमिव द्रुमम्। नाहत्वा युधि गाङ्गेयं विजयस्ते भविष्यति ॥६-१०३-९१॥
pātayainaṃ rathātpārtha vajrāhatamiva drumam। nāhatvā yudhi gāṅgeyaṃ vijayaste bhaviṣyati ॥6-103-91॥
[पातय (pātaya) - make fall; एनम् (enam) - him; रथात् (rathāt) - from the chariot; पार्थ (pārtha) - O son of Pritha; वज्राहतम् (vajrāhatam) - struck by a thunderbolt; इव (iva) - like; द्रुमम् (drumam) - a tree; न (na) - not; अहत्वा (ahatvā) - without killing; युधि (yudhi) - in battle; गाङ्गेयं (gāṅgeyaṃ) - son of Ganga; विजयः (vijayaḥ) - victory; ते (te) - your; भविष्यति (bhaviṣyati) - will be;]
(Make him fall from the chariot, O son of Pritha, like a tree struck by a thunderbolt. Without killing the son of Ganga in battle, your victory will not be.)
"O son of Pritha, make him fall from the chariot like a tree struck by a thunderbolt. Your victory will not be assured without killing the son of Ganga in battle."
दिष्टमेतत्पुरा देवैर्भविष्यत्यवशस्य ते। हन्ता भीष्मस्य पूर्वेन्द्र इति तन्न तदन्यथा ॥६-१०३-९२॥
diṣṭametatpurā devairbhaviṣyatyavaśasya te। hantā bhīṣmasya pūrvendra iti tanna tadanyathā ॥6-103-92॥
[दिष्टम् (diṣṭam) - ordained; एतत् (etat) - this; पुरा (purā) - before; दैवैः (devaiḥ) - by the gods; भविष्यति (bhaviṣyati) - will happen; अवशस्य (avaśasya) - of the helpless; ते (te) - your; हन्ता (hantā) - slayer; भीष्मस्य (bhīṣmasya) - of Bhishma; पूर्वेन्द्रः (pūrvendraḥ) - former Indra; इति (iti) - thus; तत् (tat) - that; न (na) - not; तत् (tat) - that; अन्यथा (anyathā) - otherwise;]
(This was ordained by the gods before; it will happen to you, the helpless. The slayer of Bhishma is the former Indra; thus, that is not otherwise.)
This was predestined by the gods in ancient times; it will inevitably happen to you, who are powerless. The one who will slay Bhishma is the former Indra; thus, it cannot be otherwise.
न हि भीष्मं दुराधर्षं व्यात्ताननमिवान्तकम्। त्वदन्यः शक्नुयाद्धन्तुमपि वज्रधरः स्वयम् ॥६-१०३-९३॥
na hi bhīṣmaṃ durādharṣaṃ vyāttānanamivāntakam। tvadanyaḥ śaknuyāddhantumapi vajradharaḥ svayam ॥6-103-93॥
[न (na) - not; हि (hi) - indeed; भीष्मं (bhīṣmaṃ) - Bhishma; दुराधर्षं (durādharṣaṃ) - invincible; व्यात्ताननम् (vyāttānanam) - with open mouth; इव (iva) - like; अन्तकम् (antakam) - death; त्वत् (tvad) - than you; अन्यः (anyaḥ) - another; शक्नुयात् (śaknuyāt) - could; हन्तुम् (hantum) - kill; अपि (api) - even; वज्रधरः (vajradharaḥ) - Indra; स्वयम् (svayam) - himself;]
(Not indeed Bhishma, invincible, with open mouth like death; than you another could kill even Indra himself.)
Indeed, no one other than you could kill the invincible Bhishma, who is like death with an open mouth, not even Indra himself.
जहि भीष्मं महाबाहो शृणु चेदं वचो मम। यथोवाच पुरा शक्रं महाबुद्धिर्बृहस्पतिः ॥६-१०३-९४॥
jahi bhīṣmaṃ mahābāho śṛṇu cedaṃ vaco mama। yathovāca purā śakraṃ mahābuddhirbṛhaspatiḥ ॥6-103-94॥
[जहि (jahi) - conquer; भीष्मं (bhīṣmaṃ) - Bhishma; महाबाहो (mahābāho) - O mighty-armed one; शृणु (śṛṇu) - listen; च (ca) - and; इदं (idaṃ) - this; वचः (vacaḥ) - word; मम (mama) - my; यथा (yathā) - as; उवाच (uvāca) - said; पुरा (purā) - formerly; शक्रम् (śakram) - to Indra; महाबुद्धिः (mahābuddhiḥ) - the great wise one; बृहस्पतिः (bṛhaspatiḥ) - Brihaspati;]
(Conquer Bhishma, O mighty-armed one, and listen to this word of mine, as the great wise Brihaspati formerly said to Indra.)
