ādiparva - Chapter-8

 

आदिपर्व - ādiparva

अध्यायः – 8  ::Chapter-8 

Shlokas	No. of Shlokas
वैशम्पायन उवाच। ततो विवाहे निर्वृत्ते स राजा शान्तनुर्नृपः। तां कन्यां रूपसंपन्नां स्वगृहे संन्यवेशयत्॥ 1 ततः शान्तनवो धीमान्सत्यवत्यामजायत। वीरश्चित्राङ्गदो नाम वीर्यवान्पुरुषेश्वरः॥ 2 अथापरं महेष्वासं सत्यवत्यां सुतं प्रभुः। विचित्रवीर्यं राजानं जनयामास वीर्यवान्॥ 3 अप्राप्तवति तस्मिंस्तु यौवनं पुरुषर्षभे। स राजा शान्तनुर्धीमान्कालधर्ममुपेयिवान्॥ 4 स्वर्गते शान्तनौ भीष्मश्चित्राङ्गदमरिन्दनम्। स्थापयामास वै राज्ये सत्यवत्या मते स्थितः॥ 5 स तु चित्राङ्गदः शौर्यात्सर्वांश्चिक्षेप पार्थिवान्। मनुष्यं न हि मेन स कंचित्सदृशमात्मनः॥ 6 तं क्षिपन्तं सुरांश्चैव मनुष्यानसुरांस्तथा। गन्धर्वराजो बलवांस्तुल्यनामाऽभ्ययात्तदा॥ 7 तेनास्य सुमहद्युद्धं कुरुक्षेत्रे बभूव ह॥ तयोर्बलवतोस्तत्र गन्धर्वकुरुमुख्ययोः। नद्यास्तीरे हिरण्वत्याः समास्तिस्रोऽभवद्रणः॥ 8 तस्मिन्विमर्दे तुमुले शस्त्रवर्षसमाकुले। मायाधिकोऽवधीद्वीरं गन्धर्वः कुरुसत्तमम्॥ 9 स हत्वा तु नरश्रेष्ठं चित्राङ्गदमरिन्दमम्। अन्ताय कृत्वा गन्धर्वो दिवमाचक्रमे ततः॥ 10 तस्मिन्पुरुषशार्दूले निहते भूरितेजसि। भीष्मः शान्तनवो राजा प्रेतकार्याण्यकारयत्॥ 11 विचित्रवीर्यं च तदा बालमप्राप्तयौवनम्। कुरुराज्ये महाबाहुरभ्यषिञ्चदनन्तरम्॥ 12 विचित्रवीर्यः स तदा भीष्मस्य वचने स्थितः। अन्वशासन्महाराज पितृपैतामहं पदम्॥ 13 स धर्मशास्त्रकुशलं भीष्मं शान्तनवं नृपः। पूजयामास धर्मेण स चैनं प्रत्यपालयत्॥ ॥ 14	14 (454)
Vaisampayana said,  'O monarch, after the nuptials were over, king Santanu established his beautiful bride in his household. Soon after was born of Satyavati an intelligent and heroic son of Santanu named Chitrangada. He was endued with great energy and became an eminent man. The lord Santanu of great prowess also begat upon Satyavati another son named Vichitravirya, who became a mighty bowman.  And before that bull among men, viz., Vichitravirya, attained to majority, the wise king Santanu realised the inevitable influence of Time. And after Santanu had ascended to heaven. Bhishma, placing himself under the command of Satyavati, installed that suppressor of foes, viz., Chitrangada, on the throne, who, having soon vanquished by his prowess all monarchs, considered not any man as his equal.  And beholding that he could vanquish men, Asuras, and the very gods, his namesake, the powerful king of the Gandharvas, approached him for an encounter. Between that Gandharva and that foremost one of the Kurus, who were both very powerful, there occurred on the field of Kurukshetra a fierce combat which lasted full three years on the banks of the Saraswati. In that terrible encounter characterised by thick showers of weapons and in which the combatants ground each other fiercely, the Gandharva, who had greater prowess or strategic deception, slew the Kuru prince. Having slain Chitrangada--that first of men and oppressor of foes--the Gandharva ascended to heaven. When that tiger among men endued with great prowess was slain, Bhishma, the son of Santanu, performed, O king, all his obsequies. He then installed the boy Vichitravirya of mighty arms, still in his minority, on the throne of the Kurus. And Vichitravirya, placing himself under the command of Bhishma, ruled the ancestral kingdom. And he adored Santanu's son Bhishma who was conversant with all the rules of religion and law; so, indeed, Bhishma also protected him that was so obedient to the dictates of duty.'"
