Critical Edition
भीष्म उवाच एवमुक्तस्तदा रामो जहि भीष्ममिति प्रभो उवाच रुदतीं कन्यां चोदयन्तीं पुनः पुनः
M. N. Dutt: Bhishma said “O Rama, slay Bhishma, “having been thus addressed, my lord, he said to that weeping girl who urged him again and again.
काश्ये कामं न गृह्णामि शस्त्रं वै वरवर्णिनि ऋते ब्रह्मविदां हेतोः किमन्यत्करवाणि ते
M. N. Dutt: "O princess of Kashi, I do not take up arms from my own desire, O you of fair complexion, except at the bidding of those conversant with the Vedas; what else shall I do for you?
वाचा भीष्मश्च शाल्वश्च मम राज्ञि वशानुगौ भविष्यतोऽनवद्याङ्गि तत्करिष्यामि मा शुचः
M. N. Dutt: O Princess, both Bhishma and Shalva act up to my words and I shall accomplish this work, Do not grieve.
न तु शस्त्रं ग्रहीष्यामि कथंचिदपि भामिनि ऋते नियोगाद्विप्राणामेष मे समयः कृतः
M. N. Dutt: But I shall not on any account take up arms except at the bidding of regenerate persons; for this is the vow I have made.
अम्बोवाच मम दुःखं भगवता व्यपनेयं यतस्ततः तत्तु भीष्मप्रसूतं मे तं जहीश्वर माचिरम्
M. N. Dutt: Amba said By some means or other, my distress has its origin in Bhishma; slay him therefore without delay, my lord.
राम उवाच काशिकन्ये पुनर्ब्रूहि भीष्मस्ते चरणावुभौ शिरसा वन्दनार्होऽपि ग्रहीष्यति गिरा मम
M. N. Dutt: Rama said O princess of Kashi, I tell you again that thought Bhishma is worthy of your worship, he will, at my word, take up both your feet on his head.
अम्बोवाच जहि भीष्मं रणे राम मम चेदिच्छसि प्रियम् प्रतिश्रुतं च यदि तत्सत्यं कर्तुमिहार्हसि
M. N. Dutt: Amba said Kill Bhishma in battle, O Rama, for he roars like an Asura, after challenging him to fight if you desire, what is pleasing to me, O Rama; besides it is proper that you should perform what you have promised.
Supplementary Passages:
5.177.7 After 7a, B3.5 Dn Ds D6.8.10 ins.: *576 गर्जन्तमसुरं यथा समाहूतो रणे राम
भीष्म उवाच तयोः संवदतोरेवं राजन्रामाम्बयोस्तदा अकृतव्रणो जामदग्न्यमिदं वचनमब्रवीत्
M. N. Dutt: Bhishma said While the two, Amba and Rama, were thus conversing together, the Rishi, of extremely virtuous soul, said these words:
शरणागतां महाबाहो कन्यां न त्यक्तुमर्हसि जहि भीष्मं रणे राम गर्जन्तमसुरं यथा
M. N. Dutt: This is not proper for you, O you of long arms, to abandon a girl who has taken refuge with you. If, O Rama, Bhishma being challenged by you in fight,
यदि भीष्मस्त्वयाहूतो रणे राम महामुने निर्जितोऽस्मीति वा ब्रूयात्कुर्याद्वा वचनं तव
AI Translation: If Bhishma, when summoned by you in battle, O great sage Rama, should say, "I am defeated," or do as you say,
कृतमस्या भवेत्कार्यं कन्याया भृगुनन्दन वाक्यं सत्यं च ते वीर भविष्यति कृतं विभो
AI Translation: O son of Bhrigu, the task of this girl will be accomplished. O hero, your words will be true. O Lord, it will be accomplished.
इयं चापि प्रतिज्ञा ते तदा राम महामुने जित्वा वै क्षत्रियान्सर्वान्ब्राह्मणेषु प्रतिश्रुतम्
AI Translation: And this promise of yours, O great sage Rama, was made then, After defeating all the Kshatriyas, it was promised to the Brahmanas.
