Critical Edition
संजय उवाच ततस्ते पार्थिवाः सर्वे जग्मुः स्वानालयान्पुनः तूष्णींभूते महाराज भीष्मे शंतनुनन्दने
M. N. Dutt: Sanjaya said After Bhishma the son of Shantanu had ceased speaking, O mighty monarch, all the rulers of earth that had come there, went back to their respective quarters.
श्रुत्वा तु निहतं भीष्मं राधेयः पुरुषर्षभः ईषदागतसंत्रासः त्वरयोपजगाम ह
M. N. Dutt: Hearing of the slaughter of Bhishma, that best of men, Vikarna's terrified to a certain extent, quickly to the spot where Bhishma lay.
स ददर्श महात्मानं शरतल्पगतं तदा जन्मशय्यागतं देवं कार्त्तिकेयमिव प्रभुम्
M. N. Dutt: There he saw the illustrious hero lying on his arrowy bed, like the heroic lord Kartikeya lying after his birth on his bed of reeds.
निमीलिताक्षं तं वीरं साश्रुकण्ठस्तदा वृषः अभ्येत्य पादयोस्तस्य निपपात महाद्युतिः
M. N. Dutt: Then the highly effulgent Vrisha (Karna), with voice with tears of grief, approaching that hero lying with his eyes shut, fell at his two feet.
Supplementary Passages:
6.117.4 After 4ab, K2 B1.2 Da Dn1 D5 ins.: B4 Dn2 D4.7.8 subst. for 4ab: *504 भीष्म भीष्म महाबाहो इत्युवाच महाद्युतिः
राधेयोऽहं कुरुश्रेष्ठ नित्यं चाक्षिगतस्तव द्वेष्योऽत्यन्तमनागाः सन्निति चैनमुवाच ह
M. N. Dutt: "I am Radha's son, O foremost of the Kurus, who whenever he became the object of your sight, looked upon with enmity by ." These were the words he then addressed to Bhishma.
तच्छ्रुत्वा कुरुवृद्धः स बलात्संवृत्तलोचनः शनैरुद्वीक्ष्य सस्नेहमिदं वचनमब्रवीत्
AI Translation: Hearing that, the aged Kuru, his eyes forcibly closed, gently opened his eyes and said these words with affection:
रहितं धिष्ण्यमालोक्य समुत्सार्य च रक्षिणः पितेव पुत्रं गाङ्गेयः परिष्वज्यैकबाहुना
AI Translation: Seeing the sacrificial ground empty, and having dismissed the guards, like a father embracing his son, the son of Ganga embraced him with one arm.
एह्येहि मे विप्रतीप स्पर्धसे त्वं मया सह यदि मां नाभिगच्छेथा न ते श्रेयो भवेद्ध्रुवम्
M. N. Dutt: Come, come you were ever my opponent, and ever tried to outvote me. Every think would not surely have well with you, had you not come here.
कौन्तेयस्त्वं न राधेयो विदितो नारदान्मम कृष्णद्वैपायनाच्चैव केशवाच्च न संशयः
AI Translation: O son of Kunti, you are not known to me as Radheya, nor from Narada, nor from Krishna Dvaipayana, nor from Keshava. There is no doubt.
Supplementary Passages:
6.117.9 After 9a, all MSS. (except M) ins.: *505 न तवाधिरथः पिता सूर्यजस्त्वं महाबाहो
न च द्वेषोऽस्ति मे तात त्वयि सत्यं ब्रवीमि ते तेजोवधनिमित्तं तु परुषाण्यहमुक्तवान्
AI Translation: And I have no hatred for you, father, I tell you the truth. But I spoke harshly because of the destruction of my splendor.
अकस्मात्पाण्डवान्हि त्वं द्विषसीति मतिर्मम येनासि बहुशो रूक्षं चोदितः सूर्यनन्दन
AI Translation: I think that you suddenly hate the Pandavas. You have been rebuked many times by the son of the sun.
Supplementary Passages:
6.117.11 After 11, Dn2 D4.6.8 ins.: *506 जातोऽसि धर्मलोपेन ततस्ते बुद्धिरीदृशी नीचाश्रयान्मत्सरेण द्वेषिणी गुणिनामपि तेनासि बहुशो रूक्षं श्रावितः कुरुसंसदि
जानामि समरे वीर्यं शत्रुभिर्दुःसहं तव ब्रह्मण्यतां च शौर्यं च दाने च परमां गतिम्
AI Translation: I know your valour in battle, which is difficult for enemies to withstand, and your devotion to the Brahmanas, your courage, and your supreme devotion to charity.
न त्वया सदृशः कश्चित्पुरुषेष्वमरोपम कुलभेदं च मत्वाहं सदा परुषमुक्तवान्
AI Translation: There is no one like you among men, O immortal one. And knowing the difference in our families, I have always spoken harshly.
