Bhisma Parwa 116

Mahabharata 6.116

 

Bhisma Parwa 116

 

  1 संजय उवाच
     वयुष्टायां तु महाराज रजन्यां सर्वपार्थिवाः
     पाण्डवा धार्तराष्ट्राश च अभिजग्मुः पितामहम
 2 तं वीरशयने वीरं शयानं कुरुसत्तमम
     अभिवाद्यॊपतस्थुर वै कषत्रियाः कषत्रियर्षभम
 3 कन्याश चन्दनचूर्णैश च लाजैर माल्यैश च सर्वशः
     सत्रियॊ बालास तथा वृद्धाः परेक्षकाश च पृथग्जनाः
     समभ्ययुः शांतनवं भूतानीव तमॊनुदम
 4 तूर्याणि गणिका वारास तथैव नटनर्तकाः
     उपानृत्यञ जगुश चैव वृद्धं कुरुपितामहम
 5 उपारम्य च युद्धेभ्यः संनाहान विप्रमुच्य च
     आयुधानि च निक्षिप्य सहिताः कुरुपाण्डवाः
 6 अन्वासत दुराधर्षं देवव्रतम अरिंदमम
     अन्यॊन्यं परीतिमन्तस ते यथापूर्वं यथावयः
 7 सा पार्थिवशताकीर्णा समितिर भीष्मशॊभिता
     शुशुभे भारती दीप्ता दिवीवादित्यमण्डलम
 8 विबभौ च नृपाणां सा पितामहम उपासताम
     देवानाम इव देवेशं पितामहम उपासताम
 9 भीष्मस तु वेदनां धैर्यान निगृह्य भरतर्षभ
     अभितप्तः शरैश चैव नातिहृष्टमनाब्रवीत
 10 शराभितप्तकायॊ ऽहं शरसंतापमूर्छितः
    पानीयम अभिकाङ्क्षे ऽहं राज्ञस तान परत्यभाषत
 11 ततस ते कषत्रिया राजन समाजह्रुः समन्ततः
    भक्ष्यान उच्चावचांस तत्र वारिकुम्भांश च शीतलान
 12 उपनीतं च तद दृष्ट्वा भीष्मः शांतनवॊ ऽबरवीत
    नाद्य तात मया शक्यं भॊगान कांश चन मानुषान
 13 उपभॊक्तुं मनुष्येभ्यः शरशय्यागते हय अहम
    परतीक्षमाणस तिष्ठामि निवृत्तिं शशिसूर्ययॊः
 14 एवम उक्त्वा शांतनवॊ दीनवाक सर्वपार्थिवान
    धनंजयं महाबाहुम अभ्यभाषत भारत
 15 अथॊपेत्य महाबाहुर अभिवाद्य पितामहम
    अतिष्ठत पराञ्जलिः परह्वः किं करॊमीति चाब्रवीत
 16 तं दृष्ट्वा पाण्डवं राजन्न अभिवाद्याग्रतः सथितम
    अभ्यभाषत धर्मात्मा भीष्मः परीतॊ धनंजयम
 17 दह्यते ऽदः शरीरं मे संस्यूतॊ ऽसमि महेषुभिः
    मर्माणि परिदूयन्ते वदनं मम शुष्यति
 18 हलादनार्थं शरीरस्य परयच्छापॊ ममार्जुन
    तवं हि शक्तॊ महेष्वास दातुम अम्भॊ यथाविधि
 19 अर्जुनस तु तथेत्य उक्त्वा रथम आरुह्य वीर्यवान
    अधिज्यं बलवत कृत्वा गाण्डीवं वयाक्षिपद धनुः
 20 तस्य जयातलनिर्घॊषं विस्फूर्जितम इवाशनेः
    वित्रेसुः सर्वभूतानि शरुत्वा सर्वे च पार्थिवाः
 21 ततः परदक्षिणं कृत्वा रथेन रथिनां वरः
    शयानं भरतश्रेष्ठं सर्वशस्त्रभृतां वरम
 22 संधाय च शरं दीप्तम अभिमन्त्र्य महायशाः
    पर्जन्यास्त्रेण संयॊज्य सर्वलॊकस्य पश्यतः
    अविध्यत पृथिवीं पार्थः पार्श्वे भीष्मस्य दक्षिणे
 23 उत्पपात ततॊ धारा विमला वारिणः शिवा
    शीतस्यामृतकल्पस्य दिव्यगन्धरसस्य च
 24 अतर्पयत ततः पार्थः शीतया वारिधारया
    भीष्मं कुरूणाम ऋषभं दिव्यकर्मपराक्रमः
 25 कर्मणा तेन पार्थस्य शक्रष्येव विकुर्वतः
    विस्मयं परमं जग्मुस ततस ते वसुधाधिपाः
 26 तत कर्म परेक्ष्य बीभत्सॊर अतिमानुषम अद्भुतम
    संप्रावेपन्त कुरवॊ गावः शीतार्दिता इव
 27 विस्मयाच चॊत्तरीयाणि वयाविध्यन सर्वतॊ नृपाः
    शङ्खदुन्दुभिनिर्घॊषैस तुमुलं सर्वतॊ ऽभवत
 28 तृप्तं शांतनवश चापि राजन बीभत्सुम अब्रवीत
    सर्वपार्थिववीराणां संनिधौ पूजयन्न इव
 29 नैतच चित्रं महाबाहॊ तवयि कौरवनन्दन
    कथितॊ नारदेनासि पूर्वर्षिर अमितद्युतिः
 30 वासुदेवसहायस तवं महत कर्म करिष्यसि
    यन नॊत्सहति देवेन्द्रः सह देवैर अपि धरुवम
