वैशम्पायन उवाच हते चित्राङ्गदे भीष्मो बाले भ्रातरि कौरवा पालयामास तद् राज्यं सत्यवत्या मते स्थितः॥
Vaishampayana said : O descendant of the Kuru race, Chitrangada, having been killed and his brother being minor, Bhishma, ever obedient to Satyavati, ruled over the kingdom.
सम्प्रासयौवनं दृष्ट्वा भ्रातरं धीमतां वरः। भीष्मो विचित्रवीर्यस्य विवाहायाकरोन्मतिम्॥
When that best of all intelligent men, Bhishma, saw that his brother Vichitravirya, had attained majority (youth), he thought of marrying him.
अथ काशिपतेर्भीष्मः कन्यास्तिस्रोऽप्सरोपमाः। शुश्राव सहिता राजन् वृण्वाना वै स्वयंवरम्॥
O king, he heard that three daughters of the king of Kashi, all equal to the Apsaras in beauty, would be married at a Sayamvara.
ततः स रथिनां श्रेष्ठो रथेनैकेन शत्रुजित्। जगामानुमते मातुः पुरीं वाराणसी प्रभुः॥
Thereupon, that best of car-warriors, that chastiser of foes, that Lord (Bhishma), riding on a single car, went at the command of his mother to the city of Varanasi (Kashi).
तत्र राज्ञः समुदितान् सर्वतः समुपागतान्। ददर्श कन्यास्ताश्चैव भीष्मः शान्तनुनन्दनः॥
There the son of Shantanu, Bhishma, saw that many kings and potentates had come from all directions. He also saw those three maidens.
कीर्त्यमानेषु राज्ञां तु तदा नामसु सर्वशः। (एकाकिनं तदा भीष्मं वृद्धं शान्तनुनन्दनम्॥ सोद्वेगा इव तं दृष्ट्वा कन्याः परमशोभनाः। अपाक्रामन्त ताः सर्वा वृद्ध इत्येव चिन्तया॥ वृद्धः परमधर्मात्मा वलीपलितधारणः। किं कारणमिहायातो निर्लज्जो भरतर्षभः॥ मिथ्याप्रतिज्ञो लोकेषु किं वदिष्यति भारत। ब्रह्मचारीति भीष्मो हि वृथैव प्रथितो भुवि।। इत्येवं प्रब्रुवन्तस्ते हसन्ति स्म नृपाधमाः।
When the kings were being mentioned by name, meanwhile there arrived Bhishma alone who had already became an old man. On seeing him, all the extremely beautiful young girls became agitated thinking him to be an old man. Those kings of mean character gathered together over there started talking among themselves and deriding him thus : He has already became an old person. Wrinkles have spread all over his body. The hair on his head has become white. Despite of these signs how came he has arrived here? He is really shameless and by proving his vow untrue, what will he tell the people here. Truly the fact that Bhishma is a calibrate has been spread in vain all the world over.
वैशम्पायन उवाच क्षत्रियाणां वचः श्रुत्वा भीष्मश्चक्रोध भारत!!) भीष्मस्तदा स्वयं कन्या वरयामास ताः प्रभुः॥ उवाच च महीपालान् राजञ्जलदनिस्वनः। रथमारोप्य ताः कन्या भीष्मः प्रहरतां वरः॥
Vaishampayana said : O Bharata, hearing the words of those kings, Bhishma became angry. Bhishma, the lord, chose himself those maidens (for his brother). O king, taking those maidens on his chariot, the best of warriors, Bhishma, spoke to the (assembled) kings in a voice like the thunder of the clouds.
आहूय दानं कन्यानां गुणवद्भ्यः स्मृतं बुधः। अलंकृत्य यथाशक्ति प्रदाय च धनान्यपि॥ प्रयच्छन्त्यपरे कन्या मिथुनेन गवामपि। वित्तेन कथितेनान्ये बलेनान्येऽनुमान्य च॥ प्रमत्तामुपयन्त्यन्ये स्वयमन्ये च विन्दते।
The wise have said that after inviting accomplished man, a maiden may be bestowed on him decked with ornaments and accompanied with valuable presents as much as lie in the power of the bestower to give. Others may bestow their daughters by accepting a couple of kine. Some again may bestow their daughters by taking a fixed sum and some again take away maidens by force. Some marry with the consent of the maidens and some by dragging them into consent. Some by obtaining their parents' consent, some again obtain wives as presents.
