01.092
Shantanu gifted with a son “Gangadatta”.
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
[वैशम्पायनः (vaiśampāyanaḥ) - Vaiśampāyana; उवाच (uvāca) - said.]
Vaiśampāyana said:
ततः प्रतीपो राजा स सर्वभूतहिते रतः। निषसाद समा बह्वीर्गङ्गातीरगतो जपन् ॥१॥
tataḥ pratīpo rājā sa sarvabhūtahite rataḥ. niṣasāda samā bahvīrgaṅgātīragato japan ॥1॥
[ततः (tataḥ) - Then; प्रतीपः (pratīpaḥ) - Pratīpa; राजा (rājā) - king; सः (saḥ) - he; सर्वभूतहिते (sarvabhūtahite) - in the welfare of all beings; रतः (rataḥ) - engaged; निषसाद (niṣasāda) - sat down; समाः (samāḥ) - years; बह्वीः (bahvīḥ) - many; गङ्गातीरगतः (gaṅgātīragataḥ) - having gone to the bank of Gaṅgā; जपन् (japan) - chanting (mantras).]
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॥
tasya rūpaguṇopetā gaṅgā śrīriva rūpiṇī. uttīrya salilāttasmāllobhanīyatamākṛtiḥ ॥2॥
[तस्य (tasya) - his; रूपगुणोपेता (rūpaguṇopetā) - endowed with beauty and virtues; गङ्गा (gaṅgā) - Gaṅgā; श्रीः (śrīḥ) - fortune; इव (iva) - like; रूपिणी (rūpiṇī) - in form; उत्तीर्य (uttīrya) - having risen; सलिलात् (salilāt) - from the water; तस्मात् (tasmāt) - from that; लोभनीयतमाकृतिः (lobhanīyatamākṛtiḥ) - having the most alluring appearance.]
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॥
adhīyānasya rājarṣerdivyarūpā manasvinī. dakṣiṇaṁ śālasaṅkāśamūruṁ bheje śubhānanā ॥3॥
[अधीयानस्य (adhīyānasya) - of the one studying (chanting); राजर्षेः (rājarṣeḥ) - of the royal sage; दिव्यरूपा (divyarūpā) - of divine form; मनस्विनी (manasvinī) - intelligent woman; दक्षिणं (dakṣiṇam) - right; शालसङ्काशम् (śālasaṅkāśam) - resembling a śāla tree; ऊरुम् (ūrum) - thigh; भेजे (bheje) - took (sat upon); शुभानना (śubhānanā) - auspicious-faced one.]
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॥
pratīpastu mahīpālastāmuvāca manasvinīm. karavāṇi kiṁ te kalyāṇi priyaṁ yatte'bhikāṅkṣitam ॥4॥
[प्रतीपः (pratīpaḥ) - Pratīpa; तु (tu) - but; महीपालः (mahīpālaḥ) - the king; ताम् (tām) - to her; उवाच (uvāca) - said; मनस्विनीम् (manasvinīm) - intelligent lady; करवाणि (karavāṇi) - shall I do; किम् (kim) - what; ते (te) - for you; कल्याणि (kalyāṇi) - auspicious one; प्रियं (priyam) - dear; यत् (yat) - that which; ते (te) - to you; अभिकाङ्क्षितम् (abhikāṅkṣitam) - is desired.]
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॥
stryuvāca॥
[स्त्री (strī) - the woman; उवाच (uvāca) - said.]
The woman said:
त्वामहं कामये राजन्कुरुश्रेष्ठ भजस्व माम्। त्यागः कामवतीनां हि स्त्रीणां सद्भिर्विगर्हितः ॥५॥
tvāmahaṁ kāmaye rājan kuruśreṣṭha bhajasva mām. tyāgaḥ kāmavatīnāṁ hi strīṇāṁ sadbhirvigarhitaḥ ॥5॥
[त्वाम् (tvām) - you; अहम् (aham) - I; कामये (kāmaye) - desire; राजन् (rājan) - O king; कुरुश्रेष्ठ (kuruśreṣṭha) - best of the Kurus; भजस्व (bhajasva) - accept (me); माम् (mām) - me; त्यागः (tyāgaḥ) - rejection; कामवतीनां (kāmavatīnām) - of desirous women; हि (hi) - indeed; स्त्रीणां (strīṇām) - of women; सद्भिः (sadbhiḥ) - by the virtuous; विगर्हितः (vigarhitaḥ) - censured.]
