12.055
Core and Pancharatra: Bhishma says Yudhishthira should only ask the questions directly, and then he will answer. Accordingly, Yudhishthira comes forward and takes his blessings.
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
[वैशम्पायन (vaiśampāyana) - Vaiśampāyana; (name of the sage); उवाच (uvāca) - said;]
(Vaiśampāyana said;)
Vaiśampāyana said.
अथाब्रवीन्महातेजा वाक्यं कौरवनन्दनः। हन्त धर्मान्प्रवक्ष्यामि दृढे वाङ्मनसी मम ॥ तव प्रसादाद्गोविन्द भूतात्मा ह्यसि शाश्वतः ॥१२-५५-१॥
athābravīn mahātejā vākyaṃ kauravanandanaḥ। hanta dharmān pravakṣyāmi dṛḍhe vāṅmanasī mama॥ tava prasādād govinda bhūtātmā hy asi śāśvataḥ॥12-55-1॥
[अथ (atha) - now; अब्रवीत् (abravīt) - said; महातेजा (mahātejā) - of great brilliance; वाक्यं (vākyaṃ) - speech; कौरवनन्दनः (kauravanandanaḥ) - delight of the Kauravas; हन्त (hanta) - indeed; धर्मान् (dharmān) - the dharmas; प्रवक्ष्यामि (pravakṣyāmi) - I shall declare; दृढे (dṛḍhe) - firm; वाङ् (vāṅ) - speech; मनसी (manasī) - in mind; मम (mama) - my; तव (tava) - by your; प्रसादात् (prasādāt) - grace; गोविन्द (govinda) - Govinda; भूतात्मा (bhūtātmā) - the soul of beings; हि (hi) - indeed; असि (asi) - you are; शाश्वतः (śāśvataḥ) - eternal;]
(Now the one of great brilliance, the delight of the Kauravas, said this speech: Indeed, I shall declare the dharmas, with my speech and mind firm. By your grace, O Govinda, you are indeed the soul of beings, eternal.)
Then the illustrious Kaurava prince spoke: "Now, I shall declare the dharmas with firm resolve in speech and mind. By your grace, O Govinda, you are truly the eternal soul of all beings."
युधिष्ठिरस्तु मां राजा धर्मान्समनुपृच्छतु। एवं प्रीतो भविष्यामि धर्मान्वक्ष्यामि चानघ ॥१२-५५-२॥
yudhiṣṭhiras tu māṃ rājā dharmān sam-anupṛcchatu। evaṃ prīto bhaviṣyāmi dharmān vakṣyāmi ca anagha ॥12-55-2॥
[युधिष्ठिरः (yudhiṣṭhiraḥ) - Yudhishthira; तु (tu) - but; माम् (mām) - me; राजा (rājā) - king; धर्मान् (dharmān) - dharmas; समानुपृच्छतु (sam-anupṛcchatu) - should thoroughly ask; एवम् (evam) - thus; प्रीतः (prītaḥ) - pleased; भविष्यामि (bhaviṣyāmi) - I shall become; धर्मान् (dharmān) - dharmas; वक्ष्यामि (vakṣyāmi) - I shall speak; च (ca) - and; अनघ (anagha) - O sinless one;]
(But let king Yudhishthira ask me about the dharmas; thus, being pleased, I shall become (so), I shall speak of the dharmas, O sinless one.)
But let king Yudhishthira ask me about the dharmas; then, being pleased, I shall explain the dharmas, O sinless one.