आर्ष विधि पुरस्कृत्य दारान् विन्दन्ति चापरे॥ अष्टमं तमथो वित्त विवाहं कविभिर्वतम्। स्वयंदरं तु राजन्याः प्रशंसन्त्युपयान्ति च॥ प्रमथ्य तु हृतामाहुायसी धर्मवादिनः। ता इमाः पृथिवीपाला जिहीर्षामि बलादितः॥ ते यतध्वं परं शक्त्या विजयायेतराय वा।
The learned men praise the eighth form of marriage, but the Svaymavara is highly spoken by the kings. But the sages have said that the wife taken by force amidst an assemblage of kings after defeating them is to be highly prized. Therefore, O kings, I carry away these maidens by force. Try with all your strength to defeat me or be defeated.
स्थितोऽहं पृथिवीपाला युद्धाय कृतनिश्चयः॥ एवमुक्त्वा महीपलान् काशिराजं च वीर्यवान्। सर्वाः कन्याः स कौरव्यो रथमारोप्य च स्वकम्।।१४। आमन्त्र्य च स तान् प्रायाच्छीघ्रं कन्याः प्रगृह्य ताः।
O kings, I stand here, resolved to fight. Having said this to the kings and the king of Kashi, the greatly powerful. Kuru prince took up those maidens on his car. Having thus taken them on his car and having challenged them (the chiefs) to fight, he sped his chariot away.
ततस्ते पार्थिवाः सर्वे समुत्पेतुरमर्षिताः॥ संस्पृशन्तः स्वकान् बाहून् दशन्तो दशनच्छदान्।
Thereupon all the kings stood up in anger; they slapped their arms and bit their mother lips.
तेषामाभारणान्याशु त्वरितानां विमुञ्चताम्॥ आमुञ्चतां च वर्माणि सम्भ्रमः सुमहानभूत्।
Their great hurry in casting off their ornaments and putting on their armours produced a loud uproar.
ताराणामिव सम्पातो बभूव जनमेजय॥ भूषणानां च सर्वेषां कवचानां च सर्वशः। सवर्मभिर्भूषणैश्च प्रकीर्यद्भिरितस्ततः॥ सक्रोधामर्षजिह्मभूकषायीकृतलोचनाः। सूतोपक्लृप्तान् रुचिरान् सदश्वैरुपकल्पितान्॥ रथानास्थाय ते वीराः सर्वप्रहरणान्विताः। प्रयान्तमथ कौरव्यमनुसत्ररुदायुधाः॥ ततः समभवद् युद्धं तेषां तस्य च भारत। एकस्य च बहूनां च तुमुलं लोमहर्षणम्॥
O Janamejaya, the ornaments and armours resembled like the meteoric flashes in the sky. With their brows contracted and eyes red in anger, they moved in impatience, their ornaments and armours dangling with their agitated steps. The charioteers soon brought handsome cars, yoked with fine horses. Those heroes, armed with all kinds of weapons then got on those cars. They pursued the retreating chief of the Kurus. O descendant of the Bharata race, then occurred that wonderful fight. That hair-stirring battle in which innumerable kings were on one side and only one was on the other.
ते त्विषून् दश साहस्रांस्तस्मिन् युगपदाक्षिपन्। अप्राप्तांश्चैव तानाशु भीष्मः सर्वांस्तथान्तरा॥ अच्छिनच्छरवर्षेण महता लोमवाहिना। ततस्ते पार्थिवाः सर्वे सर्वतः परिवार्य तम्॥ ववृषुः शरवर्षेण वर्षेणेवाद्रिमम्बुदाः। स तं बाणमयं वर्षं शरैरावार्य सर्वतः॥ ततः सर्वान् महीपालान् पर्यविध्यात् त्रिभिस्त्रिभिः। एकैकस्तु ततो भीष्यं राजन् विव्याध पञ्चभिः॥
The kings hurled at their foe ten thousands arrows at the same time. Bhishma, however, stopped their memberless arrows before they could fall upon him by a counter shower of his own arrows as numerous as the down of the body. Thereupon, the kings surrounded him on all sides and rained upon him a shower of arrows like masses of clouds showering on the mountains. He (Bhishma), stopping that shower of arrows by his own, wounded each of the kings with three arrows. O king, the kings wounded Bhishma each with five arrows.