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 uvāca॥
[प्रतीपः (pratīpaḥ) - Pratīpa; उवाच (uvāca) - said.]
Pratīpa said:
नाहं परस्त्रियं कामाद्गच्छेयं वरवर्णिनि। न चासवर्णां कल्याणि धर्म्यं तद्विद्धि मे व्रतम् ॥६॥
nāhaṁ parastriyaṁ kāmādgaccheyaṁ varavarṇini. na cāsavarṇāṁ kalyāṇi dharmyaṁ tadviddhi me vratam ॥6॥
[न (na) - not; अहम् (aham) - I; परस्त्रियम् (parastriyam) - another’s wife; कामात् (kāmāt) - out of desire; गच्छेयं (gaccheyaṁ) - would approach; वरवर्णिनि (varavarṇini) - O splendid lady; न (na) - nor; च (ca) - and; असवर्णाम् (asavarṇām) - one of a different class; कल्याणि (kalyāṇi) - O auspicious one; धर्म्यम् (dharmyam) - righteous; तत् (tat) - that; विद्धि (viddhi) - know; मे (me) - my; व्रतम् (vratam) - vow.]
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॥
stryuvāca॥
[स्त्री (strī) - the woman; उवाच (uvāca) - said.]
The woman said:
नाश्रेयस्यस्मि नागम्या न वक्तव्या च कर्हिचित्। भज मां भजमानां त्वं राजन्कन्यां वरस्त्रियम् ॥७॥
nāśreyasyasmi nāgamyā na vaktavyā ca karhicit. bhaja māṁ bhajamānāṁ tvaṁ rājan kanyāṁ varastriyam ॥7॥
[न (na) - not; अश्रेयस्य (aśreyasya) - unworthy; अस्मि (asmi) - I am; नागम्या (nāgamyā) - unapproachable; न (na) - nor; वक्तव्या (vaktavyā) - to be spoken to; च (ca) - and; कर्हिचित् (karhicit) - ever; भज (bhaja) - accept; माम् (mām) - me; भजमानाम् (bhajamānām) - who desires you; त्वम् (tvam) - you; राजन् (rājan) - O king; कन्याम् (kanyām) - maiden; वरस्त्रियम् (varastriyam) - excellent woman.]
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 uvāca॥
[प्रतीपः (pratīpaḥ) - Pratīpa; उवाच (uvāca) - said.]
Pratīpa said:
मयातिवृत्तमेतत्ते यन्मां चोदयसि प्रियम्। अन्यथा प्रतिपन्नं मां नाशयेद्धर्मविप्लवः ॥८॥
mayātivṛttam etatte yan māṁ codayasi priyam. anyathā pratipannaṁ māṁ nāśayed dharmaviplavaḥ ॥8॥
[मया (mayā) - by me; अति-वृत्तम् (ativṛttam) - transgressed; एतत् (etat) - this; ते (te) - to you; यत् (yat) - that which; माम् (mām) - me; चोदयसि (codayasi) - you urge; प्रियम् (priyam) - dear act; अन्यथा (anyathā) - otherwise; प्रतिपन्नम् (pratipannam) - one who acts; माम् (mām) - me; नाशयेत् (nāśayet) - would destroy; धर्म-विप्लवः (dharma-viplavaḥ) - the ruin of dharma.]
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॥
prāpya dakṣiṇamūruṁ me tvam āśliṣṭā varāṅgane. apatyānāṁ snuṣāṇāṁ ca bhīru viddhyetadāsanam ॥9॥
[प्राप्य (prāpya) - having reached; दक्षिणमूरुम् (dakṣiṇamūrum) - my right thigh; मे (me) - my; त्वम् (tvam) - you; आश्लिष्टा (āśliṣṭā) - have embraced; वराङ्गने (varāṅgane) - O excellent-limbed lady; अपत्यानाम् (apatyānām) - of sons; स्नुषाणाम् (snuṣāṇām) - of daughters-in-law; च (ca) - and; भीरु (bhīru) - O shy one; विद्धि (viddhi) - know; एतत् (etat) - this; आसनम् (āsanam) - seat.]
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॥
savyataḥ kāminībhāgas tvayā sa ca vivarjitaḥ. tasmād ahaṁ nācariṣye tvayi kāmaṁ varāṅgane ॥10॥
[सव्यतः (savyataḥ) - on the left side; कामिनी-भागः (kāminī-bhāgaḥ) - the place for a beloved; त्वया (tvayā) - by you; सः (saḥ) - that; च (ca) - and; विवर्जितः (vivarjitaḥ) - was avoided; तस्मात् (tasmāt) - therefore; अहम् (aham) - I; न (na) - not; आचरिष्ये (ācariṣye) - will engage in; त्वयि (tvayi) - with you; कामम् (kāmam) - desire; वराङ्गने (varāṅgane) - O lovely-limbed one.]
