Amba's Garland and the Manhood of Shikhandi

Verse 1 (1.110.1)

अन्यपूर्वेति मां साल्वो नाभिनन्दति बालिशः । साहं धर्माच्च कामाच्च विहीना शोकधारिणी ॥

anyapūrveti māṃ sālvo nābhinandati bāliśaḥ | sāhaṃ dharmācca kāmācca vihīnā śokadhāriṇī

"Shalva, the fool, will not welcome me, saying I belonged to another first. So I am bereft of both dharma and love, and carry nothing but grief.

Note on the text: Speaker set to Amba (the input has no speaker; the critical edition's apparatus heads these lines ambā). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; the CE gives this passage only in its apparatus, after 1.96.53).

Verse 2 (1.110.2)

अपतिः क्षत्रियान्सर्वानाक्रन्दामि समन्ततः । इयं वः क्षत्रिया माला या भीष्मं निहनिष्यति ॥

apatiḥ kṣatriyānsarvānākrandāmi samantataḥ | iyaṃ vaḥ kṣatriyā mālā yā bhīṣmaṃ nihaniṣyati

Without a husband, I cry out on every side to all the kshatriyas: here, kshatriyas, is the garland that will slay Bhishma.

Note on the text: Speaker set to Amba (the input has no speaker; the critical edition's apparatus heads these lines ambā). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; the CE gives this passage only in its apparatus, after 1.96.53).

Verse 3 (1.110.3)

अहं च भार्या तस्य स्यां यो भीष्मं घातयिष्यति । तस्याश्चङ्क्रम्यमाणायाः समाः पञ्च गताः पराः ॥

ahaṃ ca bhāryā tasya syāṃ yo bhīṣmaṃ ghātayiṣyati | tasyāścaṅkramyamāṇāyāḥ samāḥ pañca gatāḥ parāḥ

And I would be the wife of the man who brings about Bhishma's death." As she wandered on, five more years went by.

Note on the text: Speaker set to Amba (the input has no speaker; the critical edition's apparatus heads these lines ambā). The second line is narration (the apparatus resumes vaiśaṃpāyanaḥ there). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; the CE gives this passage only in its apparatus, after 1.96.53).

Verse 4 (1.110.4)

नाभवच्छरणं कश्चित्क्षत्रियो भीष्मजाद्भयात् । अगच्छत्सोमकं साऽम्बा पाञ्चालेषु यशस्विनम् ॥

nābhavaccharaṇaṃ kaścitkṣatriyo bhīṣmajādbhayāt | agacchatsomakaṃ sā'mbā pāñcāleṣu yaśasvinam

No kshatriya would be her refuge, for fear of Bhishma. Then Amba went among the Panchalas to the illustrious Somaka (Drupada),

Note on the text: Speaker set to Vaishampayana (the input has no speaker; the apparatus heads this line vaiśaṃpāyanaḥ). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; the CE gives this passage only in its apparatus, after 1.96.53).

Verse 5 (1.110.5)

सत्यसन्धं महेष्वासं सत्यधर्मपरायणम् । सा सभाद्वारमागम्य पाञ्चालैरभिरक्षितम् ॥

satyasandhaṃ maheṣvāsaṃ satyadharmaparāyaṇam | sā sabhādvāramāgamya pāñcālairabhirakṣitam

true to his word, a great archer, devoted to truth and dharma. Coming to the door of his assembly hall, guarded by the Panchalas,

Note on the text: Speaker set to Vaishampayana (the input has no speaker; the apparatus heads this line vaiśaṃpāyanaḥ). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; the CE gives this passage only in its apparatus, after 1.96.53).

Verse 6 (1.110.6)

पाञ्चालराजमाक्रन्दत्प्रगृह्य सुभुजा भुजौ । भीष्मेण हन्यमानां मां मज्जन्तीमिव च ह्रदे ॥

pāñcālarājamākrandatpragṛhya subhujā bhujau | bhīṣmeṇa hanyamānāṃ māṃ majjantīmiva ca hrade

the fair-armed woman seized both arms of the Panchala king and cried out: "I am being destroyed by Bhishma, as if I were drowning in a deep pool.

