Critical Edition
भीष्म उवाच पुनर्भरतवंशस्य हेतुं संतानवृद्धये वक्ष्यामि नियतं मातस्तन्मे निगदतः शृणु
AI Translation: Bhishma said: Again, for the sake of the increase of the lineage of the Bharata dynasty, I shall speak, O mother, of the cause. Listen to me as I speak.
ब्राह्मणो गुणवान्कश्चिद्धनेनोपनिमन्त्र्यताम् विचित्रवीर्यक्षेत्रेषु यः समुत्पादयेत्प्रजाः
AI Translation: Invite a virtuous brahmin to a meal, who will produce offspring in various fields of merit.
वैशंपायन उवाच ततः सत्यवती भीष्मं वाचा संसज्जमानया विहसन्तीव सव्रीडमिदं वचनमब्रवीत्
M. N. Dutt: Vaishampayana said : Then Satyavati thus spoke to Bhishma, smiling softly and speaking in bashful voice.
सत्यमेतन्महाबाहो यथा वदसि भारत विश्वासात्ते प्रवक्ष्यामि संतानाय कुलस्य च न ते शक्यमनाख्यातुमापद्धीयं तथाविधा
M. N. Dutt: Satyavati said : O descendant of the Bharata race, what you say is true. From my confidence in you, I shall now point my confidence in you, I shall now point out the means of perpetuating our dynasty.
Supplementary Passages:
1.99.4 After 4cd, S reads an additional colophon (adhy. no.: T1 101; T2 51; G M 52 (G5 53)) and then ins.: *1043 वैशंपायनः एवमुक्त्वा ततो भीष्मं तं माता प्रत्यभाषत रोचते मे वचस्तुभ्यं ममापि वचनं शृणु
त्वमेव नः कुले धर्मस्त्वं सत्यं त्वं परा गतिः तस्मान्निशम्य वाक्यं मे कुरुष्व यदनन्तरम्
AI Translation: You alone are the Dharma in our family, you are the truth, you are the supreme refuge. Therefore, having heard these words of mine, do what is next.
Supplementary Passages:
1.99.5 After 5ab, S ins.: *1044 यत्त्वं वक्ष्यसि तत्कार्यमस्माभिरिति मे मतिः K0.3.4 Da1 D1.4 (marg.) ins. after 5: D2 marg. sec. m., after 4ab: *1045 यन्मे बाल्ये पुरा वृत्तं कुमार्यास्तच्छृणुष्व मे S ins. after 5: D2 (marg. sec. m.).4 (marg.) cont. after the above: *1046 शृणु भीष्म वचो मह्यं धर्मार्थसहितं हितम् न च विस्रम्भकथितं भवान्सूचितुमर्हति यस्तु राजा वसुर्नाम श्रुतस्ते भरतर्षभ तस्य शुक्लादहं मत्स्या धृता कुक्षौ पुरा किल मातरं मे जलाद्धृत्वा दाशः परमधर्मवित् मां तु स्वगृहमानीय दुहितृत्वे ह्यकल्पयत्
धर्मयुक्तस्य धर्मात्मन्पितुरासीत्तरी मम सा कदाचिदहं तत्र गता प्रथमयौवने
AI Translation: O you who are devoted to righteousness, I was the daughter of a righteous father. Once, when I was young, I went there.
Supplementary Passages:
1.99.6 B6 ins. after 6: B5, after 7: *1047 अतारयं जनं तत्र पारगामिनमञ्जसा
अथ धर्मभृतां श्रेष्ठः परमर्षिः पराशरः आजगाम तरीं धीमांस्तरिष्यन्यमुनां नदीम्
AI Translation: Then the best of the upholders of Dharma, the supreme sage Parashara, came to the river, the wise one, to cross the river Yamuna.