यस्मिन्राजर्षभे जाते धर्मात्मनि महात्मनि। अहृष्यन्नृषयः सर्वे स मां पृच्छतु पाण्डवः ॥१२-५५-३॥
yasmin rājarṣabhe jāte dharmātmani mahātmani। ahṛṣyann ṛṣayaḥ sarve sa māṃ pṛcchatu pāṇḍavaḥ ॥12-55-3॥
[यस्मिन् (yasmin) - in whom; राजर्षभे (rājarṣabhe) - in the royal bull; जाते (jāte) - having been born; धर्मात्मनि (dharmātmani) - in the righteous-souled; महात्मनि (mahātmani) - in the great-souled; अहृष्यन् (ahṛṣyan) - did not rejoice; ऋषयः (ṛṣayaḥ) - the sages; सर्वे (sarve) - all; सः (saḥ) - he; माम् (mām) - me; पृच्छतु (pṛcchatu) - let ask; पाण्डवः (pāṇḍavaḥ) - O Pāṇḍava;]
(In whom, in the royal bull, having been born, in the righteous-souled, in the great-souled, did not rejoice, the sages, all, he, me, let ask, O Pāṇḍava.)
O Pāṇḍava, ask me about that royal bull, the great and righteous-souled one, in whom, when he was born, all the sages did not rejoice.
सर्वेषां दीप्तयशसां कुरूणां धर्मचारिणाम्। यस्य नास्ति समः कश्चित्स मां पृच्छतु पाण्डवः ॥१२-५५-४॥
sarveṣāṃ dīptayaśasāṃ kurūṇāṃ dharmacāriṇām। yasya nāsti samaḥ kaścit sa māṃ pṛcchatu pāṇḍavaḥ ॥12-55-4॥
[सर्वेषाम् (sarveṣām) - of all; दीप्त-यशसाम् (dīpta-yaśasām) - of those with blazing fame; कुरूणाम् (kurūṇām) - of the Kurus; धर्म-चारिणाम् (dharma-cāriṇām) - of those who follow dharma; यस्य (yasya) - of whom; नास्ति (nāsti) - there is not; समः (samaḥ) - equal; कश्चित् (kaścit) - anyone; सः (saḥ) - he; माम् (mām) - me; पृच्छतु (pṛcchatu) - let ask; पाण्डवः (pāṇḍavaḥ) - O Pāṇḍava;]
(Of all the Kurus who are blazing with fame and who follow dharma, if there is anyone whose equal does not exist, let him ask me, O Pāṇḍava.)
Among all the illustrious and righteous Kurus, if there is anyone who has no equal, let that person question me, O Pāṇḍava.
धृतिर्दमो ब्रह्मचर्यं क्षमा धर्मश्च नित्यदा। यस्मिन्नोजश्च तेजश्च स मां पृच्छतु पाण्डवः ॥१२-५५-५॥
dhṛtir damo brahmacaryaṃ kṣamā dharmaś ca nityadā। yasmin nojaś ca tejaś ca sa māṃ pṛcchatu pāṇḍavaḥ॥12-55-5॥
[धृतिः (dhṛtiḥ) - steadfastness; दमः (damaḥ) - self-control; ब्रह्मचर्यम् (brahmacaryam) - celibacy; क्षमा (kṣamā) - forbearance; धर्मः (dharmaḥ) - righteousness; च (ca) - and; नित्यदा (nityadā) - always; यस्मिन् (yasmin) - in whom; ओजः (ojaḥ) - vital energy; च (ca) - and; तेजः (tejaḥ) - brilliance; च (ca) - and; सः (saḥ) - he; माम् (mām) - me; पृच्छतु (pṛcchatu) - should ask; पाण्डवः (pāṇḍavaḥ) - O Pāṇḍava;]
(Steadfastness, self-control, celibacy, forbearance, righteousness and always; in whom vital energy and brilliance and he me should ask, O Pāṇḍava.)
O Pāṇḍava, ask me about that person in whom steadfastness, self-control, celibacy, forbearance, righteousness, and always vital energy and brilliance are found.
