01.092
Shantanu gifted with a son “Gangadatta”.
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana said:
ततः प्रतीपो राजा स सर्वभूतहिते रतः। निषसाद समा बह्वीर्गङ्गातीरगतो जपन् ॥१॥
Then King Pratīpa, engaged in the welfare of all beings, sat for many years on the bank of the Gaṅgā, chanting sacred mantras.
तस्य रूपगुणोपेता गङ्गा श्रीरिव रूपिणी। उत्तीर्य सलिलात्तस्माल्लोभनीयतमाकृतिः ॥२॥
Gaṅgā, endowed with beauty and virtues, rose from the water like the goddess of fortune herself, possessing the most alluring form.
अधीयानस्य राजर्षेर्दिव्यरूपा मनस्विनी। दक्षिणं शालसङ्काशमूरुं भेजे शुभानना ॥३॥
The intelligent and divinely beautiful lady, while the royal sage was chanting, sat upon his right thigh, which resembled a śāla tree, her face shining with auspiciousness.
प्रतीपस्तु महीपालस्तामुवाच मनस्विनीम्। करवाणि किं ते कल्याणि प्रियं यत्तेऽभिकाङ्क्षितम् ॥४॥
But King Pratīpa spoke to the intelligent lady, “O auspicious one, what shall I do for you? Tell me what is dear and desired by you.”
स्त्र्युवाच॥
The woman said:
त्वामहं कामये राजन्कुरुश्रेष्ठ भजस्व माम्। त्यागः कामवतीनां हि स्त्रीणां सद्भिर्विगर्हितः ॥५॥
I desire you, O King, best of the Kurus. Accept me. For the rejection of desirous women is indeed censured by the virtuous.
प्रतीप उवाच॥
Pratīpa said:
नाहं परस्त्रियं कामाद्गच्छेयं वरवर्णिनि। न चासवर्णां कल्याणि धर्म्यं तद्विद्धि मे व्रतम् ॥६॥
I would never approach another’s wife out of desire, O splendid lady. Nor one of a different class. Know that this is my righteous vow, O auspicious one.
स्त्र्युवाच॥
The woman said:
नाश्रेयस्यस्मि नागम्या न वक्तव्या च कर्हिचित्। भज मां भजमानां त्वं राजन्कन्यां वरस्त्रियम् ॥७॥
I am not unworthy, nor unapproachable, nor to be shunned in any way. Accept me, O king — I am a maiden desiring you, an excellent woman.
प्रतीप उवाच॥
Pratīpa said:
मयातिवृत्तमेतत्ते यन्मां चोदयसि प्रियम्। अन्यथा प्रतिपन्नं मां नाशयेद्धर्मविप्लवः ॥८॥
This act you urge upon me, though dear, is forbidden by me. Acting otherwise would lead to a downfall, as the ruin of dharma destroys a man.
प्राप्य दक्षिणमूरुं मे त्वमाश्लिष्टा वराङ्गने। अपत्यानां स्नुषाणां च भीरु विद्ध्येतदासनम् ॥९॥
O excellent-limbed lady, you have embraced my right thigh. Know, O bashful one, this is the seat meant for the wives of sons and daughters-in-law.
सव्यतः कामिनीभागस्त्वया स च विवर्जितः। तस्मादहं नाचरिष्ये त्वयि कामं वराङ्गने ॥१०॥
By sitting on my right thigh, O lovely-limbed one, you avoided the left, the seat of the beloved. Therefore, I shall not indulge in desire with you.
स्नुषा मे भव कल्याणि पुत्रार्थे त्वां वृणोम्यहम्। स्नुषापक्षं हि वामोरु त्वमागम्य समाश्रिता ॥११॥
Become my daughter-in-law, O auspicious one; I choose you for the sake of my son. For you have approached and taken refuge in the position of a daughter-in-law, O lovely-thighed one.
स्त्र्युवाच॥
The woman said:
एवमप्यस्तु धर्मज्ञ संयुज्येयं सुतेन ते। त्वद्भक्त्यैव भजिष्यामि प्रख्यातं भारतं कुलम् ॥१२॥
So be it, O knower of dharma. Let me be united with your son. Through devotion to you alone, I shall serve the renowned Bhārata lineage.