स तार्यमाणो यमुनां मामुपेत्याब्रवीत्तदा सान्त्वपूर्वं मुनिश्रेष्ठः कामार्तो मधुरं बहु
AI Translation: He, being carried away by the Yamuna, came to me and said: The best of sages, afflicted by desire, spoke many sweet words to me.
Supplementary Passages:
1.99.8 After 8, D4 (marg.) S ins.: *1048 उक्त्वा जन्मकुलं मह्यं नासि दाशसुतेति च
तमहं शापभीता च पितुर्भीता च भारत वरैरसुलभैरुक्ता न प्रत्याख्यातुमुत्सहे
M. N. Dutt: O descendant of Bharata, I was afraid of my father, but I was also greatly afraid of the Rishi's curse. Therefore, having got from him a great boon, I could not refuse his request.
Supplementary Passages:
1.99.9 T G2.4.5 M ins. after 9: D4 marg., after 10ab: G1, after 10: *1049 प्रेक्ष्य तांस्तु महाभागान्परे पारे ऋषीन्स्थितान् यमुनातीरविन्यस्तान्प्रदीप्तानिव पावकान् पुरस्तादरुणश्चैव तरुणः संप्रकाशते येनैषा ताम्रवस्त्रेव द्यौः कृता प्रविजृम्भिता उक्तमात्रो मया तत्र नीहारमसृजत्प्रभुः पराशरः सत्यधृतिर्द्वीपे च यमुनाम्भसि
अभिभूय स मां बालां तेजसा वशमानयत् तमसा लोकमावृत्य नौगतामेव भारत
AI Translation: He overpowered me, the child, with his radiance and brought me under his control. Having enveloped the world with darkness, he went to the ocean, O descendant of Bharata.
मत्स्यगन्धो महानासीत्पुरा मम जुगुप्सितः तमपास्य शुभं गन्धमिमं प्रादात्स मे मुनिः
AI Translation: Formerly, there was a very bad smell of fish, which I hated. The sage removed it and gave me this good smell.
Supplementary Passages:
1.99.11 D4 (marg.) T (T1 om. lines 4-5) G3 M3.5 ins. after 11: G1.2.4.5 M6-8, after 12: *1050 कन्यात्वं च ददौ प्रीतः पुनर्विद्वांस्तपोधनः तस्य वीर्यमहं दृष्ट्वा तथा युक्तं महात्मनः विस्मिता व्यथिता चैव प्रादामात्मानमेव च वसिष्ठेन समानीता याज्ञवल्क्यादयो द्विजाः कृत्वा विवाहं मे सर्वे प्रतिजग्मुर्यथागतम् ततस्तदा महात्मा स कन्यायां मयि भारत प्रहृष्टोऽजनयत्पुत्रं द्वीप एव पराशरः After line 1, M ins.: *1051 हिमं चैवासृजद्धीमान्द्वीपं च यमुनाम्भसि and after line 3: *1052 ततः पिता वसुश्चैव पितरश्च तपोधनाः
ततो मामाह स मुनिर्गर्भमुत्सृज्य मामकम् द्वीपेऽस्या एव सरितः कन्यैव त्वं भविष्यसि
M. N. Dutt: The Rishi told me, "After bringing forth this child on the island of this river, you will remain a virgin."
Supplementary Passages:
1.99.12 After 12, G1.2.4.5 M6-8 ins. 1050* (cf. v.l. 11); while K0.3.4 Da1 D4 (marg.) ins.: *1053 एवमुक्त्वा गतः सोऽथ ऋषिः परमधर्मवित् ममापि प्रसवो जातस्तत्क्षणादेव भारत
पाराशर्यो महायोगी स बभूव महानृषिः कन्यापुत्रो मम पुरा द्वैपायन इति स्मृतः
M. N. Dutt: The son of Parashara, thus born of me in my maiden-hood, has becomes great ascetic, named Dvaipayana.
यो व्यस्य वेदांश्चतुरस्तपसा भगवानृषिः लोके व्यासत्वमापेदे कार्ष्ण्यात्कृष्णत्वमेव च
M. N. Dutt: That illustrious Rishi, having divided by his ascetic power the Vedas into four parts, has become known on earth as Vyasa and for his black colour as Krishna.
