Bhishma Names Krishna and Arjuna as Nara and Narayana

Verse 1 (5.49.1)

समवेतेषु सर्वेषु तेषु राजसु भारत । दुर्योधनमिदं वाक्यं भीष्मः शान्तनवोऽब्रवीत् ॥

samaveteṣu sarveṣu teṣu rājasu bhārata | duryodhanamidaṃ vākyaṃ bhīṣmaḥ śāntanavo'bravīt

When all those kings had assembled, O Bharata, Bhishma son of Shantanu spoke these words to Duryodhana:

Verse 2 (5.49.2)

बृहस्पतिश्चोशना च ब्रह्माणं पर्युपस्थितौ । मरुतश्च सहेन्द्रेण वसवश्चाग्निना सह ॥

bṛhaspatiścośanā ca brahmāṇaṃ paryupasthitau | marutaśca sahendreṇa vasavaścāgninā saha

"Once Brihaspati and Ushanas came to wait upon Brahma, and with them the Maruts together with Indra, and the Vasus together with Agni,

Note on the text: Corrected अग्रिना → अग्निना (misprint in Wikisource; broken conjunct ग्र for ग्न). The line's ending (वसवश्चाग्निना सह, CE vasavaś ca sahāśvinau) is kept as a recension variant. Speaker: Bhishma's speech begins here without a printed heading (introduced by verse 1); the page carries वैशंपायन on.

Verse 3 (5.49.3)

आदित्याश्चैव साध्याश्च ये च सप्तर्षयो दिवि । विश्वावसुश्च गन्धर्वः शुभाश्चाप्सरसां गणाः ॥

ādityāścaiva sādhyāśca ye ca saptarṣayo divi | viśvāvasuśca gandharvaḥ śubhāścāpsarasāṃ gaṇāḥ

the Adityas and the Sadhyas, the Seven Sages who dwell in heaven, the gandharva Vishvavasu and the lovely troops of apsarases.

Note on the text: Corrected सप्तर्पयो → सप्तर्षयो (misprint in Wikisource; प for ष, critical edition saptarṣayo).

Verse 4 (5.49.4)

नमस्कृत्योपजग्मुस्ते लोकवृद्धं पितामहम् । परिवार्य च विश्वेशं पर्यासत दिवौकसः ॥

namaskṛtyopajagmuste lokavṛddhaṃ pitāmaham | parivārya ca viśveśaṃ paryāsata divaukasaḥ

Bowing to the Grandsire, eldest of the worlds, those dwellers of heaven drew near and sat around the lord of all.

Verse 5 (5.49.5)

तेषां मनश्च तेजश्चाप्याददानाविवौजसा । पूर्वदेवौ व्यतिक्रान्तौ नरनारायणावृषी ॥

teṣāṃ manaśca tejaścāpyādadānāvivaujasā | pūrvadevau vyatikrāntau naranārāyaṇāvṛṣī

Then two ancient gods, the seers Nara and Narayana, passed by them, as though seizing the minds and the splendour of all with their might.

Verse 6 (5.49.6)

बृहस्पतिस्तु पप्रच्छ ब्रह्माणं काविमाविति । भवन्तं नोपतिष्ठेते तौ नः शंस पितामह ॥

bṛhaspatistu papraccha brahmāṇaṃ kāvimāviti | bhavantaṃ nopatiṣṭhete tau naḥ śaṃsa pitāmaha

Brihaspati asked Brahma, 'Who are these two, who do not come to wait upon you? Tell us about them, Grandsire.'

Verse 7 (5.49.7)

यावेतौ पृथिवीं द्यां च भासयन्तौ तपस्विनौ । ज्वलन्तौ रोचमानौ च व्याप्यातीतौ महाबलौ ॥

yāvetau pṛthivīṃ dyāṃ ca bhāsayantau tapasvinau | jvalantau rocamānau ca vyāpyātītau mahābalau

'These two ascetics who light up earth and heaven, blazing and radiant, mighty ones who pervade all and pass beyond it,

Note on the text: Brahma's words are quoted within Bhishma's speech.