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॥
snuṣā me bhava kalyāṇi putrārthe tvāṁ vṛṇomyaham. snuṣāpakṣaṁ hi vāmoru tvam āgamya samāśritā ॥11॥
[स्नुषा (snuṣā) - daughter-in-law; मे (me) - my; भव (bhava) - become; कल्याणि (kalyāṇi) - O auspicious one; पुत्रार्थे (putrārthe) - for the sake of my son; त्वाम् (tvām) - you; वृणोमि (vṛṇomi) - I choose; अहम् (aham) - I; स्नुषा-पक्षम् (snuṣā-pakṣam) - the side of the daughter-in-law; हि (hi) - indeed; वामोरु (vāmoru) - O lovely-thighed one; त्वम् (tvam) - you; आगम्य (āgamya) - having approached; समाश्रिता (samāśritā) - have taken refuge.]
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॥
stryuvāca॥
[स्त्री (strī) - the woman; उवाच (uvāca) - said.]
The woman said:
एवमप्यस्तु धर्मज्ञ संयुज्येयं सुतेन ते। त्वद्भक्त्यैव भजिष्यामि प्रख्यातं भारतं कुलम् ॥१२॥
evam apy astu dharmajña saṁyujyeyaṁ sutena te. tvadbhaktyaiva bhajiṣyāmi prakhyātaṁ bhārataṁ kulam ॥12॥
[एवम् (evam) - thus; अपि (api) - even; अस्तु (astu) - let it be; धर्मज्ञ (dharmajña) - knower of dharma; संयुज्ये (saṁyujye) - let me be united; सुतेन (sutena) - with your son; ते (te) - your; त्वत्-भक्त्या (tvad-bhaktyā) - by devotion to you; एव (eva) - alone; भजिष्यामि (bhajiṣyāmi) - I shall serve; प्रख्यातम् (prakhyātam) - renowned; भारतम् (bhāratam) - Bhārata; कुलम् (kulam) - family.]
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॥
pṛthivyāṁ pārthivā ye ca teṣāṁ yūyaṁ parāyaṇam. guṇā na hi mayā śakyā vaktuṁ varṣaśatair api ॥ kulasya ye vaḥ prasthitās tat sādhutvam anuttamam ॥13॥
[पृथिव्याम् (pṛthivyām) - on earth; पार्थिवाः (pārthivāḥ) - kings; ये (ye) - who; च (ca) - and; तेषाम् (teṣām) - of them; यूयम् (yūyam) - you; परायणम् (parāyaṇam) - supreme refuge; गुणाः (guṇāḥ) - virtues; न (na) - not; हि (hi) - indeed; मया (mayā) - by me; शक्याः (śakyāḥ) - possible; वक्तुम् (vaktum) - to express; वर्षशतैः (varṣaśataiḥ) - with hundreds of years; अपि (api) - even. कुलस्य (kulasya) - of the lineage; ये (ye) - who; वः (vaḥ) - your; प्रस्थिताः (prasthitāḥ) - have proceeded (ancestors); तत् (tat) - that; साधुत्वम् (sādhutvam) - virtue; अनुत्तमम् (anuttamam) - unsurpassed.]
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॥
sa me nābhijanajñaḥ syād ācareyaṁ ca yad vibho. tat sarvam eva putras te na mīmāṁseta karhicit ॥14॥
[सः (saḥ) - he; मे (me) - my; न (na) - not; आभिजनज्ञः (ābhijanajñaḥ) - knower of noble lineage; स्यात् (syāt) - may be; आचरेयम् (ācareyam) - I may do; च (ca) - and; यत् (yat) - that which; विभो (vibho) - O lord; तत् (tat) - that; सर्वम् (sarvam) - all; एव (eva) - indeed; पुत्रः (putraḥ) - son; ते (te) - your; न (na) - not; मीमांसेत (mīmāṁseta) - should question; कर्हिचित् (karhicit) - ever.]