सत्यं दानं तपः शौचं शान्तिर्दाक्ष्यमसम्भ्रमः। यस्मिन्नेतानि सर्वाणि स मां पृच्छतु पाण्डवः ॥१२-५५-६॥
satyaṃ dānaṃ tapaḥ śaucaṃ śāntir dākṣyam asambhramaḥ। yasminn etāni sarvāṇi sa māṃ pṛcchatu pāṇḍavaḥ ॥12-55-6॥
[सत्यं (satyaṃ) - truth; दानं (dānam) - charity; तपः (tapaḥ) - austerity; शौचं (śaucam) - purity; शान्तिः (śāntiḥ) - peace; दाक्ष्यम् (dākṣyam) - dexterity; असम्भ्रमः (asambhramaḥ) - absence of confusion; यस्मिन् (yasmin) - in whom; एतानि (etāni) - these; सर्वाणि (sarvāṇi) - all; सः (saḥ) - he; माम् (mām) - me; पृच्छतु (pṛcchatu) - may ask; पाण्डवः (pāṇḍavaḥ) - O Pāṇḍava;]
(Truth, charity, austerity, purity, peace, dexterity, absence of confusion—in whom these all (are), he may ask me, O Pāṇḍava.)
O Pāṇḍava, he in whom all these—truth, charity, austerity, purity, peace, dexterity, and absence of confusion—are found, let him ask me.
यो न कामान्न संरम्भान्न भयान्नार्थकारणात्। कुर्यादधर्मं धर्मात्मा स मां पृच्छतु पाण्डवः ॥१२-५५-७॥
yo na kāmānna saṁrambhānna bhayānnārthakāraṇāt। kuryādadharmaṁ dharmātmā sa māṁ pṛcchatu pāṇḍavaḥ ॥12-55-7॥
[यः (yaḥ) - who; न (na) - not; कामात् (kāmāt) - from desire; न (na) - not; संरम्भात् (saṁrambhāt) - from anger; न (na) - not; भयात् (bhayāt) - from fear; न (na) - not; अर्थकारणात् (arthakāraṇāt) - from motive of gain; कुर्यात् (kuryāt) - would do; अधर्मम् (adharmam) - unrighteousness; धर्मात्मा (dharmātmā) - one whose nature is righteousness; सः (saḥ) - he; माम् (mām) - me; पृच्छतु (pṛcchatu) - should ask; पाण्डवः (pāṇḍavaḥ) - O Pāṇḍava;]
(Who, not from desire, not from anger, not from fear, not from motive of gain, would do unrighteousness, one whose nature is righteousness, he should ask me, O Pāṇḍava.)
O Pāṇḍava, he who would not commit unrighteousness from desire, anger, fear, or motive of gain, and whose nature is righteousness, let him question me.
सम्बन्धिनोऽतिथीन्भृत्यान्संश्रितोपाश्रितांश्च यः। संमानयति सत्कृत्य स मां पृच्छतु पाण्डवः ॥१२-५५-८॥
sambandhino'tithīnbhṛtyāṁsaṁśritopāśritāṁśca yaḥ। saṁmānayati satkṛtya sa māṁ pṛcchatu pāṇḍavaḥ ॥12-55-8॥
[सम्बन्धिनः (sambandhinaḥ) - relatives; अतिथीन् (atithīn) - guests; भृत्यान् (bhṛtyān) - servants; संश्रित (saṁśrita) - those who have taken refuge; उपाश्रितान् (upāśritān) - those who are dependent; च (ca) - and; यः (yaḥ) - who; संमानयति (saṁmānayati) - honors; सत्कृत्य (satkṛtya) - with due respect; सः (saḥ) - he; माम् (mām) - me; पृच्छतु (pṛcchatu) - may ask; पाण्डवः (pāṇḍavaḥ) - O Pāṇḍava;]
(Relatives, guests, servants, those who have taken refuge, and those who are dependent—who honors (them) with due respect, he, O Pāṇḍava, may ask me.)
O Pāṇḍava, let him who honors relatives, guests, servants, those who have sought refuge, and dependents with due respect, ask me (his question).