वैशम्पायन उवाच। हते चित्राङ्गदे भीष्मो बाले भ्रातरि कौरव। पालयामास तद्राज्यं सत्यवत्या मते स्थितः॥ 1 संप्राप्तयौवनं दृष्ट्वा भ्रातरं धीमतां वरः। भीष्मो विचित्रवीर्यस्य विवाहायाकरोन्मतिम्॥ 2 अथ काशिपतेर्भीष्मः कन्यास्तिस्रोऽप्सरोपमाः। शुश्राव सहिता राजन्वृण्वाना वै स्वयंवरम्॥ 3 ततः स रथिनां श्रेष्ठो रथेनैकेन शत्रुजित्। जगामानुमते मातुः पुरीं वाराणसीं प्रभुः॥ 4 तत्र राज्ञः समुदितान्सर्वतः समुपागतान्। ददर्श कन्यास्ताश्वै भीष्मः शान्तनुनन्दनः॥ 5 कीर्त्यमानेषु राज्ञां तु तदा नामसु सर्वशः। एकाकिनं तदा भीष्मं वृद्धं शान्तनुनन्दनम्॥ 6 सोद्वेगा इव तं दृष्ट्वा कन्याः परमशोभनाः। अपाक्रामन्त ताः सर्वा वृद्ध इत्येव चिन्तया॥ 7 वृद्धः परमधर्मात्मा वलीपलितधारणः। किं कारणमिहायातो निर्लज्जो भरतर्षभः॥ 8 मिथ्याप्रतिज्ञो लोकेषु किं वदिष्यति भारत। ब्रह्मचारीति भीष्मो हि वृथैव प्रथितो भुवि॥ 9 इत्येवं प्रबुवन्तस्ते हसन्ति स्म नृपाधमाः। वैशम्पायन उवाच। क्षत्रियाणां वचः श्रुत्वा भीष्मश्चुक्रोध भारत॥ 10 भीष्मस्तदा स्वयं कन्या वरयामास ताः प्रभुः। उवाच च महीपालान्राजञ्जलदनिःस्वनः॥ 11 रथमारोप्य ताः कन्या भीष्मः प्रहरतां वरः। आहूय दानं कन्यानां गुणवद्भ्यः स्मृतं बुधैः॥ 12 अलङ्कृत्य यथाशक्ति प्रदाय च धनान्यपि। प्रयच्छन्त्यपरे कन्यां मिथुनेन गवामपि॥ 13 वित्तेन कथितेनान्ये बलेनान्येऽनुमान्य च। प्रमत्तामुपयन्त्यन्ये स्वयमन्ये च विन्दते॥ 14 आर्षं विधिं पुरस्कृत्य दारान्विन्दन्ति चापरे। अष्टमं तमथो वित्त विवाहं कविभिर्वृतम्॥ 15 स्वयंवरं तु राजन्याः प्रशंसन्त्युपयान्ति च। प्रमथ्य तु हृतामाहुर्ज्यायसीं धर्मवादिनः॥ 16 ता इमाः पृथिवीपाला जिहीर्षामि बलादितः। ते यतध्वं परं शक्त्या विजयायेतराय वा॥ 17 स्थितोऽहं पृथिवीपाला युद्धाय कृतनिश्चयः। एवमुक्त्वा महीपालान्काशिराजं च वीर्यवान्॥ 18 सर्वाः कन्याः स कौरव्यो रथमारोप्य च स्वकम्। आमन्त्र्य च स तान्प्रायाच्छीघ्रं कन्याः प्रगृह्य ताः॥ 19 ततस्ते पार्थिवाः सर्वे समुत्पेतुरमर्षिताः। संस्पृशन्तः स्वकान्बाहून्दशन्तो दशनच्छदान्॥ 20 तेषामाभरणान्याशु त्वरितानां विमुञ्चताम्। आमुञ्चतां च वर्माणि संभ्रमः सुमहानभूत्॥ 21 ताराणामिव संपातो बभूव जनमेजय। भूषणानां च सर्वेषां कवचानां च सर्वशः॥ 22 सवर्मभिर्भूषणैश्च प्रकीर्यद्बिरितस्ततः। सक्रोधामर्षजिह्मभ्रूकषायीकृतलोचनाः॥ 23 सूतोपक्लृप्तान् रुचिरान्सदश्वैरुपकल्पितान्। रथानास्थाय ते वीराः सर्वप्रहरणान्विताः॥ 24 प्रयान्तमथ कौरव्यमनुसस्रुरुदायुधाः। ततः समभवद्युद्धं तेषां तस्य च भारत। एकस्य च बहूनां च तुमुलं रोमहर्षणम्॥ 25 ते त्विषून्दशसाहस्रांस्तस्मिन्युगपदाक्षिपन्। अप्राप्तांश्चैव तानाशु भीष्मः सर्वांस्तथाऽन्तरा॥ 26 अच्छिनच्छरवर्षेण महता लोमवाहिना। ततस्ते पार्थिवाः सर्वे सर्वतः परिवार्य तम्॥ 27 ववृषुः शरवर्षेण वर्षेणेवाद्रिमम्बुदाः। स तं बाणमयं वर्षं शरैरावार्य सर्वतः॥ 28 ततः सर्वान्महीपालान्पर्यविध्यत्त्रिभिस्त्रिभिः। एकैकस्तु ततो भीष्मं राजन्विव्याध पञ्चभिः॥ 29 स च तान्प्रतिविव्याध द्वाभ्यां द्वाभ्यां पराक्रमन्। तद्युद्धमासीत्तुमुलं घोरं देवासुरोपमम्॥ 30 पश्यतां लोकवीराणां शरशक्तिसमाकुलम्। स धनूंषि ध्वजाग्राणि वर्माणि च शिरांसि॥ 31 चिच्छेद समरे भीष्मः शतशोथ सहस्रशः। तस्यातिपुरुषं कर्म लाघवं रथचारिणः॥ 32 रक्षणं चात्मनः संख्ये शत्रवोऽप्यभ्यपूजयन्। तान्विनिर्जित्य तु रणे सर्वशस्त्रभृतां वरः॥ 