भीष्म उवाच एवमुक्तस्य दूतेन दुपदस्य तदा नृप। चोरस्येव गृहीतस्य न प्रावर्तत भारती॥
Bhishma said Thus addressed by that messenger, O king, the king Drupada, like a thief caught (red handed), could not utter a word.
स यत्नमकरोत् तीव्र सम्बन्धिन्यनुमानने। दूतैर्मधुरसम्भाषैर्न तदस्तीति संदिशन्॥
He made great efforts, for the purpose of pacifying his son's (daughter) father-in-law, by means of messengers, instructing them to say sweetly and persuasively, 'It is not so.'
स राजा भूय एवाथ ज्ञात्वा तत्त्वमथागमत्। कन्येति पाञ्चालसुतां त्वरमाणो विनिर्ययौ।॥
That king (Hiranyavarman), thereupon once more ascertained the real fact, that the offspring of the king of the Panchalas was a daughter, and went forth (out of his city) without delay.
ततः सम्प्रेषयामास मित्राणाममितौजसाम्। दुहितुर्विप्रेलम्भं तं धात्रीणां वचनात् तदा॥
He then sent information to all his friends (who were) of immeasurable strength, regarding the deception that had been practiced upon his daughter, according to the massage of the nurses.
ततः समुदयं कृत्वा बलानां राजसत्तमः। अभियाने मतिं चक्रे दुपदं प्रति भारत॥
Then that best of kings, having mustered a large army, formed the resolution of marching against the king Drupada, O Bharata.
ततः सम्मन्त्रयामास मन्त्रिभिः स महीपतिः। हिरण्यवर्मा राजेन्द्र पाञ्चाल्यं पार्थिवं प्रति॥
Then that ruler of the earth, Hiranyavarman held a consultation with his ministers, O great king (as to the course to be taken) against the king of the Panchalas.
तत्र वै निश्चितं तेषामभूद् राज्ञां महात्मनाम्। तथ्यं भवति चेदेतत् कन्या राजन् शिखण्डिनी॥ बद्ध्वा पञ्चालराजानमानयिष्यामहे गृहम्। अन्यं राजानमाधाय पञ्चालेषु नरेश्वरम्॥
It was then and there resolved with certainly among those high-souled kings "If this be really true that Shikhandin is a daughter, O king, then having bound the king of the Panchalas, we shall drag him (here) and having installed another king who will rule over the people,
घातयिष्याम नृपतिं पाञ्चालं सशिखण्डिनम्॥ तत् तदाऽनृतमाज्ञाय पुनर्वृतान्नराधिपः। प्रास्थापयत् पार्षताय निहन्मीति स्थिरो भव॥
We will slay thịś king of the Panchalas along with Shikhandin. Knowing this to be the fixed resolve the king (Hiranyavarman) once more sent messengers to the son of Prishata, (with the message). “I shall slay you, wait a little."
भीष्म उवाच स हि प्रकृत्या वै भीतः किल्बिषी च नराधिपः। भयं तीव्रमनुप्राप्तो दुपदः पृथिवीपतिः॥
Bhishma said That king was by nature not courageous, and was quiet. King Drupada, through a ruler of the earth, was dreadfully alarmed.
विसृज्य दूतान् दाशार्णे दुपदः शोकमूर्छितः। समेत्य भार्या रहिते वाक्यमाह नराधिपः॥
Having despatched messengers of the Dasharna king, king Drupada, fainting with grief, approached his wife in secret and spoke these words.
भयेन महताऽऽविष्टो हृदि शोकेन चाहतः। पाञ्चालराजो दयितां मातरं वै शिखण्डिनः॥
Being filled, as the Panchala king was, with great fear and struck with grief at his heart, he said to the beloved mother of Shikhandin.
अभियास्यति मां कोपात् सम्बन्धी सुमहाबलः। हिरण्यवर्मा नृपतिः कर्षमाणो वरूथिनीम्॥
“My son's father-in-law, king Hiranyavarman, having mustered a large army, is advancing against me with anger, powerful as he is.
किमिदानीं करिष्यावो मूढौ कन्यामिमां प्रति। शिखण्डी किल पुत्रस्ते कन्येति परिशङ्कितः॥
Fools that we both (of us) are, what are we to do now, as regards this daughter of ours? Your son Shikhandin is very much suspected to be a daughter.
इति संचिन्त्य यत्नेन समित्रः सबलानुगः। वञ्चितोऽस्मीति मन्वानो मां किलोद्धर्तुमिच्छति॥
Under this suspicion, (king Hiranyavarman), thinking, I have been deceived, wants to slay me with his friends and army carefully mustered.
किमत्र तथ्यं सुश्रोणि मिथ्या किं ब्रूहि शोभने। श्रुत्वा त्वत्तः शुभं वाक्यं संविधास्याम्यहं तथा॥
( you of beautiful hips, tell me what is truth is (this case) and O beautiful lady, what is false. O auspicious one, having heard from you, I will make arrangements (how to act).
अहं हि संशयं प्राप्तो बाला चेयं शिखण्डिनी। त्वं च राज्ञि महत् कृच्छ्रे सम्प्राप्ता वरवर्णिनि॥
I have been thrown in danger, as well this daughter Shikhandin. You also, O imperial lady of the finest complexion, are in great danger.
सा त्वं सर्वविमोक्षाय तत्त्वमाख्याहि पृच्छतः। तथा विदध्यां सुश्रोणि कृत्यमाशु शुचिस्मिते॥
As I ask you, tell me that the truth is, for the relief of all (of us). O lady with beautiful hips and fair smiles, it depends on your words as to what ought to be speedily done.
शिखण्डिनि च मा भैस्त्वं विधास्ये तत्र तत्त्वतः। कृपयाऽहं वरारोहे वञ्चितः पुत्रधर्मतः॥
Do you not fear, neither (let) Shikhandin (fear), for I will make suitable arrangements through kindness through I have been deprived from the duties to a son.
मया दाशार्णको राजा वञ्चितः स महीपतिः। तदाचक्ष्व महाभागे विधास्ये तत्र यद्धितम्॥
That ruler of the earth, the king of the Dasharna country has been deceived by me. Speak, therefore O highly blessed lady, so that I may do what should be for the benefit (of all).'
जानता हि नरेन्द्रेण ख्यापनार्थं परस्य वै। प्रकाशं चोदिता देवी प्रत्युवाच महीपतिम्॥
That goddess-like lady, being thus addressed before all the ministers by the king, for the proclamation of his innocence to others, though he knew everything, replied to the lord of the earth.