Shishupala Extols the Kings; Bhishma's Defiance

Verse 1 (2.67.1)

नैषा चेदिपतेर्बुद्धिर्यया त्वाह्वयतेऽच्युतम् । नूनमेव जगद्भर्तुः कृष्णस्यैव विनिश्चयः ॥

naiṣā cedipaterbuddhiryayā tvāhvayate'cyutam | nūnameva jagadbhartuḥ kṛṣṇasyaiva viniścayaḥ

It is not by his own mind that the Chedi king challenges Achyuta. Surely this is the resolve of Krishna himself, the lord of the world.

Note on the text: = CE 2.41.1 (the input's alignment left it unmatched; compare 2.39.20 and star passage 379*, which close the previous adhyaya). Wikisource's नूनमेव differs from the CE's nūnam eṣa; kept as printed.

Verse 2 (2.67.2)

को हि मां भीमसेनाद्य क्षितावर्हति पार्थिवः । क्षेप्तुं कालपरीतात्मा यथैष कुलपांसनः ॥

ko hi māṃ bhīmasenādya kṣitāvarhati pārthivaḥ | kṣeptuṃ kālaparītātmā yathaiṣa kulapāṃsanaḥ

For what king on earth, Bhimasena, would dare to revile me today as this disgrace to his family does, unless his soul were in the grip of Death?

Verse 3 (2.67.3)

एष ह्यस्य महाबाहुस्तेजोंशश्च हरेर्ध्रुवम् । तमेव पुनरादातुं कुरुतेऽत्र मतिं हरिः ॥

eṣa hyasya mahābāhustejoṃśaśca harerdhruvam | tameva punarādātuṃ kurute'tra matiṃ hariḥ

For this mighty-armed man is surely a portion of Hari's own energy, and Hari has now made up his mind to take it back again.

Note on the text: Corrected तेर्जोश → तेजोंश (misprint in Wikisource; a misplaced repha, र्जो for जों; CE tejoṃśaś). Wikisource's second line (कुरुतेऽत्र मतिं हरिः) differs in wording from the CE's (icchat pṛthuyaśā hariḥ); kept as printed.

Verse 4 (2.67.4)

येनैष कुरुशार्दूल शार्दूल इव चेदिराट् । गर्जत्यतीव दुर्बुद्धिः सर्वानस्मानचिन्तयन् ॥

yenaiṣa kuruśārdūla śārdūla iva cedirāṭ | garjatyatīva durbuddhiḥ sarvānasmānacintayan

That is why this evil-minded Chedi king, tiger of the Kurus, roars so loudly, like a tiger, caring nothing for any of us.

Verse 5 (2.67.5)

ततो न ममृषे चैद्यस्तद्भीष्मवचनं तदा । उवाच चैनं सङ्क्रुद्धः पुनर्भीष्ममथोत्तरम् ॥

tato na mamṛṣe caidyastadbhīṣmavacanaṃ tadā | uvāca cainaṃ saṅkruddhaḥ punarbhīṣmamathottaram

Then the Chedi king could not bear those words of Bhishma, and in a fury he answered Bhishma once more:

Note on the text: Corrected चैन → चैनं (misprint in Wikisource; dropped anusvara; CE cainaṃ).

Verse 6 (2.67.6)

द्विषतां नोऽस्तु भीष्मैष प्रभावः केशवस्य यः । यस्य संस्तववक्ता त्वं बन्दिवत्सततोत्थितः ॥

dviṣatāṃ no'stu bhīṣmaiṣa prabhāvaḥ keśavasya yaḥ | yasya saṃstavavaktā tvaṃ bandivatsatatotthitaḥ

Let our enemies have this power of Keshava's, Bhishma, whose praises you are forever on your feet to sing, like a court bard!

Verse 7 (2.67.7)

संस्तवे च मनो भीष्म परेषां रमते यदि । तदा संस्तुहि राज्ञस्त्वमिमं हित्वा जनार्दनम् ॥

saṃstave ca mano bhīṣma pareṣāṃ ramate yadi | tadā saṃstuhi rājñastvamimaṃ hitvā janārdanam

And if your mind, Bhishma, delights in praising others, then praise these kings and leave Janardana be.