 31 विदुस तवां निधनं पार्थ सर्वक्षत्रस्य तद्विदः
    धनुर्धराणाम एकस तवं पृथिव्यां परवरॊ नृषु
 32 मनुष्या जगति शरेष्ठाः पक्षिणां गरुडॊ वरः
    सरसां सागरः शरेष्ठॊ गौर वरिष्ठा चतुष्पदाम
 33 आदित्यस तेजसां शरेष्ठॊ गिरीणां हिमवान वरः
    जातीनां बराह्मणः शरेष्ठः शरेष्ठस तवम असि धन्विनाम
 34 न वै शरुतं धार्तराष्ट्रेण वाक्यं; संबॊध्यमानं विदुरेण चैव
    दरॊणेन रामेण जनार्दनेन; मुहुर मुहुः संजयेनापि चॊक्तम
 35 परीतबुद्धिर हि विसंज्ञकल्पॊ; दुर्यॊधनॊ नाभ्यनन्दद वचॊ मे
    स शेष्यते वै निहतश चिराय; शास्तातिगॊ भीमबलाभिभूतः
 36 ततः शरुत्वा तद वचः कौरवेन्द्रॊ; दुर्यॊधनॊ दीनमना बभूव
    तम अब्रवीच छांतनवॊ ऽभिवीक्ष्य; निबॊध राजन भव वीतमन्युः
 37 दृष्टं दुर्यॊधनेदं ते यथा पार्थेन धीमता
    जलस्य धारा जनिता शीतस्यामृतगन्धिनः
    एतस्य कर्ता लॊके ऽसमिन नान्यः कश चन विद्यते
 38 आग्नेयं वारुणं सौम्यं वायव्यम अथ वैष्णवम
    ऐन्द्रं पाशुपतं बराह्मं पारमेष्ठ्यं परजापतेः
    धातुस तवष्टुश च सवितुर दिव्यान्य अस्त्राणि सर्वशः
 39 सर्वस्मिन मानुषे लॊके वेत्त्य एकॊ हि धनंजयः
    कृष्णॊ वा देवकीपुत्रॊ नान्यॊ वै वेद कश चन
    न शक्याः पाण्डवास तात युद्धे जेतुं कथं चन
 40 अमानुषाणि कर्माणि यस्यैतानि महात्मनः
    तेन सत्त्ववता संख्ये शूरेणाहवशॊभिना
    कृतिना समरे राजन संधिस ते तात युज्यताम
 41 यावत कृष्णॊ महाबाहुः सवाधीनः कुरुसंसदि
    तावत पार्थेन शूरेण संधिस ते तात युज्यताम
 42 यावच चमूं न ते शेषां शरैः संनतपर्वभिः
    नाशयत्य अर्जुनस तावत संधिस ते तात युज्यताम
 43 यावत तिष्ठन्ति समरे हतशेषाः सहॊदराः
    नृपाश च बहवॊ राजंस तावत संधिः परयुज्यताम
 44 न निर्दहति ते यावत करॊधदीप्तेक्षणश चमूम
    युधिष्ठिरॊ हि तावद वै संधिस ते तात युज्यताम
 45 नकुलः सहदेवश च भीमसेनश च पाण्डवः
    यावच चमूं महाराज नाशयन्ति न सर्वशः
    तावत ते पाण्डवैः सार्धं सौभ्रात्रं तात रॊचताम
 46 युद्धं मदन्तम एवास्तु तात संशाम्य पाण्डवैः
    एतत ते रॊचतां वाक्यं यद उक्तॊ ऽसि मयानघ
    एतत कषेमम अहं मन्ये तव चैव कुलस्य च
 47 तयक्त्वा मन्युम उपशाम्यस्व पार्थैः; पर्याप्तम एतद यत कृतं फल्गुनेन
    भीष्मस्यान्ताद अस्तु वः सौहृदं वा; संप्रश्लेषः साधु राजन परसीद
 48 राज्यस्यार्धं दीयतां पाण्डवानाम; इन्द्रप्रस्थं धर्मराजॊ ऽनुशास्तु
    मा मित्रध्रुक पार्थिवानां जघन्यः; पापां कीर्तिं पराप्स्यसे कौरवेन्द्र
 49 ममावसानाच छान्तिर अस्तु परजानां; संगच्छन्तां पार्थिवाः परीतिमन्तः
    पिता पुत्रं मातुलं भागिनेयॊ; भराता चैव भरातरं परैतु राजन
 50 न चेद एवं पराप्तकालं वचॊ मे; मॊहाविष्टः परतिपत्स्यस्य अबुद्ध्या
    भीष्मस्यान्ताद एतदन्ताः सथ सर्वे; सत्याम एतां भारतीम ईरयामि
 51 एतद वाक्यं सौहृदाद आपगेयॊ; मध्ये राज्ञां भारतं शरावयित्वा
    तूष्णीम आसीच छल्यसंतप्तमर्मा; यत्वात्मानं वेदनां संनिगृह्य

 

 1 saṃjaya uvāca
     vyuṣṭāyāṃ tu mahārāja rajanyāṃ sarvapārthivāḥ
     pāṇḍavā dhārtarāṣṭrāś ca abhijagmuḥ pitāmaham
 2 taṃ vīraśayane vīraṃ śayānaṃ kurusattamam
     abhivādyopatasthur vai kṣatriyāḥ kṣatriyarṣabham
 3 kanyāś candanacūrṇaiś ca lājair mālyaiś ca sarvaśaḥ
     striyo bālās tathā vṛddhāḥ prekṣakāś ca pṛthagjanāḥ