Verse 8 (5.49.8)

नरनारायणावेतौ लोकाल्लोकं समास्थितौ । ऊर्जितौ स्वेन तपसा महासत्वपराक्रमौ ॥

naranārāyaṇāvetau lokāllokaṃ samāsthitau | ūrjitau svena tapasā mahāsatvaparākramau

are Nara and Narayana, who pass from world to world, made mighty by their own austerity, great in strength and valour.

Verse 9 (5.49.9)

एतौ हि कर्मणा लोकं नन्दयामासतुर्ध्रुवम् । द्विधाभूतौ महाप्राज्ञौ विद्धि ब्रह्मन्परन्तपौ । असुराणां विनाशाय देवगन्धर्वपूजितौ ॥

etau hi karmaṇā lokaṃ nandayāmāsaturdhruvam | dvidhābhūtau mahāprājñau viddhi brahmanparantapau | asurāṇāṃ vināśāya devagandharvapūjitau

By their deeds these two have ever gladdened the world. Know them, O Brahmin, as one become two, greatly wise, scorchers of foes; honoured by gods and gandharvas, they are there for the destruction of the asuras.'

Note on the text: Lines 1 and 3 are the critical edition's 5.48.9ab and 9cd (reading लोकं … ध्रुवम् and विनाशाय where it has lokān … dhruvau and abhāvāya, kept as variants); line 2 is its star passage 5.48.9b*0317_01.

Verse 10 (5.49.10)

जगाम शक्रस्तच्छ्रुत्वा यत्र तौ तेपतुस्तपः । सार्धं देवगणैः सर्वैर्बृहस्पतिपुरोगमैः ॥

jagāma śakrastacchrutvā yatra tau tepatustapaḥ | sārdhaṃ devagaṇaiḥ sarvairbṛhaspatipurogamaiḥ

Hearing this, Shakra went with all the hosts of the gods, led by Brihaspati, to where those two were practising austerities.

Note on the text: Corrected तच्छ्रत्वा → तच्छ्रुत्वा (misprint in Wikisource; dropped u-sign, critical edition tac chrutvā). Speaker: the page (and the critical edition) print वैशंपायन उवाच here to close Brahma's quoted words, but verses 10–28 continue Bhishma's address to Duryodhana (see 18 'behold', 23–24 'you will remember my words'), so they are given to Bhishma.

Verse 11 (5.49.11)

तदा देवासुरे युद्धे भये जाते दिवौकसाम् । अयाचत महात्मानौ नरनारायणौ वरम् ॥

tadā devāsure yuddhe bhaye jāte divaukasām | ayācata mahātmānau naranārāyaṇau varam

At that time, when the war of gods and asuras had brought fear upon the dwellers of heaven, he asked a boon of the two great-souled ones, Nara and Narayana.

Verse 12 (5.49.12)

तावब्रूतां वृणीष्वेति तदा भरतसत्तम । अथैतावब्रवीच्छक्रः साह्यं नः क्रियतामिति ॥

tāvabrūtāṃ vṛṇīṣveti tadā bharatasattama | athaitāvabravīcchakraḥ sāhyaṃ naḥ kriyatāmiti

The two said, 'Choose a boon,' O best of the Bharatas; and Shakra said to them, 'Give us your help.'

Note on the text: Corrected अथैतावब्रवीच्छकः → अथैतावब्रवीच्छक्रः (misprint in Wikisource; dropped र in शक्रः, critical edition śakraḥ).

Verse 13 (5.49.13)

ततस्तौ शक्रमब्रूतां करिष्यावो यदिच्छसि । ताभ्यां च सहितः शक्रो विजिग्ये दैत्यदानवान् ॥

tatastau śakramabrūtāṃ kariṣyāvo yadicchasi | tābhyāṃ ca sahitaḥ śakro vijigye daityadānavān

Then the two said to Shakra, 'We will do what you wish.' And with them at his side Shakra conquered the daityas and danavas.