Note on the text: Corrected चमनो → च मनो (misprint in Wikisource; two words run together). Wikisource's wording (संस्तवे … यदि । तदा संस्तुहि) differs from the CE's (saṃstavāya … sadā / yadi saṃstauṣi); kept as printed.

Verse 8 (2.67.8)

दरदं स्तुहि बाह्लीकमिमं पार्थिवसत्तमम् । जायमानेन येनेयमभवद्दारिता मही ॥

daradaṃ stuhi bāhlīkamimaṃ pārthivasattamam | jāyamānena yeneyamabhavaddāritā mahī

Praise this Darada, the Bahlika king, the best of rulers, at whose birth this earth was split apart.

Note on the text: Corrected येनेयभवद् → येनेयमभवद् (misprint in Wikisource; dropped akshara म, "this [earth]"; CE yeneyam abhavad).

Verse 9 (2.67.9)

वङ्गाङ्गविषयाध्यक्षं सहस्राक्षसमं बले । स्तुहि कर्णमिमं भीष्म महाचापविकर्षणम् ॥

vaṅgāṅgaviṣayādhyakṣaṃ sahasrākṣasamaṃ bale | stuhi karṇamimaṃ bhīṣma mahācāpavikarṣaṇam

Praise Karna here, Bhishma, lord of the lands of Vanga and Anga, equal in strength to thousand-eyed Indra, the drawer of the mighty bow,

Verse 10 (2.67.10)

यस्येमे कुण्डले दिव्ये सहजे देवनिर्मिते । कवचं च महाबाहो बालार्कसदृशप्रभम् ॥

yasyeme kuṇḍale divye sahaje devanirmite | kavacaṃ ca mahābāho bālārkasadṛśaprabham

whose are these two divine earrings, born with him and fashioned by the gods, and the armour, mighty-armed one, that shines like the rising sun;

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the CE records it only as an interpolation, star passage 392* (after 2.41.9), lines 1–2.

Verse 11 (2.67.11)

वासवप्रतिमो येन जरासन्धोऽतिदुर्जयः । विजितो बाहुयुद्धेन देहभेदं च लम्भितः ॥

vāsavapratimo yena jarāsandho'tidurjayaḥ | vijito bāhuyuddhena dehabhedaṃ ca lambhitaḥ

by whom Jarasandha, Vasava's equal and all but invincible, was beaten in a wrestling match and brought to the point of having his body torn apart.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the CE records it only as an interpolation, star passage 392* (after 2.41.9), lines 3–4.

Verse 12 (2.67.12)

द्रोणं द्रौणिं च साधु त्वं पितापुत्रौ महारथौ । स्तुहि स्तुत्यावुभौ भीष्म सततं द्विजसत्तमौ ॥

droṇaṃ drauṇiṃ ca sādhu tvaṃ pitāputrau mahārathau | stuhi stutyāvubhau bhīṣma satataṃ dvijasattamau

Praise Drona and Drona's son, Bhishma, as is right: father and son, both great chariot-warriors, both worthy of praise, always the best of brahmins,

Verse 13 (2.67.13)

ययोरन्यतरो भीष्म सङ्क्रुद्धः सचराचराम् । इमां वसुमतीं कुर्यान्निःशेषामिति मे मतिः ॥

yayoranyataro bhīṣma saṅkruddhaḥ sacarācarām | imāṃ vasumatīṃ kuryānniḥśeṣāmiti me matiḥ

either of whom, Bhishma, if enraged, could wipe out this earth with all that moves and does not move; so I believe.

Note on the text: Corrected निः शेषाम् → निःशेषाम् (misprint in Wikisource; a stray space splits the word).

Verse 14 (2.67.14)

द्रोणस्य हि समं युद्धे न पश्यामि नराधिपम् । नाश्वत्थाम्नः समं भीष्म न च तौ स्तोतुमिच्छसि ॥

droṇasya hi samaṃ yuddhe na paśyāmi narādhipam | nāśvatthāmnaḥ samaṃ bhīṣma na ca tau stotumicchasi

I see no king equal to Drona in battle, nor any equal to Ashvatthaman, Bhishma; and yet you do not care to praise these two.