सत्यनित्यः क्षमानित्यो ज्ञाननित्योऽतिथिप्रियः। यो ददाति सतां नित्यं स मां पृच्छतु पाण्डवः ॥१२-५५-९॥
satyanityaḥ kṣamānityo jñānanityo'tithipriyaḥ। yo dadāti satāṃ nityaṃ sa māṃ pṛcchatu pāṇḍavaḥ ॥12-55-9॥
[सत्यनित्यः (satyanityaḥ) - always-truthful; क्षमानित्यः (kṣamānityaḥ) - always-forbearing; ज्ञाननित्यः (jñānanityaḥ) - always-wise; अतिथिप्रियः (atithipriyaḥ) - fond-of-guests; यः (yaḥ) - who; ददाति (dadāti) - gives; सतां (satām) - to the good; नित्यं (nityaṃ) - always; सः (saḥ) - he; माम् (mām) - me; पृच्छतु (pṛcchatu) - may ask; पाण्डवः (pāṇḍavaḥ) - O Pāṇḍava;]
(Always-truthful, always-forbearing, always-wise, fond-of-guests; who gives always to the good, he may ask me, O Pāṇḍava.)
O Pāṇḍava, let him who is always truthful, always forbearing, always wise, fond of guests, and who always gives to the good, ask me.
इज्याध्ययननित्यश्च धर्मे च निरतः सदा। शान्तः श्रुतरहस्यश्च स मां पृच्छतु पाण्डवः ॥१२-५५-१०॥
ijyādhyayananityaś ca dharme ca nirataḥ sadā। śāntaḥ śrutarahasyaś ca sa māṃ pṛcchatu pāṇḍavaḥ ॥12-55-10॥
[इज्य (ijya) - sacrifice; अध्ययन (adhyayana) - study; नित्यः (nityaḥ) - always; च (ca) - and; धर्मे (dharme) - in dharma; च (ca) - and; निरतः (nirataḥ) - engaged; सदा (sadā) - always; शान्तः (śāntaḥ) - peaceful; श्रुतरहस्यः (śrutarahasyaḥ) - knower of secret teachings; च (ca) - and; सः (saḥ) - he; माम् (mām) - me; पृच्छतु (pṛcchatu) - should ask; पाण्डवः (pāṇḍavaḥ) - O Pāṇḍava;]
(Sacrifice, study, always, and, in dharma, and, engaged, always, peaceful, knower of secret teachings, and, he, me, should ask, O Pāṇḍava.)
He who is always engaged in sacrifice and study, always devoted to dharma, peaceful, and a knower of secret teachings—O Pāṇḍava, let him ask me.
वासुदेव उवाच॥
vāsudeva uvāca॥
[वासुदेव (vāsudeva) - Vāsudeva; (a name of Kṛṣṇa) उवाच (uvāca) - said;]
(Vāsudeva said;)
Vāsudeva said.
लज्जया परयोपेतो धर्मात्मा स युधिष्ठिरः। अभिशापभयाद्भीतो भवन्तं नोपसर्पति ॥१२-५५-११॥
lajjayā parayopeto dharmātmā sa yudhiṣṭhiraḥ। abhiśāpabhayādbhīto bhavantaṃ nopasarpati ॥12-55-11॥
[लज्जया (lajjayā) - by shame; परया (parayā) - by great; उपेतः (upetaḥ) - endowed; धर्मात्मा (dharmātmā) - righteous-souled; सः (saḥ) - he; युधिष्ठिरः (yudhiṣṭhiraḥ) - Yudhishthira; अभिशापभयात् (abhiśāpabhayāt) - from fear of curse; भीतः (bhītaḥ) - afraid; भवन्तम् (bhavantaṃ) - you; न (na) - not; उपसर्पति (upasarpati) - approaches;]
(He, Yudhishthira, righteous-souled, endowed with great shame, afraid from fear of curse, does not approach you.)
Yudhishthira, who is righteous and deeply ashamed, fearing a curse, does not come near you.