     samabhyayuḥ śāṃtanavaṃ bhūtānīva tamonudam
 4 tūryāṇi gaṇikā vārās tathaiva naṭanartakāḥ
     upānṛtyañ jaguś caiva vṛddhaṃ kurupitāmaham
 5 upāramya ca yuddhebhyaḥ saṃnāhān vipramucya ca
     āyudhāni ca nikṣipya sahitāḥ kurupāṇḍavāḥ
 6 anvāsata durādharṣaṃ devavratam ariṃdamam
     anyonyaṃ prītimantas te yathāpūrvaṃ yathāvayaḥ
 7 sā pārthivaśatākīrṇā samitir bhīṣmaśobhitā
     śuśubhe bhāratī dīptā divīvādityamaṇḍalam
 8 vibabhau ca nṛpāṇāṃ sā pitāmaham upāsatām
     devānām iva deveśaṃ pitāmaham upāsatām
 9 bhīṣmas tu vedanāṃ dhairyān nigṛhya bharatarṣabha
     abhitaptaḥ śaraiś caiva nātihṛṣṭamanābravīt
 10 śarābhitaptakāyo 'haṃ śarasaṃtāpamūrchitaḥ
    pānīyam abhikāṅkṣe 'haṃ rājñas tān pratyabhāṣata
 11 tatas te kṣatriyā rājan samājahruḥ samantataḥ
    bhakṣyān uccāvacāṃs tatra vārikumbhāṃś ca śītalān
 12 upanītaṃ ca tad dṛṣṭvā bhīṣmaḥ śāṃtanavo 'bravīt
    nādya tāta mayā śakyaṃ bhogān kāṃś cana mānuṣān
 13 upabhoktuṃ manuṣyebhyaḥ śaraśayyāgate hy aham
    pratīkṣamāṇas tiṣṭhāmi nivṛttiṃ śaśisūryayoḥ
 14 evam uktvā śāṃtanavo dīnavāk sarvapārthivān
    dhanaṃjayaṃ mahābāhum abhyabhāṣata bhārata
 15 athopetya mahābāhur abhivādya pitāmaham
    atiṣṭhat prāñjaliḥ prahvaḥ kiṃ karomīti cābravīt
 16 taṃ dṛṣṭvā pāṇḍavaṃ rājann abhivādyāgrataḥ sthitam
    abhyabhāṣata dharmātmā bhīṣmaḥ prīto dhanaṃjayam
 17 dahyate 'daḥ śarīraṃ me saṃsyūto 'smi maheṣubhiḥ
    marmāṇi paridūyante vadanaṃ mama śuṣyati
 18 hlādanārthaṃ śarīrasya prayacchāpo mamārjuna
    tvaṃ hi śakto maheṣvāsa dātum ambho yathāvidhi
 19 arjunas tu tathety uktvā ratham āruhya vīryavān
    adhijyaṃ balavat kṛtvā gāṇḍīvaṃ vyākṣipad dhanuḥ
 20 tasya jyātalanirghoṣaṃ visphūrjitam ivāśaneḥ
    vitresuḥ sarvabhūtāni śrutvā sarve ca pārthivāḥ
 21 tataḥ pradakṣiṇaṃ kṛtvā rathena rathināṃ varaḥ
    śayānaṃ bharataśreṣṭhaṃ sarvaśastrabhṛtāṃ varam
 22 saṃdhāya ca śaraṃ dīptam abhimantrya mahāyaśāḥ
    parjanyāstreṇa saṃyojya sarvalokasya paśyataḥ
    avidhyat pṛthivīṃ pārthaḥ pārśve bhīṣmasya dakṣiṇe
 23 utpapāta tato dhārā vimalā vāriṇaḥ śivā
    śītasyāmṛtakalpasya divyagandharasasya ca
 24 atarpayat tataḥ pārthaḥ śītayā vāridhārayā
    bhīṣmaṃ kurūṇām ṛṣabhaṃ divyakarmaparākramaḥ
 25 karmaṇā tena pārthasya śakraṣyeva vikurvataḥ
    vismayaṃ paramaṃ jagmus tatas te vasudhādhipāḥ
 26 tat karma prekṣya bībhatsor atimānuṣam adbhutam
    saṃprāvepanta kuravo gāvaḥ śītārditā iva
 27 vismayāc cottarīyāṇi vyāvidhyan sarvato nṛpāḥ
    śaṅkhadundubhinirghoṣais tumulaṃ sarvato 'bhavat
 28 tṛptaṃ śāṃtanavaś cāpi rājan bībhatsum abravīt
    sarvapārthivavīrāṇāṃ saṃnidhau pūjayann iva
 29 naitac citraṃ mahābāho tvayi kauravanandana
    kathito nāradenāsi pūrvarṣir amitadyutiḥ
 30 vāsudevasahāyas tvaṃ mahat karma kariṣyasi
    yan notsahati devendraḥ saha devair api dhruvam
 31 vidus tvāṃ nidhanaṃ pārtha sarvakṣatrasya tadvidaḥ
