भीष्म उवाच ततोऽहं भरतश्रेष्ठ मातरं वीरमातरम्। अभिगम्योपसंगृह्य दाशेयीमिदमब्रुवम्॥
Bhishma said Approaching then, chief among the Bharatas, my mother, the mother of heroes, who was the daughter of the Dasha race and saluting her I said these words.
इमाः काशिपतेः कन्या मया निर्जत्य पार्थिवान्। विचित्रवीर्यस्य कृते वीर्यशुल्का हृता इति।॥
These daughters, of the king of the Kashis having prowess for their dower, have been taken away by me after vanquishing the ruler of the earth.
ततो मूर्धन्युपाघ्राय पर्यश्रुनयना नृप। आह सत्यवती हृष्टा दिष्ट्या पुत्र जितं त्वया।॥
Then smelling my head, with eyes full of tears Satyavati cheerfully said to me. “By luck you have conquered them, my son."
सत्यवत्यास्त्वनुमते विवाहे समुपस्थिते। उवाच वाक्यं सव्रीडा ज्येष्ठा काशिपतेः सुता॥
The wedding day fixed by permission of Satyavati being near at hand the eldest of the girls of the king of Kashis said these words with modesty.
भीष्म त्वमसि धर्मज्ञः सर्वशास्त्रविशारदः। श्रुत्वा च वचनं धर्म्यं मह्यं कर्तुमिहार्हसि॥
O Bhishma, you are conversant with virtue and all sciences and it is proper that you should do the right thing after hearing me.
मया शाल्वपतिः पूर्वं मनसाऽभिवृतो वरः। तेन चास्मि वृता पूर्वं रहस्यविदिते पितुः॥
By me was the king of the Shalvas chosen as my bridegroom in my mind and by him before was I selected (as his future wife) in private, unknown to my father.
कथं माम न्यकामां त्वं राजधर्ममतीत्य वै। वासयेथा गृहे भीष्म कौरवः सन् विशेषतः॥
How, O king, acting against the dictates of virtue will you make me, who am desirous of being united with another, reside in your household, O Bhishma, especially born as you are in the Kaurava race.
एतद् बुद्ध्या विनिश्चित्य मनसा भरतर्षभ। यत् क्षमं ते महाबाहो तदिहारब्धुमर्हसि॥
Setting, in your mind, something suitable to this turn of affairs, 0 best among the Bharatas, it is proper that you should do what you can for me, O you of long arms.
स मां प्रतिक्षते व्यक्तं शाल्वराजो विशाम्पते। तस्मान्मां त्वं कुरुश्रेष्ठ समनुज्ञातुमर्हसि॥
It is evident, O lord of the universe, that the king of the Shalvas is expecting me; it is proper for you therefore to permit me to go, O foremost among the Kurus.
कृपां कुरु महाबाहो मयि धर्मभृतां वर। त्वं हि सत्यव्रतो वीर पृथिव्यामित नः श्रुतम्॥
Act towards me with kindness, O you of long arms, O foremost among the supporters of virtue. It has been heard by us that you are a hero of truthful vows in this world.