लोकस्य कदनं कृत्वा लोकनाथो विशां पते। अभिशापभयाद्भीतो भवन्तं नोपसर्पति ॥१२-५५-१२॥
lokasya kadanaṃ kṛtvā lokanātho viśāṃ pate| abhiśāpabhayādbhīto bhavantaṃ nopasarpati ||12-55-12||
[लोकस्य (lokasya) - of the world; कदनं (kadanaṃ) - destruction; कृत्वा (kṛtvā) - having done; लोकनाथः (lokanāthaḥ) - the lord of the world; विशां (viśām) - of the people; पते (pate) - O lord; अभिशापभयात् (abhiśāpabhayāt) - from fear of a curse; भीतः (bhītaḥ) - being afraid; भवन्तं (bhavantaṃ) - to you; न (na) - not; उपसर्पति (upasarpati) - approaches;]
(Having done the destruction of the world, the lord of the world, O lord of the people, being afraid from the fear of a curse, does not approach you.)
O lord of the people, having destroyed the world, the lord of the world, out of fear of a curse, does not come near you.
पूज्यान्मान्यांश्च भक्तांश्च गुरून्सम्बन्धिबान्धवान्। अर्घ्यार्हानिषुभिर्हत्वा भवन्तं नोपसर्पति ॥१२-५५-१३॥
pūjyānmānyāṃśca bhaktāṃśca gurūnsambandhibāndhavān | arghyārhāniśubhirhatvā bhavantaṃ nopasarpati ||12-55-13||
[पूज्यान् (pūjyān) - those worthy of worship; मान्यान् (mānyān) - those worthy of honor; च (ca) - and; भक्तान् (bhaktān) - devoted ones; च (ca) - and; गुरून् (gurūn) - teachers; सम्बन्धि-बान्धवान् (sambandhi-bāndhavān) - related kinsmen; अर्घ्य-अर्हान् (arghya-arhān) - those worthy of offerings; इषुभिः (iṣubhiḥ) - with arrows; हत्वा (hatvā) - having slain; भवन्तम् (bhavantam) - you; न (na) - not; उपसर्पति (upasarpati) - approaches;]
(Those worthy of worship, those worthy of honor, and devoted ones, and teachers, related kinsmen, those worthy of offerings, having slain with arrows, you, not, approaches.)
He who has slain with arrows those worthy of worship, honor, devotion, teachers, related kinsmen, and those worthy of offerings, does not approach you.
भीष्म उवाच॥
bhīṣma uvāca॥
[भीष्म (bhīṣma) - Bhīṣma; (name of the speaker); उवाच (uvāca) - said; (he spoke);]
(Bhīṣma said;)
Bhīṣma said.
ब्राह्मणानां यथा धर्मो दानमध्ययनं तपः। क्षत्रियाणां तथा कृष्ण समरे देहपातनम् ॥१२-५५-१४॥
brāhmaṇānāṃ yathā dharmo dānamadhyayanaṃ tapaḥ। kṣatriyāṇāṃ tathā kṛṣṇa samare dehapātanam ॥12-55-14॥
[ब्राह्मणानां (brāhmaṇānām) - of the Brāhmaṇas; यथा (yathā) - just as; धर्मः (dharmaḥ) - duty; दान (dāna) - charity; अध्ययनं (adhyayanaṃ) - study; तपः (tapaḥ) - austerity; क्षत्रियाणां (kṣatriyāṇām) - of the Kṣatriyas; तथा (tathā) - so; कृष्ण (kṛṣṇa) - O Kṛṣṇa; समरे (samare) - in battle; देहपातनम् (dehapātanam) - falling of the body (death in battle);]
(Of the Brāhmaṇas, just as duty, charity, study, austerity; of the Kṣatriyas, so, O Kṛṣṇa, in battle, the falling of the body (death in battle).)
Just as duty, charity, study, and austerity are for the Brāhmaṇas, so for the Kṣatriyas, O Kṛṣṇa, is the falling of the body in battle (death in battle).