सत्यवादी शमपरस्तपस्वी दग्धकिल्बिषः स नियुक्तो मया व्यक्तं त्वया च अमितद्युते भ्रातुः क्षेत्रेषु कल्याणमपत्यं जनयिष्यति
M. N. Dutt: Asked by me and also by you, that Rishi of incomparable effulgence will surely beget excellent offspring on the wives of your brother.
Supplementary Passages:
1.99.15 Dn T G1.2.4.5 M ins. after 15ab: G6, after 13ab: *1054 सद्योत्पन्नः स तु महान्सह पित्रा ततो गतः
स हि मामुक्तवांस्तत्र स्मरेः कृत्येषु मामिति तं स्मरिष्ये महाबाहो यदि भीष्म त्वमिच्छसि
M. N. Dutt: He told me, "Mother, think of me (mentally call me) when you will be in difficulty. O mighty-armed Bhishma, if you wish, I can now think of him."
Supplementary Passages:
1.99.16 After 16, M5 ins.: *1055 तव चानुमते काममाभ्यामुत्पादयेत्प्रजाः
तव ह्यनुमते भीष्म नियतं स महातपाः विचित्रवीर्यक्षेत्रेषु पुत्रानुत्पादयिष्यति
M. N. Dutt: O Bhishma if you are willing and if you appoint him, I am sure that great ascetic will beget children on the wives of Vichitravirya.
महर्षेः कीर्तने तस्य भीष्मः प्राञ्जलिरब्रवीत् धर्ममर्थं च कामं च त्रीनेतान्योऽनुपश्यति
AI Translation: When the great sage was reciting the story of the king, Bhishma, with folded hands, said: One who sees these three - dharma, artha, and kama - as separate,
Supplementary Passages:
1.99.18 After vaiśaṃ., S ins.: *1056 इत्युक्तमात्रे भीष्मस्तु मूर्ध्न्यञ्जलिकृतोऽहृषत् G3 ins. after 19cd: G1.2.6, after 19: M3.5, after 1056*: *1057 सर्ववित्सर्वकर्ता च यद्येतत्तत्करोति च After 18ab, D4 (marg.) S ins.: *1058 देशकालौ तु जानामि क्रियतामर्थसिद्धये
अर्थमर्थानुबन्धं च धर्मं धर्मानुबन्धनम् कामं कामानुबन्धं च विपरीतान्पृथक्पृथक् यो विचिन्त्य धिया सम्यग्व्यवस्यति स बुद्धिमान्
AI Translation: The meaning, the consequence of the meaning, the Dharma, the consequence of the Dharma, The desire, the consequence of desire, and the opposite of each, He who, having contemplated them with the mind, acts accordingly is wise.
Supplementary Passages:
1.99.19 D4 (marg.) S (except G6) ins. after 19cd (G3, after 1057*): *1059 शुभं शुभानुबंधं च तांश्चैव त्रिविधान्पुनः For 19ef, T2 G4.5 subst.: *1060 पुनः पुनर्यो विचिन्त्य धिया सम्यग्व्यवस्यति स बुद्धिमान्मनुष्येषु स नरः कृत्स्नकर्मकृत्
तदिदं धर्मयुक्तं च हितं चैव कुलस्य नः उक्तं भवत्या यच्छ्रेयः परमं रोचते मम
AI Translation: This is in accordance with the Dharma and beneficial to our family. What you have said is the supreme good, and I approve of it.
ततस्तस्मिन्प्रतिज्ञाते भीष्मेण कुरुनन्दन कृष्णद्वैपायनं काली चिन्तयामास वै मुनिम्
AI Translation: Then, when Bhishma, the descendant of the Kurus, had made that promise, Kali thought of the sage Krishna Dvaipayana.