इष्वस्त्रे भारसंधाने लाघवेऽस्त्रबले तथा सदृशः फल्गुनेनासि कृष्णेन च महात्मना
AI Translation: In archery, in the application of weight, in lightness, in the power of weapons, You are equal to Phalguna and to the great-souled Krishna.
कर्ण राजपुरं गत्वा त्वयैकेन धनुष्मता तस्यार्थे कुरुराजस्य राजानो मृदिता युधि
AI Translation: Having gone to the city of the king, you alone, a bowman, For his sake, the kings of the Kurus were crushed in battle.
तथा च बलवान्राजा जरासंधो दुरासदः समरे समरश्लाघी त्वया न सदृशोऽभवत्
AI Translation: And the powerful king Jarasandha, who was difficult to approach, was not equal to you in battle, who praised battle.
ब्रह्मण्यः सत्यवादी च तेजसार्क इवापरः देवगर्भोऽजितः संख्ये मनुष्यैरधिको भुवि
AI Translation: He is devoted to Brahman, truthful in speech, and like another sun in splendor. He is the embryo of the gods, unconquered in battle, and superior to men on earth.
व्यपनीतोऽद्य मन्युर्मे यस्त्वां प्रति पुरा कृतः दैवं पुरुषकारेण न शक्यमतिवर्तितुम्
AI Translation: I have now removed the anger I had against you before. Fate cannot be overcome by human effort.
सोदर्याः पाण्डवा वीरा भ्रातरस्तेऽरिसूदन संगच्छ तैर्महाबाहो मम चेदिच्छसि प्रियम्
AI Translation: O slayer of enemies, your heroic brothers, the sons of Pandu, are your co-uterine brothers. O mighty-armed one, if you desire my good, then unite with them.
मया भवतु निर्वृत्तं वैरमादित्यनन्दन पृथिव्यां सर्वराजानो भवन्त्वद्य निरामयाः
M. N. Dutt: O mighty-armed hero, if you desire to do what is agreeable to me, then be reconciled to them. O son of the Sun, let hostilities see their end at my fall. Let all kings of the earth be relieved of their burden of anxiety and dangers.
कर्ण उवाच जानाम्यहं महाप्राज्ञ सर्वमेतन्न संशयः यथा वदसि दुर्धर्ष कौन्तेयोऽहं न सूतजः
M. N. Dutt: Karna said I know all this, O mighty-armed her; there is nothing to be doubted in what you have spoken. You speak truly, O Bhishma. I am Kunti's son, and not that of a charioteer.
अवकीर्णस्त्वहं कुन्त्या सूतेन च विवर्धितः भुक्त्वा दुर्योधनैश्वर्यं न मिथ्या कर्तुमुत्सहे
M. N. Dutt: I was however disowned by Kunti, and I have been brought up by a charioteer. Having enjoyed the wealth of Duryodhana so long, I can not venture to disappoint his hopes.
Supplementary Passages:
6.117.22 After 22, K4 B Da Dn D4-8 ins.: *507 वसुदेवसुतो यद्वत्पाण्डवाय दृढव्रतः
वसु चैव शरीरं च यदुदारं तथा यशः सर्वं दुर्योधनस्यार्थे त्यक्तं मे भूरिदक्षिण कोपिताः पाण्डवा नित्यं मयाश्रित्य सुयोधनम्
AI Translation: Vasu, and the body, and the great fame, all this, O bountiful one, was given up by me for Duryodhana's sake. The Pandavas were
Supplementary Passages:
6.117.23 Ś1 K0-2 D3.6 ins. after 23cd; D1 after 23: *508 तथा दुर्योधनस्यार्थे वीरमार्गनिषेविणा On the other hand, K4 B Da Dn D5.7.8 ins. after 23cd; D6, after 508*: *509 मा चैतद्व्याधिमरणं क्षत्रं स्यादिति कौरव
अवश्यभावी वै योऽर्थो न स शक्यो निवर्तितुम् दैवं पुरुषकारेण को निवर्तितुमुत्सहेत्
AI Translation: That thing which is certain to happen cannot be averted. Who would dare to avert fate by human effort?
पृथिवीक्षयशंसीनि निमित्तानि पितामह भवद्भिरुपलब्धानि कथितानि च संसदि
AI Translation: O Grandfather, you have seen and declared in the assembly the omens foretelling the destruction of the earth.
पाण्डवा वासुदेवश्च विदिता मम सर्वशः अजेयाः पुरुषैरन्यैरिति तांश्चोत्सहामहे
AI Translation: I know all about the Pandavas and Vasudéva. I am not afraid of them, for I know that they cannot be conquered by any other men.