33 कन्याभिः सहितः प्रायाद्भारतो भारतान्प्रति। ततस्तं पृष्ठतो राजञ्शाल्वराजो महारथः॥ 34 अभ्यगच्छदमेयात्मा भीष्मं शान्तनवं रणे। वारणं जघने भिन्दन्दन्ताभ्यामपरो यथा॥ 35 वासितामनुसंप्राप्तो यूथपो बलिनां वरः। स्त्रीकामस्तिष्ठतिष्ठेति भीष्ममाह स पार्थिवः॥ 36 साल्वराजो महाबाहुरमर्षेण प्रचोदितः। ततः स पुरुषव्याघ्रो भीष्मः परबलार्दनः॥ 37 तद्वाक्याकुलितः क्रोधाद्विधूमोग्निरिव ज्वलन्। विततेषुधनुष्पाणिर्विकुञ्चितललाटभृत्॥ 38 क्षत्रधर्मं समास्थाय व्यपेतभयसंभ्रमः। निवर्तयामास रथं साल्वं प्रति महारथः॥ 39 निवर्तमानं तं दृष्ट्वा राजानः सर्व एव ते। प्रेक्षकाः समपद्यन्त भीष्मसाल्वसमागमे॥ 40 तौ वृषाविव नर्दन्तौ बलिनौ वासितान्तरे। अन्योन्यमभिवर्तेतां बलविक्रमशालिनौ॥ 41 ततो भीष्मं शान्तनवं शरैः शतसहस्रशः। साल्वराजो नरश्रेष्ठः समवाकिरदाशुगैः॥ 42 पूर्वमभ्यर्दितं दृष्ट्वा भीष्मं साल्वेन ते नृपाः। विस्मिताः समपद्यन्त साधुसाध्विति चाब्रुवन्॥ 43 लाघवं तस्य ते दृष्ट्वा समरे सर्वपार्थिवाः। अपूजयन्त संहृष्टा वाग्भिः साल्वं नराधिपम्॥ 44 क्षत्रियाणां ततो वाचः श्रुत्वा परपुञ्जयः। क्रुद्धः शान्तनवो भीष्मस्तिष्ठतिष्ठेत्यभाषत॥ 45 सारथिं चाब्रवीत्क्रुद्धो याहि यत्रैष पार्थिवः। यावदेनं निहन्म्यद्य भुजङ्गमिव पक्षिराट्॥ 46 ततोऽस्त्रं वारुणं सम्यग्योजयामास कौरवः। तेनाश्वांश्चतुरोऽमृद्गात्साल्वराजस्य भूपते॥ 47 अस्त्रैरस्त्राणि संवार्य साल्वराजस्य कौरवः। भीष्मो नृपतिशार्दूल न्यवधीत्तस्य सारथिम्॥ 48 अस्त्रेण चास्याथैन्द्रेण न्यवधीत्तुरगोत्तमान्। कन्याहेतोर्नरश्रेष्ठ भीष्मः शान्तनवस्तदा॥ 49 जित्वा विसर्जयामास जीवन्तं नृपसत्तमम्। ततः साल्वः स्वनगरं प्रययौ भरतर्षभ॥ 50 स्वराज्यमन्वशाच्चैव धर्मेण नृपतिस्तदा। राजानो ये च तत्रासन्स्वयंवरदिदृक्षवः॥ 51 स्वान्येव तेऽपि राष्ट्राणि जग्मुः परपुरञ्जयाः। एवं विजित्य ताः कन्या भीष्मः प्रहरतां वरः॥ 52 प्रययौ हास्तिनपुरं यत्र राजा स कौरवः। विचित्रवीर्यो धर्मात्मा प्रशास्ति वसुधामिमाम्॥ 53 यथा पितास्य कौरव्यः शान्तनुर्नृपसत्तमः। सोऽचिरेणैव कालेन अत्यक्रामन्नराधिप॥ 54 वनानि सरितश्चैव शैलांश्च विनिधान्द्रुमान्। अक्षतः क्षपयित्वाऽरीन्सङ्ख्येऽसङ्ख्येयविक्रमः॥ 55 आनयामास काश्यस्य सुताः सागरगासुतः। स्नुषा इव स धर्मात्मा भगिनीरिव चानुजाः॥ 56 यथा दुहितश्चैव परिगृह्य ययौ कुरून्। आनिन्ये स महाबाहुर्भ्रातुः प्रियचिकीर्षया॥ 57 ताः सर्वगुणसंपन्ना भ्राता भ्रात्रे यवीयसे। भीष्मो विचित्रवीर्याय प्रददौ विक्रमाहृताः॥ 58 एवं धर्मेण धर्मज्ञः कृत्वा कर्मातिमानुषम्। भ्रातुर्विचित्रवीर्यस्य विवाहायोपचक्रमे॥ 59 सत्यवत्या सह मिथः कृत्वा निश्चयमात्मवान्। विवाहं कारयिष्यन्तं भीष्मं काशिपतेः सुता। ज्येष्ठा तासामिदं वाक्यमब्रवीद्धसती तदा॥ 60 मया सौभपतिः पूर्वं मनसा हि वृतः पतिः। तेन चास्मि वृता पूर्वमेष कामश्च मे पितुः॥ 61 मया वरयितव्योऽभूत्साल्वस्तस्मिन्स्वयंवरे। एतद्विज्ञाय धर्मज्ञ धर्मतत्त्वं समाचर॥ 62 एवमुक्तस्तया भीष्मः कन्यया विप्रसंसदि। चिन्तामभ्यगमद्वीरो युक्तां तस्यैव कर्मणः॥ 63 विनिश्चित्य स धर्मज्ञो ब्राह्मणैर्वेदपारगैः। अनुजज्ञे तदा ज्येष्ठामम्बां काशिपतेः सुताम्॥ 64 अम्बिकाम्बालिके भार्ये प्रादाद्भ्रात्रे यवीयसे। भीष्मो विचित्रवीर्याय विधिदृष्टेन कर्मणा॥ 65 तयोः पाणी गृहीत्वा तु रूपयौवनदर्पितः। विचित्रवीर्यो धर्मात्मा नाम्बामैच्छत्कथंचन॥ 66	66 (520)