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॥
evaṁ vasantī putre te vardhayiṣyāmy ahaṁ priyam. putraiḥ puṇyaiḥ priyaiś cāpi svargaṁ prāpsyati te sutaḥ ॥15॥
[एवम् (evam) - thus; वसन्ती (vasantī) - dwelling; पुत्रे (putre) - with your son; ते (te) - your; वर्धयिष्यामि (vardhayiṣyāmi) - I shall increase; अहम् (aham) - I; प्रियम् (priyam) - joy; पुत्रैः (putraiḥ) - by sons; पुण्यैः (puṇyaiḥ) - virtuous; प्रियैः (priyaiḥ) - dear; च (ca) - and; अपि (api) - also; स्वर्गम् (svargam) - heaven; प्राप्स्यति (prāpsyati) - shall attain; ते (te) - your; सुतः (sutaḥ) - son.]
Thus dwelling with your son, I shall increase his joy. Through dear and virtuous sons, your son shall also attain heaven.
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
[वैशम्पायनः (vaiśampāyanaḥ) - Vaiśampāyana; उवाच (uvāca) - said.]
Vaiśampāyana said:
तथेत्युक्त्वा तु सा राजंस्तत्रैवान्तरधीयत। पुत्रजन्म प्रतीक्षंस्तु स राजा तदधारयत् ॥१६॥
tathety uktvā tu sā rājaṁs tatraivāntaradhīyata. putrajanma pratīkṣaṁs tu sa rājā tadadhārayat ॥16॥
[तथा (tathā) - so; इति (iti) - thus; उक्त्वा (uktvā) - having said; तु (tu) - but; सा (sā) - she; राजन् (rājan) - O king; तत्र एव (tatra eva) - right there; अन्तरधीयत (antaradhīyata) - disappeared; पुत्रजन्म (putrajanma) - the birth of a son; प्रतीक्षन् (pratīkṣan) - awaiting; तु (tu) - and; सः (saḥ) - he; राजा (rājā) - king; तत् (tat) - that; अधारयत् (adhārayat) - held (in mind).]
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॥
etasminneva kāle tu pratīpaḥ kṣatriyarṣabhaḥ. tapastepe sutasyārthe sabhāryaḥ kurunandana ॥17॥
[एतस्मिन् एव (etasmin eva) - at this very; काले (kāle) - time; तु (tu) - indeed; प्रतीपः (pratīpaḥ) - Pratīpa; क्षत्रियर्षभः (kṣatriyarṣabhaḥ) - the foremost among Kṣatriyas; तपः (tapaḥ) - austerity; तेपे (tepe) - performed; सुतस्य अर्थे (sutasya arthe) - for the sake of a son; स-भार्यः (sa-bhāryaḥ) - with his wife; कुरुनन्दन (kurunandana) - O joy of the Kurus.]
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॥
tayoḥ samabhavat putro vṛddhayoḥ sa mahābhiṣaḥ. śāntasya jajñe santānas tasmād āsīt sa śantanuḥ ॥18॥
[तयोः (tayoḥ) - to them both; समभवत् (samabhavat) - was born; पुत्रः (putraḥ) - a son; वृद्धयोः (vṛddhayoḥ) - in their old age; सः (saḥ) - he; महाभिषः (mahābhiṣaḥ) - was Mahābhiṣa; शान्तस्य (śāntasya) - of Śānta; जज्ञे (jajñe) - was born; सन्तानः (santānaḥ) - offspring; तस्मात् (tasmāt) - from him; आसीत् (āsīt) - became; सः (saḥ) - he; शन्तनुः (śantanuḥ) - Śantanu.]
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॥
saṁsmaraṁś cākṣayāṁl lokān vijitān svena karmaṇā. puṇyakarmakṛd evāsīc chantanuḥ kurusattama ॥19॥
[संस्मरन् (saṁsmaran) - remembering; च (ca) - and; अक्षयान् (akṣayān) - imperishable; लोकान् (lokān) - worlds; विजितान् (vijitān) - conquered; स्वेन (svena) - by his own; कर्मणा (karmaṇā) - deeds; पुण्यकर्मकृत् (puṇyakarmakṛt) - doer of meritorious acts; एव (eva) - indeed; आसीत् (āsīt) - was; शन्तनुः (śantanuḥ) - Śantanu; कुरुसत्तम (kurusattama) - best of the Kurus.]
