Bhisma said: -
1. The desire, that cause the Chedi king to call you, whose strength knows no deterioration to fight, is hardly is his own wish. This is surely the purpose of Krishna himself, who is the lord of the universe.
2. O Bhimasena, what king was there on earth who could abuse me as this wretch of his race, who has been already taken for his own by Death, has done today.
3. This mighty armed (hero) is certainly a portion of Hari’s (Krishna) energy. The lord (Krishna) wishes to take back to himself his that energy.
4. O best of the Kuru race, for this reason (only) this wicked-minded and tiger like Chedi king roars in this way without caring little for any of us.
Vaishampayana said: -
5. Having heard these words of Bhisma, the Chedi king could not brook them. He thus replied to Bhisma in great wrath.
Sishupala said: -
6. O Bhisma, when always rising from your seat you are praising his like a (professional) chaunter, let our enemies possess that prowess which is possessed by this Keshava (Krishna).
7. O Bhisma, if your mind takes pleasure in praising others, then praise these kings (present) here, and leave of Janarddana (Krishna).
8. Praise this best of kings Danda, the monarch of Valhika, who, as soon as he was born, rent this earth.
9. O Bhisma, praise this Kama, the king of Anga and Banga, who is like Indra in strength, who draws the great bow.
10. Who is adorned with the celestials earrings of heavenly make and with the armour possessing the splendour of the rising sun, with (both of) which he was born.
11. And who vanquished and mangled in a wrestling match the greatly invincible Jarasandha equal to Vasava (Indra).
12. O Bhisma, praise always Drona and his son (Aswathama),who are, both father and son, worthy of praise, who are great carwarriors, and who are best of Brahmanas.
13. O Bhisma, it is my opinion that if they are enraged, either of the two can annihilate this earth with all its mobile and immobile creatures.
14. O Bhisma, I do not see any king who is equal to Drona or Aswathama in battle. Why do you not desire to praise them?
15. Passing over Duryodhana who is the mighty-armed king of kings, and who is unrivalled on earth girt with the seas.
16. Also king Jayadratha, who is accomplished in weapons and who is of great prowess; and also Druma, the preceptor of the Kimpurushas, who is renowned on earth for his prowess.
17. And also old Kripa, the son of Sharadvata, who is the preceptor of the Bharata race, passing over these greatly powerful men, why do you praise Keshava (Krishna)?
18. Passing over that foremost of bowmen, that excellent man,, the greatly powerful Rukmin, why do you praise Keshava?
19. Passing over the greatly energetic Bhismaka, and the king Dantavakra, and also Bhagadatta celebrated for his many sacrificial stakes, the king of Magadha Jayasena.
20. And also Drupada and Virata, Sakuni and Brihadbala, Vinda and Anuvinda of Avanti, Pandya, Sweta, Uttama.
21. The greatly prosperous Shankha, the proud Vrishasena, the powerful Ekalavya, the great car-warrior the king of Kalinga, passing over all these powerful men, why do you praise Keshava?
22. O Bhisma, if your mind is always eager to praise others, why do you not praise Salya and other rulers of the earth?
23. O king, what am I capable of doing (giving you good advice) when you have never before heard anything from the virtuous men who are learned in the precepts of virtue?
24. O Bhisma, have you not heard that reproach and glorification of self and reproach and glorification of others are not the practices of those who are respectable?
25. O Bhisma, there is none who approves your conduct in thus continually praising this Keshava, who is unworthy of any praise; you (surely) do it from ignorance alone.
26. How can you from your desire alone establish the whole universe in this wicked minded slave and cow-heard of Vraja.
27. O descendant of Bharata, perhaps your inclination is not conformable to your true nature, like that of the bird Bhulinga, the story of which has been already told by me.
28. O Bhisma, there was a bird, called Bhulinga living on the other side of the Himalayas. His words were always without any meaning.
29. “Never act rashly” was what he always said, but he never knew that he himself always acted rashly.
30. O Bhisma, that foolish bird used to pick from the lion’s mouth the pieces of flesh sticking between its teeth when the lion was engaged in eating.
31. O Bhisma, that bird surely lived at the pleasure of the lion. O sinful wretch, you always speak like that bird.
32. O Bhisma, surely you live at the pleasure of these kings. There is none else like you who is engaged in doing things contrary to the opinions of all.
Vaishampayana said: -
33. O king, having heard these rude and harsh words of the Chedi king, Bhisma spoke thus in the hearing of the king of Chedi.
Bhisma said: -
34. Truly am I alive at the pleasure of these rulers of earth. But I do not consider these kings as equal to even straws.
Vaishampayana said: -
35. Having been thus addressed by Bhisma, the kings became full of anger. Some amongst them stood erect and some began to reproach Bhisma.
36. Having heard these words of Bhisma, some of these great bowmen said, “This sinful wretch, Bhisma, though old, is exceedingly boastful. He deserves no pardon.
37. Therefore, O kings, let this wicked minded Bhisma be killed like an animal, or let us master all together, and let him be burnt in a fire made of straw”.
38. Having heard their these words, the grandsire of the Kurus, the intelligent Bhisma, then thus spoke to the kings.
Bhisma said: -
39. O rulers of earth, I do not see the ends of our speeches, for words may be answered with words. Therefore, listen to what I say.
40. Whether I may be killed by you like an animal or be burnt in a fire made of straw, I say, I place my foot on the head of all.
41-42. Here is Govinda (Krishna) who knows no deterioration. Him have we worshipped. Let him, who is willing to meet a speedy death call today to battle Madhava, Krishna, the wielder of discus and club, falling (in the battle), let him enter and mix with the body of this Deity.
Thus ends the forty fourth chapter, the words of Bhisma, in sishupala Badha of the Sabha Parva.