srimahabharat - udyoga parva (book5) chapters 186 to 197

The Sacred  Scripture of

 great Epic Sree Mahabharatam:

The Mahabharata

                                      Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa
                                                        translated by
                                  Sreemaan Brahmasri  Kisari Mohan Ganguli

Book 5
Chapter 186

1 bhīṣma uvāca
      tato halahalāśabdo divi rājan mahān abhūt
      prasvāpaṃ bhīṣma mā srākṣīr iti kauravanandana
  2 ayuñjam eva caivāhaṃ tad astraṃ bhṛgunandane
      prasvāpaṃ māṃ prayuñjānaṃ nārado vākyam abravīt
  3 ete viyati kauravya divi devagaṇāḥ sthitāḥ
      te tvāṃ nivārayanty adya prasvāpaṃ mā prayojaya
  4 rāmas tapasvī brahmaṇyo brāhmaṇaś ca guruś ca te
      tasyāvamānaṃ kauravya mā sma kārṣīḥ kathaṃ cana
  5 tato 'paśyaṃ diviṣṭhān vai tān aṣṭau brahmavādinaḥ
      te māṃ smayanto rājendra śanakair idam abruvan
  6 yathāha bharataśreṣṭha nāradas tat tathā kuru
      etad dhi paramaṃ śreyo lokānāṃ bharatarṣabha
  7 tataś ca pratisaṃhṛtya tad astraṃ svāpanaṃ mṛdhe
      brahmāstraṃ dīpayāṃ cakre tasmin yudhi yathāvidhi
  8 tato rāmo ruṣito rājaputra; dṛṣṭvā tad astraṃ vinivartitaṃ vai
      jito 'smi bhīṣmeṇa sumandabuddhir; ity eva vākyaṃ sahasā vyamuñcat
  9 tato 'paśyat pitaraṃ jāmadagnyaḥ; pitus tathā pitaraṃ tasya cānyam
      ta evainaṃ saṃparivārya tasthur; ūcuś cainaṃ sāntvapūrvaṃ tadānīm
  10 mā smaivaṃ sāhasaṃ vatsa punaḥ kārṣīḥ kathaṃ cana
     bhīṣmeṇa saṃyugaṃ gantuṃ kṣatriyeṇa viśeṣataḥ
 11 kṣatriyasya tu dharmo 'yaṃ yad yuddhaṃ bhṛgunandana
     svādhyāyo vratacaryā ca brāhmaṇānāṃ paraṃ dhanam
 12 idaṃ nimitte kasmiṃś cid asmābhir upamantritam
     śastradhāraṇam atyugraṃ tac ca kāryaṃ kṛtaṃ tvayā
 13 vatsa paryāptam etāvad bhīṣmeṇa saha saṃyuge
     vimardas te mahābāho vyapayāhi raṇād itaḥ
 14 paryāptam etad bhadraṃ te tava kārmukadhāraṇam
     visarjayaitad durdharṣa tapas tapyasva bhārgava
 15 eṣa bhīṣmaḥ śāṃtanavo devaiḥ sarvair nivāritaḥ
     nivartasva raṇād asmād iti caiva pracoditaḥ
 16 rāmeṇa saha mā yotsīr guruṇeti punaḥ punaḥ
     na hi rāmo raṇe jetuṃ tvayā nyāyyaḥ kurūdvaha
     mānaṃ kuruṣva gāṅgeya brāhmaṇasya raṇājire
 17 vayaṃ tu guravas tubhyaṃ tatas tvāṃ vārayāmahe
     bhīṣmo vasūnām anyatamo diṣṭyā jīvasi putraka
 18 gāṅgeyaḥ śaṃtanoḥ putro vasur eṣa mahāyaśāḥ
     kathaṃ tvayā raṇe jetuṃ rāma śakyo nivarta vai
 19 arjunaḥ pāṇḍavaśreṣṭhaḥ puraṃdarasuto balī
     naraḥ prajāpatir vīraḥ pūrvadevaḥ sanātanaḥ
 20 savyasācīti vikhyātas triṣu lokeṣu vīryavān
     bhīṣmamṛtyur yathākālaṃ vihito vai svayambhuvā
 21 evam uktaḥ sa pitṛbhiḥ pitṝn rāmo 'bravīd idam
     nāhaṃ yudhi nivarteyam iti me vratam āhitam
 22 na nivartitapūrvaṃ ca kadā cid raṇamūdhani
     nivartyatām āpageyaḥ kāmayuddhāt pitāmahāḥ
     na tv ahaṃ vinivartiṣye yuddhād asmāt kathaṃ cana
 23 tatas te munayo rājann ṛcīkapramukhās tadā
     nāradenaiva sahitāḥ samāgamyedam abruvan
 24 nivartasva raṇāt tāta mānayasva dvijottamān
     nety avocam ahaṃ tāṃś ca kṣatradharmavyapekṣayā
 25 mama vratam idaṃ loke nāhaṃ yuddhāt kathaṃ cana
     vimukho vinivarteyaṃ pṛṣṭhato 'bhyāhataḥ śaraiḥ
 26 nāhaṃ lobhān na kārpaṇyān na bhayān nārthakāraṇāt
     tyajeyaṃ śāśvataṃ dharmam iti me niścitā matiḥ
 27 tatas te munayaḥ sarve nāradapramukhā nṛpa
     bhāgīrathī ca me mātā raṇamadhyaṃ prapedire
 28 tathaivāttaśaro dhanvī tathaiva dṛḍhaniścayaḥ
     sthito 'ham āhave yoddhuṃ tatas te rāmam abruvan
     sametya sahitā bhūyaḥ samare bhṛgunandanam
 29 nāvanītaṃ hi hṛdayaṃ viprāṇāṃ śāmya bhārgava
     rāma rāma nivartasva yuddhād asmād dvijottama
     avadhyo hi tvayā bhīṣmas tvaṃ ca bhīṣmasya bhārgava
 30 evaṃ bruvantas te sarve pratirudhya raṇājiram
     nyāsayāṃ cakrire śastraṃ pitaro bhṛgunandanam
 31 tato 'haṃ punar evātha tān aṣṭau brahmavādinaḥ
     adrākṣaṃ dīpyamānān vai grahān aṣṭāv ivoditān
 32 te māṃ sapraṇayaṃ vākyam abruvan samare sthitam
     praihi rāmaṃ mahābāho guruṃ lokahitaṃ kuru
 33 dṛṣṭvā nivartitaṃ rāmaṃ suhṛdvākyena tena vai
     lokānāṃ ca hitaṃ kurvann aham apy ādade vacaḥ
 34 tato 'haṃ rāmam āsādya vavande bhṛśavikṣataḥ
     rāmaś cābhyutsmayan premṇā mām uvāca mahātapāḥ
 35 tvatsamo nāsti loke 'smin kṣatriyaḥ pṛthivīcaraḥ
     gamyatāṃ bhīṣma yuddhe 'smiṃs toṣito 'haṃ bhṛśaṃ tvayā
 36 mama caiva samakṣaṃ tāṃ kanyām āhūya bhārgavaḥ
     uvāca dīnayā vācā madhye teṣāṃ tapasvinām

SECTION CLXXXVI

"Bhishma said, 'Then, O great king, during the night, having bowed unto the Brahmanas, the Rishis, the gods, and all those creatures that wander during the dark, and also all the kings of the earth, I laid myself down on my bed, and in the solitude of my room, I began to reflect in the following way.--For many days hath this fierce combat of terrible consequence lasted between myself and Jamadagni. I am unable, however, to vanquish on the field of battle that Rama of mighty energy. If indeed, I am competent to vanquish in battle that Brahmana of mighty strength, viz., Jamadagni's son of great prowess, then let the gods kindly show themselves to me this night!--Mangled with arrows as I lay asleep, O great king, that night on my right side, towards the morning, those foremost of Brahmanas who had raised me when I had fallen down from my car and held me up and said unto me--Do not fear--and who had comforted me, showed themselves to me, O king, in a dream! And they stood surrounding me and said these words. Listen to them as I repeat them to thee, O perpetuator of Kuru's race! Rise, O Ganga's son, thou needst have no fear! We will protect thee, for thou art our own body! Rama, the son of Jamadagni, will never be able to vanquish thee in battle! Thou, O bull of Bharata's race, wilt be the conqueror of Rama in combat! This beloved weapon, O Bharata, called Praswapa, appertaining to the lord of all creatures, and forged by the divine artificer, will come to thy knowledge, for it was known to thee in thy former life! Neither Rama, nor any person on earth is acquainted with it. Recollect it, therefore, O thou of mighty arms, and apply it with strength! O king of kings, O sinless one, it will come to thee of itself! With it, O Kaurava, thou wilt be able to check all persons endued with mighty energy! O king, Rama will not be slain outright by it, thou shalt not, therefore, O giver of honours, incur any sin by using it! Afflicted by the
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force of this thy weapon, the son of Jamadagni, will fall asleep! Vanquishing him thus, thou wilt again awaken him in battle, O Bhishma, with that dear weapon called Samvodhana! Do what we have told thee, O Kauravya, in the morning, stationed on thy car. Asleep or dead we reckon it as the same, O king, Rama will not surely die! Apply, therefore, this Praswapa weapon so happily thought of!--Having said this, O king, those foremost of Brahmanas, eight in number and resembling one another in form, and possessed of effulgent bodies, all vanished from my sight!'"

Book 5
Chapter 187

 1 rāma uvāca
      pratyakṣam etal lokānāṃ sarveṣām eva bhāmini
      yathā mayā paraṃ śaktyā kṛtaṃ vai pauruṣaṃ mahat
  2 na caiva yudhi śaknomi bhīṣmaṃ śastrabhṛtāṃ varam
      viśeṣayitum atyartham uttamāstrāṇi darśayan
  3 eṣā me paramā śaktir etan me paramaṃ balam
      yatheṣṭaṃ gamyatāṃ bhadre kim anyad vā karomi te
  4 bhīṣmam eva prapadyasva na te 'nyā vidyate gatiḥ
      nirjito hy asmi bhīṣmeṇa mahāstrāṇi pramuñcatā
  5 bhīṣma uvāca
      evam uktvā tato rāmo viniḥśvasya mahāmanāḥ
      tūṣṇīm āsīt tadā kanyā provāca bhṛgunandanam
  6 bhagavann evam evaitad yathāha bhagavāṃs tathā
      ajeyo yudhi bhīṣmo 'yam api devair udāradhīḥ
  7 yathāśakti yathotsāhaṃ mama kāryaṃ kṛtaṃ tvayā
      anidhāya raṇe vīryam astrāṇi vividhāni ca
  8 na caiṣa śakyate yuddhe viśeṣayitum antataḥ
      na cāham enaṃ yāsyāmi punar bhīṣmaṃ kathaṃ cana
  9 gamiṣyāmi tu tatrāhaṃ yatra bhīṣmaṃ tapodhana
      samare pātayiṣyāmi svayam eva bhṛgūdvaha
  10 evam uktvā yayau kanyā roṣavyākulalocanā
     tapase dhṛtasaṃkalpā mama cintayatī vadham
 11 tato mahendraṃ saha tair munirbhir bhṛgusattamaḥ
     yathāgataṃ yayau rāmo mām upāmantrya bhārata
 12 tato 'haṃ ratham āruhya stūyamāno dvijātibhiḥ
     praviśya nagaraṃ mātre satyavatyai nyavedayam
     yathāvṛttaṃ mahārāja sā ca māṃ pratyanandata
 13 puruṣāṃś cādiśaṃ prājñān kanyāvṛttāntakarmaṇi
     divase divase hy asyā gatajalpitaceṣṭitam
     pratyāharaṃś ca me yuktāḥ sthitāḥ priyahite mama
 14 yadaiva hi vanaṃ prāyāt kanyā sā tapase dhṛtā
     tadaiva vyathito dīno gatacetā ivābhavam
 15 na hi māṃ kṣatriyaḥ kaś cid vīryeṇa vijayed yudhi
     ṛte brahmavidas tāta tapasā saṃśitavratāt
 16 api caitan mayā rājan nārade 'pi niveditam
     vyāse caiva bhayāt kāryaṃ tau cobhau mām avocatām
 17 na viṣādas tvayā kāryo bhīṣma kāśisutāṃ prati
     daivaṃ puruṣakāreṇa ko nivartitum utsahet
 18 sā tu kanyā mahārāja praviśyāśramamaṇḍalam
     yamunātīram āśritya tapas tepe 'timānuṣam
 19 nirāhārā kṛśā rūkṣā jaṭilā malapaṅkinī
     ṣaṇ māsān vāyubhakṣā ca sthāṇubhūtā tapodhanā
 20 yamunātīram āsādya saṃvatsaram athāparam
     udavāsaṃ nirāhārā pārayām āsa bhāminī
 21 śīrṇaparṇena caikena pārayām āsa cāparam
     saṃvatsaraṃ tīvrakopā pādāṅguṣṭhāgradhiṣṭhitā
 22 evaṃ dvādaśa varṣāṇi tāpayām āsa rodasī
     nivartyamānāpi tu sā jñātibhir naiva śakyate
 23 tato 'gamad vatsabhūmiṃ siddhacāraṇasevitām
     āśramaṃ puṇyaśīlānāṃ tāpasānāṃ mahātmanām
 24 tatra puṇyeṣu deśeṣu sāplutāṅgī divāniśam
     vyacarat kāśikanyā sā yathākāmavicāriṇī
 25 nandāśrame mahārāja tatolūkāśrame śubhe
     cyavanasyāśrame caiva brahmaṇaḥ sthāna eva ca
 26 prayāge devayajane devāraṇyeṣu caiva ha
     bhogavatyāṃ tathā rājan kauśikasyāśrame tathā
 27 māṇḍavyasyāśrame rājan dilīpasyāśrame tathā
     rāmahrade ca kauravya pailagārgyasya cāśrame
 28 eteṣu tīrtheṣu tadā kāśikanyā viśāṃ pate
     āplāvayata gātrāṇi tīvram āsthāya vai tapaḥ
 29 tām abravīt kauraveya mama mātā jalotthitā
     kimarthaṃ kliśyase bhadre tathyam etad bravīhi me
 30 sainām athābravīd rājan kṛtāñjalir aninditā
     bhīṣmo rāmeṇa samare na jitaś cārulocane
 31 ko 'nyas tam utsahej jetum udyateṣuṃ mahīpatim
     sāhaṃ bhīṣmavināśāya tapas tapsye sudāruṇam
 32 carāmi pṛthivīṃ devi yathā hanyām ahaṃ nṛpam
     etad vrataphalaṃ dehe parasmin syād yathā hi me
 33 tato 'bravīt sāgaragā jihmaṃ carasi bhāmini
     naiṣa kāmo 'navadyāṅgi śakyaḥ prāptuṃ tvayābale
 34 yadi bhīṣmavināśāya kāśye carasi vai vratam
     vratasthā ca śarīraṃ tvaṃ yadi nāma vimokṣyasi
     nadī bhaviṣyasi śubhe kuṭilā vārṣikodakā
 35 dustīrthā cānabhijñeyā vārṣikī nāṣṭamāsikī
     bhīmagrāhavatī ghorā sarvabhūtabhayaṃkarī
 36 evam uktvā tato rājan kāśikanyāṃ nyavartata
     mātā mama mahābhāgā smayamāneva bhāminī
 37 kadā cid aṣṭame māsi kadā cid daśame tathā
     na prāśnītodakam api punaḥ sā varavarṇinī
 38 sā vatsabhūmiṃ kauravya tīrthalobhāt tatas tataḥ
     patitā paridhāvantī punaḥ kāśipateḥ sutā
 39 sā nadī vatsabhūmyāṃ tu prathitāmbeti bhārata
     vārṣikī grāhabahulā dustīrthā kuṭilā tathā
 40 sā kanyā tapasā tena bhāgārdhena vyajāyata
     nadī ca rājan vatseṣu kanyā caivābhavat tadā