Vaisampayana said, 'O descendant of the Kuru family, after Chitrangada was killed, his young brother Vichitravirya, still a minor, was ruled by Bhishma who served under Satyavati's guidance. Once Vichitravirya reached adulthood, Bhishma was determined to marry him. He learned that the three beautiful daughters of the king of Kasi would choose their husbands at a ceremony. Following his mother's wish, Bhishma, the great warrior, traveled to Varanasi in a single chariot.  Upon arrival, he saw countless kings gathered for the event, along with the three maidens ready to choose their spouses. As the kings were introduced, Bhishma chose the maidens for his brother. With these maidens aboard his chariot, Bhishma, a powerful warrior, addressed the assembled kings, saying in a thunderous voice,  'It is said that when a worthy person is invited, a maiden may be given to him adorned with fine jewels, along with valuable gifts. Others may give their daughters in exchange for cattle or a set sum, while some take brides by force. Some marry with the maidens' consent, some through deceit, and others with the approval of the girls' parents. Additionally, some receive wives as rewards for participating in sacred rituals. Among these, the wise consistently commend the eighth type of marriage.'  Kings speak highly of the Swyamvara ceremony, where they choose their brides. Sages say that a wife won by force, after defeating rivals in front of many gathered kings, is one to cherish. So, I, as a ruler, will take these maidens by force. I challenge you all to try your hardest to defeat me or be defeated. I stand ready to fight!' The Kuru prince, full of energy, declared this to the gathered kings and the king of Kasi, and took the maidens onto his chariot. He then drove off, daring the kings to battle.  The challenged kings stood up, slapping their arms and biting their lips in anger. The noise was loud as they hurriedly removed their ornaments and donned their armour. The sight of their dazzling armour and ornaments, shining like meteors in the sky, was striking. With furrowed brows and eyes blazing with rage, the kings moved restlessly, their gear shining or swaying with their swift steps. Meanwhile, the charioteers quickly brought forward beautiful chariots pulled by well-matched horses.  The glorious warriors, armed with various weapons, rode in their chariots, raising their weapons as they chased the fleeing leader of the Kurus. Then, O Bharata, a fierce battle erupted between the many kings on one side and the lone Kuru warrior on the other. The united kings launched a volley of ten thousand arrows at once. However, Bhishma swiftly intercepted those countless arrows with a storm of his own, as numerous as the hairs on one's body. Surrounded by the kings, he faced a barrage of arrows raining upon him like dark clouds pouring down on a mountain.  