When, O Sanjaya, as you tell me the son of Shantanu Bhishma is dead. Burning with grief for my sons, nay overwhelmed with great sorrow I hoped for relief from the son of Shantanu, Bhishma. O Sanjaya when he saw Shantanu's son lying dead on the ground like a sun (dropped from the sky) whom did Duryodhana make his refuge? O Sanjaya, reflecting (all I can) with the help of my understanding, I do not see what the end will be of all those kings who are on my side and those who are on the side of the enemy, those that have joined the opposite parties of the battle. Alas, cruel are the Kshatriya duties as fixed by the Rishis, for the Pandavas desire to obtain the sovereignty by even causing the death of Shantanu's son and we too desire to obtain sovereignty by offering that great vowobserving hero as a sacrifice.
यत्र शान्तनवं भीष्मं हतं शंससि संजय। पुत्रशोकाभिसंतप्तो महद् दुःखमचिन्तयम्॥ आशंसेऽहं परंत्राणं भीष्माच्छान्तनुनन्दनात्। यदाऽऽदित्यमिवापश्यत् पतितं भुवि संजय॥ दुर्योधनः शान्तनवं किं तदा प्रत्यपद्यत। नाहं स्वेषां परेषां वा बुद्ध्या संजय चिन्तयन्॥ शेषं किंचित् प्रपश्यामि प्रत्यनीके महीक्षिताम्। दारुणः क्षत्रधर्मोऽयमृषिभिः सम्प्रदर्शितः॥ यत्र शान्तनवं हत्वा राज्यमिच्छन्ति पाण्डवाः। वयं वा राज्यमिच्छामो घातयित्वा महाव्रतम्॥