O mighty-armed one, conquer Bhishma and listen to my words, just as the wise Brihaspati once advised Indra.
ज्यायांसमपि चेच्छक्र गुणैरपि समन्वितम्। आततायिनमामन्त्र्य हन्याद्घातकमागतम् ॥६-१०३-९५॥
jyāyāṁsamapi cecchakra guṇairapi samanvitam। ātatāyinamāmantrya hanyādghātakamāgatam ॥6-103-95॥
[ज्यायांसम् (jyāyāṁsam) - superior; अपि (api) - even; चेत् (cet) - if; शक्र (śakra) - Indra; गुणैः (guṇaiḥ) - with qualities; अपि (api) - even; समन्वितम् (samanvitam) - endowed; आततायिनम् (ātatāyinam) - aggressor; आमन्त्र्य (āmantrya) - having addressed; हन्यात् (hanyāt) - should kill; घातकम् (ghātakam) - killer; आगतम् (āgatam) - arrived;]
(Even if superior and endowed with qualities like Indra, one should kill the aggressor having addressed the killer who has arrived.)
Even if someone is superior and endowed with qualities like Indra, one should address and kill the aggressor who has come as a killer.
शाश्वतोऽयं स्थितो धर्मः क्षत्रियाणां धनञ्जय। योद्धव्यं रक्षितव्यं च यष्टव्यं चानसूयुभिः ॥६-१०३-९६॥
śāśvato'yaṃ sthito dharmaḥ kṣatriyāṇāṃ dhanañjaya। yoddhavyaṃ rakṣitavyaṃ ca yaṣṭavyaṃ cān asūyubhiḥ ॥6-103-96॥
[शाश्वतः (śāśvataḥ) - eternal; अयम् (ayam) - this; स्थितः (sthitaḥ) - established; धर्मः (dharmaḥ) - duty; क्षत्रियाणाम् (kṣatriyāṇām) - of the warriors; धनञ्जय (dhanañjaya) - O Dhanañjaya; योद्धव्यम् (yoddhavyam) - to fight; रक्षितव्यम् (rakṣitavyam) - to protect; च (ca) - and; यष्टव्यम् (yaṣṭavyam) - to worship; च (ca) - and; अनसूयुभिः (anasūyubhiḥ) - by the non-envious;]
(This eternal duty of the warriors, O Dhanañjaya, is established: to fight, to protect, and to worship, by the non-envious.)
O Dhanañjaya, the eternal duty of the warriors is to fight, protect, and worship without envy.
अर्जुन उवाच॥
arjuna uvāca॥
[अर्जुन (arjuna) - Arjuna; उवाच (uvāca) - said;]
(Arjuna said:)
Arjuna said:
शिखण्डी निधनं कृष्ण भीष्मस्य भविता ध्रुवम्। दृष्ट्वैव हि सदा भीष्मः पाञ्चाल्यं विनिवर्तते ॥६-१०३-९७॥
śikhaṇḍī nidhanaṃ kṛṣṇa bhīṣmasya bhavitā dhruvam। dṛṣṭvaiva hi sadā bhīṣmaḥ pāñcālyaṃ vinivartate ॥6-103-97॥
[शिखण्डी (śikhaṇḍī) - Shikhandi; निधनं (nidhanaṃ) - death; कृष्ण (kṛṣṇa) - Krishna; भीष्मस्य (bhīṣmasya) - of Bhishma; भविता (bhavitā) - will be; ध्रुवम् (dhruvam) - certain; दृष्ट्वा (dṛṣṭvā) - seeing; एव (eva) - indeed; हि (hi) - for; सदा (sadā) - always; भीष्मः (bhīṣmaḥ) - Bhishma; पाञ्चाल्यम् (pāñcālyam) - Panchali; विनिवर्तते (vinivartate) - turns away;]
(Shikhandi's death, O Krishna, will certainly be the cause of Bhishma's downfall. For, upon seeing Panchali, Bhishma always turns away.)
Shikhandi's presence will lead to Bhishma's downfall, as Bhishma cannot fight against Panchali and thus will turn away, ensuring his defeat.