SECTION CLXXXVII

"Bhishma said, 'After the night had passed away, I awoke, O Bharata, and thinking of my dream I was filled with great joy. Then, O Bharata, the combat began between him and me--a combat that was fierce and unrivalled and that made the hairs of all creatures stand on their ends. And Bhargava poured on me an arrowy shower which I baffled with an arrowy shower of mine. Then filled with wrath at what he had seen the day before and what he saw that day, Rama hurled at me a dart, hard as Indra's thunderbolt and possessed of effulgence, resembling the Yama's mace! It came towards me like a blazing flame of fire and drinking up, as it were, all the quarters of that field of battle! Then, O tiger among the Kurus, it fell, O perpetuator of Kuru's line, upon my shoulder, like the lightning's flame that ranges the sky. Wounded thus by Rama, O thou of red eyes, my blood, O mighty-armed one, began to flow copiously like streams of red earth from a mountain (after a shower)! Filled with great wrath, I then shot at Jamadagni's son a deadly shaft, fatal as the poison of a snake. That heroic and best of Brahmanas, struck therewith at the forehead, O monarch, then appeared as beautiful as a crested hill! Extremely angry, that hero then, changing his position and drawing the bow-string with great strength, aimed at me a terrible shaft resembling all-destructive Death himself, and capable of grinding all foes! That fierce arrow fell upon my breast, hissing (through the air) like a snake. Covered with blood, I fell down on the earth, O king, thus struck. Regaining consciousness, I hurled at Jamadagni's son a frightful dart, effulgent as the thunderbolt. That dart fell upon the bosom of that foremost of Brahmanas. Deprived of his senses at this, Rama began to tremble all over. That great ascetic then, viz., his friend, the regenerate Akritavrana, embraced him and with diverse words of comfort soothed him. Reassured thus, Rama of high vows was then filled with wrath and vindictiveness. He invoked the great Brahma weapon. For baffling it
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[paragraph continues] I also used the same excellent weapon. Clashing against each other, the two weapons began to blaze forth brightly, showing what happens at the end of the Yuga! Without being able to reach either myself or Rama, those two weapons, O best of the Bharatas, met each other in the mid-air. Then the whole welkin seemed to be ablaze, and all creatures, O monarch, became highly distressed. Afflicted by the energy of those weapons, the Rishis, the Gandharvas, and the gods were all greatly pained. Then earth, with her mountains and seas and trees began to tremble, and all creatures, heated with the energy of the weapons, were greatly afflicted. The firmament, O king, became ablaze and the ten points of the horizon became filled with smoke. Creatures, therefore, that range the welkin were unable to stay in their element. When, at all this, the whole world with the gods, the Asuras and the Rakshasas began to utter exclamations of woe.--This is the time--thought I and became desirous, O Bharata, of speedily shooting the Praswapa weapon at the command of those utterers of Brahma (that had appeared to me in my dream)! The Mantras also for invoking excellent weapon suddenly came to my mind!'"

Book 5
Chapter 188

1 bhīṣma uvāca
      tatas te tāpasāḥ sarve tapase dhṛtaniścayām
      dṛṣṭvā nyavartayaṃs tāta kiṃ kāryam iti cābruvan
  2 tān uvāca tataḥ kanyā tapovṛddhān ṛṣīṃs tadā
      nirākṛtāsmi bhīṣmeṇa bhraṃśitā patidharmataḥ
  3 vadhārthaṃ tasya dīkṣā me na lokārthaṃ tapodhanāḥ
      nihatya bhīṣmaṃ gaccheyaṃ śāntim ity eva niścayaḥ
  4 yatkṛte duḥkhavasatim imāṃ prāptāsmi śāśvatīm
      patilokād vihīnā ca naiva strī na pumān iha
  5 nāhatvā yudhi gāṅgeyaṃ nivarteyaṃ tapodhanāḥ
      eṣa me hṛdi saṃkalpo yadartham idam udyatam
  6 strībhāve parinirviṇṇā puṃstvārthe kṛtaniścayā
      bhīṣme praticikīrṣāmi nāsmi vāryeti vai punaḥ
  7 tāṃ devo darśayām āsa śūlapāṇir umāpatiḥ
      madhye teṣāṃ maharṣīṇāṃ svena rūpeṇa bhāminīm
  8 chandyamānā vareṇātha sā vavre matparājayam
      vadhiṣyasīti tāṃ devaḥ pratyuvāca manasvinīm
  9 tataḥ sā punar evātha kanyā rudram uvāca ha
      upapadyet kathaṃ deva striyo mama jayo yudhi
      strībhāvena ca me gāḍhaṃ manaḥ śāntam umāpate
  10 pratiśrutaś ca bhūteśa tvayā bhīṣmaparājayaḥ
     yathā sa satyo bhavati tathā kuru vṛṣadhvaja
     yathā hanyāṃ samāgamya bhīṣmaṃ śāṃtanavaṃ yudhi
 11 tām uvāca mahādevaḥ kanyāṃ kila vṛṣadhvajaḥ
     na me vāg anṛtaṃ bhadre prāha satyaṃ bhaviṣyati
 12 vadhiṣyasi raṇe bhīṣmaṃ puruṣatvaṃ ca lapsyase
     smariṣyasi ca tat sarvaṃ deham anyaṃ gatā satī
 13 drupadasya kule jātā bhaviṣyasi mahārathaḥ
     śīghrāstraś citrayodhī ca bhaviṣyasi susaṃmataḥ
 14 yathoktam eva kalyāṇi sarvam etad bhaviṣyati
     bhaviṣyasi pumān paścāt kasmāc cit kālaparyayāt
 15 evam uktvā mahātejāḥ kapardī vṛṣabhadhvajaḥ
     paśyatām eva viprāṇāṃ tatraivāntaradhīyata
 16 tataḥ sā paśyatāṃ teṣāṃ maharṣīṇām aninditā
     samāhṛtya vanāt tasmāt kāṣṭhāni varavarṇinī
 17 citāṃ kṛtvā sumahatīṃ pradāya ca hutāśanam
     pradīpte 'gnau mahārāja roṣadīptena cetasā
 18 uktvā bhīṣmavadhāyeti praviveśa hutāśanam
     jyeṣṭhā kāśisutā rājan yamunām abhito nadīm

SECTION CLXXXVIII

"Bhishma said, 'When I had formed this resolution, O king, a din of tumultuous voices arose in the sky. And it said,--O son of Kuru's race, do not let off the Praswapa weapon!--Notwithstanding this, I still aimed that weapon at Bhrigu's descendant. When I had aimed it, Narada addressed me, saying, 'Yonder, O Kauravya, stay the gods in the sky! Even they are forbidding thee today! Do not aim the Praswapa weapon! Rama is an ascetic possessed of Brahma merit, and he is, again, thy preceptor! Never, Kauravya, humiliate him.' While Narada was telling me this, I beheld those eight utterers of Brahma stationed in the sky. Smilingly, O king, they said unto me slowly,--O chief of the Bharatas, do even what Narada sayeth. Even that, O best of Bharata's race, is highly beneficial to the world!' I then withdrew that great weapon called Praswapa and invoked according to the ordinance the weapon called Brahma in the combat. Beholding the Praswapa weapon withdrawn, O lion among kings, Rama was in great huff, and suddenly exclaimed, 'Wretch that I am, I am vanquished, O Bhishma!' Then Jamadagni's son behold before him his venerable father and his father's fathers. They stood surrounding him there, and addressed him in these words of consolation, 'O sire, never display such 'rashness again, the rashness, viz., of engaging in battle with Bhishma, or especially with any Kshatriya, O descendant of Bhrigu's race, to fight is the duty of a
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[paragraph continues] Kshatriya! Study (of the Vedas) and practice of vows are the highest wealth of Brahmanas! For some reason, before 'this, thou hadst been ordered by us to take up weapons. Thou hadst then perpetrated that terrible and unbecoming feat. Let this battle with Bhishma be thy very last, for enough of it thou hadst already. O thou of mighty arms, leave the combat. Blessed be thou, let this be the very last instance of thy taking up the bow! O invincible one, throw thy bow aside, and practice ascetic austerities, O thou of Bhrigu's race! Behold, Bhishma, the son of Santanu, is forbidden by all the gods! They are endeavouring to pacify him, repeatedly saying,--Desist from this battle! Do not light with Rama who is thy preceptor. It is not proper for thee, O perpetuator of Kuru's race, to vanquish Rama in battle! O son of Ganga, show this Brahmana every honour on the field of battle! As regards thee, we are thy superiors and therefore forbid thee! Bhishma is one of the foremost of Vasus! O son, it is fortunate, that thou art still alive! Santanu's son by Ganga--a celebrated Vasu as he is,--how can he be defeated by thee? Desist, therefore, O Bhargava! That foremost of the Pandavas, Arjuna, the mighty son of Indra, hath been ordained by the Self-create to be the slayer of Bhishma!'
"Bhishma continued, 'Thus addressed by his own ancestors, Rama answered them, saying, 'I cannot give up the combat. Even this is the solemn vow I have made. Before this, I never left the field, giving up battle! Ye grandsires, if you please, cause Ganga's son to desist from the fight! As regards myself, I can, by no means, desist from the combat!' Hearing these words of his, O king, those ascetics with Richika at their head, coming to me with Narada in their company, told me, 'O sire, desist from battle! Honour that foremost of Brahmanas!' For the sake of Kshatriya morality, I replied unto them, saying. Even this is the vow I have taken in this world, viz., that I would never desist from battle turning my back, or suffer my back to be wounded with arrows! I cannot, from temptation or distress, or fear, or for the sake of wealth, abandon my eternal duty! Even this is my fixed resolution! Then all those ascetics with Narada at their head, O king, and my mother Bhagirathi, occupied the field of battle (before me). I, however, stayed quietly with arrows and bow as before, resolved to fight. They then once more turned towards Rama and addressed him, saying. 'The hearts of Brahmanas are made of butter. Be pacified, therefore, O son of Bhrigu's race! O Rama, O Rama, desist from this battle, O best of Brahmanas! Bhishma is incapable of being slain by thee, as indeed, thou, O Bhargava, art incapable of being slain by him!' Saying these words while they stood obstructing the field, the Pitris caused that descendant of Bhrigu's race to place aside his weapons. Just at this time I once more beheld those eight utterers of Brahma, blazing with effulgence and resembling bright stars risen on the firmament. Stationed for battle as I was, they said these words unto me with great affection, 'O thou of mighty arms, go unto Rama who is thy preceptor! Do what
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is beneficial to all the worlds. Beholding then that Rama had desisted owing to the words of his well-wishers, I also, for the good of the worlds, accepted the words of my well-wishers. Though mangled exceedingly, I still approached Rama and worshipped him. The great ascetic Rama then, smilingly, and with great affection, said unto me, 'There is no Kshatriya equal to thee on the earth! Go now, O Bhishma, for in this combat thou hast pleased me highly'! Summoning then in my presence that maiden (the daughter of Kasi), Bhargava sorrowfully said unto her these words in the midst of all those high-souled persons.'"