Verse 14 (5.49.14)

नर इन्द्रस्य संग्रामे हत्वा शत्रून्परन्तपः । पौलोमान्कालखञ्जांश्च सहस्राणि शतानि च ॥

nara indrasya saṃgrāme hatvā śatrūnparantapaḥ | paulomānkālakhañjāṃśca sahasrāṇi śatāni ca

In Indra's battle Nara, scorcher of foes, slew his enemies, the Paulomas and the Kalakhanjas, by hundreds and by thousands.

Verse 15 (5.49.15)

एष भ्रान्ते रथे तिष्ठन्भल्लेनापाहरच्छिरः । जम्भस्य ग्रसमानस्य तदा ह्यर्जुन आहवे ॥

eṣa bhrānte rathe tiṣṭhanbhallenāpāharacchiraḥ | jambhasya grasamānasya tadā hyarjuna āhave

It was this Arjuna who, standing on a whirling chariot, then struck off in battle with a broad-headed arrow the head of Jambha as he opened his jaws to devour.

Verse 16 (5.49.16)

एष पारे समुद्रस्य हिरण्यपुरमारुजत् । हत्वा षष्टिं सहस्राणि निवातकवचान्रणे ॥

eṣa pāre samudrasya hiraṇyapuramārujat | hatvā ṣaṣṭiṃ sahasrāṇi nivātakavacānraṇe

It was he who shattered Hiranyapura on the far side of the ocean, after slaying sixty thousand Nivatakavachas in battle.

Verse 17 (5.49.17)

एष देवान्सहेन्द्रेण जित्वा परपुरञ्जयः । अतर्पयन्महाबाहुरर्जुनो जातवेदसम् ॥

eṣa devānsahendreṇa jitvā parapurañjayaḥ | atarpayanmahābāhurarjuno jātavedasam

It was this mighty-armed Arjuna, conqueror of enemy cities, who defeated the gods together with Indra and gave Jatavedas, the Fire, his fill.

Note on the text: The page divides 5.48.17–20 differently from the critical edition: this verse is 5.48.17ab.

Verse 18 (5.49.18)

नारायणस्तथैवात्र भूयसोऽन्याञ्जघान ह । एवमेतौ महावीर्यौ तौ पश्यत समागतौ ॥

nārāyaṇastathaivātra bhūyaso'nyāñjaghāna ha | evametau mahāvīryau tau paśyata samāgatau

Narayana too slew many others there in the same way. Behold, then, these two of great valour, now come together:

Note on the text: Line 1 is the critical edition's 5.48.17ef; line 2 is 5.48.18ab (the page's own verse division is followed).

Verse 19 (5.49.19)

वासुदेवार्जुनौ वीरौ समवेतौ महारथौ । नरनारायणौ देवौ पूर्वदेवाविति श्रुतिः ॥

vāsudevārjunau vīrau samavetau mahārathau | naranārāyaṇau devau pūrvadevāviti śrutiḥ

the heroes Vasudeva and Arjuna, great chariot-warriors joined as one. They are Nara and Narayana, the two ancient gods; so tradition holds.

Note on the text: Line 1 is the critical edition's 5.48.18cd; line 2 is 5.48.19ab.

Verse 20 (5.49.20)

अजेयौ मानुषे लोके सेन्द्रैरपि सुरासुरैः । एष नारायणः कृष्णः फाल्गुनश्च नरः स्मृतः । नारायणो नरश्चैव सत्त्वमेकं द्विधा कृतम् ॥

ajeyau mānuṣe loke sendrairapi surāsuraiḥ | eṣa nārāyaṇaḥ kṛṣṇaḥ phālgunaśca naraḥ smṛtaḥ | nārāyaṇo naraścaiva sattvamekaṃ dvidhā kṛtam

In the world of men they cannot be conquered even by gods and asuras with Indra at their head. This Krishna is Narayana, and Phalguna is known as Nara; Narayana and Nara are a single being made into two.

Note on the text: Line 1 is the critical edition's 5.48.19cd; lines 2–3 are 5.48.20.