Verse 15 (2.67.15)

पृथिव्यां सागरान्तायां यो वैप्रतिसमो भवेत् । दुर्योधनं त्वं राजेन्द्रमतिक्रम्य महाभुजम् ॥

pṛthivyāṃ sāgarāntāyāṃ yo vaipratisamo bhavet | duryodhanaṃ tvaṃ rājendramatikramya mahābhujam

Passing over Duryodhana, the mighty-armed king of kings, who has no equal on this sea-girt earth,

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the CE gives it only in Appendix I No. 23 (printed after 2.41.33), lines 1–2. Wikisource reads वैप्रतिसमः as one word (its own note: "one who has no equal"), where the appendix has vai pratisamo; kept as printed.

Verse 16 (2.67.16)

जयद्रथं च राजानं कृतास्त्रं दृढविक्रमम् । द्रुमं किम्पुरुषाचार्यं लोके प्रथितविक्रमम् । अतिक्रम्य महावीर्यं किं प्रशंससि केशवम् ॥

jayadrathaṃ ca rājānaṃ kṛtāstraṃ dṛḍhavikramam | drumaṃ kimpuruṣācāryaṃ loke prathitavikramam | atikramya mahāvīryaṃ kiṃ praśaṃsasi keśavam

and King Jayadratha, master of weapons and firm in valour, and Druma, teacher of the Kimpurushas, famed in the world for his prowess: passing over these men of great might, why do you praise Keshava?

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the CE gives it only in Appendix I No. 23 (printed after 2.41.33), lines 3–5.

Verse 17 (2.67.17)

वृद्धं च भरताचार्यं तथा शारद्वतं कृपम् । अतिक्रम्य महावीर्यं किं प्रशंससि केशवम् ॥

vṛddhaṃ ca bharatācāryaṃ tathā śāradvataṃ kṛpam | atikramya mahāvīryaṃ kiṃ praśaṃsasi keśavam

Passing over the aged teacher of the Bharatas, and Kripa, son of Sharadvat, men of great might, why do you praise Keshava?

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the CE gives it only in Appendix I No. 23 (printed after 2.41.33), lines 6–7.

Verse 18 (2.67.18)

धनुर्धराणां प्रवरं रुक्मिणं पुरुषोत्तमम् । अतिक्रम्य महावीर्यं किं प्रशंससि केशवम् ॥

dhanurdharāṇāṃ pravaraṃ rukmiṇaṃ puruṣottamam | atikramya mahāvīryaṃ kiṃ praśaṃsasi keśavam

Passing over Rukmin, foremost of bowmen and best of men, a man of great might, why do you praise Keshava?

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the CE gives it only in Appendix I No. 23 (printed after 2.41.33), lines 8–9.

Verse 19 (2.67.19)

भीष्मकं च महावीर्यं दन्तवक्त्रं च भूमिपम् । भगदत्तं यूपकेतुं जयत्सेनं च मागधम् ॥

bhīṣmakaṃ ca mahāvīryaṃ dantavaktraṃ ca bhūmipam | bhagadattaṃ yūpaketuṃ jayatsenaṃ ca māgadham

Bhishmaka of great might and King Dantavaktra, Bhagadatta, Yupaketu, and Jayatsena of Magadha;

Note on the text: Corrected यूपकेथु → यूपकेतुं (misprint in Wikisource; थ for त and a dropped anusvara; Appendix I reads yūpaketuṃ). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the CE gives it only in Appendix I No. 23 (printed after 2.41.33), lines 10–11.

Verse 20 (2.67.20)

विराटद्रुपदौ चोभौ शकुनिं च बृहद्बलम् । विन्दानुविन्दावावन्त्यौ पाण्ड्यं श्वेतमथोत्तमम् ॥

virāṭadrupadau cobhau śakuniṃ ca bṛhadbalam | vindānuvindāvāvantyau pāṇḍyaṃ śvetamathottamam

Virata and Drupada both, Shakuni and Brihadbala, Vinda and Anuvinda of Avanti, the Pandya king, and the excellent Shveta;

Note on the text: Corrected बहद्बलम् → बृहद्बलम् (misprint in Wikisource; dropped ृ; Appendix I reads bṛhadbalam). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the CE gives it only in Appendix I No. 23 (printed after 2.41.33), lines 12–13.