Note on the text: Speaker set to Vaishampayana (the input has no speaker; the apparatus heads this line vaiśaṃpāyanaḥ). Amba's words begin with the second line (the apparatus heads it ambā). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; the CE gives this passage only in its apparatus, after 1.96.53).

Verse 7 (1.110.7)

यज्ञसेनाभिधावेह पाणिमालम्ब्य चोद्धर । तेन मे सर्वधर्माश्च रतिभोगाश्च केवलाः ॥

yajñasenābhidhāveha pāṇimālambya coddhara | tena me sarvadharmāśca ratibhogāśca kevalāḥ

Yajnasena, run to my aid here; take my hand and lift me out. Because of him all my dharma and every joy of love,

Note on the text: Speaker set to Amba (the input has no speaker; the critical edition's apparatus heads these lines ambā). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; the CE gives this passage only in its apparatus, after 1.96.53).

Verse 8 (1.110.8)

उभौ च लोकौ कीर्तिश्च समूलौ सफलौ हृतौ । क्रोशन्त्येवं न विन्दामि राजन्यं शरणं क्वचित् ॥

ubhau ca lokau kīrtiśca samūlau saphalau hṛtau | krośantyevaṃ na vindāmi rājanyaṃ śaraṇaṃ kvacit

both worlds and my good name too, have been taken from me, root and fruit. Crying out like this, I find no kshatriya anywhere to shelter me.

Note on the text: Restored from the critical edition's apparatus (after 1.96.53, krośanty evaṃ): Wikisource marks lost aksharas (***) before न्त्येवं; filled as क्रोशन्त्येवं, "crying out thus". Speaker set to Amba (the input has no speaker; the critical edition's apparatus heads these lines ambā). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; the CE gives this passage only in its apparatus, after 1.96.53).

Verse 9 (1.110.9)

किं नु निःक्षत्रियो लोको यत्रानाथोऽवसीदति । समागम्य तु राजानो मयोक्ता राजसत्तमाः ॥

kiṃ nu niḥkṣatriyo loko yatrānātho'vasīdati | samāgamya tu rājāno mayoktā rājasattamāḥ

Is the world then empty of kshatriyas, that one without a protector sinks down? I have gone to the kings and said to those best of rulers,

Note on the text: Speaker set to Amba (the input has no speaker; the critical edition's apparatus heads these lines ambā). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; the CE gives this passage only in its apparatus, after 1.96.53).

Verse 10 (1.110.10)

शृण्वन्तु सर्वे राजानो मयोक्तं राजसत्तमाः । इक्ष्वाकूणां तु ये वृद्धाः पाञ्चालानां च ये वराः ॥

śṛṇvantu sarve rājāno mayoktaṃ rājasattamāḥ | ikṣvākūṇāṃ tu ye vṛddhāḥ pāñcālānāṃ ca ye varāḥ

"Let all you kings, best of rulers, hear what I say" — to the elders of the Ikshvakus and to the foremost of the Panchalas.

Note on the text: Speaker set to Amba (the input has no speaker; the critical edition's apparatus heads these lines ambā). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; the CE gives this passage only in its apparatus, after 1.96.53).

Verse 11 (1.110.11)

त्वत्प्रसादाद्विवाहेऽस्मिन्मा धर्मो मा पराजयेत् । प्रसीद यज्ञसेनेह गतिर्मे भव सोमक ॥

tvatprasādādvivāhe'sminmā dharmo mā parājayet | prasīda yajñaseneha gatirme bhava somaka

By your grace, in this matter of my marriage, let not dharma be defeated. Be gracious, Yajnasena; be my refuge, Somaka."

Note on the text: Speaker set to Amba (the input has no speaker; the critical edition's apparatus heads these lines ambā). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; the CE gives this passage only in its apparatus, after 1.96.53).