Verse 21 (5.49.21)

एतौ हि कर्मणा लोकानश्नुवातेऽक्षयान्ध्रुवान् । तत्रतत्रैव जायेते युद्धकाले पुनःपुनः ॥

etau hi karmaṇā lokānaśnuvāte'kṣayāndhruvān | tatratatraiva jāyete yuddhakāle punaḥpunaḥ

By their deeds these two attain undecaying, everlasting worlds, and whenever a time of war comes they are born again and again, here and there.

Note on the text: Corrected अश्रुवाते → अश्नुवाते (misprint in Wikisource; broken conjunct श्र for श्न, critical edition aśnuvāte).

Verse 22 (5.49.22)

तस्मात्कर्मैव कर्तव्यमिति होवाच नारदः । एतद्धि सर्वमाचष्ट वृष्णिचक्रस्य वेदवित् ॥

tasmātkarmaiva kartavyamiti hovāca nāradaḥ | etaddhi sarvamācaṣṭa vṛṣṇicakrasya vedavit

'Therefore action alone must be done,' said Narada. Narada, who knows the Vedas, told all this about the Vrishni circle.

Verse 23 (5.49.23)

शङ्खचक्रगदाहस्तं यदा द्रक्ष्यसि केशवम् । पर्याददानं चास्त्राणि भीमधन्वानमर्जुनम् ॥

śaṅkhacakragadāhastaṃ yadā drakṣyasi keśavam | paryādadānaṃ cāstrāṇi bhīmadhanvānamarjunam

When you see Keshava with conch, discus and mace in hand, and Arjuna of the terrible bow taking up his weapons,

Verse 24 (5.49.24)

सनातनौ महात्मानौ कृष्णावेकरथे स्थितौ । दुर्योधन तदा तात स्मर्तासि वचनं मम ॥

sanātanau mahātmānau kṛṣṇāvekarathe sthitau | duryodhana tadā tāta smartāsi vacanaṃ mama

the two eternal, great-souled Krishnas standing on a single chariot, then, Duryodhana my son, you will remember my words.

Verse 25 (5.49.25)

नोचेदयमभावः स्यात्कुरूणां प्रत्युपस्थितः । अर्थाच्च तात धर्माच्च तव बुद्धिरुपप्लुता ॥

nocedayamabhāvaḥ syātkurūṇāṃ pratyupasthitaḥ | arthācca tāta dharmācca tava buddhirupaplutā

If not, this destruction stands ready for the Kurus; your mind, my son, has been led astray from both profit and dharma.

Verse 26 (5.49.26)

न चेद्ग्रहीष्यसे वाक्यं श्रोतासि सुबहून्हतान् । तवैव हि मतं सर्वे कुरवः पर्युपासते ॥

na cedgrahīṣyase vākyaṃ śrotāsi subahūnhatān | tavaiva hi mataṃ sarve kuravaḥ paryupāsate

If you do not take my advice, you will hear of very many slain; for all the Kurus follow your opinion alone.

Note on the text: Corrected श्रोतामि → श्रोतासि (misprint in Wikisource; श्रोतामि is no valid form, the sense needs the second person 'you will hear', critical edition śrotāsi).

Verse 27 (5.49.27)

त्रयाणामेव च मतं तत्त्वमेकोऽनुमन्यसे । रामेण चैव शप्तस्य कर्णस्य भरतर्षभ ॥

trayāṇāmeva ca mataṃ tattvameko'numanyase | rāmeṇa caiva śaptasya karṇasya bharatarṣabha

And you alone take as truth the opinion of just three, O bull of the Bharatas: of Karna, who was cursed by Rama,

Verse 28 (5.49.28)

दुर्जातेः सूतपुत्रस्य शकुनेः सौबलस्य च । तथा क्षुद्रस्य पापस्य भ्रातुर्दुःशासनस्य च ॥

durjāteḥ sūtaputrasya śakuneḥ saubalasya ca | tathā kṣudrasya pāpasya bhrāturduḥśāsanasya ca

the low-born son of a charioteer; of Shakuni, son of Subala; and of your mean and wicked brother Duhshasana."

