त्वां वयं समुपाश्रित्य संयुगे शत्रुसूदन ॥
उत्सहेम रणे जेतुं सेन्द्रान् अपि सुरासुरान् ॥
किम् उ पाण्डुसुतान् वीरान् ससुहृद्गणबान्धवान् ॥
तस्माद् अर्हसि गाङ्गेय कृपां कर्तुं मयि प्रभो ॥
जहि पाण्डुसुतान् वीरान् महेन्द्र इव दानवान् ॥
पूर्वम् उक्तं महाबाहो निहनिष्यामि सोमकान् ॥
पाञ्चालान् पाण्डवैः सार्धं करूषांश् चेति भारत ॥
तद् वचः सत्यम् एवास्तु जहि पार्थान् समागतान् ॥
सोमकांश् च महेष्वासान् सत्यवाग् भव भारत ॥
दयया यदि वा राजन् द्वेष्यभावान् मम प्रभो ॥
मन्दभाग्यतया वापि मम रक्षसि पाण्डवान् ॥
अनुजानीहि समरे कर्णम् आहवशोभिनम् ॥
स जेष्यति रणे पार्थान् ससुहृद्गणबान्धवान् ॥
एतावद् उक्त्वा नृपतिः पुत्रो दुर्योधनस् तव ॥
नोवाच वचनं किं चिद् भीष्मं भीमपराक्रमम् ॥
tvāṃ vayaṃ samupāśritya saṃyuge śatrusūdana ||
utsahema raṇe jetuṃ sendrān api surāsurān ||
kim u pāṇḍusutān vīrān sasuhṛdgaṇabāndhavān ||
tasmād arhasi gāṅgeya kṛpāṃ kartuṃ mayi prabho ||
jahi pāṇḍusutān vīrān mahendra iva dānavān ||
pūrvam uktaṃ mahābāho nihaniṣyāmi somakān ||
pāñcālān pāṇḍavaiḥ sārdhaṃ karūṣāṃś ceti bhārata ||
tad vacaḥ satyam evāstu jahi pārthān samāgatān ||
somakāṃś ca maheṣvāsān satyavāg bhava bhārata ||
dayayā yadi vā rājan dveṣyabhāvān mama prabho ||
mandabhāgyatayā vāpi mama rakṣasi pāṇḍavān ||
anujānīhi samare karṇam āhavaśobhinam ||
sa jeṣyati raṇe pārthān sasuhṛdgaṇabāndhavān ||
etāvad uktvā nṛpatiḥ putro duryodhanas tava ||
novāca vacanaṃ kiṃ cid bhīṣmaṃ bhīmaparākramam ||
Duryodhana said: 'Relying upon you in battle, destroyer of enemies, we could conquer even the gods and asuras together with Indra—how much more the valiant sons of Pandu with their friends, troops, and kinsmen. Therefore, O Gangeya, it befits you to show me mercy, lord. Slay the valiant sons of Pandu, as Mahendra slew the danavas. Before, mighty-armed one, you said: "I shall destroy the Somakas, the Panchalas together with the Pandavas, and the Karushas, O Bharata." Let that word become truth. Slay the assembled Parthas and the great archers, the Somakas; be true to your word, O Bharata. But if out of pity, O king, or out of hostility toward me, lord, or because of my own ill fortune, you protect the Pandavas, then grant Karna permission in battle, Karna who is the adornment of the fight. He will conquer the Parthas in battle, together with their friends, troops, and kinsmen.' Having said this much, your son, King Duryodhana, spoke no further word to Bhishma of terrible prowess.
87c77317b0e2 · published Jul 17, 2026, 9:47:12 PM UTC
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Duryodhana's request turns almost into an accusation: if Bhishma does not destroy the Pandavas, it must be either that he pities them or that he rejects Duryodhana himself. Envy and fear thus lead the king to see loyalty only as unconditional service to his will.