Verse 21 (2.67.21)

शङ्खं च सुमहाभागं वृषसेनं च मानिनम् । एकलव्यं च विक्रान्तं कालिङ्गं च महारथम् ॥

śaṅkhaṃ ca sumahābhāgaṃ vṛṣasenaṃ ca māninam | ekalavyaṃ ca vikrāntaṃ kāliṅgaṃ ca mahāratham

Shankha the most fortunate, proud Vrishasena, valiant Ekalavya, and the great chariot-warrior of Kalinga:

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the CE gives it only in Appendix I No. 23 (printed after 2.41.33), lines 14–15.

Verse 22 (2.67.22)

अतिक्रम्य महावीर्यं किं प्रशंससि केशवम् । शल्यादीनपि कस्मात्त्वं न स्तौषि वसुधाधिपान् । स्तवाय यदि ते बुद्धिर्वर्तते भीष्म वसुधाधिपान् ॥

atikramya mahāvīryaṃ kiṃ praśaṃsasi keśavam | śalyādīnapi kasmāttvaṃ na stauṣi vasudhādhipān | stavāya yadi te buddhirvartate bhīṣma vasudhādhipān

passing over these men of great might, why do you praise Keshava? And why do you not praise Shalya and the other lords of the earth, Bhishma, if your mind is set on praising lords of the earth?

Note on the text: Corrected प्रशंसति → प्रशंससि (misprint in Wikisource; the verb is addressed to Bhishma, "you praise", as in the refrain of verses 16–18). Line 1 is in the CE only in Appendix I No. 23, line 16; lines 2–3 = CE 2.41.13. Wikisource ends the verse with वसुधाधिपान् (repeating the end of line 2) where the CE has sarvadā; kept as printed and read as the object of praise.

Verse 23 (2.67.23)

किं हि शक्यं मया कर्तुं यद्वृद्धानां त्वया नृप । पुरा कथयतां नूनं न श्रुतं धर्मवादिनाम् ॥

kiṃ hi śakyaṃ mayā kartuṃ yadvṛddhānāṃ tvayā nṛpa | purā kathayatāṃ nūnaṃ na śrutaṃ dharmavādinām

But what can I do, O king, if you never heard it from the elders who spoke of dharma as they talked in days gone by?

Verse 24 (2.67.24)

आत्मनिन्दात्मपूजा च परनिन्दा परस्तवः । अनाचरितमार्याणामिति ते भीष्म न श्रुतम् ॥

ātmanindātmapūjā ca paranindā parastavaḥ | anācaritamāryāṇāmiti te bhīṣma na śrutam

Blaming oneself and praising oneself, blaming others and praising others: noble men do not practise these. This, Bhishma, you have not heard.

Note on the text: Wikisource's second half-line (इति ते भीष्म न श्रुतम्) differs from the CE's (vṛttam etac caturvidham); kept as printed.

Verse 25 (2.67.25)

यदस्तव्यमिमं शश्वन्मोहात्संस्तौषि भक्तितः । केशवं तच्च ते भीष्म न कश्चिदनुमन्यते ॥

yadastavyamimaṃ śaśvanmohātsaṃstauṣi bhaktitaḥ | keśavaṃ tacca te bhīṣma na kaścidanumanyate

That you, out of folly and devotion, go on and on praising this Keshava, who deserves no praise: no one approves of that, Bhishma.

Verse 26 (2.67.26)

कथं भोजस्य पुरुषे वत्सपाले दुरात्मनि । समावेशयसे सर्वं जगत्केवलकाम्यया ॥

kathaṃ bhojasya puruṣe vatsapāle durātmani | samāveśayase sarvaṃ jagatkevalakāmyayā

How can you, just because it pleases you, make the whole world rest in this wicked calf-herd, a servant of Bhoja?

Verse 27 (2.67.27)

अथ चैषा न ते बुद्धिः प्रकृतिं याति भारत । मयैव कथितं पूर्वं कुलिङ्गशकुनिर्यथा ॥

atha caiṣā na te buddhiḥ prakṛtiṃ yāti bhārata | mayaiva kathitaṃ pūrvaṃ kuliṅgaśakuniryathā

Or else this mind of yours, O Bharata, is only following its nature, just like the kulinga bird I spoke of before.