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॥
pratīpaḥ śantanuṁ putraṁ yauvanasthaṁ tato'nvaśāt. purā māṁ strī samabhyāgāc chantano bhūtaye tava ॥20॥
[प्रतीपः (pratīpaḥ) - Pratīpa; शन्तनुम् (śantanum) - Śantanu; पुत्रम् (putram) - son; यौवनस्थम् (yauvanastham) - in the prime of youth; ततः (tataḥ) - then; अन्वशात् (anvaśāt) - appointed (as successor); पुरा (purā) - formerly; माम् (mām) - me; स्त्री (strī) - a woman; समभ्यागात् (samabhyāgāt) - had approached; शन्तनः (śantanaḥ) - Śantanu; भूतये (bhūtaye) - for the sake of; तव (tava) - you.]
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॥
tvām āvrajed yadi rahaḥ sā putra varavarṇinī. kāmayānābhirūpāḍhyā divyā strī putrakāmyayā. sā tvayā nānuyoktavyā kāsi kasyāsi vāṅgane ॥21॥
[त्वाम् (tvām) - to you; आव्रजेत् (āvrajet) - she may approach; यदि (yadi) - if; रहः (rahaḥ) - in private; सा (sā) - that; पुत्र (putra) - O son; वरवर्णिनी (varavarṇinī) - beautiful lady; कामयाना (kāmayānā) - desiring; अभिरूपाढ्या (abhirūpāḍhyā) - endowed with beauty; दिव्या (divyā) - divine; स्त्री (strī) - woman; पुत्रकाम्यया (putrakāmyayā) - with desire for a son; सा (sā) - she; त्वया (tvayā) - by you; न (na) - not; अनुयोक्तव्या (anuyoktavyā) - should be questioned; कासि (kāsi) - who are you; कस्य (kasya) - whose; असि (asi) - are you; वाङ्गने (vāṅgane) - O fair-limbed lady.]
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॥
yacca kuryān na tat kāryaṁ praṣṭavyā sā tvayānagha. manniyogād bhajantīṁ tāṁ bhajethā ity uvāca tam ॥22॥
[यत् च (yat ca) - whatever; कुर्यात् (kuryāt) - she may do; न (na) - not; तत् (tat) - that; कार्यम् (kāryam) - should be judged; प्रष्टव्या (praṣṭavyā) - to be questioned; सा (sā) - she; त्वया (tvayā) - by you; अनघ (anagha) - O sinless one; मत्त्-नियोगात् (mat-niyogāt) - by my instruction; भजन्तीम् (bhajantīm) - who serves; ताम् (tām) - her; भजेथाः (bhajethāḥ) - you shall accept; इति (iti) - thus; उवाच (uvāca) - he said; तम् (tam) - to him.]
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॥
evaṁ saṁdiśya tanayaṁ pratīpaḥ śantanuṁ tadā. sve ca rājye'bhiṣicya enaṁ vanaṁ rājā viveśa ha ॥23॥
[एवम् (evam) - thus; संदिश्य (saṁdiśya) - having instructed; तनयम् (tanayam) - his son; प्रतीपः (pratīpaḥ) - Pratīpa; शन्तनुम् (śantanum) - Śantanu; तदा (tadā) - then; स्वे (sve) - in his own; राज्ये (rājye) - kingdom; अभिषिच्य (abhiṣicya) - having anointed; एनम् (enam) - him; वनम् (vanam) - the forest; राजा (rājā) - the king; विवेश (viveśa) - entered; ह (ha) - indeed.]
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॥
sa rājā śantanuḥ dhīmān khyātaḥ pṛthivyāṁ dhanurdharaḥ. babhūva mṛgayāśīlaḥ satataṁ vanagocaraḥ ॥24॥
[सः (saḥ) - he; राजा (rājā) - king; शन्तनुः (śantanuḥ) - Śantanu; धीमान् (dhīmān) - wise; ख्यातः (khyātaḥ) - renowned; पृथिव्याम् (pṛthivyām) - on earth; धनुर्धरः (dhanurdharaḥ) - wielder of the bow; बभूव (babhūva) - became; मृगया-शीलः (mṛgayā-śīlaḥ) - fond of hunting; सततम् (satatam) - always; वन-गोचरः (vana-gocaraḥ) - roaming the forest.]
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॥
sa mṛgān mahiṣāṁś caiva vinighnan rājasattamaḥ. gaṅgām anucacāraikaḥ siddhacāraṇasevitām ॥25॥
[सः (saḥ) - he; मृगान् (mṛgān) - deer; महिषान् (mahiṣān) - buffaloes; च (ca) - and; एव (eva) - indeed; विनिघ्नन् (vinighnan) - killing; राजा-सत्तमः (rāja-sattamaḥ) - best among kings; गङ्गाम् (gaṅgām) - the Ganges; अनुचचार (anucacāra) - wandered along; एकः (ekaḥ) - alone; सिद्ध-चारण-सेविताम् (siddha-cāraṇa-sevitām) - served by siddhas and celestial bards.]