Book 5
Chapter 189

 1 duryodhana uvāca
      kathaṃ śikhaṇḍī gāṅgeya kanyā bhūtvā satī tadā
      puruṣo 'bhavad yudhi śreṣṭha tan me brūhi pitāmaha
  2 bhīṣma uvāca
      bhāryā tu tasya rājendra drupadasya mahīpateḥ
      mahiṣī dayitā hy āsīd aputrā ca viśāṃ pate
  3 etasminn eva kāle tu drupado vai mahīpatiḥ
      apatyārthaṃ mahārāja toṣayām āsa śaṃkaram
  4 asmadvadhārthaṃ niścitya tapo ghoraṃ samāsthitaḥ
      lebhe kanyāṃ mahādevāt putro me syād iti bruvan
  5 bhagavan putram icchāmi bhīṣmaṃ praticikīrṣayā
      ity ukto devadevena strīpumāṃs te bhaviṣyati
  6 nivartasva mahīpāla naitaj jātv anyathā bhavet
      sa tu gatvā ca nagaraṃ bhāryām idam uvāca ha
  7 kṛto yatno mayā devi putrārthe tapasā mahān
      kanyā bhūtvā pumān bhāvī iti cokto 'smi śambhunā
  8 punaḥ punar yācyamāno diṣṭam ity abravīc chivaḥ
      na tad anyad dhi bhavitā bhavitavyaṃ hi tat tathā
  9 tataḥ sā niyatā bhūtvā ṛtukāle manasvinī
      patnī drupadarājasya drupadaṃ saṃviveśa ha
  10 lebhe garbhaṃ yathākālaṃ vidhidṛṣṭena hetunā
     pārṣatāt sā mahīpāla yathā māṃ nārado 'bravīt
 11 tato dadhāra taṃ garbhaṃ devī rājīvalocanā
     tāṃ sa rājā priyāṃ bhāryāṃ drupadaḥ kurunandana
     putrasnehān mahābāhuḥ sukhaṃ paryacarat tadā
 12 aputrasya tato rājño drupadasya mahīpateḥ
     kanyāṃ pravararūpāṃ tāṃ prājāyata narādhipa
 13 aputrasya tu rājñaḥ sā drupadasya yaśasvinī
     khyāpayām āsa rājendra putro jāto mameti vai
 14 tataḥ sa rājā drupadaḥ pracchannāyā narādhipa
     putravat putrakāryāṇi sarvāṇi samakārayat
 15 rakṣaṇaṃ caiva mantrasya mahiṣī drupadasya sā
     cakāra sarvayatnena bruvāṇā putra ity uta
     na hi tāṃ veda nagare kaś cid anyatra pārṣatāt
 16 śraddadhāno hi tad vākyaṃ devasyādbhutatejasaḥ
     chādayām āsa tāṃ kanyāṃ pumān iti ca so 'bravīt
 17 jātakarmāṇi sarvāṇi kārayām āsa pārthivaḥ
     puṃvad vidhānayuktāni śikhaṇḍīti ca tāṃ viduḥ
 18 aham ekas tu cāreṇa vacanān nāradasya ca
     jñātavān devavākyena ambāyās tapasā tathā

SECTION CLXXXIX

"Rama said, 'O damsel, in the very sight of all these persons, I have fought according to the best of my power and displayed my prowess! By using even the very best of weapons I have not been able to obtain any advantage over Bhishma, that foremost of all wielders of weapons! I have exerted now to the best of my power and might. O beautiful lady, go withersoever thou wishest! What other business of thine can I accomplish? Seek the protection of Bhishma himself! Thou hast no other refuge now! Shooting mighty weapons Bhishma hath vanquished me!' Having said this, the high-souled Rama sighed and remained silent. That maiden then addressed him, saying, 'O holy one, it is even so as thy holy self hath said! This Bhishma of great intelligence is incapable of being vanquished in battle by even the gods! Thou hast done my business to the best of thy exertion and power. Thou hast displayed in this battle energy incapable of being baffled and weapons also of diverse kinds. Thou hast yet been unable to obtain any advantage over Bhishma in combat. As regards myself, I will not go a second time to Bhishma. I will, however, O perpetuator of Bhrigu's race, go thither, O thou endued with wealth of asceticism, where I may (obtain the means to) myself slay Bhishma in battle!' Having said the words, that maiden went away, with eyes agitated with wrath, and thinking to compass my death, she firmly resolved to devote herself to asceticism. Then that foremost one of Bhrigu's race, accompanied by those ascetics, bidding me farewell, departed, O Bharata, for the mountains whence he had come. I also, ascending my car, and praised by the Brahmanas, entered our city and represented, everything unto my mother Satyavati, everything that had transpired, and she, O great king, uttered benedictions on me. I then appointed persons endued with intelligence to ascertain the doings of that maiden. Devoted to the good of myself--their well-wisher, those spies of mine, with great application brought to me accounts of her course of action, her words and actions, from
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day to day. When that maiden went to the woods, resolved on ascetic austerities, even then I became melancholy, and afflicted with pain, I lost my heart's tenor. Except one acquainted with Brahma and observant of vows, that are praiseworthy owing to the austerities they involve, no Kshatriya hath ever by his prowess, vanquished me in battle! I then, O king, humbly represented to Narada as also to Vyasa all that the maiden did. They both told me, 'O Bhishma, do not give way to sorrow on account of the daughter of Kasi. Who is there that would venture to baffle destiny by individual exertion?' Meanwhile, O great king, that maiden, entering a cluster of retreats practised austerities, that were beyond human powers (of endurance). Without food, emaciated, dry, with matted-locks and begrimed with filth, for six months she lived on air only, and stood unmoved like a street-post. And that lady, possessed of wealth of asceticism, foregoing all food in consequence of the fast she kept, passed a whole year after this, standing in the waters of the Yamuna. Endued with great wrath, she passed the next whole year standing on her front toes and having eaten only one fallen leaf (of a tree). And thus for twelve years, she made the heavens hot by her austerities. And though dissuaded by her relatives, she could not by any means be weaned off (from that course of action). She then went unto Vatsabhumi resorted to by the Siddhas and Charanas, and which was the retreat of high-souled ascetics of pious deeds. Bathing frequently in the sacred waters of that retreat, the princess of Kasi roamed about according to her will. Proceeding next (one after another) to the asylum, O king, of Narada, and to the auspicious asylum of Uluka and to that of Chyavana, and to the spot sacred to Brahmana, and to Prayaga the sacrificial platform of the gods, and to that forest sacred to the gods, and to Bhogawati, and, O monarch, to the asylum of Kusika's son (Viswamitra), and to the asylum of Mandavya, and also to the asylum of Dwilipa, and to Ramhrada, and, O Kaurava, to the asylum of Garga, the princess of Kasi, O king, performed ablutions in the sacred waters of all these, observing all the while the most difficult of vows. One day, my mother from the waters asked her, O Kauravya, saying, 'O blessed lady, for what dost thou afflict thyself so? Tell me the truth!' Thus asked, O monarch, that faultless damsel answered her with joined hands, saying, 'O thou of handsome eyes, Rama hath been vanquished in battle by Bhishma. What other (Kshatriya) king then would venture to defeat the latter when ready with his weapons? As regards myself, I am practising the severest penances for the destruction of Bhishma. I wander over the earth, O goddess, so that I may slay that king! In every thing I do, O goddess, even this is the great end of my vows!' Hearing these words of hers, the Ocean-going (river Ganga) replied unto her, saying, 'O lady, thou art acting crookedly! O weak girl, this wish of thine thou shalt not be able to achieve, O faultless one? if, O princess of Kasi, thou observest these vows for destruction of Bhishma, and if thou takest leave of thy
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body while observing them, thou shalt (in thy next birth) become a river, crooked in her course and of water only during the rains! All the bathing places along thy course will be difficult of approach, and filled only during the rains, thou shalt be dry for eight months (during the year)! Full of terrible alligators, and creatures of frightful mien thou shalt inspire fear in all creatures! Addressing her thus, O king, my mother, that highly-blessed lady, in seeming smiles, dismissed the princess of Kasi. That highly fair damsel then once more began to practise vows, foregoing all food, aye, even water, sometimes for eight months and sometimes for ten months! And the daughter of the king of Kasi, wandering hither and thither for her passionate desire of tirthas, once more came back, O Kauravya, to Vatsabhumi. And it is there, O Bharata, that she is known to have become a river, filled only during the rainy seasons, abounding with crocodiles, crooked in her course, and destitute of easy access to her water. And, O king, in consequence of her ascetic merit only half her body became such a river in Vatsabhumi, while with the other half, she remained a maiden as before!'

Book 5
Chapter 190

1 bhīṣma uvāca
      cakāra yatnaṃ drupadaḥ sarvasmin svajane mahat
      tato lekhyādiṣu tathā śilpeṣu ca paraṃ gatā
      iṣvastre caiva rājendra droṇaśiṣyo babhūva ha
  2 tasya mātā mahārāja rājānaṃ varavarṇinī
      codayām āsa bhāryārthaṃ kanyāyāḥ putravat tadā
  3 tatas tāṃ pārṣato dṛṣṭvā kanyāṃ saṃprāptayauvanām
      striyaṃ matvā tadā cintāṃ prapede saha bhāryayā
  4 drupada uvāca
      kanyā mameyaṃ saṃprāptā yauvanaṃ śokavardhinī
      mayā pracchāditā ceyaṃ vacanāc chūlapāṇinaḥ
  5 na tan mithyā mahārājñi bhaviṣyati kathaṃ cana
      trailokyakartā kasmād dhi tan mṛṣā kartum arhati
  6 bhāryovāca
      yadi te rocate rājan vakṣyāmi śṛṇu me vacaḥ
      śrutvedānīṃ prapadyethāḥ svakāryaṃ pṛṣatātmaja
  7 kriyatām asya nṛpate vidhivad dārasaṃgrahaḥ
      satyaṃ bhavati tad vākyam iti me niścitā matiḥ
  8 bhīṣma uvāca
      tatas tau niścayaṃ kṛtvā tasmin kārye 'tha dampatī
      varayāṃ cakratuḥ kanyāṃ daśārṇādhipateḥ sutām
  9 tato rājā drupado rājasiṃhaḥ; sarvān rājñaḥ kulataḥ saṃniśāmya
      dāśārṇakasya nṛpates tanūjāṃ; śikhaṇḍine varayām āsa dārān
  10 hiraṇyavarmeti nṛpo yo 'sau dāśārṇakaḥ smṛtaḥ
     sa ca prādān mahīpālaḥ kanyāṃ tasmai śikhaṇḍine
 11 sa ca rājā daśārṇeṣu mahān āsīn mahīpatiḥ
     hiraṇyavarmā durdharṣo mahāseno mahāmanāḥ
 12 kṛte vivāhe tu tadā sā kanyā rājasattama
     yauvanaṃ samanuprāptā sā ca kanyā śikhaṇḍinī
 13 kṛtadāraḥ śikhaṇḍī tu kāmpilyaṃ punar āgamat
     na ca sā veda tāṃ kanyāṃ kaṃ cit kālaṃ striyaṃ kila
 14 hiraṇyavarmaṇaḥ kanyā jñātvā tāṃ tu śikhaṇḍinīm
     dhātrīṇāṃ ca sakhīnāṃ ca vrīḍamānā nyavedayat
     kanyāṃ pañcālarājasya sutāṃ tāṃ vai śikhaṇḍinīm
 15 tatas tā rājaśārdūla dhātryo dāśārṇikās tadā
     jagmur ārtiṃ parāṃ duḥkhāt preṣayām āsur eva ca
 16 tato daśārṇādhipateḥ preṣyāḥ sarvaṃ nyavedayan
     vipralambhaṃ yathāvṛttaṃ sa ca cukrodha pārthivaḥ
 17 śikhaṇḍy api mahārāja puṃvad rājakule tadā
     vijahāra mudā yuktaḥ strītvaṃ naivātirocayan
 18 tathā katipayāhasya tac chrutvā bharatarṣabha
     hiraṇyavarmā rājendra roṣād ārtiṃ jagāma ha
 19 tato dāśārṇako rājā tīvrakopasamanvitaḥ
     dūtaṃ prasthāpayām āsa drupadasya niveśane
 20 tato drupadam āsādya dūtaḥ kāñcanavarmaṇaḥ
     eka ekāntam utsārya raho vacanam abravīt
 21 daśārṇarājo rājaṃs tvām idaṃ vacanam abravīt
     abhiṣaṅgāt prakupito vipralabdhas tvayānagha
 22 avamanyase māṃ nṛpate nūnaṃ durmantritaṃ tava
     yan me kanyāṃ svakanyārthe mohād yācitavān asi
 23 tasyādya vipralambhasya phalaṃ prāpnuhi durmate
     eṣa tvāṃ sajanāmātyam uddharāmi sthiro bhava

SECTION CXC

"Bhishma said, 'Then all those ascetics (that dwell in Vatsabhumi), beholding the princess of Kasi firmly resolved on ascetic austerities, dissuaded her and enquired of her, saying, 'What is thy business?' Thus addressed, the maiden answered those ascetics, old in ascetic penances, saying, 'Expelled I have been by Bhishma, prevented by him from the virtue that would have been mine by living with a husband! My observance of this vow is for his destruction and not for the sake of regions of bliss, ye that are endued with wealth of asceticism! Having compassed the death of Bhishma, peace will be mine. Even this is my resolve. He for whom mine hath been this state of continuous grief, he for whom I have been deprived of the region that would have been mine if I could obtain a husband, he for whom I have become neither woman nor man, without slaying in battle that son of Ganga I will not desist, ye that are endued with wealth of asceticism. Even this that I have said is the purpose that is in my heart. As a woman, I have no longer any desire. I am, however, resolved to obtain manhood, for I will be revenged upon Bhishma. I should not, therefore, be dissuaded by you.' Unto them she said these words repeatedly. Soon, the divine lord of Uma, bearing the trident, showed himself in his own form unto that female ascetic in the midst of those great Rishis. Being asked to solicit the boon she wished, she begged of the deity my defeat. Thou shalt slay him,--were the words the god said unto that lady of great force of mind. Thus assured,
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the maiden, however, once more said unto Rudra, 'How can it happen, O god, that being a woman I shall yet be able to achieve victory in battle. O lord of Uma, as a woman, my heart is quite stilled. Thou hast, however, promised me, O lord of creatures, the defeat of Bhishma. O lord, having the bull for thy mount, act in such a way that promise of thine may become true, that encountering Bhishma, the son of Santanu, in battle I may be able to slay him.' The god of gods, having the bull for his symbol, then said unto that maiden, 'The words I have uttered cannot be false. O blessed lady, true they will be. Thou shalt slay Bhishma, and even obtain manhood. Thou shalt also remember all the incidents (of this life) even when thou shalt obtain a new body. Born in the race of Drupada, thou shalt become a Maharatha. Quick in the use of weapons and a fierce warrior, thou shalt be well-skilled in battle. O blessed lady, all that I have said will be true. Thou shalt become a man at the expiration of sometime (from thy birth)!' Having said so, the god of gods, called also Kapardin, having the bull for his symbol, disappeared then and there, in the very sight of those Brahmanas. Upon this, that faultless maiden of the fairest complexion, the eldest daughter of the king of Kasi, procuring wood from that forest in the very sight of those great Rishis, made a large funeral pyre on the banks of the Yamuna, and having set fire to it herself, entered that blazing fire, O great king, with a heart burning with wrath, and uttering, O king, the words,--(I do so) for Bhishma's destruction!'"