Verse 28 (2.67.28)

कुलिङ्गशकुनिर्नाम पार्श्वे हिमवतः परे । भीष्म तस्याः सदा वाचः श्रूयन्तेऽर्थविगर्हिताः ॥

kuliṅgaśakunirnāma pārśve himavataḥ pare | bhīṣma tasyāḥ sadā vācaḥ śrūyante'rthavigarhitāḥ

There is a bird called the kulinga on the far side of the Himalaya, Bhishma; its cries are heard all the time, words that its own conduct belies.

Note on the text: Corrected भी → भीष्म (misprint in Wikisource; dropped akshara ष्म, the line is a syllable short; CE bhīṣma).

Verse 29 (2.67.29)

मा साहसमितीदं सा सततं वाशते किल । साहसं चात्मनातीव चरन्ती नावबुध्यते ॥

mā sāhasamitīdaṃ sā satataṃ vāśate kila | sāhasaṃ cātmanātīva carantī nāvabudhyate

"Do nothing rash!" it keeps crying, so they say, and yet it does not see that it is itself acting with the utmost rashness.

Verse 30 (2.67.30)

सा हि मांसार्गलं भीष्म मुखात्सिंहस्य खादतः । दन्तान्तरविलग्नं यत्तदादत्तेऽल्पचेतना ॥

sā hi māṃsārgalaṃ bhīṣma mukhātsiṃhasya khādataḥ | dantāntaravilagnaṃ yattadādatte'lpacetanā

For that witless bird, Bhishma, picks the morsel of meat stuck between the teeth from the mouth of a lion as it eats.

Verse 31 (2.67.31)

इच्छतः सा हि सिंहस्य भीष्म जीवत्यसंशयम् । तद्वत्त्वमप्यधर्मिष्ठ सदा वाचः प्रभाषसे ॥

icchataḥ sā hi siṃhasya bhīṣma jīvatyasaṃśayam | tadvattvamapyadharmiṣṭha sadā vācaḥ prabhāṣase

It lives, Bhishma, only because the lion wills it, no doubt of that. In just the same way, most unrighteous man, you are forever prating.

Verse 32 (2.67.32)

इच्छतां भूमिपालानां भीष्म जीवस्यसंशयम् । लोकविद्विष्टकर्मा हि नान्योऽस्ति भवता समः ॥

icchatāṃ bhūmipālānāṃ bhīṣma jīvasyasaṃśayam | lokavidviṣṭakarmā hi nānyo'sti bhavatā samaḥ

You live, Bhishma, only because these kings will it, no doubt of that; for there is no one else whose deeds the world hates as it hates yours.

Verse 33 (2.67.33)

ततश्चेदिपतेः श्रुत्वा भीष्मः स कटुकं वचः । उवाचेदं वचो राजंश्चेदिराजस्य शृण्वतः ॥

tataścedipateḥ śrutvā bhīṣmaḥ sa kaṭukaṃ vacaḥ | uvācedaṃ vaco rājaṃścedirājasya śṛṇvataḥ

Then, having heard the bitter words of the Chedi lord, Bhishma said this, O king, in the hearing of the Chedi king:

Verse 34 (2.67.34)

इच्छतां किल नामाहं जीवाम्येषां महीक्षिताम् । सोऽहं न गणयाम्येतांस्तृणेनापि नराधिपान् ॥

icchatāṃ kila nāmāhaṃ jīvāmyeṣāṃ mahīkṣitām | so'haṃ na gaṇayāmyetāṃstṛṇenāpi narādhipān

"So I live, it seems, at the pleasure of these lords of the earth: I, who do not rate these kings as worth even a straw!"

Note on the text: Wikisource prints no heading; the verse is Bhishma's reply, announced in the verse before.

Verse 35 (2.67.35)

एवमुक्ते तु भीष्मेण ततः सञ्चुक्रुशुर्नृपाः । केचिज्जहृषिरे तत्र केचिद्भीष्मं जगर्हिरे ॥

evamukte tu bhīṣmeṇa tataḥ sañcukruśurnṛpāḥ | kecijjahṛṣire tatra kecidbhīṣmaṃ jagarhire

When Bhishma had said this, the kings broke into an uproar. Some of them were delighted, and some reviled Bhishma.