ब्राह्मणः क्षत्रियो वैश्यः शूद्रश्चैव रणे यदि ब्रह्मद्विड्भविता तं वै हनिष्यामीति भार्गव
AI Translation: If a brahmin, a kshatriya, a vaishya, or a shudra is killed in battle, I will kill him, O Bhargava, if he becomes an enemy of the brahmins.
शरणं हि प्रपन्नानां भीतानां जीवितार्थिनाम् न शक्ष्यामि परित्यागं कर्तुं जीवन्कथंचन
AI Translation: For those who have taken refuge in you, for those who are afraid and seek life, I will not be able to abandon you in any way, even if I live.
यश्च क्षत्रं रणे कृत्स्नं विजेष्यति समागतम् दृप्तात्मानमहं तं च हनिष्यामीति भार्गव
AI Translation: "And he who will conquer the entire army in battle, having come together, I will kill that haughty-minded one, O Bhārgava."
स एवं विजयी राम भीष्मः कुरुकुलोद्वहः तेन युध्यस्व संग्रामे समेत्य भृगुनन्दन
M. N. Dutt: "I shall slay that one, of blazing self though he be" O you of Bhrigu's race. O Rama, that Bhishma, the supporter of the Kuru race, is even such, Fight with him in battle therefore, O Rama.
राम उवाच स्मराम्यहं पूर्वकृतां प्रतिज्ञामृषिसत्तम तथैव च करिष्यामि यथा साम्नैव लप्स्यते
M. N. Dutt: Rama said I remember the promise that I made before, O you best among the Rishis, but in this instance I shall act in such a way that I may gain my object by peaceful means.
कार्यमेतन्महद्ब्रह्मन्काशिकन्यामनोगतम् गमिष्यामि स्वयं तत्र कन्यामादाय यत्र सः
M. N. Dutt: This work, aimed at by the princess of Kashis, is indeed great, Taking this lady, I shall go myself there where he is.
यदि भीष्मो रणश्लाघी न करिष्यति मे वचः हनिष्याम्येनमुद्रिक्तमिति मे निश्चिता मतिः
M. N. Dutt: If Bhishma, proud of his feats in war, does not act up to my commands I shall certainly slay that arrogant one.
न हि बाणा मयोत्सृष्टाः सज्जन्तीह शरीरिणाम् कायेषु विदितं तुभ्यं पुरा क्षत्रियसंगरे
M. N. Dutt: The arrows, shot forth by me, do not stick in the body of living creatures (but pass clearly through them); it is known to you in the with the Kshatriyas.
भीष्म उवाच एवमुक्त्वा ततो रामः सह तैर्ब्रह्मवादिभिः प्रयाणाय मतिं कृत्वा समुत्तस्थौ महामनाः
M. N. Dutt: Rama saying this, along with those conversant with Brahma, those great devotees rose up intending to depart.
ततस्ते तामुषित्वा तु रजनीं तत्र तापसाः हुताग्नयो जप्तजप्याः प्रतस्थुर्मज्जिघांसया
M. N. Dutt: Then those devotees, staying there for the night, performed their Homa and other ceremonies and went away with the desire of taking my life.
अभ्यगच्छत्ततो रामः सह तैर्ब्राह्मणर्षभैः कुरुक्षेत्रं महाराज कन्यया सह भारत
M. N. Dutt: Then did Rama depart accompanied by those utters of Brahma, making for Kurukshetra, O great king, and taking that girl with him.
न्यविशन्त ततः सर्वे परिगृह्य सरस्वतीम् तापसास्ते महात्मानो भृगुश्रेष्ठपुरस्कृताः
M. N. Dutt: All of them, namely those great-souled ascetics with that foremost among the race of Bhrigu at their head, having reached the river Sarasvati, encamped there.