Supplementary Passages:
1.99.21 After 21, S (except G5.6; M3 marg.) ins.: *1061 तस्याः स चिन्तितं ज्ञात्वा सत्यवत्या महातपाः
स वेदान्विब्रुवन्धीमान्मातुर्विज्ञाय चिन्तितम् प्रादुर्बभूवाविदितः क्षणेन कुरुनन्दन
AI Translation: The wise one, having understood the thought of his mother, and having recited the Vedas, suddenly appeared, O descendant of the Kuru lineage,
तस्मै पूजां तदा दत्त्वा सुताय विधिपूर्वकम् परिष्वज्य च बाहुभ्यां प्रस्नवैरभिषिच्य च मुमोच बाष्पं दाशेयी पुत्रं दृष्ट्वा चिरस्य तम्
AI Translation: Having then offered worship to his son in accordance with the prescribed rites, and having embraced him with his arms and sprinkled him with tears, the fisherwoman, seeing her son after a long time, shed tears.
तामद्भिः परिषिच्यार्तां महर्षिरभिवाद्य च मातरं पूर्वजः पुत्रो व्यासो वचनमब्रवीत्
M. N. Dutt: Having seen her weep, the great Rishi, Vyasa, her eldest son, washed her (face) with cool water; and bowing to his mother, he said-
भवत्या यदभिप्रेतं तदहं कर्तुमागतः शाधि मां धर्मतत्त्वज्ञे करवाणि प्रियं तव
M. N. Dutt: "O mother, I have come to fulfill your wishes. Therefore, o virtuous lady, command me without delay. I shall accomplish what you desire.”
तस्मै पूजां ततोऽकार्षीत्पुरोधाः परमर्षये स च तां प्रतिजग्राह विधिवन्मन्त्रपूर्वकम्
M. N. Dutt: The priest (of the Bharatas) then worshipped the great Rishi in the proper form and the Rishi accepted the offerings of the worship with uttering the usual Mantras.
Supplementary Passages:
1.99.26 After 26, Dn S ins.: *1062 पूजितो मन्त्रपूर्वं तु विधिवत्प्रीतिमाप सः
तमासनगतं माता पृष्ट्वा कुशलमव्ययम् सत्यवत्यभिवीक्ष्यैनमुवाचेदमनन्तरम्
M. N. Dutt: Being pleased with the due worship with the proper Mantras, he took his seat. His mother, Satyavati, seeing him conformably seated, asked his welfare and made the usual enquiries.
Supplementary Passages:
1.99.27 M3 ins. before 27cd: M5 subst. for it: *1063 आचचक्षे क्रमेणास्मै तदर्थमभिचिन्तितम्
मातापित्रोः प्रजायन्ते पुत्राः साधारणाः कवे तेषां पिता यथा स्वामी तथा माता न संशयः
AI Translation: O poet, sons are born to parents as their common property. There is no doubt that the father is the master of them, as is the mother.
विधातृविहितः स त्वं यथा मे प्रथमः सुतः विचित्रवीर्यो ब्रह्मर्षे तथा मेऽवरजः सुतः
AI Translation: You are the one ordained by the creator, just like my first son, Vichitravirya, O brahmin sage. In the same way, my younger son,
यथैव पितृतो भीष्मस्तथा त्वमपि मातृतः भ्राता विचित्रवीर्यस्य यथा वा पुत्र मन्यसे
AI Translation: Just as Bhishma is to you from your father's side, so are you to him from your mother's side. Or, as you think of him as a brother of Vichitravirya,
अयं शांतनवः सत्यं पालयन्सत्यविक्रमः बुद्धिं न कुरुतेऽपत्ये तथा राज्यानुशासने
AI Translation: This Shāntanu, of true valor, protecting the truth, does not have the intelligence for a son or for the administration of the kingdom.