स च तान् प्रतिविव्याध द्वाभ्यां द्वाभ्यां पराक्रमन्। तद् युद्धमासीत् तुमुलं घोरं देवासुरोपमम्॥ पश्यतां लोकवीराणां शरशक्तिसमाकुलम्। स धनूंषि ध्वजाग्राणि वर्माणि च शिरांसि च॥ चिच्छेद समरे भीष्मः शतशोऽथ सहस्रशः। तस्याति पुरुषानन्याँल्लाघवं रथचारिणः॥ रक्षणं चात्मनः संख्ये शत्रवोऽप्यभ्यपूजयन्। तान् विनिर्जित्य तु रणे सर्वशस्त्रभृतां वरः॥ कन्याभिः सहितः प्रायाद् भारतो भारतान् प्रति। ततस्तं पृष्ठतो राजञ्छाल्वराजो महारथः॥ अभ्यगच्छदमेयात्मा भीष्मं शान्तनवं रणे। वारणं जघने भिन्दन् दन्ताभ्यामपरो यथा॥ वासितामनुसम्प्राप्तो यूथपो बलिनां वरः।। स्त्रीकामस्तिष्ठ तिष्ठेति भीष्ममाह स पार्थिवः॥ शाल्वराजो महाबाहुरमर्षेण प्रचोदितः। ततः सः पुरुषव्याघ्रो भीष्मः परबलार्दनः॥ तद्वाक्याकुलितः क्रोधाद् विधूमोऽग्निरिव ज्वलन्। विततेषुधनुष्पाणिविकुञ्चितललाटभृत्॥ क्षत्रधर्म समास्थाय व्यपेतभयसम्भ्रमः। निवर्तयामास रथं शाल्वं प्रति महारथः॥
But he stopped the attacking kings each with two arrows. The battle became so fierce with the dense shower of arrows that it looked like the battle between the Devas and the Danavas. And even brave men were struck with fear to look at it. (Bhishma) cut off by his arrows flag staffs, armours and human heads by hundreds and thousands on the field of battle. Such was his prowess and extraordinary lightness of hand, such was the skill with which he protected himself, that the fighting car-warriors, though his enemies, loudly applauded him. That foremost of all experts in arms (Bhishma), having defeated all the kings in battle and having taken the maidens with him, went towards the capital of the Bharatas. O king, then the great car-warrior king, Shalva, challenged from behind the son of Shantanu, Bhishma, to a combat. Desirous of securing the maidens, he came upon Bhishma like a powerful leader of elephants, rushing upon another of its kinds and tearing with its tusk its opponent's thigh at the sight of a female. That mighty armed king Shalva cried in wrath to Bhishma, “Stay, Stay.” Then the best of men, Bhishma that destroyer of hostile army, provoked by his words, flamed up in anger like a blazing fire. Bow in hand, his brow borrowed into wrinkles, he stopped his car in obedience to the Kshatriya usage and stayed there in expectation of the enemy.
निवर्तमानं तं दृष्ट्वा राजानः सर्व एव ते। प्रेक्षकाः समपद्यन्त भीष्मशाल्वसमागमे॥
The great car-warrior stopped his car for Shalva and all the kings, also stood there to see him stop. They wished to see the corning combat between Bhishma and Shalva.
तौ वृषाविव नर्दन्तौ बलिनौ वासितान्तरे। अन्योन्यमभ्यवर्तेतां बलविक्रमशालिनौ॥
The two (heroes) then began to show their prowess on each other like two roaring bulls of great strength fighting at the sight of a cow.
ततो भीष्मं शान्तनवं शरैः शतसहस्रशः। शाल्वराजो नरश्रेष्ठः समवाकिरदाशुगैः॥
The best of men, king Shalva, covered the son of Shantanu, Bhishma, with hundreds and thousands of swift-winged arrows.
पूर्वमभ्यर्दितं दृष्ट्वा भीष्मं शाल्वेन ते नृपाः। विस्मिताः समपद्यन्त साधु साध्विति चाब्रुवन्॥
The kings, seeing that Shalva was covering Bhishma at the very outset of the combat with innumerable arrows, were much astonished and they all cried "Blessed, Blessed."
लाघवं तस्य ते दृष्ट्वा समरे सर्वपार्थिवाः। अपूजयन्त संहृष्टा वाग्भिः शाल्वं नराधिपम्॥
Seeing him very light-handed in battle, all the kings applauded in delight the king of men, Shalva.
