Bhīṣmaparva Chapter - 13 (Yudhishthira approaches Bhishma for knowing the strategy for his death)
भीष्मपर्व - Bhīṣmaparva
(युधिष्ठिरेण भीष्ममेत्य तद्वधोपायकथनप्रार्थना)
अध्यायः – 13 ::Chapter-13
(Yudhishthira approaches Bhishma for knowing the strategy for his death)
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सञ्जय उवाच॥ ततोऽवहारं सैन्यानां कृत्वा तत्र महारथाः । न्यविशन्त कुरुश्रेष्ठ सङ्ग्रामे क्षतविक्षताः ॥ 1॥ भीष्मस्य समरे कर्म चिन्तयानास्तु पाण्डवाः । नालभन्त तदा शान्तिं भृशं भीष्मेण पीडिताः ॥ 2॥ ततो रात्रिः समभवत्सर्वभूतप्रमोहिनी ॥ ॥ तस्मिन्रात्रिमुखे घोरे पाण्डवा वृष्णिभिः सह । सृञ्जयाश्च दुराधर्षा मन्त्राय समुपाविशन् ॥ 3॥ आत्मनिःश्रेयसं सर्वे प्राप्तकालं महाबलाः । मन्त्रयामासुरव्यग्रा मन्त्रनिश्चयकोविदाः ॥ 4॥ ततो युधिष्ठिरो राजा मन्त्रयित्वा चिरं नृप । वासुदेवं समुद्वीक्ष्य वाक्यमेतदुवाच ह ॥ 5॥ पश्य कृष्ण महात्मानं भीष्मं भीमपराक्रमम् । गजं नलवनानीव विमृद्नन्तं बलं मम ॥ 6॥ न चैवैनं महात्मानमुत्सहामो निरीक्षितुम् । लेलिह्यमानं सैन्येषु प्रवृद्धमिव पावकम् ॥ 7॥ यथा घोरो महानागस्तक्षको वै विषोल्बणः । तथा भीष्मो रणे कृष्ण तीक्ष्णशस्त्रः प्रतापवान् ॥ 8॥ गृहीतचापः समरे विमुञ्चंश्च शिताञ्शरान् । शक्यो जेतुं यमः क्रुद्धो वज्रपाणिश्च देवराट् ॥ 9॥ वरुणः पाशभृद्वापि सगदो वा धनेश्वरः । न तु भीष्मः सुसङ्क्रुद्धः शक्यो जेतुं महाहवे ॥ 10॥ यदि तेऽहमनुग्राह्यो भ्रातृभिः सह केशव । स्वधर्मस्याविरोधेन तदुदाहर केशव ॥ 11॥ एतच्छ्रुत्वा वचस्तस्य कारुण्याद्बहुविस्तरम् । प्रत्युवाच ततः कृष्णः सान्त्वयानो युधिष्ठिरम् ॥ 12॥ धर्मपुत्र विषादं त्वं मा कृथाः सत्यसङ्गर । यस्य ते भ्रातरः शूरा दुर्जयाः शत्रुसूदनाः ॥ 13॥ अर्जुनो भीमसेनश्च वाय्वग्निसमतेजसौ । माद्रीपुत्रौ च विक्रान्तौ त्रिदशानामिवेश्वरौ ॥ 14॥ त्रिदशान्वा समुद्युक्तान्सहितान्दैत्यदानवैः ॥ निहन्यादर्जुनः सङ्ख्ये किमु भीष्मं नराधिप ॥ 15॥ युधिष्ठिर उवाच॥ समयस्तु कृतः कश्चिद्भीष्मेण मम माधव । मन्त्रयिष्ये तवार्थाय न तु योत्स्ये कथञ्चन ॥ 16॥ दुर्योधनार्थे योत्स्यामि सत्यमेतदिति प्रभो ॥ स हि राज्यस्य मे दाता मन्त्रस्यैव च माधव ॥ 17। तस्माद्देवव्रतं भूयो वधोपायार्थमात्मनः ॥ ॥ भवता सहिताः सर्वे पृच्छामो मधुसूदन ॥ 18॥ तं चेत्पितामहं वृद्धं हन्तुमिच्छामि माधव । पितुः पितरमिष्टं वै धिगस्तु क्षत्रजीविकाम् ॥ 19॥ सञ्जय उवाच॥ ततोऽब्रवीन्महाराज वार्ष्णेयः कुरुनन्दनम् । रोचते मे महाबाहो सततं तव भाषितम् ॥ 20॥ वक्तुमर्हति सत्यं स त्वया पृष्टो विशेषतः ते वयं तत्र गच्छामः प्रष्टुं कुरुपितामहम् ॥ 21॥ प्रणम्य शिरसा चैनं मन्त्रं पृच्छाम माधव ॥ ॥ स नो दास्यति यं मन्त्रं तेन योत्स्यामहे परान् ॥ 22॥ एवं संमन्त्र्य वै वीराः पाण्डवाः पाण्डुपूर्वज । जग्मुस्ते सहिताः सर्वे वासुदेवश्च वीर्यवान् ॥ 23॥ विमुक्तशस्त्रकवचा भीष्मस्य सदनं प्रति प्रविश्य च तदा भीष्मं शिरोभिः प्रतिपेदिरे ॥ 24॥ तानुवाच महाबाहुर्भीष्मः कुरुपितामहः । स्वागतं तव वार्ष्णेय स्वागतं ते धनञ्जय ॥ 25 स्वागतं धर्मपुत्राय भीमाय यमयोस्तथा किं कार्यं वः करोम्यद्य युष्मत्प्रीतिविवर्धनम् ॥ 26॥ सर्वात्मना च कर्तास्मि यद्यपि स्यात्सुदुष्करम् तथा ब्रुवाणं गाङ्गेयं प्रीतियुक्तं पुनः पुनः ॥ 27॥ उवाच वाक्यं दीनात्मा धर्मपुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः कथं जयेम धर्मज्ञ कथं राज्यं लभेमहि ॥ 28॥ प्रजानां सङ्क्षयो न स्यात्कथं तन्मे वदाभिभो भवान्हि नो वधोपायं ब्रवीतु स्वयमात्मनः ॥ 29॥ वर्षता शरवर्षाणि महान्ति पुरुषोत्तम । क्षयं नीता हि पृतना भवता महती मम ॥ 30॥ यथा युधि जयेयं त्वां यथा राज्यं भवेन्मम । भवेत्सैन्यस्य वा शान्तिस्तन्मे ब्रूहि पितामह ॥ 31॥ ततोऽब्रवीच्छान्तनवः पाण्डवान्पाण्डुपूर्वज । न कथञ्चन कौन्तेय मयि जीवति संयुगे ॥ युष्मासु दृश्यते वृद्धिः सत्यमेतद्ब्रवीमि वः ॥ 32॥ युधिष्ठिर उवाच॥ ब्रूहि तस्मादुपायं नो यथा युद्धे जयेमहि । भवन्तं समरे क्रुद्धं दण्डपाणिमिवान्तकम् ॥ 33॥ शक्यो वज्रधरो जेतुं वरुणोऽथ यमस्तथा । न भवान्समरे शक्यः सेन्द्रैरपि सुरासुरैः ॥ 34॥ भीष्म उवाच॥ सत्यमेतन्महाबाहो यथा वदसि पाण्डव । नाहं शक्यो रणे जेतुं सेन्द्रैरपि सुरासुरैः ॥ 35॥ आत्तशस्त्रो रणे यत्तो गृहीतवरकार्मुकः । न्यस्तशस्त्रं तु मां राजन्हन्युर्युधि महारथाः ॥ 36॥ निक्षिप्तशस्त्रे पतिते विमुक्तकवचध्वजे । द्रवमाणे च भीते च तवास्मीति च वादिनि ॥ 37॥ स्त्रियां स्त्रीनामधेये च विकले चैकपुत्रके । अप्रसूते च दुष्प्रेक्ष्ये न युद्धं रोचते मम ॥ 38॥ इमं च शृणु मे पार्थ सङ्कल्पं पूर्वचिन्तितम् । अमङ्गल्यध्वजं दृष्ट्वा न युध्येयं कथञ्चन ॥ 39॥ य एष द्रौपदो राजंस्तव सैन्ये महारथः । शिखण्डी समराकाङ्क्षी शूरश्च समितिञ्जयः ॥ 40॥ यथाभवच्च स्त्री पूर्वं पश्चात्पुंस्त्वमुपागतः । जानन्ति च भवन्तोऽपि सर्वमेतद्यथातथम् ॥ 41॥ अर्जुनः समरे शूरः पुरस्कृत्य शिखण्डिनम् । मामेव विशिखैस्तूर्णमभिद्रवतु दंशितः ॥ 42॥ सञ्जय उवाच॥ तेऽनुज्ञातास्ततः पार्था जग्मुः स्वशिबिरं प्रति । अभिवाद्य महात्मानं भीष्मं कुरुपितामहम् ॥ 43॥ तथोक्तवति गाङ्गेये परलोकाय दीक्षिते । अर्जुनो दुःखसन्तप्तः सव्रीडमिदमब्रवीत् ॥ 44॥ गुरुणा कुलवृद्धेन कृतप्रज्ञेन धीमता । पितामहेन सङ्ग्रामे कथं योत्स्यामि माधव ॥ 45॥ क्रीडता हि मया बाल्ये वासुदेव महामनाः । पांसुरूषितगात्रेण महात्मा परुषीकृतः ॥ 46॥ यस्याहमधिरुह्याङ्कं बालः किल गदाग्रज । तातेत्यवोचं पितरं पितुः पाण्डोर्महात्मनः ॥ 47॥ नाहं तातस्तव पितुस्तातोऽस्मि तव भारत । इति मामब्रवीद्बाल्ये यः स वध्यः कथं मया ॥ 48॥ कृष्ण उवाच॥ प्रतिज्ञाय वधं जिष्णो पुरा भीष्मस्य संयुगे । क्षत्रधर्मे स्थितः पार्थ कथं नैनं हनिष्यसि ॥ 49॥ पातयैनं रथात्पार्थ वज्राहतमिव द्रुमम् । नाहत्वा युधि गाङ्गेयं विजयस्ते भविष्यति ॥ 50॥ ज्यायांसमपि चेच्छक्र गुणैरपि समन्वितम् । आततायिनमामन्त्र्य हन्याद्घातकमागतम् ॥ 51॥ शाश्वतोऽयं स्थितो धर्मः क्षत्रियाणां धनञ्जय । योद्धव्यं रक्षितव्यं च यष्टव्यं चानसूयुभिः ॥ 52॥ इत्येवं निश्चयं कृत्वा पाण्डवाः सहमाधवाः । शयनानि यथास्वानि भेजिरे पुरुषर्षभाः ॥53 |
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Sanjaya said, "Then those mighty warriors, O chief of the Kurus, after pulling back their forces, returned to their tents, battered from the battle. Distressed by Bhishma's arrows and troubled by thoughts of his heroic deeds, the Pandavas found no peace. Alongside the rejoicing Kurus, he then entered his tent. Night fell, a time that steals sense from all beings. In that fierce hour of darkness, the Pandavas, the Vrishnis, and the unbeatable Srinjayas gathered to discuss their situation. These powerful individuals, skilled in council, calmly considered what would be best for them now. King Yudhishthira, having thought long, said to Vasudeva, 'Look, O Krishna, at the mighty Bhishma. He crushes my troops like an elephant trampling a thicket. We cannot even face that mighty warrior. Like a