Verse 36 (2.67.36)

केचिदूचुर्महेष्वासाः श्रुत्वा भीष्मस्य यद्वचः । पापोऽवलिप्तो वृद्धश्च नायं भीष्मोऽर्हति क्षमाम् ॥

kecidūcurmaheṣvāsāḥ śrutvā bhīṣmasya yadvacaḥ | pāpo'valipto vṛddhaśca nāyaṃ bhīṣmo'rhati kṣamām

Some great bowmen, hearing what Bhishma had said, declared: "This Bhishma is wicked, arrogant and old; he deserves no forbearance.

Verse 37 (2.67.37)

हन्यतां दुर्मतिर्भीष्मः पशुवत्साध्वयं नृपाः । सर्वैः समेत्य संरब्धैर्दह्यतां वा कटाग्निना ॥

hanyatāṃ durmatirbhīṣmaḥ paśuvatsādhvayaṃ nṛpāḥ | sarvaiḥ sametya saṃrabdhairdahyatāṃ vā kaṭāgninā

Let this evil-minded Bhishma be slaughtered like a beast, kings, as he deserves; or let us all join together in our fury and burn him in a fire of straw."

Note on the text: Wikisource prints no heading; the verse continues the kings' words begun in the verse before.

Verse 38 (2.67.38)

इति तेषां वचः श्रुत्वा ततः कुरुपितामहः । उवाच मतिमान्भीष्मस्तानेव वसुधाधिपान् ॥

iti teṣāṃ vacaḥ śrutvā tataḥ kurupitāmahaḥ | uvāca matimānbhīṣmastāneva vasudhādhipān

Hearing their words, the wise Bhishma, grandsire of the Kurus, spoke to those same lords of the earth:

Verse 39 (2.67.39)

उक्तस्योक्तस्य नेहान्तमहं समुपलक्षये । यत्तु वक्ष्यामि तत्सर्वं शृणुध्वं वसुधाधिपाः ॥

uktasyoktasya nehāntamahaṃ samupalakṣaye | yattu vakṣyāmi tatsarvaṃ śṛṇudhvaṃ vasudhādhipāḥ

I see no end here to word answering word. But hear, lords of the earth, all that I am about to say.

Note on the text: Wikisource prints no heading; Bhishma's speech, announced in the verse before, fills this verse and the three that follow.

Verse 40 (2.67.40)

पशुवद्घातनं वा मे दहनं वा कटाग्निना । क्रियतां मूर्ध्नि वो न्यस्तं मयेदं सकलं पदम् ॥

paśuvadghātanaṃ vā me dahanaṃ vā kaṭāgninā | kriyatāṃ mūrdhni vo nyastaṃ mayedaṃ sakalaṃ padam

Slaughter me like a beast or burn me in a fire of straw, as you please: I have set my foot squarely on all your heads!

Verse 41 (2.67.41)

एष तिष्ठति गोविन्दः पूजितोऽस्माभिरच्युतः । यस्य वस्त्वरते बुद्धिर्मरणाय स माधवम् ॥

eṣa tiṣṭhati govindaḥ pūjito'smābhiracyutaḥ | yasya vastvarate buddhirmaraṇāya sa mādhavam

Here stands Govinda, Achyuta, whom we have honoured. Whoever among you has a mind in haste to die,

Verse 42 (2.67.42)

कृष्णमाह्वयतामद्य युद्धे चक्रगदाधरम् । यादवस्यैव देवस्य देहं विशतु पातितः ॥

kṛṣṇamāhvayatāmadya yuddhe cakragadādharam | yādavasyaiva devasya dehaṃ viśatu pātitaḥ

let him challenge Madhava, Krishna, bearer of discus and mace, to battle today, and, struck down, enter the body of this very god of the Yadavas.

Note on the text: Wikisource reads चक्रगदाधरम् and यादवस्यैव where the CE has śārṅgagadādharam and yāvad asyaiva; kept as printed.