Supplementary Passages:
6.117.26 After 26, K4 B2.4 Da Dn D4-8 ins.: *510 विजयिष्ये रणे पाण्डूनिति मे निश्चितं मतम् न चेच्छक्यमवस्रष्टुं वैरमेतत्सुदारुणम् धनंजयेन योत्स्येऽहं स्वधर्मप्रीतमानसः On the other hand, T1 G1.2.4 ins. after 26: *511 अधर्मं व्याधिमरणं क्षत्रियस्य पितामह
अनुजानीष्व मां तात युद्धे प्रीतमनाः सदा अनुज्ञातस्त्वया वीर युध्येयमिति मे मतिः
M. N. Dutt: Determined as I am to fight, it behaves you, O sire, to accord me your permission. With your permission, O hero, I intend to fight.
दुरुक्तं विप्रतीपं वा संरम्भाच्चापलात्तथा यन्मयापकृतं किंचित्तदनुक्षन्तुमर्हसि
M. N. Dutt: It also befits you, to forgive me any cruel word I might have uttered against you at any time, as also any act injurious to you, that I might have done, through malice or fickleness.
भीष्म उवाच न चेच्छक्यमथोत्स्रष्टुं वैरमेतत्सुदारुणम् अनुजानामि कर्ण त्वां युध्यस्व स्वर्गकाम्यया
M. N. Dutt: Bhishma said If indeed you can not cast off the fierce hostility you have imbibed against the Pandavas, then O Karna, I accord you my permission. Fight, actuated by a desire for attaining paradise.
विमन्युर्गतसंरम्भः कुरु कर्म नृपस्य हि यथाशक्ति यथोत्साहं सतां वृत्तेषु वृत्तवान्
M. N. Dutt: Free from wrath and malice, do you carry out the commissions of the king, to the best of your abilities and energies, and observant of the conduct of the righteous.
अहं त्वामनुजानामि यदिच्छसि तदाप्नुहि क्षत्रधर्मजिताँल्लोकान्संप्राप्स्यसि न संशयः
M. N. Dutt: I do accord you my unqualified permission; attain what you desire to attain. Through the instrumentality of Dhananjaya, you shall attain to those (posthumous) regions that are secured by the observance of a Kshatriya's duties.
युध्यस्व निरहंकारो बलवीर्यव्यपाश्रयः धर्मो हि युद्धाच्छ्रेयोऽन्यत्क्षत्रियस्य न विद्यते
M. N. Dutt: Casting off arrogance and depending on your own prowess and strength, engage yourself in the fight; for what is there more desirable to a Kshatriya than a righteous battle?
प्रशमे हि कृतो यत्नः सुचिरात्सुचिरं मया न चैव शकितः कर्तुं यतो धर्मस्ततो जयः
M. N. Dutt: For long and strenuously, did I strive to bring about peace. But I failed to accomplish the task; this, O Karna, I tell you forsooth.
संजय उवाच एवं ब्रुवन्तं गाङ्गेयमभिवाद्य प्रसाद्य च राधेयो रथमारुह्य प्रायात्तव सुतं प्रति
M. N. Dutt: Sanjaya said When Ganga's son had thus spoken, the son of Radha, having saluted and propitiated the former, mounted his chariot and drove towards the pavilion of your son.
Supplementary Passages:
6.117.34 Before the last colophon (i. e. after 6.117. 34), K3 ins.: *512 य इदं शृणुयाद्भक्त्या भीष्मपर्व महाद्भुतम् आजन्मसंचितात्पापान्मुच्यते नात्र संशयः भीष्मपर्व इदं श्रुत्वा शतभोज्यं तु दापयेत् सर्वतीर्थफलं चैव सर्वयज्ञफलं लभेत् एतद्वै पर्वदानं च दत्त्वा स्वर्णादिदक्षिणाम् समाहितफलावाप्तिर्जायते नात्र संशयः अश्वमेधसहस्रस्य राजसूयशतस्य च गवां कोटिप्रदानस्य फलं स्याद्भीष्मपर्वणि भीष्मपर्व इदं श्रुत्वा पूजयेद्यस्तु वाचकम् तेन ब्रह्मा च रुद्रश्च विष्णुश्च वसवस्तथा पूजिता ऋषयः सर्वे पितरश्च सहाग्निभिः प्रसन्ने वाचके विप्रे प्रसन्नाः सर्वदेवताः धर्मार्थकाममोक्षाणां स फलं प्राप्नुयान्नरः पञ्च श्लोकसहस्राणि तथा ह्यष्टौ शतानि च श्लोकाश्च चतुराशीतिः प्रोक्ता व्यासेन धीमता Before the last colophon (i. e. after 6.117. 34), D1 ins.: *513 श्रद्धया परया युक्तो भीष्मपर्व शृणोति यः मुच्यते ब्रह्महत्याया जयं वै लभते ध्रुवम् ब्राह्मणान्भोजयेत्सम्यग्वस्त्रालंकारगोधनैः पूजयेच्चैव वक्तारं भीष्मपर्वणि वै गृही