पितॄन्पितामहान्पुत्रान्गुरून्सम्बन्धिबान्धवान्। मिथ्याप्रवृत्तान्यः सङ्ख्ये निहन्याद्धर्म एव सः ॥१२-५५-१५॥
pitṝn pitāmahān putrān gurūn sambandhi bāndhavān। mithyāpravṛttān yaḥ saṅkhye nihanyād dharma eva saḥ॥12-55-15॥
[पितॄन् (pitṝn) - fathers; पितामहान् (pitāmahān) - grandfathers; पुत्रान् (putrān) - sons; गुरून् (gurūn) - teachers; सम्बन्धि (sambandhi) - relatives; बान्धवान् (bāndhavān) - kinsmen; मिथ्या (mithyā) - wrongly; प्रवृत्तान् (pravṛttān) - engaged; यः (yaḥ) - who; सङ्ख्ये (saṅkhye) - in battle; निहन्यात् (nihanyāt) - would slay; धर्म (dharma) - righteousness; एव (eva) - indeed; सः (saḥ) - he;]
(Fathers, grandfathers, sons, teachers, relatives, kinsmen—whoever, wrongly engaged, would slay in battle, he is indeed righteousness.)
He who, in battle, slays fathers, grandfathers, sons, teachers, relatives, and kinsmen who are wrongly engaged, is truly acting in accordance with righteousness.
समयत्यागिनो लुब्धान्गुरूनपि च केशव। निहन्ति समरे पापान्क्षत्रियो यः स धर्मवित् ॥१२-५५-१६॥
samayatyāgino lubdhān gurūn api ca keśava। nihanti samare pāpān kṣatriyo yaḥ sa dharmavit ॥12-55-16॥
[समयत्यागिनः (samayatyāginaḥ) - those who abandon time (duty); लुब्धान् (lubdhān) - the greedy; गुरून् (gurūn) - teachers; अपि (api) - even; च (ca) - and; केशव (keśava) - O Keśava; निहन्ति (nihanti) - kills; समरे (samare) - in battle; पापान् (pāpān) - the wicked; क्षत्रियः (kṣatriyaḥ) - a kṣatriya; यः (yaḥ) - who; सः (saḥ) - he; धर्मवित् (dharmavit) - knower of dharma;]
(Those who abandon duty, the greedy, teachers even, and, O Keśava, kills in battle the wicked, a kṣatriya who, he is a knower of dharma.)
O Keśava, that kṣatriya who, in battle, kills even the greedy, those who abandon duty, and teachers who are wicked, he is a knower of dharma.
आहूतेन रणे नित्यं योद्धव्यं क्षत्रबन्धुना। धर्म्यं स्वर्ग्यं च लोक्यं च युद्धं हि मनुरब्रवीत् ॥१२-५५-१७॥
āhūtena raṇe nityaṃ yoddhavyaṃ kṣatrabandhunā। dharmyaṃ svargyaṃ ca lokyaṃ ca yuddhaṃ hi manurabravīt ॥12-55-17॥
[आहूतेन (āhūtena) - by one who has been called; रणे (raṇe) - in battle; नित्यं (nityaṃ) - always; योद्धव्यं (yoddhavyaṃ) - must be fought; क्षत्रबन्धुना (kṣatrabandhunā) - by a kṣatriya (warrior); धर्म्यं (dharmyaṃ) - righteous; स्वर्ग्यं (svargyaṃ) - leading to heaven; च (ca) - and; लोक्यं (lokyaṃ) - worthy in the world; च (ca) - and; युद्धं (yuddhaṃ) - battle; हि (hi) - indeed; मनुः (manuḥ) - Manu; अब्रवीत् (abravīt) - said;]
(By one who has been called, in battle, always, must be fought, by a kṣatriya; righteous, leading to heaven and worthy in the world, battle indeed, Manu said.)
Manu said: "A kṣatriya, when called to battle, must always fight; such battle is righteous, leads to heaven, and is worthy in the world."
