भीष्म उवाच ततस्ते तापसाः सर्वे तपसे धृतनिश्चयाम्। दृष्ट्वा न्यवर्तयंस्तात् किं कार्यमिति चाब्रुवन्॥
Bhishma said to Then all the ascetics (living in Vatsabhumi), perceiving her firmly resolved on practicing austerities, dissuaded her, and they said "O child, what do you mean to do?"
तानुवाच ततः कन्या तपोवृद्धानृषीस्तदा। निराकृतास्मि भीष्मेण भ्रंशिता पतिधर्मतः॥
Then those Rishis hoary with asceticism, spoke the maiden : “I have been undone by Bhishma, and despoiled of those virtues that would have been mine by living with my husband.
वधार्थं तस्य दीक्षा मे न लोकार्थं तपोधनाः। निहत्य भीष्मं गच्छेयं शान्तिमित्येव निश्चयः॥
My observance of vows is for his destruction, and not for the sake of the worlds of happiness, O you that have asceticism for your wealth. Having slain Bhishma I shall attain peace (of mind); this is my resolve.
यत्कृते दुःखवसतिमिमां प्राप्तास्मि शाश्वतीम्। पतिलोकाद् विहीना च नैव स्त्री न पुमानिह॥
Him by whom this existence has become one of continuous misery, by whom I have been deprived of the region where my husband is, for whom I am neither a woman nor a man in this life,
नाहत्वा युधि गाङ्गेयं निवर्तिध्ये तपोधनाः। एष मे हृदि संकल्पो यदिदं कथितं मया।॥
Without slaying in battle that son of Ganga, I will not desist, O you whose wealth is asceticism. That which I have here spoken in wards, even that is the resolve in my heart within.
स्त्रीभावे परिनिर्विण्णा पुंस्त्वार्थं कृतनिश्चया। भीष्मे प्रतिचिकीर्षामि नास्मि वार्येति वै पुनः॥
I am disgusted with remaining in this state of mine as a woman, and I am firmly resolved upon attaining the state of a man. I will be revenged upon Bhishma. I should not be dissuaded any more.
तां देवो दर्शयामास शूलपाणिरुमापतिः। मध्ये तेषां महर्षीणां स्वेन रूपेणा तापसीम्॥
To that ascetic lady, the god who holds the trident in his hand, and who is the husband of Uma, showed himself in his own form in the midst of those Maharshis.
छन्द्यमाना वरेणाथ सा वने मत्पराजयम्। हनिष्यसीति तां देवः प्रत्युवाच मनस्विनीम्॥
Being asked to solicit her wished for boon, she prayed of the god my defeat. “You will slay him”, thus that god answered that lady of firm resolution.
ततः सा पुनरेवाथ कन्या रुद्रमुवाच हा उपपद्येत कथं देव स्त्रिया युधि जयो मम॥
“Thereupon again she said to Rudra, How can it happen, that mine shall be the victory in battle, O god, as I am, a woman?
स्त्रीभावेन च मे गाढं मनः शान्तमुमापते। प्रतिश्रुतश्च भूतेश त्वया भीष्मपराजयः॥
O lord of Uma, my mind is perfectly calm, so far as regards a woman. And you have also promised, O lord of all creatures, the defeat of Bhishma.
यथा स सत्यो भवति तथा कुरु वृषध्वज। यथा हन्यां समागम्य भीष्मं शान्तनवं युधि॥
Act in such a way that this (promise) may be true, O god who has the bull for the mark, and so that on encountering Bhishma, the son of Shantanu in battle, I may slay him.”
तामुवाच महादेवः कन्यां किल वृषध्वजः। न मे वागनृतं प्राह सत्य भद्रे भविष्यति॥
To that maiden Mahadeva (the great god) having the bull for his carrier thus spoke truly, “My words can not be false. They shall turn out true, O blessed one.
हनिष्यासि रणे भीष्मं पुरुषत्वं च लप्स्यसे। स्मरिष्यसि च तत् सर्वं देहमन्यं गता सती॥
You will slay Bhishma in battle, for you will attain the state of a man. And you will recollect all this, when you go to another body.
दुपदस्य कुले जाता भविष्यसि महारथः। शीघ्रास्त्रश्चित्रयोधी च भविष्यसि सुसम्मतः॥
Borne in the race of Drupada, you shall be a Maharatha, quick in the use of weapons, skilled in fighting in various ways, and a fierce warrior.
यथोक्तमेव कल्याणि सर्वमेतद् भविष्यति। भविष्यसि पुमान् पश्चात् कस्माच्चित्कालपर्ययात्॥
As I have spoken, O blessed one, so shall it all be. You will be a man after some time has elapsed."
एवमुक्त्वा महादेवः कपर्दी वृषभध्वजः। पश्यतामेव विप्राणां तत्रैवान्तरधीयत॥
So saying, Mahadeva, otherwise, known as Kapardin, and having the bull for his carrier, vanished even then and there while the Brahmanas were looking on.
ततः सा पश्यतां तेषां महर्षीणामनिन्दिता। समाहृत्य वनात् तस्मात् काष्ठानि वरवर्णिनी॥
Thereupon that faultless damsel of fairest complexion, in the very sight of those great Rishis, having gathered fuel from that wood,
चितां कृत्वा सुमहतीं प्रदाय च हुताशनम्। प्रदीप्तेऽग्नौ महाराज रोषदीप्तेन चेतसा॥
And making a large funeral pyre and having set fire (to it), O monarch, with a mind burning with wrath, even in that flaming fire,
उक्त्वा भीष्मवधायेति प्रविवेश हुताशनम्। ज्येष्ठा काशिसुता राजन् यमुनामभितो नदीम्॥
That eldest daughter of the king of Kashi, O king, entered the fire on the banks of the river Yamuna, saying (as she did so) “For the destruction of Bhimasena.