पृथिव्यां पार्थिवा ये च तेषां यूयं परायणम्। गुणा न हि मया शक्या वक्तुं वर्षशतैरपि ॥ कुलस्य ये वः प्रस्थितास्तत्साधुत्वमनुत्तमम् ॥१३॥
You are the supreme refuge of the kings on earth. Your virtues cannot be fully described even in hundreds of years by me. The ancestors of your lineage possess unsurpassed virtue.
स मे नाभिजनज्ञः स्यादाचरेयं च यद्विभो। तत्सर्वमेव पुत्रस्ते न मीमांसेत कर्हिचित् ॥१४॥
Even if your son is unaware of my noble birth and I act in some way, O lord, still your son should never question me for any of it.
एवं वसन्ती पुत्रे ते वर्धयिष्याम्यहं प्रियम्। पुत्रैः पुण्यैः प्रियैश्चापि स्वर्गं प्राप्स्यति ते सुतः ॥१५॥
Thus dwelling with your son, I shall increase his joy. Through dear and virtuous sons, your son shall also attain heaven.
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana said:
तथेत्युक्त्वा तु सा राजंस्तत्रैवान्तरधीयत। पुत्रजन्म प्रतीक्षंस्तु स राजा तदधारयत् ॥१६॥
Having said “So be it,” she vanished there itself, O King. And the king, awaiting the birth of a son, held that vow in his heart.
एतस्मिन्नेव काले तु प्रतीपः क्षत्रियर्षभः। तपस्तेपे सुतस्यार्थे सभार्यः कुरुनन्दन ॥१७॥
At that very time, Pratīpa, the foremost among Kṣatriyas, performed austerities with his wife for the sake of obtaining a son, O joy of the Kurus.
तयोः समभवत्पुत्रो वृद्धयोः स महाभिषः। शान्तस्य जज्ञे सन्तानस्तस्मादासीत्स शन्तनुः ॥१८॥
To them, in their old age, a son was born — he was Mahābhiṣa. From Śānta was born the offspring who became known as Śantanu.
संस्मरंश्चाक्षयाँल्लोकान्विजितान्स्वेन कर्मणा। पुण्यकर्मकृदेवासीच्छन्तनुः कुरुसत्तम ॥१९॥
Śantanu, best of the Kurus, remembered the imperishable worlds he had attained by his own deeds, for he was truly a doer of meritorious acts.
प्रतीपः शन्तनुं पुत्रं यौवनस्थं ततोऽन्वशात्। पुरा मां स्त्री समभ्यागाच्छन्तनो भूतये तव ॥२०॥
Pratīpa then appointed his son Śantanu, who was in the prime of youth. Long ago, a woman had approached me, Śantanu, for your sake.
त्वामाव्रजेद्यदि रहः सा पुत्र वरवर्णिनी। कामयानाभिरूपाढ्या दिव्या स्त्री पुत्रकाम्यया॥ सा त्वया नानुयोक्तव्या कासि कस्यासि वाङ्गने॥२१॥
If, O son, that beautiful lady approaches you in private, desiring a son and full of divine beauty, do not ask her — “Who are you? Whose are you, O fair-limbed lady?”
यच्च कुर्यान्न तत्कार्यं प्रष्टव्या सा त्वयानघ। मन्नियोगाद्भजन्तीं तां भजेथा इत्युवाच तम् ॥२२॥
Whatever she does, do not question her, O sinless one. Accept her as she serves you, by my instruction — thus he spoke to him.
एवं संदिश्य तनयं प्रतीपः शन्तनुं तदा। स्वे च राज्येऽभिषिच्यैनं वनं राजा विवेश ह ॥२३॥
Thus instructing his son Śantanu, Pratīpa anointed him as king over his realm, and then the king retired into the forest.
स राजा शन्तनुर्धीमान् ख्यातः पृथ्व्यां धनुर्धरः। बभूव मृगयाशीलः सततं वनगोचरः ॥२४॥
King Śantanu, wise and renowned on earth as a great archer, became one constantly roaming the forests, ever fond of hunting.
स मृगान्महिषांश्चैव विनिघ्नन् राजसत्तमः। गङ्गामनुचचारैकः सिद्धचारणसेविताम् ॥२५॥
He, the best of kings, wandered alone along the Ganges, slaying deer and buffaloes, in that forest sanctified by siddhas and celestial bards.
स कदाचिन्महाराज ददर्श परमस्त्रियम्। जाज्वल्यमानां वपुषा साक्षात्पद्मामिव श्रियम् ॥२६॥
Once, O great king, he beheld a supreme woman, glowing in beauty, appearing like the goddess of fortune herself rising from a lotus.