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
[वैशम्पायन (vaiśampāyana) - Vaiśampāyana; (name of the sage); उवाच (uvāca) - said;]
(Vaiśampāyana said;)
Vaiśampāyana said.
एवमुक्तस्तु भीष्मेण धर्मराजो युधिष्ठिरः। विनीतवदुपागम्य तस्थौ संदर्शनेऽग्रतः ॥१२-५५-१८॥
evam-uktas tu bhīṣmeṇa dharmarājo yudhiṣṭhiraḥ। vinīta-vad upāgamya tasthau sandarśane'grataḥ ॥12-55-18॥
[एवम् (evam) - thus; उक्तः (uktaḥ) - spoken; तु (tu) - but; भीष्मेण (bhīṣmeṇa) - by Bhīṣma; धर्मराजः (dharmarājaḥ) - the king of dharma; युधिष्ठिरः (yudhiṣṭhiraḥ) - Yudhiṣṭhira; विनीतवत् (vinīta-vat) - with humility; उपागम्य (upāgamya) - having approached; तस्थौ (tasthau) - stood; संदर्शने (sandarśane) - for seeing; अग्रतः (agrataḥ) - in front;]
(Thus, spoken by Bhīṣma, the king of dharma Yudhiṣṭhira, with humility, having approached, stood for seeing in front.)
Thus addressed by Bhīṣma, Yudhiṣṭhira, the king of dharma, approached with humility and stood in front of him to be seen.
अथास्य पादौ जग्राह भीष्मश्चाभिननन्द तम्। मूर्ध्नि चैनमुपाघ्राय निषीदेत्यब्रवीत्तदा ॥१२-५५-१९॥
athāsya pādau jagrāha bhīṣmaścābhinananda tam | mūrdhni cainam upāghrāya niṣīdetyabravīttadā ||12-55-19||
[अथ (atha) - then; अस्य (asya) - his; पादौ (pādau) - feet (dual); जग्राह (jagrāha) - grasped; भीष्मः (bhīṣmaḥ) - Bhishma; च (ca) - and; अभिननन्द (abhinananda) - welcomed; तम् (tam) - him; मूर्ध्नि (mūrdhni) - on the head; च (ca) - and; एनम् (enam) - him; उपाघ्राय (upāghrāya) - having smelled (as a mark of affection); निषीद (niṣīda) - sit; इति (iti) - thus; अब्रवीत् (abravīt) - said; तदा (tadā) - then;]
(Then his feet Bhishma grasped and welcomed him; on the head and him having smelled, "Sit" thus said then.)
Then Bhishma grasped his feet and welcomed him; having smelled his head, he said, "Sit down."
तमुवाचाथ गाङ्गेय ऋषभः सर्वधन्विनाम्। पृच्छ मां तात विस्रब्धं मा भैस्त्वं कुरुसत्तम ॥१२-५५-२०॥
tam uvācātha gāṅgeya ṛṣabhaḥ sarvadhanvinām। pṛccha māṃ tāta visrabdhaṃ mā bhais tvaṃ kurusattama ॥12-55-20॥
[तम् (tam) - him; उवाच (uvāca) - said; अथ (atha) - then; गाङ्गेय (gāṅgeya) - son of Gaṅgā; ऋषभः (ṛṣabhaḥ) - bull; chief; सर्वधन्विनाम् (sarvadhanvinām) - of all bowmen; पृच्छ (pṛccha) - ask; माम् (mām) - me; तात (tāta) - dear one; son; विस्रब्धम् (visrabdham) - confidently; without fear; मा (mā) - do not; भैः (bhais) - fear; त्वम् (tvam) - you; कुरुसत्तम (kurusattama) - best of the Kurus;]
(Then the son of Gaṅgā, chief of all bowmen, said to him: "Ask me, dear one, confidently; do not fear, O best of the Kurus.")
Then the son of Gaṅgā, the foremost among all bowmen, said to him: "Ask me anything, dear one, without hesitation; do not be afraid, O best of the Kurus."
