Krishna Grants Bhishma Relief; The Return to the City

Verse 1 (12.51.1)

ततः कृष्णस्य तद्वाक्यं धर्मार्थसहितं हितम् । श्रुत्वा शान्तनवः कृष्णं प्रत्युवाच कृताञ्जलिः ॥

tataḥ kṛṣṇasya tadvākyaṃ dharmārthasahitaṃ hitam | śrutvā śāntanavaḥ kṛṣṇaṃ pratyuvāca kṛtāñjaliḥ

Then, hearing that speech of Krishna, so beneficial and joined to dharma and artha, Shantanu's son answered Krishna with joined palms.

Verse 2 (12.51.2)

लोकनाथ महाबाहो शिव नारायणाच्युत । तव वाक्यमुपश्रुत्य हर्षेणास्मि परिप्लुतः ॥

lokanātha mahābāho śiva nārāyaṇācyuta | tava vākyamupaśrutya harṣeṇāsmi pariplutaḥ

O lord of the world, mighty-armed, auspicious Narayana, Achyuta! Hearing your words, I am flooded with joy.

Note on the text: Speaker: Bhishma; his reply to Krishna fills verses 2-13 and the page prints no heading for it (the only heading before verse 14 is वैशंपायन उवाच at 12-51-1x, and the input carried Vaishampayana over).

Verse 3 (12.51.3)

किंचाहमभिधास्यामि वाक्पते तव सन्निधौ । यदा वाचोगतं सर्वं तव वाचि समाहितम् ॥

kiṃcāhamabhidhāsyāmi vākpate tava sannidhau | yadā vācogataṃ sarvaṃ tava vāci samāhitam

What shall I say in your presence, O lord of speech, when everything that lies within the range of speech is gathered in your speech?

Verse 4 (12.51.4)

यच्च किंचित्कृतं लोके कर्तव्यं क्रियते च यत् । त्वत्तस्तन्निःसृतं देव लोके बुद्धिमतो हिते ॥

yacca kiṃcitkṛtaṃ loke kartavyaṃ kriyate ca yat | tvattastanniḥsṛtaṃ deva loke buddhimato hite

Whatever has been done in the world, whatever must be done and is being done, has all come forth from you, O God, for the good of the wise in the world.

Note on the text: Corrected निः सृतं → निःसृतं (stray space in Wikisource; CE niḥsṛtam).

Verse 5 (12.51.5)

कथयेद्देवलोकं यो देवराजसमीपतः । धर्मकामार्थमोक्षाणां सोऽर्थं ब्रूयात्तवाग्रतः ॥

kathayeddevalokaṃ yo devarājasamīpataḥ | dharmakāmārthamokṣāṇāṃ so'rthaṃ brūyāttavāgrataḥ

Only one who could tell of the world of the gods from close beside the king of the gods could speak in your presence of the matters of dharma, desire, wealth and liberation.

Verse 6 (12.51.6)

शराभितापाद्व्यथितं मनो मे मधुसूदन । गात्राणि चावसीदन्ति न च बुद्धिः प्रसीदति ॥

śarābhitāpādvyathitaṃ mano me madhusūdana | gātrāṇi cāvasīdanti na ca buddhiḥ prasīdati

My mind is pained by the burning of the arrows, Madhusudana; my limbs sink down and my understanding is not clear.

Verse 7 (12.51.7)

न च मे प्रतिभा काचिदस्ति किंचित्प्रभाषितुम् । पीड्यमानस्य गोविन्द विषानलसमैः शरैः ॥

na ca me pratibhā kācidasti kiṃcitprabhāṣitum | pīḍyamānasya govinda viṣānalasamaiḥ śaraiḥ

I have no inspiration at all to say anything, Govinda, tormented as I am by arrows like poison-fire.

Note on the text: Corrected विपानल- → विषानल- (misprint in Wikisource; प for ष; CE viṣānala-).

Verse 8 (12.51.8)

बलं मे प्रजहातीव प्राणाः सत्वरयन्ति च । मर्माणि परितप्यन्ति भ्रान्तचित्तस्तथा ह्यहम् ॥

balaṃ me prajahātīva prāṇāḥ satvarayanti ca | marmāṇi paritapyanti bhrāntacittastathā hyaham

My strength seems to desert me, my life-breaths hasten to depart, my vital parts burn, and my mind is bewildered.

Verse 9 (12.51.9)

दौर्बल्यात्सज्जते वाङ्मे स कथं वक्तुमुत्सहे । साधु मे त्वं प्रसीदस्व दाशार्हकुलवर्धन ॥

daurbalyātsajjate vāṅme sa kathaṃ vaktumutsahe | sādhu me tvaṃ prasīdasva dāśārhakulavardhana

My voice sticks from weakness; how can I venture to speak? Be gracious to me, joy of the Dasharha line.