Verse 12 (1.110.12)

जानामि त्वां बोधयामि राजपुत्रि विशेषतः । यथाशक्ति यथाधर्मं बलं संधारयाम्यहम् ॥

jānāmi tvāṃ bodhayāmi rājaputri viśeṣataḥ | yathāśakti yathādharmaṃ balaṃ saṃdhārayāmyaham

"I know you, princess, and I will make this plain to you: I wield my strength only as far as my power and dharma allow.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; the CE gives this passage only in its apparatus, after 1.96.53).

Verse 13 (1.110.13)

अन्यस्मात्पार्थिवाद्यत्ते भयं स्यात्पार्थिवात्मजे । तस्यापनयने हेतुं संविधातुमहं प्रभुः ॥

anyasmātpārthivādyatte bhayaṃ syātpārthivātmaje | tasyāpanayane hetuṃ saṃvidhātumahaṃ prabhuḥ

Whatever danger may threaten you from any other king, princess, I am able to provide the means of removing it.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; the CE gives this passage only in its apparatus, after 1.96.53).

Verse 14 (1.110.14)

नहि शान्तनवस्याहं महास्त्रस्य प्रहारिणः । ईश्वरः क्षत्रियाणां हि बलं धर्मोऽनुवर्तते ॥

nahi śāntanavasyāhaṃ mahāstrasya prahāriṇaḥ | īśvaraḥ kṣatriyāṇāṃ hi balaṃ dharmo'nuvartate

But I am no match for the son of Shantanu, who strikes with mighty weapons. Among kshatriyas, dharma follows strength.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; the CE gives this passage only in its apparatus, after 1.96.53).

Verse 15 (1.110.15)

सा साधु व्रज कल्याणि न मां भीष्मो दहेद्बलात् । न प्रत्यगृह्णंस्ते सर्वे किमित्येव न वेद्म्यहम् ॥

sā sādhu vraja kalyāṇi na māṃ bhīṣmo dahedbalāt | na pratyagṛhṇaṃste sarve kimityeva na vedmyaham

So go in peace, good lady, lest Bhishma burn me up with his might. Why none of them would receive you, I do not know;

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; the CE gives this passage only in its apparatus, after 1.96.53).

Verse 16 (1.110.16)

न हि भीष्मादहं धर्मं शक्तो दातुं कथंचन । इत्युक्ता स्रजमासज्य द्वारि राज्ञो व्यपाद्रवत् ॥

na hi bhīṣmādahaṃ dharmaṃ śakto dātuṃ kathaṃcana | ityuktā srajamāsajya dvāri rājño vyapādravat

but I can in no way win justice for you against Bhishma." Told this, she hung the garland on the king's door and ran off.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; the CE gives this passage only in its apparatus, after 1.96.53).

Verse 17 (1.110.17)

व्युदस्तां सर्वलोकेषु तपसा संशितव्रताम् । तामन्वगच्छद्द्रुपदः सान्त्वं जल्पन्पुनः पुनः ॥

vyudastāṃ sarvalokeṣu tapasā saṃśitavratām | tāmanvagacchaddrupadaḥ sāntvaṃ jalpanpunaḥ punaḥ

Drupada went after her — rejected by all the world, and made keen in her vows by austerity — speaking soothing words again and again:

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; the CE gives this passage only in its apparatus, after 1.96.53).

Verse 18 (1.110.18)

स्रजं गृहाण कल्याणि न नो वैरं प्रसञ्जय ॥

srajaṃ gṛhāṇa kalyāṇi na no vairaṃ prasañjaya

"Take back your garland, good lady; do not bring enmity upon us."

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; the CE gives this passage only in its apparatus, after 1.96.53). Wikisource gives this as a single line, as does the apparatus.

Verse 19 (1.110.19)

एवमेव त्वया कार्यमिति स्म प्रतिकाङ्क्षते । न तु तस्यान्यथा भावो दैवमेतदमानुषम् ॥

evameva tvayā kāryamiti sma pratikāṅkṣate | na tu tasyānyathā bhāvo daivametadamānuṣam

"This is exactly what you must do — this is what is asked of you. It cannot be otherwise: this is the work of fate, beyond human power.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; the CE gives this passage only in its apparatus, after 1.96.53).