सर्वानवद्यां सुदतीं दिव्याभरणभूषिताम्। सूक्ष्माम्बरधरामेकां पद्मोदरसमप्रभाम् ॥२७॥
Flawless in every way, with a sweet smile and adorned with divine ornaments, she stood alone, clad in delicate garments, radiating a glow like the heart of a lotus.
तां दृष्ट्वा हृष्टरोमाभूद्विस्मितो रूपसम्पदा। पिबन्निव च नेत्राभ्यां नातृप्यत नराधिपः ॥२८॥
Seeing her, the king was filled with wonder, his hair standing in joy from her beauty. As if drinking her with his eyes, he could not get enough of the sight.
सा च दृष्ट्वैव राजानं विचरन्तं महाद्युतिम्। स्नेहादागतसौहार्दा नातृप्यत विलासिनी ॥२९॥
She too, upon seeing the radiant king moving about, was filled with affectionate admiration and, being full of grace, could not take her eyes off him.
तामुवाच ततो राजा सान्त्वयञ्श्लक्ष्णया गिरा। देवी वा दानवी वा त्वं गन्धर्वी यदि वाप्सराः ॥३०॥
Then the king, consoling her with gentle words, said: “Are you a goddess, a demoness, a gandharvī, or perhaps an apsarā?”
यक्षी वा पन्नगी वापि मानुषी वा सुमध्यमे। या वा त्वं सुरगर्भाभे भार्या मे भव शोभने ॥३१॥
Whether you are a yakṣī, a serpent-woman, a human, or one who resembles the offspring of the gods — O beautiful, slender-waisted one, be my wife.
एतच्छ्रुत्वा वचो राज्ञः सस्मितं मृदु वल्गु च। वसूनां समयं स्मृत्वा अभ्यगच्छदनिन्दिता ॥३२॥
Hearing these gentle and charming words of the king, she smiled, remembered the agreement of the Vasus, and accepted him, the faultless one.
उवाच चैव राज्ञः सा ह्लादयन्ती मनो गिरा। भविष्यामि महीपाल महिषी ते वशानुगा ॥३३॥
She then spoke to the king in words that delighted the heart: “O king, I shall be your queen, obedient to your will.”
यत्तु कुर्यामहं राजञ्शुभं वा यदि वाशुभम्। न तद्वारयितव्यास्मि न वक्तव्या तथाप्रियम् ॥३४॥
But whatever I may do, O king — whether good or bad — you must not stop me, nor speak anything unpleasant to me.
एवं हि वर्तमानेऽहं त्वयि वत्स्यामि पार्थिव। वारिता विप्रियं चोक्ता त्यजेयं त्वामसंशयम् ॥३५॥
Only while you behave thus will I stay with you, O king. If you stop me or speak unpleasantly to me, I will abandon you without doubt.
तथेति राज्ञा सा तूक्ता तदा भरतसत्तम। प्रहर्षमतुलं लेभे प्राप्य तं पार्थिवोत्तमम् ॥३६॥
Thus addressed by the king, she — O best of the Bharatas — felt an incomparable joy, having attained that best among kings.
आसाद्य शन्तनुस्तां च बुभुजे कामतो वशी। न प्रष्टव्येति मन्वानो न स तां किञ्चिदूचिवान् ॥३७॥
Having attained her, Śantanu — though self-controlled — enjoyed her freely. Thinking “I must not question her,” he never spoke a word of inquiry to her.
स तस्याः शीलवृत्तेन रूपौदार्यगुणेन च। उपचारेण च रहस्तुतोष जगतीपतिः ॥३८॥
The lord of the earth was pleased in private with her character and conduct, her beauty and nobility, and the attentiveness of her service.
दिव्यरूपा हि सा देवी गङ्गा त्रिपथगा नदी। मानुषं विग्रहं श्रीमत्कृत्वा सा वरवर्णिनी ॥३९॥
Indeed, she was the goddess Gaṅgā, the river flowing through the three worlds, who had assumed a splendid human form, O lady of radiant beauty.
भाग्योपनतकामस्य भार्येवोपस्थिताभवत्। शन्तनो राजसिंहस्य देवराजसमद्युतेः ॥४०॥
She appeared like a destined wife to the desire-blessed Śantanu, the lion among kings, whose splendor rivaled that of the king of the gods.