क्षत्रियाणां ततो वाचः श्रुत्वा परपुरंजयः। क्रुद्धः शान्तनवो भीष्मस्तिष्ठ तिष्ठेत्यभाषत॥
Hearing these shouts of the Kshatriyas, the subjugator of hostile towns, the son of Shantanu, Bhishma, exclaimed, “Stay, Stay."
सारथिं चाब्रवीत् क्रुद्धो याहि यत्रैष पार्थिवः। यावदेनं निहन्म्यद्य भुजङ्गमिव पक्षिराट्॥
He (Bhishma) commanded his charioteer in anger, saying, “ Lead the car where the king (Shalva) is. I shall instantly kill him as Garuda kills a serpent."
ततोऽस्त्रं वारुणं सम्यग् योजयामास कौरवः। तेनाश्वांश्चतुरोऽमृद्गच्छाल्वराजस्य भूपते॥
O king, the Kuru prince then attached the Varuna weapon to his bow-string and he wounded with it the four steeds of king Shalva.
अस्त्रैरस्त्राणि संवार्य शाल्वराजस्य कौरवः। भीष्मो नृपतिशार्दूल न्यवधीत् तस्य सारथिम्॥
O best of Kings, the Kuru prince, warding off with his weapons those of his foe, killed king Shalva's charioteer.
अस्त्रेण चास्याथैन्द्रेण न्यवधीत् तुरगोत्तमान्। कन्याहेतोर्नरश्रेष्ठ भीष्मः शान्तनवस्तदा॥ जित्वा विसर्जयामास जीवन्तं नृपसत्तमम्। ततः शाल्वः स्वनगरं प्रययौ भरतर्षभ॥ स्वराज्यमन्वशाच्चैव धर्मेण नृपतिस्तदा। राजानो ये च तत्रासन् स्वयंवरदिदृक्षवः॥ स्वान्येव तेऽपि राष्ट्राणि जग्मुः परपुरंजयाः। एवं विजित्य ताः कन्या भीष्मः प्रहरतां वरः॥ प्रययौ हास्तिनपुरं यत्र राजा स कौरवः। विचित्रवीर्यो धर्मात्मा प्रशास्ति वसुधामिमाम्॥
The best of men, the son of Shantanu, Bhishma, for the sake of the maidens, killed the excellent steed (of his adversary) by the Aindra weapon. He then defeated that best of kings, (Shalva), but allowed him to escape with his life. O best of the Bharata race, thereupon, Shalva went away to his own kingdom. Having returned to his capital, he virtuously ruled over his people; and O subjugator of hostile towns, the kings also who came to the Svaymvara returned to their own capitals. After defeating the kings, the best of all wielders of arms, Bhishma, went with the maidens to Hastinapur, where that king of the Kurus, Vichitravirya, who ruled the world.
यथा पितास्य कौरव्यः शान्तनुर्नृपसत्तमः। सोऽचिरेणैव कालेन अत्यनामन्नराधिप।॥ वनानि सरितश्चैव शैलांश्च विविधान् द्रुपान्। अक्षतः क्षपयित्वारीन् संख्येऽसंख्येयविक्रमः॥
Vichitravirya, who ruled the world virtuously like his father the Kuru prince and the best of all monarchs Shantanu. O king, within a very short time, he (Bhishma) passed many forests, rivers, hills and woods with various trees. The son of the ocean-going river (Ganga) of immeasurable prowess in battle, killing numberless men, but having no scar on his own body.
आनयामास काश्यस्य सुताः सागरमासुतः। स्नुषा इव स धर्मात्मा भगिनीरिव चानुजाः॥ यथा दुहितरश्चैव परिगृह्य ययौ कुरून्। आनिन्ये स महाबाहुर्धातुः प्रियचिकीर्षया॥
was man Bhisma brought the daughters of the king of Kashi. As tenderly, as if they were his own daughter-in-law, sisters or daughters. Bringing them as his daughters, he presented them to the Kurus.
ताः सर्वगुणसम्पन्ना भ्राता भ्रात्रे यवीयसे। भीष्मो विचित्रवीर्याय प्रददौ विक्रमाहृताः॥
That mighty armed hero wishing his brother's welfare brought those greatly accomplished maidens and then offered them to his brother.