स त्वं व्यपेक्षया भ्रातुः संतानाय कुलस्य च भीष्मस्य चास्य वचनान्नियोगाच्च ममानघ
AI Translation: But you, out of concern for your brother, for the continuation of the family, and by the words of Bhishma and by my command, O sinless one,
अनुक्रोशाच्च भूतानां सर्वेषां रक्षणाय च आनृशंस्येन यद्ब्रूयां तच्छ्रुत्वा कर्तुमर्हसि
AI Translation: Out of compassion for all beings and for their protection, If I were to speak out of non-violence, please listen and do it.
यवीयसस्तव भ्रातुर्भार्ये सुरसुतोपमे रूपयौवनसंपन्ने पुत्रकामे च धर्मतः
AI Translation: O younger sister-in-law, who are like the daughter of a god, Endowed with beauty and youth, and desirous of a son in accordance with dharma,
तयोरुत्पादयापत्यं समर्थो ह्यसि पुत्रक अनुरूपं कुलस्यास्य संतत्याः प्रसवस्य च
AI Translation: You are capable of producing a son for them, in accordance with this family, with the lineage, and with the offspring.
व्यास उवाच वेत्थ धर्मं सत्यवति परं चापरमेव च यथा च तव धर्मज्ञे धर्मे प्रणिहिता मतिः
AI Translation: Vyasa said: O Satvati, you know the supreme and the inferior Dharma, and how your mind is fixed on Dharma, O you who know Dharma.
तस्मादहं त्वन्नियोगाद्धर्ममुद्दिश्य कारणम् ईप्सितं ते करिष्यामि दृष्टं ह्येतत्पुरातनम्
AI Translation: Therefore, for your sake, I shall do what is desired by you, for the sake of Dharma, because this has been seen in the past.
भ्रातुः पुत्रान्प्रदास्यामि मित्रावरुणयोः समान् व्रतं चरेतां ते देव्यौ निर्दिष्टमिह यन्मया
AI Translation: I shall give my brother's sons, equal to Mitra and Varuna. Let the two goddesses observe the vow, as prescribed by me here.
संवत्सरं यथान्यायं ततः शुद्धे भविष्यतः न हि मामव्रतोपेता उपेयात्काचिदङ्गना
M. N. Dutt: Therefore, let the ladies observe the vow I indicate for one full year. They will be then purified. No woman must come to me without having observed a rigid vow.
Supplementary Passages:
1.99.39 G6 subst. for, M3 ins. before, and M5 ins. after 39cd: *1064 न हि मामर्हतः प्राप्तुमशुद्धे कोसलात्मजे G1-3 M3 ins. after 39: G6 M5, after the above: *1065 एवं सत्यवती धर्मं परमं ज्ञातुमर्हसि
सत्यवत्युवाच यथा सद्यः प्रपद्येत देवी गर्भं तथा कुरु अराजकेषु राष्ट्रेषु नास्ति वृष्टिर्न देवताः
M. N. Dutt: Satyavati said : Take such steps as the ladies may conceive today. The people perish in a kingdom where there is anarchy. Sacrifices and other holy acts are destroyed, the rains and the celestial disappear from that place.
Supplementary Passages:
1.99.40 Dn S (except G6) ins. after 40c: D4, after 40 (as one line made up of the two halves, read in reverse order!): *1066 प्रजानाथा विनश्यति नश्यन्ति च क्रियाः सर्वाः
कथमराजकं राष्ट्रं शक्यं धारयितुं प्रभो तस्माद्गर्भं समाधत्स्व भीष्मस्तं वर्धयिष्यति
M. N. Dutt: O Lord, how can a kingdom be protected without a king? Therefore, see that the ladies conceive. Bhishma will watch over the children in their womb.