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॥
sa kadācin mahārāja dadarśa paramāṁ striyam. jājvalyamānāṁ vapuṣā sākṣāt padmām iva śriyam ॥26॥
[सः (saḥ) - he; कदाचित् (kadācit) - once; महाराज (mahārāja) - O great king; ददर्श (dadarśa) - saw; परमाम् (paramām) - supreme; स्त्रियम् (striyam) - woman; जाज्वल्यमानाम् (jājvalyamānām) - shining brilliantly; वपुषा (vapuṣā) - in form; साक्षात् (sākṣāt) - directly; पद्माम् (padmām) - like a lotus; इव (iva) - as if; श्रियम् (śriyam) - goddess of fortune.]
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॥
sarvānavadyāṁ sudatīṁ divyābharaṇabhūṣitām. sūkṣmāmbaradharām ekāṁ padmodarasamaprabhām ॥27॥
[सर्व-अनवद्याम् (sarva-anavadyām) - entirely flawless; सुदतीम् (sudatīm) - with lovely teeth (a sweet smile); दिव्य-आभरण-भूषिताम् (divya-ābharaṇa-bhūṣitām) - adorned with divine ornaments; सूक्ष्म-अम्बर-धराम् (sūkṣma-ambara-dharām) - wearing delicate garments; एकाम् (ekām) - alone; पद्म-उदर-सम-प्रभाम् (padma-udara-sama-prabhām) - with radiance like the center of a lotus.]
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॥
tāṁ dṛṣṭvā hṛṣṭaromābhūd vismito rūpasampadā. pibann iva ca netrābhyāṁ nātṛpyata narādhipaḥ ॥28॥
[ताम् (tām) - her; दृष्ट्वा (dṛṣṭvā) - having seen; हृष्ट-रोमाः अभूत् (hṛṣṭa-romāḥ abhūt) - became hair-raising with joy; विस्मितः (vismitaḥ) - astonished; रूप-सम्पदा (rūpa-sampadā) - by her beauty; पिबन् (piban) - drinking (absorbing); इव (iva) - as if; च (ca) - and; नेत्राभ्याम् (netrābhyām) - with his eyes; न (na) - not; अत्रप्यत (atṛpyata) - was satisfied; नराधिपः (narādhipaḥ) - the king.]
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॥
sā ca dṛṣṭvaiva rājānaṁ vicarantaṁ mahādyutim. snehād āgatasauhārdā nātṛpyata vilāsinī ॥29॥
[सा (sā) - she; च (ca) - also; दृष्ट्वा एव (dṛṣṭvā eva) - on seeing; राजानम् (rājānam) - the king; विचरन्तम् (vicarantam) - moving about; महा-द्युतिम् (mahā-dyutim) - of great splendor; स्नेहात् (snehāt) - out of affection; आगत-सौहार्दा (āgata-sauhārdā) - with spontaneous affection; न (na) - not; अत्रप्यत (atṛpyata) - was satisfied; विलासिनी (vilāsinī) - the graceful woman.]
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॥
tām uvāca tato rājā sāntvayañ ślakṣṇayā girā. devī vā dānavī vā tvaṁ gandharvī yadi vāpsarāḥ ॥30॥
[ताम् (tām) - to her; उवाच (uvāca) - said; ततः (tataḥ) - then; राजा (rājā) - the king; सान्त्वयन् (sāntvayan) - consoling; श्लक्ष्णया (ślakṣṇayā) - gentle; गिरा (girā) - speech; देवी (devī) - goddess; वा (vā) - or; दानवी (dānavī) - demoness; वा (vā) - or; त्वम् (tvam) - you; गन्धर्वी (gandharvī) - celestial maiden; यदि (yadi) - if; वा (vā) - or; अप्सराः (apsarāḥ) - apsarā.]
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॥
yakṣī vā pannagī vāpi mānuṣī vā sumadhyame. yā vā tvaṁ suragarbhābhe bhāryā me bhava śobhane ॥31॥
[यक्षी (yakṣī) - a yakṣī (celestial spirit); वा (vā) - or; पन्नगी (pannagī) - a serpent-woman; वापि (vāpi) - or even; मानुषी (mānuṣī) - human woman; वा (vā) - or; सुमध्यमे (sumadhyame) - O slender-waisted one; या (yā) - whoever; वा (vā) - or; त्वम् (tvam) - you; सुरगर्भाभे (suragarbhābhe) - resembling one born of the gods; भार्या (bhāryā) - wife; मे (me) - my; भव (bhava) - become; शोभने (śobhane) - O beautiful one.]