सम्भोगस्नेहचातुर्यैर्हावलास्यैर्मनोहरैः। राजानं रमयामास यथा रेमे तथैव सः ॥४१॥
With enchanting skill in union, affection, cleverness, and playful gestures, she delighted the king — and he rejoiced fully in her, just as she intended.
स राजा रतिसक्तत्वादुत्तमस्त्रीगुणैर्हृतः। संवत्सरानृतून्मासान्न बुबोध बहून्गतान् ॥४२॥
Captivated by her supreme qualities and absorbed in pleasure, the king did not perceive the passing of many years, seasons, and months.
रममाणस्तया सार्धं यथाकामं जनेश्वरः। अष्टावजनयत्पुत्रांस्तस्याममरवर्णिनः ॥४३॥
The lord of men, enjoying her freely, begot eight sons in her, all radiant like the immortals.
जातं जातं च सा पुत्रं क्षिपत्यम्भसि भारत। प्रीणामि त्वाहमित्युक्त्वा गङ्गास्रोतस्यमज्जयत् ॥४४॥
Each time a son was born, O Bhārata, she cast him into the Gaṅgā, saying, “I please you,” and drowned him in the river’s flow.
तस्य तन्न प्रियं राज्ञः शन्तनोरभवत्तदा। न च तां किञ्चनोवाच त्यागाद्भीतो महीपतिः ॥४५॥
This was not pleasing to Śantanu the king, yet out of fear that she might abandon him, the lord of the earth said nothing to her.
अथ तामष्टमे पुत्रे जाते प्रहसितामिव। उवाच राजा दुःखार्तः परीप्सन्पुत्रमात्मनः ॥४६॥
Then, when the eighth son was born and she seemed about to smile, the grief-stricken king, desiring to save his son, spoke to her.
मा वधीः कासि कस्यासि किं हिंससि सुतानिति। पुत्रघ्नि सुमहत्पापं मा प्रापस्तिष्ठ गर्हिते ॥४७॥
Do not kill him! Who are you? Whose are you? Why do you destroy these sons? O slayer of children, do not incur such great sin — stop, O condemned one!
स्त्र्युवाच॥
The woman said:
पुत्रकाम न ते हन्मि पुत्रं पुत्रवतां वर। जीर्णस्तु मम वासोऽयं यथा स समयः कृतः ॥४८॥
O best among fathers, I do not slay your son, for you desire him. But my stay is now worn out, for the agreement made has reached its time.
अहं गङ्गा जह्नुसुता महर्षिगणसेविता। देवकार्यार्थसिद्ध्यर्थमुषिटाहं त्वया सह ॥४९॥
I am Gaṅgā, daughter of Jahnu, revered by hosts of sages. I dwelt with you to fulfill a divine purpose.
अष्टे मे वसवो देवा महाभागा महौजसः। वसिष्ठ-शाप-दोषेण मानुषत्वम् उपागताः ॥५०॥
The eight Vasus — great and powerful gods — became mortals due to the curse of Vasiṣṭha, and were born through me.
तेषां जनयिता नान्यस्त्वदृते भुवि विद्यते। मद्विधा मानुषी धात्री न चैवास्तीह काचन ॥५१॥
No one on earth but you is capable of begetting them. Nor is there any human mother like me who could bear them.
तस्मात्तज्जननीहेतोर्मानुषत्वमुपागता। जनयित्वा वसूनष्टौ जिता लोकास्त्वयाक्षयाः ॥५२॥
Therefore, to become their mother, I took a human form. Having borne the eight Vasus, you have won eternal worlds, O king.
देवानां समयस्त्वेष वसूनां संश्रुतो मया। जातं जातं मोक्षयिष्ये जन्मतः मानुषादिति ॥५३॥
This was the agreement of the gods, O king, which I accepted from the Vasus: “Each one born, I shall liberate from human birth.”
तत्ते शापाद्विनिर्मुक्ता आपवस्य महात्मनः। स्वस्ति तेऽस्तु गमिष्यामि पुत्रं पाहि महाव्रतम् ॥५४॥
Thus, the Vasus are freed from the curse of the great-souled Vasiṣṭha through you. Farewell to you — I shall now depart. Protect this noble son.
एष पर्यायवासो मे वसूनां संनिधौ कृतः। मत्प्रसूतं विजानीहि गङ्गादत्तमिमं सुतम् ॥५५॥
This was my temporary stay for the sake of the Vasus. Know this son as your own, born of me as Gaṅgādatta, i.e. given by Gaṅgā.