Book 5
Chapter 191

 1 bhīṣma uvāca
      evam uktasya dūtena drupadasya tadā nṛpa
      corasyeva gṛhītasya na prāvartata bhāratī
  2 sa yatnam akarot tīvraṃ saṃbandhair anusāntvanaiḥ
      dūtair madhurasaṃbhāṣair naitad astīti saṃdiśan
  3 sa rājā bhūya evātha kṛtvā tattvata āgamam
      kanyeti pāñcālasutāṃ tvaramāṇo 'bhiniryayau
  4 tataḥ saṃpreṣayām āsa mitrāṇām amitaujasām
      duhitur vipralambhaṃ taṃ dhātrīṇāṃ vacanāt tadā
  5 tataḥ samudrayaṃ kṛtvā balānāṃ rājasattamaḥ
      abhiyāne matiṃ cakre drupadaṃ prati bhārata
  6 tatha saṃmantrayām āsa mitraiḥ saha mahīpatiḥ
      hiraṇyavarmā rājendra pāñcālyaṃ pārthivaṃ prati
  7 tatra vai niścitaṃ teṣām abhūd rājñāṃ mahātmanām
      tathyaṃ ced bhavati hy etat kanyā rājañ śikhaṇḍinī
      baddhvā pāñcālarājānam ānayiṣyāmahe gṛhān
  8 anyaṃ rājānam ādhāya pāñcāleṣu nareśvaram
      ghātayiṣyāma nṛpatiṃ drupadaṃ saśikhaṇḍinam
  9 sa tadā dūtam ājñāya punaḥ kṣattāram īśvaraḥ
      prāsthāpayat pārṣatāya hanmīti tvāṃ sthiro bhava
  10 sa prakṛtyā ca vai bhīruḥ kilbiṣī ca narādhipaḥ
     bhayaṃ tīvram anuprāpto drupadaḥ pṛthivīpatiḥ
 11 visṛjya dūtaṃ dāśārṇaṃ drupadaḥ śokakarśitaḥ
     sametya bhāryāṃ rahite vākyam āha narādhipaḥ
 12 bhayena mahatāviṣṭo hṛdi śokena cāhataḥ
     pāñcālarājo dayitāṃ mātaraṃ vai śikhaṇḍinaḥ
 13 abhiyāsyati māṃ kopāt saṃbandhī sumahābalaḥ
     hiraṇyavarmā nṛpatiḥ karṣamāṇo varūthinīm
 14 kim idānīṃ kariṣyāmi mūḍhaḥ kanyām imāṃ prati
     śikhaṇḍī kila putras te kanyeti pariśaṅkitaḥ
 15 iti niścitya tattvena samitraḥ sabalānugaḥ
     vañcito 'smīti manvāno māṃ kiloddhartum icchati
 16 kim atra tathyaṃ suśroṇi kiṃ mithyā brūhi śobhane
     śrutvā tvattaḥ śubhe vākyaṃ saṃvidhāsyāmy ahaṃ tathā
 17 ahaṃ hi saṃśayaṃ prāpto bālā ceyaṃ śikhaṇḍinī
     tvaṃ ca rājñi mahat kṛcchraṃ saṃprāptā varavarṇini
 18 sā tvaṃ sarvavimokṣāya tattvam ākhyāhi pṛcchataḥ
     tathā vidadhyāṃ suśroṇi kṛtyasyāsya śucismite
     śikhaṇḍini ca mā bhais tvaṃ vidhāsye tatra tattvataḥ
 19 kriyayāhaṃ varārohe vañcitaḥ putradharmataḥ
     mayā dāśārṇako rājā vañcitaś ca mahīpatiḥ
     tad ācakṣva mahābhāge vidhāsye tatra yad dhitam
 20 jānatāpi narendreṇa khyāpanārthaṃ parasya vai
     prakāśaṃ coditā devī pratyuvāca mahīpatim

SECTION CXCI

"Duryodhana said, 'Tell me, O grandsire, how Sikhandin, O Ganga's son, having before been born a daughter, afterwards became a man, O foremost of warriors.'
"Bhishma said, 'O great king, the eldest and beloved queen of king Drupada was, O monarch, childless (at first). During those years, king Drupada, O monarch, paid his adoration to the god Sankara for the sake of offspring, resolving in his mind to compass my destruction and practising the austerest of penances. And he begged Mahadeva, saying, 'Let a son, and not a daughter, be born unto me. I desire, O god, a son for revenging myself upon Bhishma.' Thereupon, that god of gods said unto him, 'Thou shalt have a child who will be a female and male. Desist, O king, it will not be otherwise.' Returning then to his capital, he addressed his wife, saying, 'O great goddess, great hath been the exertion made by me. Undergoing ascetic austerities, I paid my adorations to Siva, and I was told by Sambhu that my child becoming a daughter (first) would subsequently become a male person. And though
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[paragraph continues] I solicited him repeatedly, yet Siva said,--This is Destiny's decree. It will not be otherwise. That which is destined must take place!' Then that lady of great energy, the queen of king Drupada, when her season came, observing all the regulations (about purity), approached Drupada. And in due time the wife of Prishata conceived, agreeably to Destiny's decree, as I was informed, O king, by Narada. And that lady, of eyes like lotus-petals, continued to hold the embryo in her womb. And, O son of Kuru's race, the mighty-armed king Drupada, from paternal affection, attended to every comfort of that dear wife of his. And, O Kaurava, the wife of that lord of earth, the royal Drupada, who was childless, had all her wishes gratified. And in due time, O monarch, that goddess, the queen of Drupada, gave birth to a daughter of great beauty. Thereupon, the strong-minded wife of that king, the childless Drupada, gave out, O monarch, that the child she had brought forth was a son. And then king Drupada, O ruler of men, caused all the rites prescribed for a male child to be performed in respect of that misrepresented daughter, as if she were really a son. And saying that the child was a son, Drupada's queen kept her counsels very carefully. And no other man in the city, save Prishata, knew the sex of that child. Believing these words of that deity of unfading energy, he too concealed the real sex of his child, saying,--She is a son. And, O king, Drupada caused all the rites of infancy, prescribed for a son, to be performed in respect of that child, and he bestowed the name of Sikhandin on her. I alone, through my spies and from Narada's words, knew the truth, informed as I previously was of the words of the god and of the ascetic austerities of Amva!'"

Book 5
Chapter 192

1 bhīṣma uvāca
      tataḥ śikhaṇḍino mātā yathātattvaṃ narādhipa
      ācacakṣe mahābāho bhartre kanyāṃ śikhaṇḍinīm
  2 aputrayā mayā rājan sapatnīnāṃ bhayād idam
      kanyā śikhaṇḍinī jātā puruṣo vai niveditaḥ
  3 tvayā caiva naraśreṣṭha tan me prītyānumoditam
      putrakarma kṛtaṃ caiva kanyāyāḥ pārthivarṣabha
      bhāryā coḍhā tvayā rājan daśārṇādhipateḥ sutā
  4 tvayā ca prāgabhihitaṃ devavākyārthadarśanāt
      kanyā bhūtvā pumān bhāvīty evaṃ caitad upekṣitam
  5 etac chrutvā drupado yajñasenaḥ; sarvaṃ tattvam mantravidbhyo nivedya
      mantraṃ rājā mantrayām āsa rājan; yad yad yuktaṃ rakṣaṇe vai prajānām
  6 saṃbandhakaṃ caiva samarthya tasmin; dāśārṇake vai nṛpatau narendra
      svayaṃ kṛtvā vipralambhaṃ yathāvan; mantraikāgro niścayaṃ vai jagāma
  7 svabhāvaguptaṃ nagaram āpatkāle tu bhārata
      gopayām āsa rājendra sarvataḥ samalaṃkṛtam
  8 ārtiṃ ca paramāṃ rājā jagāma saha bhāryayā
      daśārṇapatinā sārdhaṃ virodhe bharatarṣabha
  9 kathaṃ saṃbandhinā sārdhaṃ na me syād vigraho mahān
      iti saṃcintya manasā daivatāny arcayat tadā
  10 taṃ tu dṛṣṭvā tadā rājan devī deva paraṃ tathā
     arcāṃ prayuñjānam atho bhāryā vacanam abravīt
 11 devānāṃ pratipattiś ca satyā sādhumatā sadā
     sā tu duḥkhārṇavaṃ prāpya naḥ syād arcayatāṃ bhṛśam
 12 daivatāni ca sarvāṇi pūjyantāṃ bhūridakṣiṇaiḥ
     agnayaś cāpi hūyantāṃ dāśārṇapratisedhane
 13 ayuddhena nivṛttiṃ ca manasā cintayābhibho
     devatānāṃ prasādena sarvam etad bhaviṣyati
 14 mantribhir mantritaṃ sārdhaṃ tvayā yat pṛthulocana
     purasyāsyāvināśāya tac ca rājaṃs tathā kuru
 15 daivaṃ hi mānuṣopetaṃ bhṛśaṃ sidhyati pārthiva
     parasparavirodhāt tu nānayoḥ siddhir asti vai
 16 tasmād vidhāya nagare vidhānaṃ sacivaiḥ saha
     arcayasva yathākāmaṃ daivatāni viśāṃ pate
 17 evaṃ saṃbhāṣamāṇau tau dṛṣṭvā śokaparāyaṇau
     śikhaṇḍinī tadā kanyā vrīḍiteva manasvinī
 18 tataḥ sā cintayām āsa matkṛte duḥkhitāv ubhau
     imāv iti tataś cakre matiṃ prāṇavināśane
 19 evaṃ sā niścayaṃ kṛtvā bhṛśaṃ śokaparāyaṇā
     jagāma bhavanaṃ tyaktvā gahanaṃ nirjanaṃ vanam
 20 yakṣeṇarddhimatā rājan sthūṇākarṇena pālitam
     tadbhayād eva ca jano visarjayati tad vanam
 21 tatra sthūṇasya bhavanaṃ sudhāmṛttikalepanam
     lājollāpikadhūmāḍhyam uccaprākāratoraṇam
 22 tat praviśya śikhaṇḍī sā drupadasyātmajā nṛpa
     anaśnatī bahutithaṃ śarīram upaśoṣayat
 23 darśayām āsa tāṃ yakṣaḥ sthūṇo madhvakṣasaṃyutaḥ
     kimartho 'yaṃ tavārambhaḥ kariṣye brūhi māciram
 24 aśakyam iti sā yakṣaṃ punaḥ punar uvāca ha
     kariṣyāmīti caināṃ sa pratyuvācātha guhyakaḥ
 25 dhaneśvarasyānucaro varado 'smi nṛpātmaje
     adeyam api dāsyāmi brūhi yat te vivakṣitam
 26 tataḥ śikhaṇḍī tat sarvam akhilena nyavedayat
     tasmai yakṣapradhānāya sthūṇākarṇāya bhārata
 27 āpanno me pitā yakṣa nacirād vinaśiṣyati
     abhiyāsyati saṃkruddho daśārṇādhipatir hi tam
 28 mahābalo mahotsāhaḥ sa hemakavaco nṛpaḥ
     tasmād rakṣasva māṃ yakṣa pitaraṃ mātaraṃ ca me
 29 pratijñāto hi bhavatā duḥkhapratinayo mama
     bhaveyaṃ puruṣo yakṣa tvatprasādād aninditaḥ
 30 yāvad eva sa rājā vai nopayāti puraṃ mama
     tāvad eva mahāyakṣa prasādaṃ kuru guhyaka

SECTION CXCII

"Bhishma said, 'Drupada, O chastiser of foes, bestowed great attention on everything in connection with that daughter of his, teaching her writing and painting and all the arts. And in arrows and weapons that child became a disciple of Drona. And the child's mother, of superior complexion, then urged the king (her husband) to find, O monarch, a wife for her, as if she were a son. Then Prishata, beholding that daughter of his to have attained the full development of youth and assured of her sex began to consult with his queen. And Drupada said, 'This daughter of mine that so enhanceth my woe, hath attained her youth. Concealed, however, she hath hitherto been by me at the words of the trident-bearing deity!' The queen replied, 'That, O great king, can never be untrue! Why, indeed, would the Lord of the three worlds say that would not occur? If it pleases thee, O king, I will speak, and listen to my words, and, O son of Prishata's race, having listened to me, follow thy own
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inclination! Let the wedding of this child with a wife be caused to be performed carefully. The words of that god will be true. This is my certain belief!' Then that royal couple, having settled their resolution of that affair, chose the daughter of the king of the Dasarnakas as their son's wife. After this, the royal Drupada, that lion among kings, having enquired about the purity of descent, of all the rulers of the earth, selected the daughter of the king of Dasarnakas for wife to Sikhandin. He, who was called the king of the Dasarnakas was named Hiranyavarman; and he gave away his daughter to Sikhandin. And Hiranyavarman, the king of the Dasarnakas, was a powerful monarch, incapable of being easily vanquished. Incapable of being resisted, that high-souled monarch possessed a large army. And sometimes after the wedding, the daughter of Hiranyavarman, O best of monarchs, attained her youth while the daughter of Drupada also had attained hers. And Sikhandin, after marriage, came back to Kampilya. And the former soon came to know that the latter was a woman like herself. And the daughter of Hiranyavarman, having ascertained that Sikhandin was really a woman, bashfully represented unto her nurses and companions everything about the so-called son of the king of the Panchalas. Then, O tiger among kings, those nurses of the Dasarnakas country were filled with great grief and sent emissaries unto their king. And those emissaries represented unto the king of the Dasarnakas everything about the imposture that had taken place. And, thereupon, the king of the Dasarnakas was filled with wrath. Indeed, O bull of the Bharata race, Hiranyavarman, hearing the news after the expiry of a few days was much afflicted with wrath. The ruler of the Dasarnakas then, filled with fierce wrath, sent a messenger to Drupada's abode. And the messenger of king Hiranyavarman, having alone approached Drupada, took him aside and said unto him in private, 'The king of the Dasarnakas, O monarch, deceived by thee and enraged, O sinless one, at the insult thou hast offered him, hath said these words unto thee,--Thou hast humiliated me! Without doubt it was not wisely done by thee! Thou hadst, from folly, solicited my daughter for thy daughter! O wicked one, reap now the consequence of that act of deception' I will now slay thee with all thy relatives and advisers! Wait a little!'"