Verse 29 (5.49.29)

नैवमायुष्मता वाच्यं यन्मामात्थ पितामह । क्षत्रधर्मे स्थितो ह्यस्मि स्वधर्मादनपेयिवान् ॥

naivamāyuṣmatā vācyaṃ yanmāmāttha pitāmaha | kṣatradharme sthito hyasmi svadharmādanapeyivān

"Grandsire, a man blessed with long life should not say to me what you have said. I stand firm in the dharma of a kshatriya and have never strayed from my own duty.

Verse 30 (5.49.30)

किञ्चान्यन्मयि दुर्वृत्तं येन मां परिगर्हसे । न हि मे वृजिनं किञ्चिद्धार्तराष्ट्रा विदुः क्वचित् ॥

kiñcānyanmayi durvṛttaṃ yena māṃ parigarhase | na hi me vṛjinaṃ kiñciddhārtarāṣṭrā viduḥ kvacit

What other misconduct is there in me, for which you reproach me? The sons of Dhritarashtra know of no wrong of mine anywhere.

Verse 31 (5.49.31)

नाचरं वृजिनं किञ्चिद्धार्तराष्ट्रस्य नित्यशः । अहं हि पाण्डवान्सर्वान्हनिष्यामि रणे स्थितान् ॥

nācaraṃ vṛjinaṃ kiñciddhārtarāṣṭrasya nityaśaḥ | ahaṃ hi pāṇḍavānsarvānhaniṣyāmi raṇe sthitān

I have never done any wrong to Dhritarashtra's son. I will slay all the Pandavas when they stand in battle.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's text (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as the star passage 5.48.30d*0320, lines 1–2.

Verse 32 (5.49.32)

प्राग्विरुद्धैः शमं सद्भिः कथं वा क्रियते पुनः । राज्ञो हि धृतराष्ट्रस्य सर्वं कार्यं प्रियं मया । तथा दुर्योधनस्यापि स हि राज्ये समाहितः ॥

prāgviruddhaiḥ śamaṃ sadbhiḥ kathaṃ vā kriyate punaḥ | rājño hi dhṛtarāṣṭrasya sarvaṃ kāryaṃ priyaṃ mayā | tathā duryodhanasyāpi sa hi rājye samāhitaḥ

How can good men make peace again with those who were their enemies before? All that I do is to please King Dhritarashtra, and Duryodhana too, for he is established in the kingdom."

Note on the text: Line 1 is the critical edition's star passage 5.48.30d*0320_03 (not in its text; vulgate); lines 2–3 are 5.48.31.

Verse 33 (5.49.33)

कर्णस्य तु वचः श्रुत्वा भीष्मः शान्तनवः पुनः । धृतराष्ट्रं महाराजमाभाष्येदं वचोऽब्रवीत् ॥

karṇasya tu vacaḥ śrutvā bhīṣmaḥ śāntanavaḥ punaḥ | dhṛtarāṣṭraṃ mahārājamābhāṣyedaṃ vaco'bravīt

Hearing Karna's words, Bhishma son of Shantanu addressed the great king Dhritarashtra once more and said:

Verse 34 (5.49.34)

यदयं कत्थते नित्यं हन्ताहं पाण्डवानिति । नायं कलापि संपूर्णा पाण्डवानां महात्मनाम् ॥

yadayaṃ katthate nityaṃ hantāhaṃ pāṇḍavāniti | nāyaṃ kalāpi saṃpūrṇā pāṇḍavānāṃ mahātmanām

"This man is forever boasting, 'I will kill the Pandavas!' Yet he is not equal to even a fraction of the great-souled Pandavas.

Note on the text: Speaker: Bhishma's direct speech (verses 34–43) has no printed heading; the page carries वैशंपायन on, so it is given to Bhishma.