व्यास उवाच यदि पुत्रः प्रदातव्यो मया क्षिप्रमकालिकम् विरूपतां मे सहतामेतदस्याः परं व्रतम्
M. N. Dutt: Vyasa said: If I am to produce sons for my brother so unseasonably then let the ladies tolerate my ugliness. That will be to them a great penance.
यदि मे सहते गन्धं रूपं वेषं तथा वपुः अद्यैव गर्भं कौसल्या विशिष्टं प्रतिपद्यताम्
M. N. Dutt: If the princess of Kosalya (Ambika) can bear my strong odour, my ugly and grim visage, my attire and body, she will then conceive an excellent son.
Supplementary Passages:
1.99.43 After 43, D4 (marg.) S (except M6-8) ins.: *1067 तस्य चापि शतं पुत्रा भवितारो न संशयः गोप्तारः कुरुवंशस्य भवत्याः शोकनाशनाः
वैशंपायन उवाच समागमनमाकाङ्क्षन्निति सोऽन्तर्हितो मुनिः ततोऽभिगम्य सा देवी स्नुषां रहसि संगताम् धर्म्यमर्थसमायुक्तमुवाच वचनं हितम्
AI Translation: Vaishampayana said: The sage, desiring to meet, thus disappeared. Then the goddess approached the daughter-in-law who had come together in private, and spoke to her words that were righteous and full of meaning.
Supplementary Passages:
1.99.44 After vaiśaṃ. u., N ins.: *1068 एवमुक्त्वा महातेजा व्यासः सत्यवतीं तदा D4 (marg.) S ins. after 1067* (M6-8, after 43): Dn, after 1068*: *1069 शयने त्वथ कौसल्या शुचिवस्त्रा स्वलंकृता
कौसल्ये धर्मतन्त्रं यद्ब्रवीमि त्वां निबोध मे भरतानां समुच्छेदो व्यक्तं मद्भाग्यसंक्षयात्
AI Translation: O Kausalya, listen to the Dharma that I am telling you. The destruction of the Bharatas is clearly due to the exhaustion of my good fortune.
व्यथितां मां च संप्रेक्ष्य पितृवंशं च पीडितम् भीष्मो बुद्धिमदान्मेऽत्र धर्मस्य च विवृद्धये
AI Translation: Seeing me afflicted and my father's lineage oppressed, Bhishma gave me wisdom for the sake of Dharma's growth.
Supplementary Passages:
1.99.46 After 46, K4 Ñ1.2 Da D4 (marg.) ins.: *1070 अहं त्वामद्य वक्ष्यामि बुद्ध्या निश्चित्य भामिनि श्रुत्वा तु तद्वचः सुभ्रु कर्तुमर्हसि नान्यथा
सा च बुद्धिस्तवाधीना पुत्रि ज्ञातं मयेति ह नष्टं च भारतं वंशं पुनरेव समुद्धर
AI Translation: And that intelligence is dependent on you, O daughter, I have understood. And revive again the lost lineage of the Bharatas.
Supplementary Passages:
1.99.47 After 47, G6 M3.5 ins.: *1071 गर्भं धारय कल्याणि देवरस्य महात्मनः
पुत्रं जनय सुश्रोणि देवराजसमप्रभम् स हि राज्यधुरं गुर्वीमुद्वक्ष्यति कुलस्य नः
AI Translation: O you of beautiful hips, give birth to a son who is of the same lustre as the king of the gods, For he will bear the heavy burden of the kingdom for our family.
Supplementary Passages:
1.99.48 After 48, D4 marg. ins.: *1072 एवमुक्त्वा तु सा देवी स्नुषां सत्यवती तदा
सा धर्मतोऽनुनीयैनां कथंचिद्धर्मचारिणीम् भोजयामास विप्रांश्च देवर्षीनतिथींस्तथा
M. N. Dutt: She (Satyavati,) having succeeded somehow in getting the consent of that virtuous lady to her proposal which was consistent to religion, fed Brahmanas, Devarshis and guests.