    dhanurdharāṇām ekas tvaṃ pṛthivyāṃ pravaro nṛṣu
 32 manuṣyā jagati śreṣṭhāḥ pakṣiṇāṃ garuḍo varaḥ
    sarasāṃ sāgaraḥ śreṣṭho gaur variṣṭhā catuṣpadām
 33 ādityas tejasāṃ śreṣṭho girīṇāṃ himavān varaḥ
    jātīnāṃ brāhmaṇaḥ śreṣṭhaḥ śreṣṭhas tvam asi dhanvinām
 34 na vai śrutaṃ dhārtarāṣṭreṇa vākyaṃ; saṃbodhyamānaṃ vidureṇa caiva
    droṇena rāmeṇa janārdanena; muhur muhuḥ saṃjayenāpi coktam
 35 parītabuddhir hi visaṃjñakalpo; duryodhano nābhyanandad vaco me
    sa śeṣyate vai nihataś cirāya; śāstātigo bhīmabalābhibhūtaḥ
 36 tataḥ śrutvā tad vacaḥ kauravendro; duryodhano dīnamanā babhūva
    tam abravīc chāṃtanavo 'bhivīkṣya; nibodha rājan bhava vītamanyuḥ
 37 dṛṣṭaṃ duryodhanedaṃ te yathā pārthena dhīmatā
    jalasya dhārā janitā śītasyāmṛtagandhinaḥ
    etasya kartā loke 'smin nānyaḥ kaś cana vidyate
 38 āgneyaṃ vāruṇaṃ saumyaṃ vāyavyam atha vaiṣṇavam
    aindraṃ pāśupataṃ brāhmaṃ pārameṣṭhyaṃ prajāpateḥ
    dhātus tvaṣṭuś ca savitur divyāny astrāṇi sarvaśaḥ
 39 sarvasmin mānuṣe loke vetty eko hi dhanaṃjayaḥ
    kṛṣṇo vā devakīputro nānyo vai veda kaś cana
    na śakyāḥ pāṇḍavās tāta yuddhe jetuṃ kathaṃ cana
 40 amānuṣāṇi karmāṇi yasyaitāni mahātmanaḥ
    tena sattvavatā saṃkhye śūreṇāhavaśobhinā
    kṛtinā samare rājan saṃdhis te tāta yujyatām
 41 yāvat kṛṣṇo mahābāhuḥ svādhīnaḥ kurusaṃsadi
    tāvat pārthena śūreṇa saṃdhis te tāta yujyatām
 42 yāvac camūṃ na te śeṣāṃ śaraiḥ saṃnataparvabhiḥ
    nāśayaty arjunas tāvat saṃdhis te tāta yujyatām
 43 yāvat tiṣṭhanti samare hataśeṣāḥ sahodarāḥ
    nṛpāś ca bahavo rājaṃs tāvat saṃdhiḥ prayujyatām
 44 na nirdahati te yāvat krodhadīptekṣaṇaś camūm
    yudhiṣṭhiro hi tāvad vai saṃdhis te tāta yujyatām
 45 nakulaḥ sahadevaś ca bhīmasenaś ca pāṇḍavaḥ
    yāvac camūṃ mahārāja nāśayanti na sarvaśaḥ
    tāvat te pāṇḍavaiḥ sārdhaṃ saubhrātraṃ tāta rocatām
 46 yuddhaṃ madantam evāstu tāta saṃśāmya pāṇḍavaiḥ
    etat te rocatāṃ vākyaṃ yad ukto 'si mayānagha
    etat kṣemam ahaṃ manye tava caiva kulasya ca
 47 tyaktvā manyum upaśāmyasva pārthaiḥ; paryāptam etad yat kṛtaṃ phalgunena
    bhīṣmasyāntād astu vaḥ sauhṛdaṃ vā; saṃpraśleṣaḥ sādhu rājan prasīda
 48 rājyasyārdhaṃ dīyatāṃ pāṇḍavānām; indraprasthaṃ dharmarājo 'nuśāstu
    mā mitradhruk pārthivānāṃ jaghanyaḥ; pāpāṃ kīrtiṃ prāpsyase kauravendra
 49 mamāvasānāc chāntir astu prajānāṃ; saṃgacchantāṃ pārthivāḥ prītimantaḥ
    pitā putraṃ mātulaṃ bhāgineyo; bhrātā caiva bhrātaraṃ praitu rājan
 50 na ced evaṃ prāptakālaṃ vaco me; mohāviṣṭaḥ pratipatsyasy abuddhyā
    bhīṣmasyāntād etadantāḥ stha sarve; satyām etāṃ bhāratīm īrayāmi
 51 etad vākyaṃ sauhṛdād āpageyo; madhye rājñāṃ bhārataṃ śrāvayitvā
    tūṣṇīm āsīc chalyasaṃtaptamarmā; yatvātmānaṃ vedanāṃ saṃnigṛhya

 