Yet, Bhishma countered this onslaught and struck each king with three arrows, while they responded by piercing him with five. But, O king, Bhishma skillfully stopped their attacks and struck back with two arrows for each king. The battle grew so intense with the flurry of arrows and missiles that it resembled the legendary clashes between gods and demons, leaving onlookers paralyzed with fear at the sight. Bhishma, in the thick of battle, severed bows, flagpoles, armour, and countless heads with his arrows. His fearsome skill and incredible speed were such that even his enemies began to cheer for him. After defeating all those kings in battle, the greatest of all warriors set his sights on the capital of the Bharatas, taking the maidens with him..  At that moment, O king, the powerful charioteer, King Salya, known for his unmatched strength, called Bhishma, the son of Santanu, to a duel. Eager to win the maidens, he charged at Bhishma like a dominant leader of elephants attacking another male in a frenzy stirred by a female in heat. With mighty arms and fueled by anger, Salya confronted Bhishma and commanded, 'Halt! Halt!' Then Bhishma, the fierce warrior known for crushing enemy forces, ignited with rage at these words, like a fire blazing bright.  With his bow in hand and a frown etched on his forehead, he stood firm on his chariot, adhering to the warrior code and bracing for battle. All the kings around watched intently, ready to witness the showdown between him and Salya. The two powerful men then displayed their might against each other like fierce bulls vying for a cow. King Salya unleashed a torrent of arrows upon Bhishma, covering him with countless swift projectiles, leaving the other monarchs in awe and prompting them to cheer wildly.  As the crowd of royal spectators watched Salya's skillful fighting, they cheered him enthusiastically. However, Bhishma, the conqueror of enemy cities, grew furious upon hearing their praise and shouted, 'Stop!'. In his anger, he instructed his charioteer, 'Take my chariot to Salya so I can defeat him swiftly like Garuda strikes a serpent.' The Kuru leader then strung his bow with the Varuna weapon and targeted king Salya’s four horses. So fierce in battle, Bhishma, renowned among kings, fought off his opponent’s attacks and killed Salya’s charioteer.  In defense of the maidens, Bhishma, son of Santanu, used the Aindra weapon to slay Salya’s valiant horses. He ultimately defeated Salya but spared his life. After his defeat, Salya returned to his kingdom and ruled justly. The other kings, who had come to witness the ceremony, also returned home. After overcoming those monarchs, Bhishma took the maidens to Hastinapura, where the noble Kuru prince Vichitravirya ruled like his father, Santanu. The mighty son of Ganga, unscathed and victorious over many enemies, brought the daughters of the king of Kasi to the Kurus with all the tenderness reserved for his own daughters-in-law or sisters.  