Verse 35 (5.49.35)

अनयो योऽयमागन्ता पुत्राणां ते दुरात्मनाम् । तदस्य कर्म जानीहि सूतपुत्रस्य दुर्मतेः ॥

anayo yo'yamāgantā putrāṇāṃ te durātmanām | tadasya karma jānīhi sūtaputrasya durmateḥ

Know that the calamity now coming upon your wicked sons is the work of this evil-minded son of a charioteer.

Note on the text: Corrected योयम् → योऽयम् (misprint in Wikisource; missing avagraha, critical edition yo 'yam).

Verse 36 (5.49.36)

एतमाश्रित्य पुत्रस्ते मन्दबुद्धिः सुयोधनः । अवामन्यत तान्वीरान्देवपुत्रानरिन्दमान् ॥

etamāśritya putraste mandabuddhiḥ suyodhanaḥ | avāmanyata tānvīrāndevaputrānarindamān

Relying on him, your dull-witted son Suyodhana has scorned those heroes, sons of the gods, tamers of foes.

Verse 37 (5.49.37)

किञ्चाप्येतेन तत्कर्म कृतपूर्वं सुदुष्करम् । तैर्यथा पाण्डवैः सर्वैरेकैकेन कृतं पुरा ॥

kiñcāpyetena tatkarma kṛtapūrvaṃ suduṣkaram | tairyathā pāṇḍavaiḥ sarvairekaikena kṛtaṃ purā

What feat so hard to do has this man ever done before, such as each one of the Pandavas has done in the past?

Verse 38 (5.49.38)

दृष्ट्वा विराटनगरे भ्रातरं निहतं प्रियम् । धनञ्जयेन विक्रम्य किमनेन तदा कृतम् ॥

dṛṣṭvā virāṭanagare bhrātaraṃ nihataṃ priyam | dhanañjayena vikramya kimanena tadā kṛtam

In the city of Virata, when he saw his dear brother slain by Dhananjaya's onslaught, what did he do then?

Verse 39 (5.49.39)

सर्वे ह्यस्त्रविदः शूराः सर्वे प्राप्ता महद्यशः । अपि सर्वामरैश्वर्यं त्यजेयुर्न पुनर्जयम् ॥

sarve hyastravidaḥ śūrāḥ sarve prāptā mahadyaśaḥ | api sarvāmaraiśvaryaṃ tyajeyurna punarjayam

They are all heroes skilled in weapons, and all have won great fame. They would give up even lordship over all the immortals, but never victory.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's text (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as the star passage 5.48.37d*0322. Removed stray wiki marks (a backtick and a quote mark with a doubled danda) that enclose the verse on the page. Corrected ह्यस्त्रिविदः → ह्यस्त्रविदः (misprint in Wikisource; stray i-sign, the star passage reads hy astravidaḥ).

Verse 40 (5.49.40)

सहितान्हि कुरून्सर्वानभियातो धनञ्जयः । प्रमथ्य चाच्छिनद्वासः किमयं प्रोषितस्तदा ॥

sahitānhi kurūnsarvānabhiyāto dhanañjayaḥ | pramathya cācchinadvāsaḥ kimayaṃ proṣitastadā

When Dhananjaya attacked all the Kurus together, routed them and cut away their garments, had this man gone abroad then?

Note on the text: वासः ('garments', CE gāvaḥ 'the cattle') kept as a recension variant.

Verse 41 (5.49.41)

गन्धर्वैर्घोषयात्रायां ह्रियते यत्सुतस्तव । क्व तदा सूतपुत्रोऽभूद्य इदानीं वृषायते ॥

gandharvairghoṣayātrāyāṃ hriyate yatsutastava | kva tadā sūtaputro'bhūdya idānīṃ vṛṣāyate

When your son was being carried off by the gandharvas on the cattle-tending expedition, where was this son of a charioteer then, who now bellows like a bull?

Verse 42 (5.49.42)

ननु तत्रापि भीमेन पार्थेन च महात्मना । यमाभ्यामेव संगम्य गन्धर्वास्ते पराजिताः ॥

nanu tatrāpi bhīmena pārthena ca mahātmanā | yamābhyāmeva saṃgamya gandharvāste parājitāḥ

Was it not Bhima there, and the great-souled Partha, joined by the twins, who defeated those gandharvas?