raging fire, he destroys my forces. The valiant Bhishma, armed with sharp weapons, when enraged in battle, becomes as fierce as the poisonous serpent Takshaka. Indeed, even the angry god of death can be defeated, or the chief of the gods with his thunder, or Varuna with his noose, or the Lord of the Yakshas with his mace. But Bhishma, when furious, cannot be conquered in battle. If I, O Kesava, and my brothers deserve your favour, tell me, O Krishna, what is right for us without going against my duties.' Upon hearing these words, and after explaining the situation, Krishna, filled with compassion, spoke to comfort Yudhishthira, saying, 'O son of Dharma, steadfast in truth, do not succumb to sorrow; you have these unbeatable heroes, your brothers, by your side. Arjuna and Bhimasena each possess the strength of the Wind and Fire. The twin sons of Madri are equally brave, like the great chief of the heavens. Arjuna can defeat even the gods in battle alongside the Daityas and Danavas. What more can be said about Bhishma, O king?" "Listening to Krishna, Yudhishthira replied, 'In this battle, I made a pact with Bhishma. He stated, 'I can advise you, but I cannot fight for you, as I must stand with Duryodhana. This is the truth. Thus, O Lord, Bhishma can grant me kingship through wise counsel, O Madhava. Therefore, with you by our side, we shall approach Devavrata once more to seek his guidance on how to meet his own death.'. Sanjaya continued, "Upon hearing this, O king, the warrior of Vrishni's lineage said to Yudhishthira, 'O wise one, your words resonate with me. Bhishma, known as Devavrata, is a master of weapons. With just his gaze, he can defeat the enemy. Go to him, the son of the river Ganga, and ask him how he can meet his end. If you inquire of him directly, he will surely speak the truth. Thus, we shall seek counsel from the Kuru grandsire. Approaching the esteemed son of Santanu, we will ask for his guidance, and based on his advice, we will confront our adversaries.' After deliberating this, O elder brother of Pandu, the brave sons of Pandu and the mighty Vasudeva all set out together towards Bhishma's residence, laying aside their armor and weapons. Entering his tent, they bowed their heads in respect. The powerful Bhishma addressed them, saying, 'Welcome, O Vrishni's son. Welcome, O Dhananjaya. Greetings to you, just king Yudhishthira, and to you, Bhima. I also welcome you, my dear twins. What can I do now to bring you joy? Even if it's a tall order, I will strive with all my heart. To the son of Ganga, who greeted them with such affection, Yudhishthira replied joyfully, 'O wise one, how shall we secure victory and rule? How can we stop the destruction of life? Please, share with us your insights regarding your own death. Tell me, O wise elder, how can we defeat you in battle, claim our rightful power, and prevent our army from facing devastation?’ Hearing these words, the son of Santanu, O brother of Pandu, replied to the son of Kunti, 'As long as I draw breath, victory in battle will remain out of your reach, O wise one. I speak the truth. Yet, if I fall, then victory may be yours, sons of Pandu. So if you seek to win, strike me down without hesitation. I grant you this permission, sons of Pritha, attack me as you wish. Know that this is a fortunate situation for you. Once I am defeated, the rest will follow. Therefore, heed my command.' Yudhishthira responded, 'Tell us how we can defeat you in battle, for in a rage, you are like the Destroyer with his mace. Even the wielder of the thunderbolt, Varuna, or Yama can be conquered. However, you are beyond defeat by even the gods and Asuras combined, led by Indra.' Bhishma said, 'What you say is true, O son of Pandu, strong and mighty. When I wield my weapons and hold my great bow, I can battle fiercely and cannot be defeated, even by the gods and the Asuras led by Indra. But if I lay down my arms, even these chariot warriors can defeat me. I will not fight against those who have discarded their weapons, who have fallen, or whose armour has slipped off; those who are fleeing or frightened, or who surrender; those who are women, or identify as one; those unable to defend themselves; those with only one son; or those who are common folks. I want you to know my principle: I will not fight if I see any ill omen. About that fierce warrior, the son of Drupada, Sikhandin, whom you have in your army; he was a female before but has since become a man. You all know the truth of how this came to be. Brave and armoured, let Arjuna, with Sikhandin leading the way, confront me with his sharp arrows.'. Sanjaya continued, 'The Parthas, having understood all this, returned to their tents, paying respects to the venerable Bhishma, the elder of the Kuru clan. After Ganga's son, ready to depart to the afterlife, spoke these words, Arjuna, filled with sorrow and blushing with shame, said, 'How, O Madhava, can I engage in battle against my grandsire, who is far older than I, wise and revered, the eldest of our lineage? Back in our childhood, O Vasudeva, I used to play on his lap, covering this noble soul with dirt, climbing up with my impure body. O elder brother of Gada, he is the father of my father Pandu. As a child, I once called him father, and he kindly corrected me, saying, 'I am not your father, but your grandfather, O Bharata'—how can I bring myself to harm him now?' 'Vasudeva replied, 'Having vowed to defeat Bhishma, O Jishnu, how can you hesitate to confront him, as is a Kshatriya's duty? Cast down that invincible warrior from his chariot, O Partha; you cannot win without defeating Ganga's son. Even an aged foe, honourable in every way, must be confronted if they seek to harm you—O Dhananjaya, this is the eternal duty of a Kshatriya: to fight, protect the people, and make sacrifices, all without malice.' Then those strong men went to their own beds. |
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इति श्री जयसंहिते भीष्मपर्वणि त्रयोदशोऽध्यायः॥
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