Sanjaya said,--'After the night had passed away, O monarch, all the kings, the Pandavas and the Dhartarashtras, repaired to the grandsire, Those Kshatriyas then saluted that bull of their order, that foremost one among the Kurus, that hero lying on a hero's bed, and stood in his presence. Maidens by thousands, having repaired to that place, gently showered over Santanu's son powdered sandal wood and fried paddy, and garlands of flowers. And women and old men and children, and ordinary spectators, all approached Santanu's son like creatures of the world desirous of beholding the Sun. And trumpets by hundreds and thousands, and actors, and mimes, and skilled mechanics also came to the aged Kuru grandsire. And ceasing to fight, putting aside their coats of mail, and lying aside their weapons, the Kurus and the Pandavas, united together, came to the invincible Devavrata, that chastiser of foes. And they were assembled together as in days of old, and cheerfully addressed one another according to their respective ages. And that conclave full of Bharata kings by hundreds and adorned with Bhishma, looked beautiful and blazing like a conclave of the gods in heaven. And that conclave of kings engaged in honouring the son of Ganga looked as beautiful as a conclave of the celestials engaged in adorning their Lord, viz., the Grandsire (Brahman). Bhishma, however, O bull of Bharata's race, suppressing his agonies with fortitude though burning with the arrows (still sticking to his body), was sighing like a snake. His body burning with these arrows, and himself nearly deprived of his senses in consequence of his weapon-wounds, Bhishma cast his eyes on those kings and asked for water. Then those Kshatriyas, O king, brought thither excellent viands and several vessels of cold water. Beholding that water brought for him, Santanu's son said,--I cannot, O sire, now use any article of human enjoyment! I am removed from the pale of humanity. I am lying on a bed of arrows. I am staying here, expecting only the return of the Moon and the Sun! Having spoken these words and thereby rebuked those kings, O Bharata, he said,--I wish to see Arjuna!--The mighty-armed Arjuna then came there, and reverentially saluting the grandsire stood with joined hands, and said,--What shall I do?--Beholding then that son of Pandu, O monarch, thus standing before him after having offered him respectful salutations, Bhishma of righteous soul cheerfully addressed Dhananjaya, saying,--Covered all over with thy shafts, my body is burning greatly! All the vital parts of my body are in agony. My mouth is dry. Staying as I am with body afflicted with agony, give me water, O Arjuna! Thou art a great bowman! Thou art capable of giving me water duly!