Verse 20 (1.110.20)

यश्चैनां स्रजमादाय स्वयं वै प्रतिमोक्षते । स भीष्मं समरे हन्ता मम धर्मप्रणाशनम् ॥

yaścaināṃ srajamādāya svayaṃ vai pratimokṣate | sa bhīṣmaṃ samare hantā mama dharmapraṇāśanam

Whoever takes up this garland and puts it on himself will slay Bhishma in battle, the destroyer of my dharma."

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; the CE gives this passage only in its apparatus, after 1.96.53).

Verse 21 (1.110.21)

तां स्रजं द्रुपदो राजा कंचित्कालं ररक्ष सः । ततो विस्रम्भमास्थाय तूष्णीमेतामुपैक्षत ॥

tāṃ srajaṃ drupado rājā kaṃcitkālaṃ rarakṣa saḥ | tato visrambhamāsthāya tūṣṇīmetāmupaikṣata

King Drupada guarded that garland for some time; then, growing easy in his mind, he quietly paid it no more heed.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; the CE gives this passage only in its apparatus, after 1.96.53).

Verse 22 (1.110.22)

तां शिखण्डिन्यबध्नात्तु बाला पितुरवज्ञया । तां पिता त्वत्यजच्छीघ्रं त्रस्तो भीष्मस्य किल्बिषात् ॥

tāṃ śikhaṇḍinyabadhnāttu bālā pituravajñayā | tāṃ pitā tvatyajacchīghraṃ trasto bhīṣmasya kilbiṣāt

Shikhandini, still a girl, put it on, disregarding her father; and her father, afraid of giving offence to Bhishma, quickly cast her out.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; the CE gives this passage only in its apparatus, after 1.96.53).

Verse 23 (1.110.23)

इषीकं ब्राह्मणं भीता साभ्यगच्छत्तपस्विनम् । गङ्गाद्वारि तपस्यन्तं तुष्टिहेतोस्तपस्विनी ॥

iṣīkaṃ brāhmaṇaṃ bhītā sābhyagacchattapasvinam | gaṅgādvāri tapasyantaṃ tuṣṭihetostapasvinī

Frightened, she went as a suppliant ascetic to the brahmin Ishika, an ascetic practising austerities at Gangadvara, to win his favour.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; the CE gives this passage only in its apparatus, after 1.96.53).

Verse 24 (1.110.24)

उपचाराभितुष्टस्तामब्रवीदृषिसत्तमः । गङ्गाद्वारे विभजनं भविता नचिरादिव ॥

upacārābhituṣṭastāmabravīdṛṣisattamaḥ | gaṅgādvāre vibhajanaṃ bhavitā nacirādiva

Pleased with her service, the best of sages said to her: "Before long there will be a sharing-out at Gangadvara.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; the CE gives this passage only in its apparatus, after 1.96.53).

Verse 25 (1.110.25)

तत्र गन्धर्वराजानं तुम्बुरुं प्रियदर्शनम् । आराधयितुमीहस्व सम्यक्परिचरस्व तम् ॥

tatra gandharvarājānaṃ tumburuṃ priyadarśanam | ārādhayitumīhasva samyakparicarasva tam

There, strive to win the favour of Tumburu, the handsome king of the Gandharvas, and serve him well.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; the CE gives this passage only in its apparatus, after 1.96.53).

Verse 26 (1.110.26)

अहमप्यत्र साचिव्यं कर्तास्मि तव शोभने । तं तदाचर भद्रं ते स ते श्रेयो विधास्यति ॥

ahamapyatra sācivyaṃ kartāsmi tava śobhane | taṃ tadācara bhadraṃ te sa te śreyo vidhāsyati

I too will help you in this, fair one. Do this, and bless you — he will bring about your good."

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; the CE gives this passage only in its apparatus, after 1.96.53).