Note on the text: Corrected वाङ्भे → वाङ्मे (misprint in Wikisource; भ for म; CE vāṅ me).

Verse 10 (12.51.10)

तत्क्षमस्व महाबाहो न ब्रूयां किंचिदच्युत । त्वत्सन्निधौ च सीदेद्धि वाचस्पतिरपि ब्रुवन् ॥

tatkṣamasva mahābāho na brūyāṃ kiṃcidacyuta | tvatsannidhau ca sīdeddhi vācaspatirapi bruvan

So forgive me, mighty-armed Achyuta; I should say nothing. In your presence even Brihaspati would falter, if he spoke.

Verse 11 (12.51.11)

न दिशः संप्रजानामि नाकाशं न च मेदिनीम् । केवलं तव वीर्येण तिष्ठामि मधुसूदन ॥

na diśaḥ saṃprajānāmi nākāśaṃ na ca medinīm | kevalaṃ tava vīryeṇa tiṣṭhāmi madhusūdana

I do not know the directions, nor the sky, nor the earth; I stand only by your power, Madhusudana.

Verse 12 (12.51.12)

स्वयमेव भवांस्तस्माद्धर्मराजस्य यद्धितम् । तद्ब्रवीत्वाशु सर्वेषामागमानां त्वमागमः ॥

svayameva bhavāṃstasmāddharmarājasya yaddhitam | tadbravītvāśu sarveṣāmāgamānāṃ tvamāgamaḥ

Therefore, sir, tell at once of your own accord what is good for the king of dharma; for you are the source of all the scriptures.

Verse 13 (12.51.13)

कथं त्वयि स्थिते कृष्णे शाश्वते लोककर्तरि । प्रब्रूयान्मद्विधः कश्चिद्गुरौ शिष्य इव स्थिते ॥

kathaṃ tvayi sthite kṛṣṇe śāśvate lokakartari | prabrūyānmadvidhaḥ kaścidgurau śiṣya iva sthite

How could one like me speak while you, Krishna, the eternal maker of the world, are present—as a pupil would before his teacher?

Verse 14 (12.51.14)

उपपन्नमिदं वाक्यं कौरवाणां धुरन्धरे । महावीर्ये महासत्वे स्थिरे सर्वार्थदर्शिनि ॥

upapannamidaṃ vākyaṃ kauravāṇāṃ dhurandhare | mahāvīrye mahāsatve sthire sarvārthadarśini

This speech is fitting, O foremost of the Kurus, mighty, great-hearted, steadfast, seer of all things.

Note on the text: Speaker: Vasudeva (Krishna), as the page's heading 12-51-14x gives.

Verse 15 (12.51.15)

यच्च मामात्थ गाङ्गेय बाणघातरुजं प्रति । गृहाणात्र वरं भीष्म मत्प्रसादकृतं प्रभो ॥

yacca māmāttha gāṅgeya bāṇaghātarujaṃ prati | gṛhāṇātra varaṃ bhīṣma matprasādakṛtaṃ prabho

And as for what you said to me, Gangeya, about the pain of the arrow-wounds—accept here a boon from me, Bhishma, O lord, given by my grace.

Verse 16 (12.51.16)

न ते ग्लानिर्न ते मूर्च्छा न तापो न च ते रुजा । प्रभविष्यन्ति गाङ्गेय क्षुत्पिपासे न चाप्युत ॥

na te glānirna te mūrcchā na tāpo na ca te rujā | prabhaviṣyanti gāṅgeya kṣutpipāse na cāpyuta

You will have no weariness, no faintness, no burning, no pain, Gangeya; hunger and thirst will not overpower you either.

Verse 17 (12.51.17)

ज्ञानानि च समग्राणि प्रतिभास्यन्ति तेऽनघ । न च ते क्वचिदासत्तिर्बुद्धेः प्रादुर्भविष्यति ॥

jñānāni ca samagrāṇi pratibhāsyanti te'nagha | na ca te kvacidāsattirbuddheḥ prādurbhaviṣyati

All knowledge will shine forth in you, blameless one, and your understanding will nowhere falter.

Verse 18 (12.51.18)

सत्वस्थं च मनो नित्यं तव भीष्म भविष्यति । रजस्तमोभ्यां निर्मुक्तं घनैर्मुक्त इवोडुराट् ॥

satvasthaṃ ca mano nityaṃ tava bhīṣma bhaviṣyati | rajastamobhyāṃ nirmuktaṃ ghanairmukta ivoḍurāṭ

Your mind will always abide in sattva, Bhishma, free of rajas and tamas, like the moon released from clouds.