Book 5
Chapter 193

1 bhīṣma uvāca
      śikhaṇḍivākyaṃ śrutvātha sa yakṣo bharatarṣabha
      provāca manasā cintya daivenopanipīḍitaḥ
      bhavitavyaṃ tathā tad dhi mama duḥkhāya kaurava
  2 bhadre kāmaṃ kariṣyāmi samayaṃ tu nibodha me
      kiṃ cit kālāntaraṃ dāsye puṃliṅgaṃ svam idaṃ tava
      āgantavyaṃ tvayā kāle satyam etad bravīmi te
  3 prabhuḥ saṃkalpasiddho 'smi kāmarūpī vihaṃgamaḥ
      matprasādāt puraṃ caiva trāhi bandhūṃś ca kevalān
  4 strīliṅgaṃ dhārayiṣyāmi tvadīyaṃ pārthivātmaje
      satyaṃ me pratijānīhi kariṣyāmi priyaṃ tava
  5 śikhaṇḍy uvāca
      pratidāsyāmi bhagavaṁl liṅgaṃ punar idaṃ tava
      kiṃ cit kālāntaraṃ strītvaṃ dhārayasva niśācara
  6 pratiprayāte dāśārṇe pārthive hemavarmaṇi
      kanyaivāhaṃ bhaviṣyāmi puruṣas tvaṃ bhaviṣyasi
  7 bhīṣma uvāca
      ity uktvā samayaṃ tatra cakrāte tāv ubhau nṛpa
      anyonyasyānabhidrohe tau saṃkrāmayatāṃ tataḥ
  8 strīliṅgaṃ dhārayām āsa sthūṇo yakṣo narādhipa
      yakṣarūpaṃ ca tad dīptaṃ śikhaṇḍī pratyapadyata
  9 tataḥ śikhaṇḍī pāñcālyaḥ puṃstvam āsādya pārthiva
      viveśa nagaraṃ hṛṣṭaḥ pitaraṃ ca samāsadat
      yathāvṛttaṃ tu tat sarvam ācakhyau drupadasya ca
  10 drupadas tasya tac chrutvā harṣam āhārayat param
     sabhāryas tac ca sasmāra maheśvaravacas tadā
 11 tataḥ saṃpreṣayām āsa daśārṇādhipater nṛpa
     puruṣo 'yaṃ mama sutaḥ śraddhattāṃ me bhavān iti
 12 atha dāśārṇako rājā sahasābhyāgamat tadā
     pāñcālarājaṃ drupadaṃ duḥkhāmarṣasamanvitaḥ
 13 tataḥ kāmpilyam āsādya daśārṇādhipatir tadā
     preṣayām āsa satkṛtya dūtaṃ brahmavidāṃ varam
 14 brūhi madvacanād dūta pāñcālyaṃ taṃ nṛpādhamam
     yad vai kanyāṃ svakanyārthe vṛtavān asi durmate
     phalaṃ tasyāvalepasya drakṣyasy adya na saṃśayaḥ
 15 evam uktas tu tenāsau brāhmaṇo rājasattama
     dūtaḥ prayāto nagaraṃ dāśārṇanṛpacoditaḥ
 16 tata āsādayām āsa purodhā drupadaṃ pure
     tasmai pāñcālako rājā gām arghyaṃ ca susatkṛtam
     prāpayām āsa rājendra saha tena śikhaṇḍinā
 17 tāṃ pūjāṃ nābhyanandat sa vākyaṃ cedam uvāca ha
     yad uktaṃ tena vīreṇa rājñā kāñcanavarmaṇā
 18 yat te 'ham adhamācāra duhitrarthe 'smi vañcitaḥ
     tasya pāpasya karaṇāt phalaṃ prāpnuhi durmate
 19 dehi yuddhaṃ narapate mamādya raṇamūrdhani
     uddhariṣyāmi te sadyaḥ sāmātyasutabāndhavam
 20 tad upālambhasaṃyuktaṃ śrāvitaḥ kila pārthivaḥ
     daśārṇapatidūtena mantrimadhye purodhasā
 21 abravīd bharataśreṣṭha drupadaḥ praṇayānataḥ
     yad āha māṃ bhavān brahman saṃbandhivacanād vacaḥ
     tasyottaraṃ prativaco dūta eva vadiṣyati
 22 tataḥ saṃpreṣayām āsa drupado 'pi mahātmane
     hiraṇyavarmaṇe dūtaṃ brāhmaṇaṃ vedapāragam
 23 samāgamya tu rājñā sa daśārṇapatinā tadā
     tad vākyam ādade rājan yad uktaṃ drupadena ha
 24 āgamaḥ kriyatāṃ vyaktaṃ kumāro vai suto mama
     mithyaitad uktaṃ kenāpi tan na śraddheyam ity uta
 25 tataḥ sa rājā drupadasya śrutvā; vimarśayukto yuvatīr variṣṭhāḥ
     saṃpreṣayām āsa sucārurūpāḥ; śikhaṇḍinaṃ strī pumān veti vettum
 26 tāḥ preṣitās tattvabhāvaṃ viditvā; prītyā rājñe tac chaśaṃsur hi sarvam
     śikhaṇḍinaṃ puruṣaṃ kauravendra; daśārṇarājāya mahānubhāvam
 27 tataḥ kṛtvā tu rājā sa āgamaṃ prītimān atha
     saṃbandhinā samāgamya hṛṣṭo vāsam uvāsa ha
 28 śikhaṇḍine ca muditaḥ prādād vittaṃ janeśvaraḥ
     hastino 'śvāṃś ca gāś caiva dāsyo bahuśatās tathā
     pūjitaś ca pratiyayau nivartya tanayāṃ kila
 29 vinītakilbiṣe prīte hemavarmaṇi pārthive
     pratiyāte tu dāśārṇe hṛṣṭarūpā śikhaṇḍinī
 30 kasya cit tv atha kālasya kubero naravāhanaḥ
     lokānuyātrāṃ kurvāṇaḥ sthūṇasyāgān niveśanam
 31 sa tadgṛhasyopari vartamāna; ālokayām āsa dhanādhigoptā
     sthūṇasya yakṣasya niśāmya veśma; svalaṃkṛtaṃ mālyaguṇair vicitram
 32 lājaiś ca gandhaiś ca tathā vitānair; abhyarcitaṃ dhūpanadhūpitaṃ ca
     dhvajaiḥ patākābhir alaṃkṛtaṃ ca; bhakṣyānnapeyāmiṣadattahomam
 33 tat sthānaṃ tasya dṛṣṭvā tu sarvataḥ samalaṃkṛtam
     athābravīd yakṣapatis tān yakṣān anugāṃs tadā
 34 svalaṃkṛtam idaṃ veśma sthūṇasyāmitavikramāḥ
     nopasarpati māṃ cāpi kasmād adya sumandadhīḥ
 35 yasmāj jānan sumandātmā mām asau nopasarpati
     tasmāt tasmai mahādaṇḍo dhāryaḥ syād iti me matiḥ
 36 yakṣā ūcuḥ
     drupadasya sutā rājan rājño jātā śikhaṇḍinī
     tasmai nimitte kasmiṃś cit prādāt puruṣalakṣaṇam
 37 agrahīl lakṣaṇaṃ strīṇāṃ strībhūtas tiṣṭhate gṛhe
     nopasarpati tenāsau savrīḍaḥ strīsvarūpavān
 38 etasmāt kāraṇād rājan sthūṇo na tvādya paśyati
     śrutvā kuru yathānyāyaṃ vimānam iha tiṣṭhatām
 39 bhīṣma uvāsa
     ānīyatāṃ sthūṇa iti tato yakṣādhipo 'bravīt
     kartāsmi nigrahaṃ tasyety uvāca sa punaḥ punaḥ
 40 so 'bhyagacchata yakṣendram āhūtaḥ pṛthivīpate
     strīsvarūpo mahārāja tasthau vrīḍāsamanvitaḥ
 41 taṃ śaśāpa susaṃkruddho dhanadaḥ kurunandana
     evam eva bhavatv asya strītvaṃ pāpasya guhyakāḥ
 42 tato 'bravīd yakṣapatir mahātmā; yasmād adās tv avamanyeha yakṣān
     śikhaṇḍine lakṣaṇaṃ pāpabuddhe; strīlakṣaṇaṃ cāgrahīḥ pāpakarman
 43 apravṛttaṃ sudurbuddhe yasmād etat kṛtaṃ tvayā
     tasmād adya prabhṛty eva tvaṃ strī sa puruṣas tathā
 44 tataḥ prasādayām āsur yakṣā vaiśravaṇaṃ kila
     sthūṇasyārthe kuruṣvāntaṃ śāpasyeti punaḥ punaḥ
 45 tato mahātmā yakṣendraḥ pratyuvācānugāminaḥ
     sarvān yakṣagaṇāṃs tāta śāpasyāntacikīrṣayā
 46 hate śikhaṇḍini raṇe svarūpaṃ pratipatsyate
     sthūṇo yakṣo nirudvego bhavatv iti mahāmanāḥ
 47 ity uktvā bhagavān devo yakṣarākṣasapūjitaḥ
     prayayau saha taiḥ sarvair nimeṣāntaracāribhiḥ
 48 sthūṇas tu śāpaṃ saṃprāpya tatraiva nyavasat tadā
     samaye cāgamat taṃ vai śikhaṇḍī sa kṣapācaram
 49 so 'bhigamyābravīd vākyaṃ prāpto 'smi bhagavann iti
     tam abravīt tataḥ sthūṇaḥ prīto 'smīti punaḥ punaḥ
 50 ārjavenāgataṃ dṛṣṭvā rājaputraṃ śikhaṇḍinam
     sarvam eva yathāvṛttam ācacakṣe śikhaṇḍine
 51 yakṣa uvāca
     śapto vaiśravaṇenāsmi tvatkṛte pārthivātmaja
     gacchedānīṃ yathākāmaṃ cara lokān yathāsukham
 52 diṣṭam etat purā manye na śakyam ativartitum
     gamanaṃ tava ceto hi paulastyasya ca darśanam
 53 bhīṣma uvāca
     evam uktaḥ śikhaṇḍī tu sthūṇayakṣeṇa bhārata
     pratyājagāma nagaraṃ harṣeṇa mahatānvitaḥ
 54 pūjayām āsa vividhair gandhamālyair mahādhanaiḥ
     dvijātīn devatāś cāpi caityān atha catuṣpathān
 55 drupadaḥ saha putreṇa siddhārthena śikhaṇḍinā
     mudaṃ ca paramāṃ lebhe pāñcālyaḥ saha bāndhavaiḥ
 56 śiṣyārthaṃ pradadau cāpi droṇāya kurupuṃgava
     śikhaṇḍinaṃ mahārāja putraṃ strīpūrviṇaṃ tathā
 57 pratipede catuṣpādaṃ dhanurvedaṃ nṛpātmajaḥ
     śikhaṇḍī saha yuṣmābhir dhṛṣṭadyumnaś ca pārṣataḥ
 58 mama tv etac carās tāta yathāvat pratyavedayan
     jaḍāndhabadhirākārā ye yuktā drupade mayā
 59 evam eṣa mahārāja strīpumān drupadātmajaḥ
     saṃbhūtaḥ kauravaśreṣṭha śikhaṇḍī rathasattamaḥ
 60 jyeṣṭhā kāśipateḥ kanyā ambā nāmeti viśrutā
     drupadasya kule jātā śikhaṇḍī bharatarṣabha
 61 nāham enaṃ dhanuṣpāṇiṃ yuyutsuṃ samupasthitam
     muhūrtam api paśyeyaṃ prahareyaṃ na cāpy uta
 62 vratam etan mama sadā pṛthivyām api viśrutam
     striyāṃ strīpūrvake cāpi strīnāmni strīsvarūpiṇi
 63 na muñceyam ahaṃ bāṇān iti kauravanandana
     na hanyām aham etena kāraṇena śikhaṇḍinam
 64 etat tattvam ahaṃ veda janma tāta śikhaṇḍinaḥ
     tato nainaṃ haniṣyāmi samareṣv ātatāyinam
 65 yadi bhīṣmaḥ striyaṃ hanyād dhanyād ātmānam apy uta
     nainaṃ tasmād dhaniṣyāmi dṛṣṭvāpi samare sthitam
 66 saṃjaya uvāca
     etac chrutvā tu kauravyo rājā duryodhanas tadā
     muhūrtam iva sa dhyātvā bhīṣme yuktam amanyata

SECTION CXCIII

"Bhishma said, 'Thus addressed, O king, by that messenger, king Drupada, like a thief caught (in the act), could not speak. He exerted himself greatly, by sending sweet-speeched emissaries with his own instruction to them, saying,--This is not so,--in order to pacify his brother. King
p. 366
[paragraph continues] Hiranyavarman, however, ascertaining once again, that the child of the king of the Panchalas was really a daughter, issued out of his city without losing any time. He then sent messages unto all his powerful friends about that deception practised on his daughter, of which he had heard from her nurses. Then, that best of kings, having mustered a large army, resolved, O Bharata, to march against Drupada. Then, O monarch, king Hiranyavarman held a consultation with his ministers about the ruler of the Panchalas. And it was settled among those high-souled kings that if, O monarch, Sikhandin was really a daughter, they should bind the ruler of the Panchalas and drag him from his city, and installing another king over the Panchalas they should slay Drupada with Sikhandin. Taking that to be the fixed resolution (of all whom he had summoned) king Hiranyavarman once more sent an envoy to the descendant of Prishata, saying 'I will slay thee, be calm.'
"Bhishma continued, 'King Drupada was not naturally courageous. In consequence, again, of that offence of his, he became filled with fear. Sending his envoys again to the ruler of the Dasarnakas, king Drupada, afflicted with grief, approached his wife and took counsel with her. And possessed with great fright and with heart afflicted with grief, the king of the Panchalas said unto his favourite wife, the mother of Sikhandin, these words, 'My powerful brother, king Hiranyavarman, having mustered a large force, is coming towards me in anger. Fools that we both are, what are we now to do in respect of this our daughter? Thy son, Sikhandin, hath been suspected to be a daughter. Under this suspicion, Hiranyavarman with his allies and followed by his army wisheth to slay me thinking that he hath been received by me! O thou of beautiful hips, tell us now what is true or false in this, O beautiful lady! O blessed lady, hearing from thee first, I will settle how to act. I am very much endangered and this child, Sikhandin, also is equally so. Indeed, O queen, O lady of the fairest complexion, thou too art threatened with danger! For the relief of all, tell me who asketh thee what the truth is! O thou of beautiful hips and sweet smiles, hearing what thou hast to say I shall act suitably. Although I have been deceived by thee as to the duties I owe towards a son, yet, O beautiful lady, from kindness I will act towards you both in a suitable manner. Therefore, do not fear, nor let this daughter of thine fear anything. Indeed, I have deceived the king of the Dasarnakas. Tell me, O highly blessed lady, how may I act towards him so that all may yet turn up well!' Indeed, although the king knew everything, yet he addressed his wife in the presence of others in this way, to proclaim his own innocence before others. His queen then answered him in the following words.'"

