अम्बोपाख्यान पर्व — दुर्योधन सोध्छ कि भीष्मले शिखण्डीमाथि प्रहार किन गर्दैनन्

Duryodhana said For what reason, ( chief among the Bharatas, will you not slay Shikhandin even though you see him ready to strike you in battle.

You said before, O you of long arms: I shall slay the Panchalas with the Somakas. O son of Ganga, tell me how is this, O grand father.

Bhishma said Listen, O Duryodhana, to that story along with these rulers of the universe, namely the reason for which I shall not slay Shikhandin even though I see him in battle.

0 great king, my father the virtuoussouled Shantanu, well known in this world, went the way of the world in due time, O best among the Bharatas.

Then did I, O chief among the Bharatas, observing my vows, install my brother Chitrangada on the throne.

He too being dead, following the wishes of Satyavati 1 duly appointed Vichitravirya in the kingship.

Installed by me, O chief among kings, my younger brother the virtuous souled Vichitravirya looked up to me in everything.

I, too being desirous of getting his wives, set my heart on procuring suitable girls from good families.

At the time, I heard, O you of long arms, that these were three girls, the daughters of the king of the Kashis going to elect bridegrooms, all of whom were unrivaled in beauty.

They were Amba, Ambika, and Ambalika and all the rulers of the earth were invited, O foremost of the Bharatas. Amba was the elder among them, Ambika the second,

And Ambalika, O chief among kings, was the youngest princess. Then did I on a single chariot, go to the capital of the king of the Kashis,

And saw, O you of long arms, the three girls with their persons ornamented and the kings of the carth who were invited, O lord of the world

Then did I, challenging all those rulers of the earth to fight, carried by force, the girls to my chariot, O best of the Bharatas.

Knowing that prowess constituted their dower, I took them over to my chariot and said to all those rulers of the earth who were assembled there.

Bhishma, the son of Shantanu, again and again takes these girls away by force; try, 0 rulers of the earth, with all your might to liberate them. By force do I take them away, O best among men, in your very sight,

Then did those lords of the earth rise up with weapons open and wrathfully they urged their drivers, saying, “Make ready the cars, make ready the cars."

Then did they rise up with weapons ready, car-warriors on chariots resembling herds of elephant-warriors on elephants and others ruler of the earth on plump horses.

Then did all those rulers of the earth, O lord of the universe, surround me on an all sides with a large troupe of chariots.

Then, with a shower of arrows I arrested their rush and vanquished all those rulers of the earth like of the gods vanquishing the Danavas.

By blazing arrows did I laughingly fell down their diverse banners ornamented with gold, O best among the Bharatas.

By one arrow did I lay each to the ground with their horses, elephants, and drivers in battle.

Seeing that lightness of hand on my part, they broke up and turned back and vanquishing those kings I came to the city called after the elephant.

Then did I make over, O Bharata, those girls to my brother, and submitted that deed, O you of long arms, to Satyavati for information.