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॥
etac chrutvā vaco rājñaḥ sasmitaṁ mṛdu valgu ca. vasūnāṁ samayaṁ smṛtvā abhyagacchad aninditā ॥32॥
[एतत् (etat) - this; श्रुत्वा (śrutvā) - having heard; वचः (vacaḥ) - speech; राज्ञः (rājñaḥ) - of the king; सस्मितम् (sasmitam) - with a smile; मृदु (mṛdu) - gentle; वल्गु (valgu) - charming; च (ca) - and; वसूनाम् (vasūnām) - of the Vasus; समयम् (samayam) - agreement; स्मृत्वा (smṛtvā) - remembering; अभ्यगच्छत् (abhyagacchat) - she accepted; अनिन्दिता (aninditā) - the faultless one.]
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॥
uvāca caiva rājñaḥ sā hlādayantī mano girā. bhaviṣyāmi mahīpāla mahiṣī te vaśānugā ॥33॥
[उवाच (uvāca) - said; च (ca) - and; एव (eva) - indeed; राज्ञः (rājñaḥ) - to the king; सा (sā) - she; ह्लादयन्ती (hlādayantī) - delighting; मनः (manaḥ) - the mind; गिरा (girā) - with speech; भविष्यामि (bhaviṣyāmi) - I shall become; महीपाल (mahīpāla) - O king; महिषी (mahiṣī) - queen; ते (te) - your; वशानुगा (vaśānugā) - obedient.]
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॥
yattu kuryāmahaṁ rājañ śubhaṁ vā yadi vāśubham. na tad vārayitavyāsmi na vaktavyā tathāpriyam ॥34॥
[यत् तु (yat tu) - but whatever; कुर्याम् (kuryām) - I may do; अहम् (aham) - I; राजन् (rājan) - O king; शुभम् (śubham) - auspicious; वा (vā) - or; यदि (yadi) - if; वा (vā) - or; अशुभम् (aśubham) - inauspicious; न (na) - not; तत् (tat) - that; वारयितव्या (vārayitavyā) - should be stopped; अस्मि (asmi) - I am; न (na) - not; वक्तव्या (vaktavyā) - to be spoken to; तथा (tathā) - likewise; अप्रियम् (apriyam) - unpleasant thing.]
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॥
evaṁ hi vartamāne'haṁ tvayi vatsyāmi pārthiva. vāritā vipriyaṁ coktā tyajeyaṁ tvām asaṁśayam ॥35॥
[एवं (evaṁ) - thus; हि (hi) - indeed; वर्तमाने (vartamāne) - behaving; अहम् (aham) - I; त्वयि (tvayi) - with you; वत्स्यामि (vatsyāmi) - shall live; पार्थिव (pārthiva) - O king; वारिता (vāritā) - being stopped; विप्रियं (vipriyam) - unpleasantly; च (ca) - and; उक्ता (uktā) - being spoken to; त्यजेयम् (tyajeyam) - I shall abandon; त्वाम् (tvām) - you; असंशयम् (asaṁśayam) - without doubt.]
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॥
tatheti rājñā sā tūktā tadā bharatasattama. praharṣam atulaṁ lebhe prāpya taṁ pārthivottamam ॥36॥
[तथा (tathā) - so; इति (iti) - thus; राज्ञा (rājñā) - by the king; सा (sā) - she; तु (tu) - indeed; उक्ता (uktā) - was addressed; तदा (tadā) - then; भरतसत्तम (bharatasattama) - O best of the Bharatas; प्रहर्षम् (praharṣam) - great joy; अतुलम् (atulam) - incomparable; लेभे (lebhe) - obtained; प्राप्य (prāpya) - having obtained; तम् (tam) - him; पार्थिव-उत्तमम् (pārthiva-uttamam) - best among kings.]
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॥
āsādya śantanus tāṁ ca bubhuje kāmato vaśī. na praṣṭavyeti manvāno na sa tāṁ kiñcid ūcivān ॥37॥
[आसाद्य (āsādya) - having obtained; शन्तनुः (śantanuḥ) - Śantanu; ताम् (tām) - her; च (ca) - and; बुभुजे (bubhuje) - enjoyed; कामतः (kāmataḥ) - according to desire; वशी (vaśī) - self-controlled; न (na) - not; प्रष्टव्ये (praṣṭavye) - in regard to questioning; इति (iti) - thus; मन्वानः (manvānaḥ) - thinking; न (na) - not; सः (saḥ) - he; ताम् (tām) - to her; किञ्चित् (kiñcit) - anything; ऊचिवान् (ūcivān) - said.]