Book 5
Chapter 194

1 saṃjaya uvāca
      prabhātāyāṃ tu śarvaryāṃ punar eva sutas tava
      madhye sarvasya sainyasya pitāmaham apṛcchata
  2 pāṇḍaveyasya gāṅgeya yad etat sainyam uttamam
      prabhūtanaranāgāśvaṃ mahārathasamākulam
  3 bhīmārjunaprabhṛtibhir maheṣvāsair mahābalaiḥ
      lokapālopamair guptaṃ dhṛṣṭadyumnapurogamaiḥ
  4 apradhṛṣyam anāvāryam udvṛttam iva sāgaram
      senāsāgaram akṣobhyam api devair mahāhave
  5 kena kālena gāṅgeya kṣapayethā mahādyute
      ācāryo vā maheṣvāsaḥ kṛpo vā sumahābalaḥ
  6 karṇo vā samaraślāghī drauṇir vā dvijasattamaḥ
      divyāstraviduṣaḥ sarve bhavanto hi bale mama
  7 etad icchāmy ahaṃ jñātuṃ paraṃ kautūhalaṃ hi me
      hṛdi nityaṃ mahābāho vaktum arhasi tan mama
  8 bhīṣma uvāca
      anurūpaṃ kuruśreṣṭha tvayy etat pṛthivīpate
      balābalam amitrāṇāṃ sveṣāṃ ca yadi pṛcchasi
  9 śṛṇu rājan mama raṇe yā śaktiḥ paramā bhavet
      astravīryaṃ raṇe yac ca bhujayoś ca mahābhuja
  10 ārjavenaiva yuddhena yoddhavya itaro janaḥ
     māyāyuddhena māyāvī ity etad dharmaniścayaḥ
 11 hanyām ahaṃ mahābāho pāṇḍavānām anīkinīm
     divase divase kṛtvā bhāgaṃ prāgāhnikaṃ mama
 12 yodhānāṃ daśasāhasraṃ kṛtvā bhāgaṃ mahādyute
     sahasraṃ rathinām ekam eṣa bhāgo mato mama
 13 anenāhaṃ vidhānena saṃnaddhaḥ satatotthitaḥ
     kṣapayeyaṃ mahat sainyaṃ kālenānena bhārata
 14 yadi tv astrāṇi muñceyaṃ mahānti samare sthitaḥ
     śatasāhasraghātīni hanyāṃ māsena bhārata
 15 saṃjaya uvāca
     śrutvā bhīṣmasya tad vākyaṃ rājā duryodhanas tadā
     paryapṛcchata rājendra droṇam aṅgirasāṃ varam
 16 ācārya kena kālena pāṇḍuputrasya sainikān
     nihanyā iti taṃ droṇaḥ pratyuvāca hasann iva
 17 sthaviro 'smi kuruśreṣṭha mandaprāṇaviceṣṭitaḥ
     astrāgninā nirdaheyaṃ pāṇḍavānām anīkinīm
 18 yathā bhīṣmaḥ śāṃtanavo māseneti matir mama
     eṣā me paramā śaktir etan me paramaṃ balam
 19 dvābhyām eva tu māsābhyāṃ kṛpaḥ śāradvato 'bravīt
     drauṇis tu daśarātreṇa pratijajñe balakṣayam
     karṇas tu pañcarātreṇa pratijajñe mahāstravit
 20 tac chrutvā sūtaputrasya vākyaṃ sāgaragāsutaḥ
     jahāsa sasvanaṃ hāsaṃ vākyaṃ cedam uvāca ha
 21 na hi tāvad raṇe pārthaṃ bāṇakhaḍgadhanurdharam
     vāsudevasamāyuktaṃ rathenodyantam acyutam
 22 samāgacchasi rādheya tenaivam abhimanyase
     śakyam evaṃ ca bhūyaś ca tvayā vaktuṃ yatheṣṭataḥ

SECTION CXCIV

"Bhishma said. 'Then, O mighty-armed king, Sikhandin's mother represented unto her lord the truth about her daughter, Sikhandin. And she said, 'Childless, O great king, as I was, from fear of my co-wives, when Sikhandini, my daughter, was born, I represented unto you that it was a son! For thy love of me, thou also hadst corroborated it, and, O bull among kings, thou hadst performed all the rites prescribed for a son in respect of this daughter of mine! Thou then didst marry her, O king, to the daughter of the king of the Dasarnakas. I also approved of this act, remembering the words of the (great) god! Indeed, I did not prevent it, remembering the words of Siva,--Born a daughter, she will become a son!' Hearing all this, Drupada, otherwise called Yajnasena, informed all his counsellors of these facts. And, O monarch, the king then took counsel with ministers for the proper protection of his subjects (from the would-be invader). Although he had himself deceived the king of the Dasarnakas, yet giving it out that the alliance he had made was proper, he began to settle his plans with undivided attention. King Drupada's city was, O Bharata, naturally well-protected. Yet at the advent of danger, O monarch, they began to protect it all the more carefully and fortify it (with defensive works). The king, however, with his queen, was greatly afflicted, thinking of how a war might not take place with his brother. Reflecting on this, he began to pay his adorations to the gods. His respected wife, beholding him relying on the god and paying his adorations to them, than addressed him, O king, and said, 'Homage to the gods is productive of benefits! It is, therefore, approved by the righteous. What shall I say, again, of those that are sunk in an ocean of distress? Therefore, pay homage to those that are thy superiors and let all the gods also be worshipped, making large presents the while (unto the Brahmanas)! Let oblations be poured on the fire for pacifying the ruler of the Dasarnakas. O lord, think of the means by which, without a war, thou mayst be able to pacify thy brother! Through the grace of the gods all this will happen. For the preservation of this city, O thou of large eyes, thou hast taken counsel with thy ministers. Do all, O king, that those counsels seem to indicate, for reliance on the gods, when supported by human exertion, always, O king, leadeth to success, If these two do not go hand-in-hand, success becometh unattainable. Therefore, with all thy advisers, make such arrangements in thy city as are proper, and pay homage, O monarch, as thou pleasest, to the gods.' While husband and wife were conversing with each other thus, both filled with grief, their helpless daughter, Sikhandini, was filled with shame. She then reflected, saying, 'It is for me that these two are plunged into grief!' Thinking so, she resolved upon putting an end to her own life. Having formed this determination, she left home, filled with heavy sorrow, and went into a dense and solitary forest that was
p. 368
the haunt, O king, of a very formidable Yaksha called Sthunakarna. From fear of that Yaksha men never went into that forest. And within it stood a mansion with high walls and a gateway, plastered over with powdered earth, and rich with smoke bearing the fragrance of fried paddy. Entering that mansion, Sikhandini, the daughter of Drupada, O king, began to reduce herself by foregoing all food for many days. Thereupon, the Yaksha named Sthuna, who was endued with kindness, showed himself unto her. And he enquired of her, saying, 'For what object is this endeavour of thine? I will accomplish it, tell me without delay!' Thus asked, the maiden answered him, repeatedly saying, 'Thou art unable to accomplish it!' The Guhyaka, however, rejoined, without a moment's delay, saying, 'Accomplish it I will! I am a follower of the Lord of treasures, I can, O princess, grant boons! I will grant thee even that which cannot be given! Tell me what thou hast to say!' Thus assured, Sikhandini represented in detail everything that had happened, unto that chief of Yakshas called Sthunakarna. And she said, 'My father, O Yaksha, will soon meet with destruction. The ruler of the Dasarnakas marcheth against him in rage. That king eased in golden mail is endued with great might and great courage. Therefore, O Yaksha, save me, my mother, and my father! Indeed, thou hast already pledged thyself to relieve my distress! Through thy grace, O Yaksha, I would become a perfect man! As long as that king may not depart from my city, so long, O great Yaksha, show me grace, O Guhyaka!'"

Book 5
Chapter 195

1 vaiśaṃpāyana uvāca
      etac chrutvā tu kaunteyaḥ sarvān bhrātṝn upahvare
      āhūya bharataśreṣṭha idaṃ vacanam abravīt
  2 dhārtarāṣṭrasya sainyeṣu ye cārapuruṣā mama
      te pravṛttiṃ prayacchanti mamemāṃ vyuṣitāṃ niśām
  3 duryodhanaḥ kilāpṛcchad āpageyaṃ mahāvratam
      kena kālena pāṇḍūnāṃ hanyāḥ sainyam iti prabho
  4 māseneti ca tenokto dhārtarāṣṭraḥ sudurmatiḥ
      tāvatā cāpi kālena droṇo 'pi pratyajānata
  5 gautamo dviguṇaṃ kālam uktavān iti naḥ śrutam
      drauṇis tu daśarātreṇa pratijajñe mahāstravit
  6 tathā divyāstravit karṇaḥ saṃpṛṣṭaḥ kurusaṃsadi
      pañcabhir divasair hantuṃ sa sainyaṃ pratijajñivān
  7 tasmād aham apīcchāmi śrotum arjuna te vacaḥ
      kālena kiyatā śatrūn kṣapayer iti saṃyuge
  8 evam ukto guḍākeśaḥ pārthivena dhanaṃjayaḥ
      vāsudevam avekṣyedaṃ vacanaṃ prabhyabhāṣata
  9 sarva ete mahātmānaḥ kṛtāstrāś citrayodhinaḥ
      asaṃśayaṃ mahārāja hanyur eva balaṃ tava
  10 apaitu te manastāpo yathāsatyaṃ bravīmy aham
     hanyām ekarathenāhaṃ vāsudevasahāyavān
 11 sāmarān api lokāṃs trīn sahasthāvarajaṅgamān
     bhūtaṃ bhavyaṃ bhaviṣyac ca nimeṣād iti me matiḥ
 12 yat tad ghoraṃ paśupatiḥ prādād astraṃ mahan mama
     kairāte dvandvayuddhe vai tad idaṃ mayi vartate
 13 yad yugānte paśupatiḥ sarvabhūtāni saṃharan
     prayuṅkte puruṣavyāghra tad idaṃ mayi vartate
 14 tan na jānāti gāṅgeyo na droṇo na ca gautamaḥ
     na ca droṇasuto rājan kuta eva tu sūtajaḥ
 15 na tu yuktaṃ raṇe hantuṃ divyair astraiḥ pṛthagjanam
     ārjavenaiva yuddhena vijeṣyāmo vayaṃ parān
 16 tatheme puruṣavyāghrāḥ sahāyās tava pārthiva
     sarve divyāstraviduṣaḥ sarve yuddhābhinandinaḥ
 17 vedāntāvabhṛthasnātāḥ sarva ete 'parājitāḥ
     nihanyuḥ samare senāṃ devānām api pāṇḍava
 18 śikhaṇḍī yuyudhānaś ca dhṛṣṭadyumnaś ca pārṣataḥ
     bhīmaseno yamau cobhau yudhāmanyūttamaujasau
 19 virāṭadrupadau cobhau bhīṣmadroṇasamau yudhi
     svayaṃ cāpi samartho 'si trailokyotsādane api
 20 krodhād yaṃ puruṣaṃ paśyes tvaṃ vāsavasamadyute
     kṣipraṃ na sa bhaved vyaktam iti tvāṃ vedmi kaurava