Verse 19 (12.51.19)

यद्यच्च धर्मसंयुक्तमर्थयुक्तमथापि च । चिन्तयिष्यसि तत्राग्र्या बुद्धिस्तव भविष्यति ॥

yadyacca dharmasaṃyuktamarthayuktamathāpi ca | cintayiṣyasi tatrāgryā buddhistava bhaviṣyati

Whatever you think about that is joined to dharma or to artha, your understanding of it will be supreme.

Verse 20 (12.51.20)

इमं च राजशार्दूल भूतग्रामं चतुर्विधम् । चक्षुर्दिव्यं समाश्रित्य द्रक्ष्यस्यमितविक्रम ॥

imaṃ ca rājaśārdūla bhūtagrāmaṃ caturvidham | cakṣurdivyaṃ samāśritya drakṣyasyamitavikrama

And by the power of divine sight, O tiger among kings, of immeasurable prowess, you will see this fourfold host of beings.

Verse 21 (12.51.21)

चतुर्विधं प्रजाजालं संयुक्तो ज्ञानचक्षुषा । भीष्म द्रक्ष्यसि तत्त्वेन जले मीन इवामले ॥

caturvidhaṃ prajājālaṃ saṃyukto jñānacakṣuṣā | bhīṣma drakṣyasi tattvena jale mīna ivāmale

Endowed with the eye of knowledge, Bhishma, you will see the fourfold web of creatures as it truly is, as one sees a fish in clear water.

Verse 22 (12.51.22)

ततस्ते व्याससहिताः सर्व एव महर्षयः । ऋग्यजुःसामसहितैर्वचोभिः कृष्णमार्चयन् ॥

tataste vyāsasahitāḥ sarva eva maharṣayaḥ | ṛgyajuḥsāmasahitairvacobhiḥ kṛṣṇamārcayan

Then all the great sages, together with Vyasa, honoured Krishna with words joined to the Rik, Yajus and Saman.

Verse 23 (12.51.23)

ततः सर्वार्तवं दिव्यं पुष्पवर्षं नभस्तलात् । पपात यत्र वार्ष्णेयः सगाङ्गेयः सपाण्डवः ॥

tataḥ sarvārtavaṃ divyaṃ puṣpavarṣaṃ nabhastalāt | papāta yatra vārṣṇeyaḥ sagāṅgeyaḥ sapāṇḍavaḥ

Then a divine shower of flowers of every season fell from the sky on the place where the Vrishni (Krishna) stood with Gangeya and the Pandavas.

Note on the text: Corrected न भस्तलात् → नभस्तलात् (stray space in Wikisource; CE nabhastalāt).

Verse 24 (12.51.24)

वादित्राणि च सर्वाणि जगुश्चाप्सरसां गणाः । न चाहितमनिष्टं च किंचित्तत्र व्यदृश्यत ॥

vāditrāṇi ca sarvāṇi jaguścāpsarasāṃ gaṇāḥ | na cāhitamaniṣṭaṃ ca kiṃcittatra vyadṛśyata

All the instruments were played and hosts of Apsarases sang; nothing unwelcome or inauspicious was seen there.

Verse 25 (12.51.25)

ववौ शिवः सुखो वायुः सर्वगन्धवहः शुचिः । शान्तायां दिशि शान्ताश्च प्रावदन्मृगपक्षिणः ॥

vavau śivaḥ sukho vāyuḥ sarvagandhavahaḥ śuciḥ | śāntāyāṃ diśi śāntāśca prāvadanmṛgapakṣiṇaḥ

A pleasant, pure wind blew, bearing every fragrance; and in the calm quarter the beasts and birds cried out peacefully.

Note on the text: Corrected दिशिशन्ताश्च → दिशि शान्ताश्च (misprint in Wikisource; dropped ā and the space; CE śāntāyāṃ diśi śāntāś ca).

Verse 26 (12.51.26)

ततो मुहूर्ताद्भगवान्सहस्रांशुर्दिवाकरः । दहन्वनमिवैकान्ते प्रतीच्यां प्रत्यदृश्यत ॥

tato muhūrtādbhagavānsahasrāṃśurdivākaraḥ | dahanvanamivaikānte pratīcyāṃ pratyadṛśyata

Then, after a moment, the blessed thousand-rayed maker of day appeared in the west, like a fire burning a forest in solitude.