--The valiant Arjuna then saying,--So be it,--mounted on his car, and striking his Gandiva with force, began to stretch it. Hearing the twang of his bow and the slap of his palms which resembled the roar of the thunder, the troops and the kings were all inspired with fear. Then that foremost of car-warriors, mounted on his car, circumambulated that prostrate chief of the Bharatas, that foremost of all wielders of weapons. Aiming then a blazing arrow, after having inspired it with Mantras and identified it with the Parjanya weapon, in the very sight of the entire army, the son of Pandu, viz., Partha, pierced the Earth a little to the south of where Bhishma lay. Then there arose a jet of water that was pure, and auspicious, and cool, and that resembling the nectar itself, was of celestial scent and taste. And with that cool jet of water Partha gratified Bhishma, that bull among the Kurus, of godlike deeds and prowess. And at that feat of Partha who resembled Sakra himself in his acts, all those rulers of Earth were filled with great wonder. And beholding that feat of Vibhatsu implying superhuman prowess, the Kurus trembled like kine afflicted with cold. And from wonder all the kings there present waved their garments (in the air). And loud was the blare of conchs and the beat of drums that were then heard all over the field. And Santanu's son, his thirst quenched, then addressed Jishnu, O monarch, and said, applauding him highly in the presence of all those kings, these words, viz.,--O thou of mighty arms, this is not wonderful in thee, O son of Kuru's race! O thou of immeasurable effulgence, even Narada spoke of thee as an ancient Rishi! Indeed, with Vasudeva as thy ally, thou wilt achieve many mighty feats which the chief of the celestials himself with all the gods, of a certainty, will not venture to achieve! They that have knowledge of such things know thee to be the destroyer of the whole Kshatriya race! Thou art the one bowman among the bowmen of the world! Thou art the foremost among men. As human beings are, in this world, foremost of all creatures, as Garuda is the foremost of all winged creatures; as the Ocean is the foremost among all receptacles of water and the cow among all quadrupeds; as the Sun is the foremost amongst all luminous bodies and Himavat among all mountains; as the Brahmana is the foremost among all castes, art thou the foremost of all bowmen! Dhritarashtra's son (Duryodhana) listened not to the words repeatedly spoken by me and Vidura and Drona and Rama and Janardana and also by Sanjaya. Reft of his senses, like unto an idiot, Duryodhana placed no reliance on those utterances. Past all instructions, he will certainly have to lie down for ever, overwhelmed by the might of Bhima!