SECTION CXCV

"Bhishma said, 'Hearing, O bull of Bharata's race, those words of Sikhandini, afflicted by destiny, that Yaksha, said after reflecting in his mind, these words, 'Indeed, it was ordained to be so, and, O Kaurava, it was ordained for my grief!' The Yaksha said, 'O Blessed lady, I will certainly do what thou wishest! Listen, however, to the condition I make. For a certain period I will give thee my manhood. Thou must, however, come back to me in due time. Pledge thyself to do so! Possessed of immense power, I am a ranger of the skies, wandering at my pleasure, and capable of accomplishing whatever I intend. Through my grace, save the city and thy kinsmen wholly! I will bear thy womanhood, O princess! Pledge thy truth to me, I will do what is agreeable to thee!' Thus addressed, Sikhandini said unto him, 'O holy one of excellent vows, I will give thee back thy manhood! O wanderer of the night, bear thou my womanhood for a short time! After the ruler of the Dasarnakas who is cased in a golden mail will have departed (from my city) I will once more become a maiden and thou wilt become a man!'
p. 369
"Bhishma continued, 'Having said this (unto each other), they both. O king, made a covenant, and imparted unto each other's body their sexes. And the Yaksha Sthuna, O Bharata, became a female, while Sikhandini obtained the blazing form of the Yaksha. Then, O king, Sikhandini of Panchala's race, having obtained manhood, entered his city in great joy and approached his father. And he represented unto Drupada everything that had happened. And Drupada, bearing it all became highly glad. And along with his wife the king recollected the words of Maheswara. And he forthwith sent, O king, messenger unto the ruler of the Dasarnakas, saying, 'This my child is a male. Let it be believed by thee!' The king of the Dasarnakas meanwhile, filled with sorrow and grief, suddenly approached Drupada, the ruler of the Panchalas. And arrived at Kampilya, the Dasarnaka king despatched, after paying him proper honours, an envoy who was one of the foremost of those conversant with the Vedas. And he addressed the envoy, saying, 'Instructed by me, O messenger, say unto that worst of kings the ruler of the Panchalas, these words,--viz., O thou of wicked understanding, having selected my daughter as a wife for one who is thy daughter, thou shalt today, without doubt, behold the fruit of that act of deception.' Thus addressed and despatched by him, O best of kings, the Brahmana set out for Drupada's city as Dasarnaka's envoy. And having arrived at the city, the priest went unto Drupada's presence. The king of the Panchalas then, with Sikhandin, offered the envoy, O king, a cow and honey. The Brahmana, however, without accepting that worship, said unto him these words that had been communicated through him by the brave ruler of the Dasarnakas who was cased in a golden mail. And he said, 'O thou of vile behaviours, I have been deceived by thee through thy daughter (as the means)! I will exterminate thee with thy counsellors and sons and kinsmen!' Having, in the midst of his counsellors, been made by that priest to hear those words fraught with censure and uttered by the ruler of the Dasarnakas, king Drupada then, O chief of Bharata's race, assuming a mild behaviour from motives of friendship, 'said, The reply to these words of my brother that thou hast said unto me, O Brahmana, will be carried to that monarch by my envoy!' And king Drupada then, sent unto the high-souled Hiranyavarman a Brahmana learned in the Vedas as his envoy. And that envoy, going unto king Hiranyavarman, the ruler of the Dasarnakas, said unto him, 'O monarch, the word that Drupada had entrusted him with.' And he said, 'This my child is really a male. Let it be made clear by means of witness! Somebody has spoken falsely to thee. That should not be believed!' Then the king of the Dasarnakas, having heard the words of Drupada, was filled with sorrow and despatched a number of young ladies of great beauty for ascertaining whether Sikhandin was a male or female. Despatched by him, those ladies, having ascertained (the truth) joyfully told the king of the Dasarnakas everything, viz., that Sikhandin, O chief of the Kurus, was a powerful person of the masculine sex. Hearing that testimony, the ruler
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of the Dasarnakas was filled with great joy, and wending then unto his brother Drupada, passed a few days with him in joy. And the king, rejoiced as he was, gave unto Sikhandin much wealth, many elephants and steeds and kine. And worshipped by Drupada (as long as he stayed), the Dasarnaka king then departed, having rebuked his daughter. And after king Hiranyavarman, the ruler of the Dasarnakas had departed in joy and with his anger quelled, Sikhandin began to rejoice exceedingly. Meanwhile, sometime after (the exchange of sexes had taken place) Kuvera, who was always borne on the shoulders of human beings, in course of a journey (through the earth), came to the abode of Sthuna. Staying (in the welkin) above that mansion, the protector of all the treasures saw that the excellent abode of the Yaksha Sthuna was well-adorned with beautiful garland of flowers, and perfumed with fragrant roots of grass and many sweet scents. And it was decked with canopies, and scented incense. And it was also beautiful with standards and banners. And it was filled with edibles and drink of every kind. And beholding that beautiful abode of the Yaksha decked all over, and filled also with garlands of jewels and gems and perfumed with the fragrance of diverse kinds of flowers, and well-watered, and well-swept, the lord of the Yakshas addressed the Yakshas that followed him, saying, 'Ye that are endued with immeasurable prowess, this mansion of Sthuna is well-adorned! Why, however, doth not that wight of wicked understanding come to me? And since that wicked-souled one, knowing I am here, approacheth me not, therefore, some severe punishment should be inflicted on him! Even this is my intention!' Hearing these words of his, the Yakshas said, 'O king, the royal Drupada had a daughter born unto him, of the name of Sikhandini! Unto her, for some reason, Sthuna had given his own manhood, and having taken her womanhood upon him, he stayeth within his abode having become a woman! Bearing as he doth a feminine form, he doth not, therefore, approach thee in shame! It is for this reason, O king, that Sthuna cometh not to thee! Hearing all this, do what may be proper!' Let the car be stopped here! Let Sthuna be brought to me,--were the words that the lord of the Yakshas uttered, and repeatedly said,--I will punish him!--Summoned then by the Lord of Yakshas, Sthuna bearing a feminine form came thither, O king, and stood before him in shame. Then, O thou of Kuru's race, the giver of wealth cursed him in anger, saying, 'Ye Guhyakas, let the femininity of the wretch remain as it is!' And the high-souled lord of the Yakshas also said, 'Since humiliating all the Yakshas, thou hast, O thou of sinful deeds, given away thy own sex to Sikhandini and taken from her, O thou of wicked understanding, her femininity,--since, O wicked wretch, thou hast done what hath never been done by anybody,--therefore from this day, thou shalt remain a woman and she shall remain a man!' At these words of his, all the Yakshas began to soften Vaisravana for the sake of Sthunakarna repeatedly saying, 'Set a limit to thy curse!' The high-souled lord of the Yakshas then said unto all these Yakshas that followed him,
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from desire of setting a limit to his curse, these words, viz.,--After Sikhandin's death, ye Yakshas, this one will regain his own form! Therefore, let this high-souled Yaksha Sthuna be freed from his anxiety! Having said this, the illustrious and divine king of the Yakshas, receiving due worship, departed with all his followers who were capable of traversing a great distance within the shortest space of time. And Sthuna, with that curse pronounced on him, continued to live there. And when the time came, Sikhandin without losing a moment came unto that wanderer of the night. And approaching his presence he said, It have come to thee, O holy one!' Sthuna then repeatedly said unto him, 'I am pleased with thee!' Indeed, beholding that prince return to him without guile, Sthuna told Sikhandin everything that had happened. Indeed, the Yaksha said, 'O son of a king, for thee I have been cursed by Vaisravana. Go now, and live happily amongst men as thou choosest. Thy coming here and the arrival of Pulastya's son were, I think, both ordained from beforehand. All this was incapable of being prevented!'
"Bhishma continued, 'Thus addressed by the Kaksha, Sthuna, Sikhandin, O Bharata, came to his city, filled with great joy. And he worshipped with diverse scents and garlands of flower and costly presents persons of the regenerate class, deities, big trees and crossways. And Drupada, the ruler of the Panchalas, along with his son Sikhandin whose wishes had been crowned with success, and with also his kinsmen, became exceedingly glad. And the king then, O bull of Kuru's race, gave his son, Sikhandin, who had been a woman, as a pupil, O monarch, to Drona. An prince Sikhandin obtained, along with yourselves, the whole science of arms with its four divisions. And (his brother) Dhrishtadyumna of Prishata's race also obtained the same. Indeed, all this way represented unto me, O sire, by the spies, disguised as idiots and as persons without the senses of vision, and hearing whom I had set upon Drupada. It is thus, O king, that that best of Rathas. Sikhandin, the son of Drupada, having first been born a female, subsequently became a person of the other sex. And it was the eldest daughter of the ruler of Kasi, celebrated by the name of Amva, who was, O bull of Bharata's race, born in Drupada's line as Sikhandin. If he approacheth me bow in hand and desirous of fight, I will not look at him even for a moment nor smite him, O thou of unfading glory! Even--this is my vow, known over all the world, viz., that I will not, O son of Kuru's race, shoot weapons upon a woman, or one that was a woman before or one bearing a feminine name, or one whose form resembleth a woman's. I will not, for this reason, slay Sikhandin. Even this, O sire, is the story that I have ascertained of Sikhandin's birth. I will not, therefore, slay him in battle even if he approacheth me weapon in hand. If Bhishma slayeth a woman the righteous will all speak ill of him. I will not, therefore, slay him even if I behold him waiting for battle!'
p. 372
"Sanjaya continued, 'Hearing these words of Bhishma, king Duryodhana of Kuru's race, reflecting for a moment, thought even that behaviour was proper for Bhishma.'"

Book 5
Chapter 196

1 vaiśaṃpāyana uvāca
      tataḥ prabhāte vimale dhārtarāṣṭreṇa coditāḥ
      duryodhanena rājānaḥ prayayuḥ pāṇḍavān prati
  2 āplāvya śucayaḥ sarve sragviṇaḥ śuklavāsasaḥ
      gṛhītaśastrā dhvajinaḥ svasti vācya hutāgnayaḥ
  3 sarve vedavidaḥ śūrāḥ sarve sucaritavratāḥ
      sarve karmakṛtaś caiva sarve cāhavalakṣaṇāḥ
  4 āhaveṣu parāṁl lokāñ jigīṣanto mahābalāḥ
      ekāgramanasaḥ sarve śraddadhānāḥ parasya ca
  5 vindānuvindāv āvantyau kekayā bāhlikaiḥ saha
      prayayuḥ sarva evaite bhāradvājapurogamāḥ
  6 aśvatthāmā śāṃtanavaḥ saindhavo 'tha jayadrathaḥ
      dākṣiṇātyāḥ pratīcyāś ca pārvatīyāś ca ye rathāḥ
  7 gāndhārarājaḥ śakuniḥ prācyodīcyāś ca sarvaśaḥ
      śakāḥ kirātā yavanāḥ śibayo 'tha vasātayaḥ
  8 svaiḥ svair anīkaiḥ sahitāḥ parivārya mahāratham
      ete mahārathāḥ sarve dvitīye niryayur bale
  9 kṛtavarmā sahānīkas trigartāś ca mahābalāḥ
      duryodhanaś ca nṛpatir bhrātṛbhiḥ parivāritaḥ
  10 śalo bhūriśravāḥ śalyaḥ kausalyo 'tha bṛhadbalaḥ
     ete paścād avartanta dhārtarāṣṭrapurogamāḥ
 11 te samena pathā yātvā yotsyamānā mahārathāḥ
     kurukṣetrasya paścārdhe vyavatiṣṭhanta daṃśitāḥ
 12 duryodhanas tu śibiraṃ kārayām āsa bhārata
     yathaiva hāstinapuraṃ dvitīyaṃ samalaṃkṛtam
 13 na viśeṣaṃ vijānanti purasya śibirasya vā
     kuśalā api rājendra narā nagaravāsinaḥ
 14 tādṛśany eva durgāṇi rājñām api mahīpatiḥ
     kārayām āsa kauravyaḥ śataśo 'tha sahasraśaḥ
 15 pañcayojanam utsṛjya maṇḍalaṃ tad raṇājiram
     senāniveśās te rājann āviśañ śatasaṃghaśaḥ
 16 tatra te pṛthivīpālā yathotsāhaṃ yathābalam
     viviśuḥ śibirāṇy āśu dravyavanti sahasraśaḥ
 17 teṣāṃ duryodhano rājā sasainyānāṃ mahātmanām
     vyādideśa sabāhyānāṃ bhakṣyabhojyam anuttamam
 18 sagajāśvamanuṣyāṇāṃ ye ca śilpopajīvinaḥ
     ye cānye 'nugatās tatra sūtamāgadhabandinaḥ
 19 vaṇijo gaṇikā vārā ye caiva prekṣakā janāḥ
     sarvāṃs tān kauravo rājā vidhivat pratyavaikṣata

SECTION CXCVI

"Sanjaya said, 'When the night passed away and morning came, thy sons once more, in the midst of all the troops, asked their grandsire, saying, 'O son of Ganga, this army that is ready for fight, of Pandu's son, that abounds with men, elephants, and steeds, that is crowded with Maharathas, that is protected by these mighty bowmen endued with great strength, viz., Bhima and Arjuna and others headed by Dhrishtadyumna and all resembling the very regents of the world, that is invincible and incapable of being withstood, that resembles the unbounded sea,--this sea of warriors incapable of being agitated by the very gods in battle, in how many days, O son of Ganga, O thou of great effulgence, canst thou annihilate it, and in what time can that mighty bowman, our preceptor (Drona), in what time also the mighty Kripa, in what time Karna who taketh a pleasure in battle, and in what time that best of Brahmanas, viz., the son of Drona, can each annihilate it? Ye that are in my army are all acquainted with celestial weapons! I desire to know this, for the curiosity I feel in my heart is great! O thou of mighty arms, it behoveth thee to say this to me!'
"Bhishma said, 'O foremost one of the Kurus, O lord of the earth, thou enquirest about the strength and weakness of the foe. This, indeed, is worthy of thee. Listen, O king, as I tell thee the utmost limit of my power in battle, or of the energy of my weapons, or of the might of my arms, O thou of mighty arms! As regards ordinary combatants, one should fight with them artlessly. As regards those that are possessed of powers of deception, one should fight with them aided by the ways of deception. Even this is what hath been laid down in respect of the duties of warriors. I can annihilate the Pandava army, O blessed monarch, taking every morning ten thousand (ordinary) warriors and one thousand car-warriors as my share from day to day. Cased in mail and always exerting myself actively, I can, O Bharata, annihilate this large force, according to this arrangement as regards both number and time. If, however, stationed in battle, I shoot my great weapons that slay hundreds and thousands at a time, then I can, O Bharata, finish the slaughter in a month.'
"Sanjaya continued, 'Hearing these words of Bhishma, king Duryodhana then asked Drona, O monarch, that foremost one of Angira's race, saying, 'O preceptor, in what time canst thou annihilate the troops
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of Pandu's son?' Thus addressed by him, Drona said smilingly, 'I am old, O mighty-armed one! My energy and activity have both become weak. With the fire of my weapons I can consume the army of the Pandavas, like Santanu's son Bhishma, I think, in a month's time.' Even this is the limit of my power, even this is the limit of my strength.' Then Saradwat's son Kripa said that he could annihilate the foe in two month's time. Dron's son (Aswatthaman) pledged himself to annihilate the Pandava army in ten nights, Karna, however, acquainted as he was with weapons of high efficacy, pledged himself to achieve that feat in five days. Hearing the words of the Suta's son the son of the ocean-going (Ganga) laughed aloud and said, 'As long, O son of Radha, as thou encounterest not in battle Partha with his arrows, conch, and bows and rushing to the combat on his car with Vasudeva in his company, so long mayest thou think so! Why, thou art capable of saying anything, even what thou pleasest!'"