Verse 27 (12.51.27)

ततो महर्षयः सर्वे समुत्थाय जनार्दनम् । भीष्ममामन्त्रयांचक्रू राजानं च युधिष्ठिरम् ॥

tato maharṣayaḥ sarve samutthāya janārdanam | bhīṣmamāmantrayāṃcakrū rājānaṃ ca yudhiṣṭhiram

Then all the great sages rose and took leave of Janardana, of Bhishma, and of King Yudhishthira.

Verse 28 (12.51.28)

ततः प्रणाममकरोत्केशवः सहपाण्डवः । सात्यकिः सञ्जयश्चैव स च शारद्वतः कृपः ॥

tataḥ praṇāmamakarotkeśavaḥ sahapāṇḍavaḥ | sātyakiḥ sañjayaścaiva sa ca śāradvataḥ kṛpaḥ

Then Keshava bowed, and so did the Pandavas, Satyaki and Sanjaya, and Kripa, son of Sharadvat.

Note on the text: Corrected स़ञ्जयश्चैव → सञ्जयश्चैव (stray nukta in Wikisource; CE saṃjayaś caiva).

Verse 29 (12.51.29)

ततस्ते धर्मनिरताः सम्यक् तैरभिपूजिताः । श्वः समेष्याम इत्युक्त्वा यथेष्टं त्वरिता ययुः ॥

tataste dharmaniratāḥ samyak tairabhipūjitāḥ | śvaḥ sameṣyāma ityuktvā yatheṣṭaṃ tvaritā yayuḥ

Then those men devoted to dharma, duly honoured by them, said 'We shall meet again tomorrow,' and departed quickly, as they pleased.

Verse 30 (12.51.30)

तथैवामन्त्र्य गाङ्गेयं केशवः पाण्डवास्तथा । प्रदक्षिणमुपावृत्य रथानारुरुहुः शुभान् ॥

tathaivāmantrya gāṅgeyaṃ keśavaḥ pāṇḍavāstathā | pradakṣiṇamupāvṛtya rathānāruruhuḥ śubhān

After taking leave of Gangeya in the same way, Keshava and the Pandavas circled him to the right and mounted their splendid chariots.

Verse 31 (12.51.31)

ततो रथैः काञ्चनचित्रकूबरै । र्महीधराभैः समदैश्च दन्तिभिः । हयैः सुपर्णैरिव चाशुगामिभिः । पदातिभिश्चात्तशरासनादिभिः ॥

tato rathaiḥ kāñcanacitrakūbarai | rmahīdharābhaiḥ samadaiśca dantibhiḥ | hayaiḥ suparṇairiva cāśugāmibhiḥ | padātibhiścāttaśarāsanādibhiḥ

Then, with chariots whose poles were of gold, bright and variegated, huge as mountains, with rutting elephants, with swift horses like Garuda, and with foot-soldiers bearing bows and other weapons—

Verse 32 (12.51.32)

ययौ रथानां पुरतो हि सा चमू । स्तथैव पश्चादतिमात्रसारिणी । पुरश्च पश्चाच्च यथा महानदी । तमृक्षवन्तं गिरिमेत्य नर्मदा ॥

yayau rathānāṃ purato hi sā camū | stathaiva paścādatimātrasāriṇī | puraśca paścācca yathā mahānadī | tamṛkṣavantaṃ girimetya narmadā

that army went ahead of the chariots and likewise rushed far behind them, in front and behind like the great river Narmada when she reaches the mountain Rikshavat.

Verse 33 (12.51.33)

ततः पुरस्ताद्भगवान्निशाकरः । समुत्थितस्तामभिहर्षयंश्चमूम् । दिवाकरापीतरसा महौषधीः । पुनः स्वकेनैव गुणेन योजयन् ॥

tataḥ purastādbhagavānniśākaraḥ | samutthitastāmabhiharṣayaṃścamūm | divākarāpītarasā mahauṣadhīḥ | punaḥ svakenaiva guṇena yojayan

Then in front the blessed maker of night rose, gladdening that army, and joined the great herbs, whose juice the sun had drunk, once more to their own virtue.

Verse 34 (12.51.34)

ततः पुरं सुरपुरसंमितद्युति । प्रविश्य ते यदुवृषपाण्डवास्तदा । यथोचितान्भवनवरान्समाविशन् । श्रमान्विता मृगपतयो गुहा इव ॥

tataḥ puraṃ surapurasaṃmitadyuti | praviśya te yaduvṛṣapāṇḍavāstadā | yathocitānbhavanavarānsamāviśan | śramānvitā mṛgapatayo guhā iva

Then, entering the city that shone like the city of the gods, the bulls of the Yadus and the Pandavas went into their fitting mansions, weary, like lions into their caves.