Verse 43 (5.49.43)

एतान्यस्य मृषोक्तानि बहूनि भरतर्षभ । विकत्थनस्य भद्रं ते सदा धर्मार्थलोपिनः ॥

etānyasya mṛṣoktāni bahūni bharatarṣabha | vikatthanasya bhadraṃ te sadā dharmārthalopinaḥ

Such are the many false boasts of this braggart, O bull of the Bharatas, bless you, who always destroys both dharma and profit."

Verse 44 (5.49.44)

भीष्मस्य तु वचः श्रुत्वा भारद्वाजो महामनाः । धृतराष्ट्रमुवाचेदं राजमध्येऽभिपूजयन् ॥

bhīṣmasya tu vacaḥ śrutvā bhāradvājo mahāmanāḥ | dhṛtarāṣṭramuvācedaṃ rājamadhye'bhipūjayan

Hearing Bhishma's words, the high-minded son of Bharadvaja, Drona, spoke to Dhritarashtra in the midst of the kings, honouring what Bhishma had said:

Note on the text: Corrected महामताः → महामनाः (misprint in Wikisource; महामताः is plural and does not agree with भारद्वाजः, critical edition mahāmanāḥ).

Verse 45 (5.49.45)

यदाह भरतश्रेष्ठो भीष्मस्तत्क्रियतां नृप । न काममवलिप्तानां वचनं कर्तुमर्हसि ॥

yadāha bharataśreṣṭho bhīṣmastatkriyatāṃ nṛpa | na kāmamavaliptānāṃ vacanaṃ kartumarhasi

"O king, do what Bhishma, best of the Bharatas, has said. You should not act on the word of the arrogant.

Note on the text: Speaker: Drona's direct speech (verses 45–47) has no printed heading; the page carries वैशंपायन on, so it is given to Drona. अवलिप्तानां (CE arthalipsūnāṃ) kept as a variant.

Verse 46 (5.49.46)

पुरा युद्धात्साधु मन्ये पाण्डवैः सह सङ्गतम् । यद्वाक्यमर्जुनेनोक्तं सञ्जयेन निवेदितम् ॥

purā yuddhātsādhu manye pāṇḍavaiḥ saha saṅgatam | yadvākyamarjunenoktaṃ sañjayena niveditam

I think it good to make peace with the Pandavas before war comes. The words that Arjuna spoke, which Sanjaya has reported,

Verse 47 (5.49.47)

सर्वं तदभिजानामि करिष्यति च पाण्डवः । न ह्यस्य त्रिषु लोकेषु सदृशोऽस्ति धनुर्धरः ॥

sarvaṃ tadabhijānāmi kariṣyati ca pāṇḍavaḥ | na hyasya triṣu lokeṣu sadṛśo'sti dhanurdharaḥ

I know them all, and the son of Pandu will carry them out; for in the three worlds there is no bowman equal to him."

Verse 48 (5.49.48)

अनादृत्य तु तद्वाक्यमर्थवद्द्रोणभीष्मयोः । ततः स सञ्जयं राजा पर्यपृच्छत पाण्डवान् ॥

anādṛtya tu tadvākyamarthavaddroṇabhīṣmayoḥ | tataḥ sa sañjayaṃ rājā paryapṛcchata pāṇḍavān

But the king set aside those meaningful words of Drona and Bhishma, and instead questioned Sanjaya about the Pandavas.

Verse 49 (5.49.49)

तदैव कुरवः सर्वे निराशा जीवितेऽभवन् । भीष्मद्रोणौ यदा राजा न सम्यगनुभाषते ॥

tadaiva kuravaḥ sarve nirāśā jīvite'bhavan | bhīṣmadroṇau yadā rājā na samyaganubhāṣate

From that moment, when the king gave Bhishma and Drona no fitting answer, all the Kurus despaired of their lives.