Book 5
Chapter 197

1 vaiśaṃpāyana uvāca
      tathaiva rājā kaunteyo dharmaputro yudhiṣṭhiraḥ
      dhṛṣṭadyumnamukhān vīrāṃś codayām āsa bhārata
  2 cedikāśikarūṣāṇāṃ netāraṃ dṛḍhavikramam
      senāpatim amitraghnaṃ dhṛṣṭaketum athādiśat
  3 virāṭaṃ drupadaṃ caiva yuyudhānaṃ śikhaṇḍinam
      pāñcālyau ca maheṣvāsau yudhāmanyūttamaujasau
  4 te śūrāś citravarmāṇas taptakuṇḍaladhāriṇaḥ
      ājyāvasiktā jvalitā dhiṣṇyeṣv iva hutāśanāḥ
      aśobhanta maheṣvāsā grahāḥ prajvalitā iva
  5 so 'tha sainyaṃ yathāyogaṃ pūjayitvā nararṣabhaḥ
      dideśa tāny anīkāni prayāṇāya mahīpatiḥ
  6 abhimanyuṃ bṛhantaṃ ca draupadeyāṃś ca sarvaśaḥ
      dhṛṣṭadyumnamukhān etān prāhiṇot pāṇḍunandanaḥ
  7 bhīmaṃ ca yuyudhānaṃ ca pāṇḍavaṃ ca dhanaṃjayam
      dvitīyaṃ preṣayām āsa balaskandhaṃ yudhiṣṭhiraḥ
  8 bhāṇḍaṃ samāropayatāṃ caratāṃ saṃpradhāvatām
      hṛṣṭānāṃ tatra yodhānāṃ śabdo divam ivāspṛśat
  9 svayam eva tataḥ paścād virāṭadrupadānvitaḥ
      tathānyaiḥ pṛthivīpālaiḥ saha prāyān mahīpatiḥ
  10 bhīmadhanvāyanī senā dhṛṣṭadyumnapuraskṛtā
     gaṅgeva pūrṇā stimitā syandamānā vyadṛśyata
 11 tataḥ punar anīkāni vyayojayata buddhimān
     mohayan dhṛtarāṣṭrasya putrāṇāṃ buddhinisravam
 12 draupadeyān maheṣvāsān abhimanyuṃ ca pāṇḍavaḥ
     nakulaṃ sahadevaṃ ca sarvāṃś caiva prabhadrakān
 13 daśa cāśvasahasrāṇi dvisāhasraṃ ca dantinaḥ
     ayutaṃ ca padātīnāṃ rathāḥ pañcaśatās tathā
 14 bhīmasenaṃ ca durdharṣaṃ prathamaṃ prādiśad balam
     madhyame tu virāṭaṃ ca jayatsenaṃ ca māgadham
 15 mahārathau ca pāñcālyau yudhāmanyūttamaujasau
     vīryavantau mahātmānau gadākārmukadhāriṇau
     anvayātāṃ tato madhye vāsudevadhanaṃjayau
 16 babhūvur atisaṃrabdhāḥ kṛtapraharaṇā narāḥ
     teṣāṃ viṃśatisāhasrā dhvajāḥ śūrair adhiṣṭhitāḥ
 17 pañca nāgasahasrāṇi rathavaṃśāś ca sarvaśaḥ
     padātayaś ca ye śūrāḥ kārmukāsigadādharāḥ
     sahasraśo 'nyvayuḥ paścād agrataś ca sahasraśaḥ
 18 yudhiṣṭhiro yatra sainye svayam eva balārṇave
     tatra te pṛthivīpālā bhūyiṣṭhaṃ paryavasthitāḥ
 19 tatra nāgasahasrāṇi hayānām ayutāni ca
     tathā rathasahasrāṇi padātīnāṃ ca bhārata
     yad āśrityābhiyuyudhe dhārtarāṣṭraṃ suyodhanam
 20 tato 'nye śataśaḥ paścāt sahasrāyutaśo narāḥ
     nadantaḥ prayayus teṣām anīkāni sahasraśaḥ
 21 tatra bherīsahasrāṇi śaṅkhānām ayutāni ca
     vādayanti sma saṃhṛṣṭāḥ sahasrāyutaśo narāḥ

SECTION CXCVII

"Vaisampayana said, 'Hearing these words (of the leaders of the Kuru army), Kunti's son Yudhishthira, summoning all his brothers, said unto them these words in private.'
"Yudhishthira said, 'The spies I had placed in the army of Dhritarashtra's son, brought me this news in the morning. Duryodhana. asked Ganga's son of great vows, saying, 'O lord, in what time cant thou annihilate the troops of Pandu's sons?' Indeed, the wicked Duryodhana was answered by him in these words, viz.,--In a month! Drona also declared that he could do the same feat in about the same time. Gautama (Kripa) indicated twice that period, as hath been heard by us. Drona's son acquainted with weapons of high efficacy declared the period (in his case) to be ten nights. Karna also, acquainted with weapons of high efficacy, asked in the midst of the Kurus, declared that the could complete the slaughter in five days. Therefore, I also, O Arjuna, am desirous of hearing thy words, 'In what time canst thou, O Falguni, exterminate the foe?' Thus addressed by the king, Dhananjaya of curly hair, casting a look upon Vasudeva, said these words, 'All these (Bhishma and others) are high-souled (warriors), accomplished in arms and acquainted with all modes of warfare. Without doubt, O king, they can exterminate (our forces) even thus! Let thy heart's anguish, however, be dispelled. I tell thee truly that with Vasudeva as my ally, I can, on a single car, exterminate the three worlds with even the immortals, indeed, all mobile creatures that were, are, will be, in the twinkling of the eye. This is what I think. That terrible and mighty weapon
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which the Lord of all creatures (Mahadeva) gave me on the occasion of my hand-to-hand encounter with him (in the guise of) a hunter, still existeth with me. Indeed, O tiger among men, that weapon which the Lord of all creatures useth at the end of Yuga for destroying created things, existeth with me. Ganga's son knoweth not that weapon; nor Drona nor Gautama (Kripa); nor Drona's son, O king! How, therefore, can the Suta's son know it. It is not, however, proper to slay ordinary men in battle by means of celestial weapons. We shall (on the other band) vanquish our foes in a fair fight. Then, these tigers among men, O king, are thy allies! All of them are well-versed in celestial weapons, and all of them are eager for battle. All of them after their initiation in the Vedas, have undergone the final bath in sacrifices. All of them are unvanquished. They are competent, O son of Pandu, to slay in battle the army of even the celestials. Thou hast for thy allies Sikhandin, and Yuyudhana and Dhristadyumna of Prishata's race; and Bhimasena, and these twins, and Yudhamanyu, and Uttamaujas, and Virata and Drupada who are equal in battle unto Bhishma and Drona; and the mighty-armed Sankha, and Hidimva's son of great might; and this latter's son Anjanparvan endued with great strength and prowess; and Sini's descendant of mighty arms and well-versed in battle, and the mighty Abhimanyu and the five sons of Draupadi! Thou art thyself, again, competent to exterminate the three worlds! O thou that art endued with effulgence equal unto that of Sakra himself, I know it, O Kaurava, for it is manifest, that that man upon whom thou mayest cast thy eyes in anger is sure to be annihilated!'"

SECTION CXCVIII

"Vaisampayana said, 'Next morning, under a cloudless sky, all the kings, urged by Dhritarashtra's son, Duryodhana,--set out against the Pandavas. And all of them had purified themselves by baths, were decked in garlands, and attired in white robes. And having poured libations on fire, caused Brahmanas to utter benedictions on them, they took up their weapons and raised their (respective) standards. And all of them were conversant with the Vedas, and endued with great bravery, and had practised excellent vows. And all of them were grantors of (other people's) wishes, and all were skilled in battle. Endued with great strength, they set out, reposing confidence on one another, and with singleness of purpose desiring to win in battle the highest regions. And first Vinda and Anuvinda, both of Avanti, and Kekayas, and the Vahlikas, all set out with Bharadwaja's son at their head. Then came Aswatthaman, and Santanu's son (Bhishma), and Jayadratha of the
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country of the Sindhu, and the kings of the southern and the western countries and of the hilly regions, and Sakuni, the ruler of the Gandharas, and all the chiefs of the eastern and the northern regions, and the Sakas, the Kiratas, and Yavanas, the Sivis and the Vasatis with their Maharathas at the heads of their respective divisions. All these great car-warriors marched in the second division. Then came Kritavarman at the head of his troops, and that mighty car-warrior, viz., the ruler of the Trigartas, and the king Duryodhana surrounded by his brothers, and Sala, and Bhurisravas, and Salya, and Vrihadratha, the ruler of the Kosalas. These all marched in the rear, with Dhritarashtra's sons at their head. And all these Dhartarashtras endued with great might, uniting together in proper order, and all clad in mail, took up their position at the other end of Kurukshetra, and, O Bharata, Duryodhana caused his encampment to be so adorned as to make it look like a second Hastinapura. Indeed, O king, even those that were clever among the citizens of Hastinapura could not distinguish their city from the encampment. And the Kuru king caused inaccessible pavilions, similar to his own, to be erected by hundreds and thousands for the (other) kings (in his army). And those tents, O king, for the accommodation of the troops were well-planted on an area measuring full five yojanas of that field of battle. And into those tents by thousands that were full of provisions, the rulers of the earth entered, each according to his courage according to the strength he possessed. And king Duryodhana ordered excellent provisions to be supplied for all those high-souled kings with their troops consisting of infantry, elephants, and horses, and with all their followers. And as regards all those that subsisted upon mechanical arts and all the bards, singers, and panegyrists devoted to his cause, and vendors and traders, and prostitutes, and spies, and persons who had come to witness the battle, the Kuru king made due provision for all of them.'"

SECTION CXCIX

"Vaisampayana said, 'Like Duryodhana, king Yudhishthira also, the son of Kunti and Dharma, ordered out, O Bharata, his heroic warriors headed by Dhrishtadyumna. Indeed, he ordered that slayer of foes and commander of force, that leader, steady in prowess, of the Chedis, the Kasis, and the Karushas, viz., Dhrishtaketu, as also Virata, and Drupada, and Yuyudhana, and Sikhandin, and those two mighty bowmen, those two princes of Panchala, viz., Yudhamanyu and Uttamaujas, to set out. Those brave warriors, cased in handsome coats of mail and decked with golden ear-rings, blazed forth like fires on the sacrificial
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altar when fed with clarified butter. Indeed, those mighty bowmen looked resplendent like the planets in the firmament. Then that bull among men king Yudhishthira, having duly honoured all his combatants, ordered them to march. And king Yudhishthira ordered excellent provisions of food for those high-souled kings with their troops consisting of infantry, and elephants and horses, and with all their followers, as also for all those that subsisted on mechanical arts. And the son of Pandu first ordered Abhimanyu, and Vrihanta, and the five sons of Draupadi, to march with Dhrishtadyumna at their head. And he then despatched Bhima, and Dhananjaya the son of Pandu, in the second division of his forces. And the din made by the men moving and running about for harnessing their steeds and elephants and loading the cars with implements of battle, and the shouts of the cheerful combatants, seemed to touch the very heavens. And last of all, the king marched himself, accompanied by Virata and Drupada and the other monarchs (on his side). And that army of fierce bowmen commanded by Dhrishtadyumna, hitherto stationed in one place, but now extended into columns for marching, looked like the (impetuous) current of Ganga. The then intelligent Yudhishthira depending on his wisdom, disposed his divisions in a different order, confounding the sons of Dhritarashtra. And the son of Pandu ordered that those mighty bowmen, the (five) sons of Draupadi and Abhimanyu, and Nakula, and Sahadeva, and all the Prabhadrakas, and ten thousand horses, and two thousand elephants, and ten thousand foot-soldiers, and five hundred cars, constituting the first irresistible division of his army, should be placed under the command of Bhimasena. And he placed in the middle division of his army Virata and Jayatsena, and those two mighty car-warriors, viz., Yudhamanyu and Uttamauja, the two high-souled princes of Panchala, both endued with great prowess and both armed with mace and bow. And in this middle division marched Vasudeva and Dhananjaya. There were (placed) combatants highly accomplished in arms and burning with anger. Amongst them were steeds ridden by brave warriors, and five thousand elephants, and crowds of cars all around. And foot-soldiers in thousands, that were all brave and armed with bows, swords, and maces, marched behind them, as thousand marched before them. And in that part of that sea of troops, where Yudhishthira himself was, there were stationed numerous lords of earth. And there also were thousands of elephants, and steeds by ten thousands, and cars and foot-soldiers also by thousands. And there also marched, O bull among kings, Chekitana with his own large force, and king Dhrishtaketu, the leader of the Chedis. And there also was that mighty bowman, Satyaki, the foremost car-warrior of the Vrishnis, that mighty combatant, surrounded by hundreds and thousands of cars and leading (them to battle)! And those bulls among men, Kshatrahan and Kshatradeva, mounted on their cars, marched behind, protecting the rear. And there (in the rear) were the waggons, stalls, uniforms, vehicles and draft
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animals. There also were thousands of elephants and horses by tens of thousands. And taking all the invalids and women, and all that were emaciated and weak, and all the animals carrying his treasures, and all his granaries, with the aid of his elephant-divisions, Yudhishthira marched slowly. And he was followed by Sauchitti, who steadily adhered to truth and was invincible in battle, and Srenimat, and Vasudeva and Vibhu, the son of the ruler of Kasi, with twenty thousand cars, and hundred million steeds of high mettle, each bearing scores of bells on its limbs, and twenty thousand smiting elephants with tusks as long as plough-shares, all of good breed and divided temples and all resembling moving masses of clouds. Indeed, these usually walked behind those monarchs. Besides these, O Bharata, the elephants that Yudhishthira had in his seven Akshauhinis, numbering seventy thousand with humour trickling down their trunks and from their mouths, and resembling (on that account) showering clouds, also followed the king, like moving hills.
'Thus was arrayed that terrible force of the intelligent son of Kunti. And relying upon that force he battled with Suyodhana, the son of Dhritarashtra. Besides those already named, other men by hundreds and thousands and tens of thousands, in divisions numbering by thousands, followed (the Pandava army), roaring loudly. And the warriors by thousands and ten thousands, filled with joy, beat their drums by thousands and blew conchs by tens of thousands!'"

The End of Udyoga Parva

(My humble salutations to the lotus feet of Sreeman Brahmasri K M Ganguli ji for the collection)