एवं धर्मेण धर्मज्ञः कृत्वा कर्मातिमानुषम्। भ्रातुर्विचित्रवीर्यस्य विवाहायोपचक्रमे॥ सत्यवत्या सह मिथः कृत्वा निश्चयमात्मवान्। विवाहं कारयिष्यन्तं भीष्मं काशिपतेः सुता। ज्येष्ठा तासामिदं वाक्यमब्रवीद्धसती तदा॥
Bhishma gave to Vichitravirya the maidens who were brought by his prowess. The virtuous (Bhishma), having achieved this extraordinary deed according to kingly custom, began to make preparations for his brother's marriage. Having consulted with Satyavati everything about the wedding was settled by Bhishma; but the eldest daughter of the king of Kashi, softly smiling, spoke thus-
मया सौभपतिः पूर्वं मनसा हि वृतः पतिः। तेन चास्मि वृता पूर्वमेष कामश्च मे पितुः॥
"I have chosen in my heart the king of Saubha as my husband. He too has in his heart accepted me as his wife. This is also agreeable father.
मया वरयितव्योऽभूच्छाल्वस्तस्मिन् स्वयंवरे। एतद् विज्ञाय धर्मज्ञ धर्मतत्त्वं समाचर॥
I would have also chosen Shalya in the Svayamvara as my husband. You are learned in the precepts of virtue. Knowing all this do, what you think proper."
एवमुक्तस्तया भीष्मः कन्यया विप्रसंसदि। चिन्तामभ्यगमद् वीरो युक्तां तस्यैव कर्मणः॥
Thus addressed by that maiden before the Brahmanas, the heroic Bhishma began to reflect what should be done. to my
विनिश्चित्य स धर्मज्ञो ब्राह्मणैर्वेदपारगैः। अनुजज्ञे तदा ज्येष्ठामम्बां काशिपतेः सुताम्॥
The greatly virtuous man, after consulting with the Brahmanas, learned in the Vedas, allowed the eldest daughter of the king of Kashi, Amba, to do what she liked.
अम्बिकाम्बालिके भार्ये प्रादाद् भ्रात्रे यवीयसे। भीष्मो विचित्रवीर्याय विधिदृष्टेन कर्मणा॥
Bhishma then bestowed (the two princess) Ambika and Ambalika on his younger brother Vichitravirya according to the ordained rites.
तयोः पाणी गृहीत्वा तु रूपयौवनदर्पितः। विचित्रवीर्यो धर्मात्या कामात्मा समपद्यत॥
After having married them, Vichitravirya, though he was virtuous-minded, became lustful from his prime of youth.
ते चापि बृहती श्यामे नीलकुञ्चितमूर्धजे। रक्ततुङ्गनखोपेते पीनश्रोणिपयोधरे॥
They were both of tall stature; their heads, were covered with black curly hair, their finger nails were red and high; they had beautiful rising breasts and hips.
आत्मनः प्रतिरूपोऽसौ लब्धः पतिरिति स्थिते। विचित्रवीर्यं कल्याण्यौ पूजयामासतुः शुभे॥
The beautiful and amiable damsels, endued with every auspicious mark, considered their husband Vichitravirya in every war worthy of them; and they loved and respected him.
स चाश्विरूपसदृशो देवतुल्यपराक्रमः। सर्वासामेव नारीणां चित्तप्रमथनो रहः॥
He (Vichitravirya) too, endued as he was with the beauty of the Ashvinis and the prowess of the celestials, could steal the hearts of all women.
ताभ्यां सह समाः सप्त विहरन् पृथिवीपतिः। विचित्रवीर्यस्तरुणो यक्ष्मणा समगृह्यत॥
That king of the world, Vichitravirya, enjoyed with his wives uninterruptedly for seven years and he was then attacked by consumption, though he was still in the prime of youth.
सुहृदां यतमानानामाप्तैः सह चिकित्सकैः। जगामास्तमिवादित्यः कौरव्यो यमसादनम्॥
His friends and relatives tried to effect a cure in consultation with the physicians, but (in spite of all their efforts), the Kuru prince went to the abode of Yama like a setting son.
धर्मात्मा स तु गाङ्गेयश्चिन्ताशोकपरायणः। प्रतेकार्याणि सर्वाणि तस्य सम्यगकारयत्॥ राज्ञो विचित्रवीर्यस्य सत्यवत्या मते स्थितः। ऋत्विग्भिः सहितो भीष्मः सर्वैश्च कुरुपुङ्गवैः॥
The virtuous-minded son of Ganga (Bhishma) became plunged in anxiety and grief. Bhishma with all the other chief Kurus, in consultation with Satyavati, then caused the obsequies of (the deceased) Vichitravirya to be performed by learned priests,