ते वयं प्रमुखे तस्य स्थापयित्वा शिखण्डिनम्। गाङ्गेयं पातयिष्याम उपायेनेति मे मतिः ॥६-१०३-९८॥
te vayaṃ pramukhe tasya sthāpayitvā śikhaṇḍinam। gāṅgeyaṃ pātayiṣyāma upāyeneti me matiḥ ॥6-103-98॥
[ते (te) - they; वयम् (vayam) - we; प्रमुखे (pramukhe) - in front; तस्य (tasya) - his; स्थापयित्वा (sthāpayitvā) - placing; शिखण्डिनम् (śikhaṇḍinam) - Shikhandi; गाङ्गेयं (gāṅgeyam) - Ganga's son; पातयिष्याम (pātayiṣyāma) - shall cause to fall; उपायेन (upāyena) - by strategy; इति (iti) - thus; मे (me) - my; मतिः (matiḥ) - thought;]
(They, placing Shikhandi in front of him, shall cause Ganga's son to fall by strategy; thus is my thought.)
We will place Shikhandi in front of him and, by strategy, bring down Bhishma, the son of Ganga; this is my plan.
अहमन्यान्महेष्वासान्वारयिष्यामि सायकैः। शिखण्ड्यपि युधां श्रेष्ठो भीष्ममेवाभियास्यतु ॥६-१०३-९९॥
aham anyān maheṣvāsān vārayiṣyāmi sāyakaiḥ। śikhaṇḍi api yudhāṃ śreṣṭho bhīṣmam eva abhiyāsyatu ॥6-103-99॥
[अहम् (aham) - I; अन्यान् (anyān) - other; महेष्वासान् (maheṣvāsān) - great archers; वारयिष्यामि (vārayiṣyāmi) - will stop; सायकैः (sāyakaiḥ) - with arrows; शिखण्डि (śikhaṇḍi) - Śikhaṇḍi; अपि (api) - also; युधाम् (yudhām) - of warriors; श्रेष्ठः (śreṣṭhaḥ) - the best; भीष्मम् (bhīṣmam) - Bhīṣma; एव (eva) - only; अभियास्यतु (abhiyāsyatu) - should approach;]
(I will stop other great archers with arrows. Śikhaṇḍi, the best of warriors, should approach Bhīṣma only.)
I will take on the other great archers with my arrows, while Śikhaṇḍi, the best among warriors, should focus solely on Bhīṣma.
श्रुतं ते कुरुमुख्यस्य नाहं हन्यां शिखण्डिनम्। कन्या ह्येषा पुरा जाता पुरुषः समपद्यत ॥६-१०३-१००॥
śrutaṃ te kurumukhyasya nāhaṃ hanyāṃ śikhaṇḍinam। kanyā hyeṣā purā jātā puruṣaḥ samapadyata ॥6-103-100॥
[श्रुतं (śrutam) - heard; ते (te) - your; कुरुमुख्यस्य (kurumukhyasya) - of the chief of Kurus; न (na) - not; अहम् (aham) - I; हन्याम् (hanyām) - would kill; शिखण्डिनम् (śikhaṇḍinam) - Shikhandi; कन्या (kanyā) - a girl; हि (hi) - indeed; एषा (eṣā) - this; पुरा (purā) - formerly; जाता (jātā) - was born; पुरुषः (puruṣaḥ) - a man; समपद्यत (samapadyata) - became.;]
(Heard your, of the chief of Kurus, not I would kill Shikhandi. A girl indeed this formerly was born a man became.)
I have heard, O chief of the Kurus, that I would not kill Shikhandi, for she was born a woman and later became a man.
सञ्जय उवाच॥
sañjaya uvāca॥
[सञ्जय (sañjaya) - Sanjaya; उवाच (uvāca) - said;]
(Sanjaya said:)
Sanjaya said:
इत्येवं निश्चयं कृत्वा पाण्डवाः सहमाधवाः। शयनानि यथास्वानि भेजिरे पुरुषर्षभाः ॥६-१०३-१०१॥
ityevaṃ niścayaṃ kṛtvā pāṇḍavāḥ sahamādhavāḥ। śayanāni yathāsvāni bhejire puruṣarṣabhāḥ ॥6-103-101॥
[इति (iti) - thus; एवम् (evam) - in this way; निश्चयम् (niścayam) - decision; कृत्वा (kṛtvā) - having made; पाण्डवाः (pāṇḍavāḥ) - the Pandavas; सहमाधवाः (sahamādhavāḥ) - with Madhava; शयनानि (śayanāni) - beds; यथास्वानि (yathāsvāni) - as per their own; भेजिरे (bhejire) - entered; पुरुषर्षभाः (puruṣarṣabhāḥ) - bulls among men;]
(Thus, having made the decision, the Pandavas, along with Madhava, entered their respective beds, O bulls among men.)
In this way, after making their decision, the Pandavas, accompanied by Madhava, retired to their respective beds, being the foremost among men.