Verse 27 (1.110.27)

ततो विभजनं तत्र गन्धर्वाणामवर्तत । तत्र द्वाववशिष्येतां गन्धर्वावमितौजसौ ॥

tato vibhajanaṃ tatra gandharvāṇāmavartata | tatra dvāvavaśiṣyetāṃ gandharvāvamitaujasau

Then the sharing-out of the Gandharvas took place there, and two Gandharvas of boundless might were left over.

Note on the text: Corrected अमितौ जसौ → अमितौजसौ (misprint in Wikisource; a stray space split the word "of boundless might", the CE apparatus reads amitaujasau). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; the CE gives this passage only in its apparatus, after 1.96.53).

Verse 28 (1.110.28)

तयोरेकः समीक्ष्यैनां स्त्रीबुभूषुरुवाच ह । इदं गृह्णीष्व पुंलिङ्गं वृणे स्त्रीलिङ्गमेव ते ॥

tayorekaḥ samīkṣyaināṃ strībubhūṣuruvāca ha | idaṃ gṛhṇīṣva puṃliṅgaṃ vṛṇe strīliṅgameva te

One of them, looking at her and wishing to become a woman, said: "Take this manhood of mine; I choose your womanhood instead."

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; the CE gives this passage only in its apparatus, after 1.96.53).

Verse 29 (1.110.29)

नियमं चक्रतुस्तत्र स्त्री पुमांश्चैव तावुभौ । ततः पुमान्समभवच्छिखण्डी परवीरहा ॥

niyamaṃ cakratustatra strī pumāṃścaiva tāvubhau | tataḥ pumānsamabhavacchikhaṇḍī paravīrahā

The two of them, the woman and the man, made a compact there. So Shikhandi became a man, a slayer of enemy heroes,

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; the CE gives this passage only in its apparatus, after 1.96.53).

Verse 30 (1.110.30)

स्त्री भूत्वा ह्यपचक्राम स गन्धर्वो मुदान्वितः । लब्ध्वा तु महतीं प्रीतिं याज्ञसेनिर्महायशाः ॥

strī bhūtvā hyapacakrāma sa gandharvo mudānvitaḥ | labdhvā tu mahatīṃ prītiṃ yājñasenirmahāyaśāḥ

and the Gandharva, having become a woman, went off rejoicing. Filled with great joy, Yajnasena's glorious son

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; the CE gives this passage only in its apparatus, after 1.96.53).

Verse 31 (1.110.31)

ततो बुद्बुदकं गत्वा पुनरस्त्राणि सोऽकरोत् । तत्र चास्त्राणि दिव्यानि कृत्वा स सुमहाद्युतिः ॥

tato budbudakaṃ gatvā punarastrāṇi so'karot | tatra cāstrāṇi divyāni kṛtvā sa sumahādyutiḥ

then went to Budbudaka and took up the practice of arms again. There, having mastered divine weapons, that hero of great splendour

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; the CE gives this passage only in its apparatus, after 1.96.53).

Verse 32 (1.110.32)

स्वदेशमभिसंपेदे पाञ्चालं कुरुनन्दन । सोऽभिवाद्य पितुः पादौ महेष्वासः कृताञ्जलिः ॥

svadeśamabhisaṃpede pāñcālaṃ kurunandana | so'bhivādya pituḥ pādau maheṣvāsaḥ kṛtāñjaliḥ

returned to his own land of Panchala, O joy of the Kurus. Bowing at his father's feet with folded hands, the great archer

Note on the text: Corrected अभिसंपदे → अभिसंपेदे (misprint in Wikisource; dropped vowel sign, the CE apparatus reads abhisaṃpede). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; the CE gives this passage only in its apparatus, after 1.96.53).

Verse 33 (1.110.33)

उवाच भवता भीष्मान्न भेतव्यं कथंचन ॥

uvāca bhavatā bhīṣmānna bhetavyaṃ kathaṃcana

said: "You need have no fear of Bhishma at all."

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; the CE gives this passage only in its apparatus, after 1.96.53). Wikisource gives this as a single line, as does the apparatus.