Bhishma, strong and determined to help his brother, used his skills to bring the maidens to him. With all the qualities they possessed, he offered them to Vichitravirya. Understanding the principles of morality, the son of Santanu prepared for his brother's wedding according to tradition.  Once the wedding arrangements were finalized with Satyavati, the oldest daughter of the king of Kasi, she gently said to him, 'In my heart, I chose the king of Saubha as my husband. He has accepted me, and my father also agreed. If there was a choice ceremony, I would have chosen him as my lord. You understand the ways of virtue, so do as you wish.' Addressed this way before the Brahmanas, the brave Bhishma pondered what to do next. Knowing the rules of virtue, he consulted learned Brahmanas and allowed Amba, the eldest daughter of the Kasi ruler, to follow her heart. However, he followed proper rites to give the other two daughters, Ambika and Ambalika, to his younger brother Vichitravirya. Despite his virtue and self-restraint, Vichitravirya, proud of his youth and attractiveness, soon became lustful after marriage.
ते चापि बृहतीश्यामे नीलकुञ्चितमूर्धजे। रक्ततुङ्गनखोपेते पीनश्रोणिपयोधऱे॥ 1 आत्मनः प्रतिरूपोऽसौ लब्धः पतिरिति स्थिते। विचित्रवीर्यं कल्याण्यौ पूजयामासतुः शुभे॥ 2 स चाश्विरूपसदृशो देवतुल्यपराक्रमः। सर्वासामेव नारीणां चित्तप्रमथनो रहः॥ 3 ताभ्यां सह समाः सप्त विहरन्पृथिवीपतिः। विचित्रवीर्यस्तरुणो यक्ष्मणा समगृह्यत॥ 4 सुहृदां यतमानानामाप्तैः सह चिकित्सकैः। जगामास्तमिवादित्यः कौरव्यो यमसादनम्॥ 5 धर्मात्मा स तु गाङ्गेयः चिन्ताशोकपरायणः। प्रेतकार्याणि सर्वाणि तस्य सम्यगकारयत्॥ 6 राज्ञो विचित्रवीर्यस्य सत्यवत्या मते स्थितः। ऋत्विग्बिः सहितो भीष्मः सर्वैश्च कुरुपुङ्गवैः॥7	7 (527)
Ambika and Ambalika were both tall and had the glowing skin of molten gold. They had heads full of black, curly hair and long, red nails; their hips were round and full, and their breasts ample. They believed themselves to be married to a husband truly worthy of them, and they deeply loved and respected Vichitravirya. Vichitravirya, gifted with heavenly strength and the beauty of the twin Aswins, could win the heart of any beautiful woman. The prince spent seven uninterrupted years with his wives, but tragically, he fell ill with tuberculosis while still young. Friends and family came together to find a cure, but despite their efforts, Prince Kuru passed away like the setting sun. The noble Bhishma, filled with sorrow and concern, met with Satyavati to arrange for the funeral rites to be conducted by skilled priests from the Kuru lineage.

  

इति श्री जयसंहिते आदिपर्वणि अष्टमोऽध्यायः॥

 

Ādiparva Chapter-7

Ādiparva Chapter-9