--Hearing these words of his, the Kuru king Duryodhana became of cheerless heart. Eyeing him, Santanu's son said,--Listen, O king! Abandon thy wrath! Thou hast seen, O Duryodhana how the intelligent Partha created that jet of cool and nectar-scented water! There is none else in this world capable of achieving such feat. The weapons appertaining to Agni, Varuna, Soma, Vayu, and Vishnu, as also those appertaining to Indra, Pasupati, and Paramesthi, and those of Prajapati, Dhatri, Tashtri, Savitri, and Vivaswat, all these are known to Dhananjaya alone in this world of men! Krishna, the son of Devaki, also knoweth them. But there is none else here that knoweth them. This son of Pandu, O sire, is incapable of being defeated in battle by even the gods and the Asuras together. The feats of this high-souled one are superhuman. With that truthful hero, that ornament of battle, that warrior accomplished in fight, let peace, O king, be soon made! As long as the mighty-armed Krishna is not possessed by wrath, O chief of the Kurus, it is fit, O sire, that peace should be made with the heroic Parthas! As long as this remnant of thy brothers is not slain, let peace, O monarch, be made! As long as Yudhishthira with eyes burning in wrath doth not consume thy troops in battle, let peace, O sire, be made! As long as Nakula, and Sahadeva, and Bhimasena, the sons of Pandu, do not, O monarch, exterminate thy army, it seems to me that friendly relations should be restored between thee and the heroic Pandavas! Let this battle end with my death, O sire! Make peace with the Pandavas, Let these words that are uttered to thee by me be acceptable to thee, O sinless one! Even this is what I regard to be beneficial both for thyself and the race (itself of Kuru)! Abandoning thy wrath, let peace be made with Parthas. What Phalguni hath already done is sufficient. Let friendly relations be restored with the death of Bhishma! Let this remnant (of warriors) live! Relent, O king! Let half the kingdom be given to the Pandavas. Let king Yudhishthira the just, go to Indraprastha. O chief of the Kurus, do not achieve a sinful notoriety among the kings of the earth by incurring the reproach of meanness, becoming a fomentor of intestine dissensions! Let peace come to all with my death! Let these rulers of earth, cheerfully mix with one another! Let sire get back the son, let sister's son get back the maternal uncle! If from want of understanding and possessed by folly thou dost not harken to those timely words of mine thou wilt have to repent greatly! What I say is true. Therefore, desist even now! Having, from affection, said these words unto Duryodhana in the midst of the kings, the son of the ocean-going (Ganga) became silent. Though his vital limbs were burning with the arrow-wounds, yet, prevailing over his agonies, he applied himself to yoga.

 

"Sanjaya continued--'Having heard these beneficial and peaceful words fraught with both virtue and profit, thy son, however, accepted them not, like a dying man refusing medicine.