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॥
sa tasyāḥ śīlavṛttena rūpaudāryaguṇena ca. upacāreṇa ca rahas tutoṣa jagatīpatiḥ ॥38॥
[सः (saḥ) - he; तस्याः (tasyāḥ) - her; शील-वृत्तेन (śīla-vṛttena) - character and conduct; रूप-औदार्य-गुणेन (rūpa-udārya-guṇena) - beauty and noble nature; च (ca) - and; उपचारेण (upacāreṇa) - service and attention; च (ca) - and; रहः (rahaḥ) - in private; तुतोष (tutoṣa) - was delighted; जगतीपतिः (jagatīpatiḥ) - lord of the earth.]
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॥
divyarūpā hi sā devī gaṅgā tripathagā nadī. mānuṣaṁ vigrahaṁ śrīmat kṛtvā sā varavarṇinī ॥39॥
[दिव्य-रूपा (divya-rūpā) - of divine form; हि (hi) - indeed; सा (sā) - she; देवी (devī) - the goddess; गङ्गा (gaṅgā) - Gaṅgā; त्रिपथगा (tripathagā) - the river of the three worlds; नदी (nadī) - river; मानुषम् (mānuṣam) - human; विग्रहम् (vigraham) - form; श्रीमत् (śrīmat) - splendid; कृत्वा (kṛtvā) - having assumed; सा (sā) - she; वरवर्णिनी (varavarṇinī) - of excellent complexion.]
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॥
bhāgyopanatakāmasya bhāryevopasthitābhavat. śantanor rājasimhasya devarājasamadyuteḥ ॥40॥
[भाग्य-उपनत-कामस्य (bhāgya-upanata-kāmasya) - whose desire was blessed by fortune; भार्येव (bhāryā iva) - like a wife; उपस्थिता अभवत् (upasthitā abhavat) - she appeared; शन्तनोः (śantanoh) - of Śantanu; राजा-सिंहस्य (rāja-siṁhasya) - the lion among kings; देव-राज-सम-द्युतेः (deva-rāja-sama-dyuteḥ) - of splendor equal to the king of gods.]
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॥
sambhogasnehacāturyair hāvalāsyair manoharaiḥ. rājānaṁ ramayām āsa yathā reme tathaiva saḥ ॥41॥
[सम्भोग-स्नेह-चातुर्यैः (sambhoga-sneha-cāturyaiḥ) - by skill in union, affection, and cleverness; हावलास्यैः (hāvalāsyaiḥ) - by alluring gestures; मनोहरैः (manoharaiḥ) - enchanting; राजानम् (rājānam) - the king; रमयामास (ramayām āsa) - she pleased; यथा (yathā) - as; रेमे (reme) - he rejoiced; तथा (tathā) - so; एव (eva) - indeed; सः (saḥ) - he.]
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॥
sa rājā ratisaktatvād uttamastrīguṇair hṛtaḥ. saṁvatsarān ṛtūn māsān na bubodha bahūn gatān ॥42॥
[सः (saḥ) - he; राजा (rājā) - the king; रति-सक्तत्वात् (rati-saktatvāt) - due to absorption in enjoyment; उत्तम-स्त्री-गुणैः (uttama-strī-guṇaiḥ) - by the virtues of a noble woman; हृतः (hṛtaḥ) - captivated; संवत्सरान् (saṁvatsarān) - years; ऋतून् (ṛtūn) - seasons; मासान् (māsān) - months; न (na) - not; बुबोध (bubodha) - he noticed; बहून् (bahūn) - many; गतान् (gatān) - as they passed.]
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॥
ramamāṇas tayā sārdhaṁ yathākāmaṁ janeśvaraḥ. aṣṭāv ajanayat putrān tasyām amaravarṇinaḥ ॥43॥
[रममाणः (ramamāṇaḥ) - enjoying; तया (tayā) - with her; सार्धम् (sārdham) - together; यथा-कामम् (yathā-kāmam) - as he pleased; जनेश्वरः (janeśvaraḥ) - the lord of men; अष्टौ (aṣṭau) - eight; अजनयत् (ajanayat) - begot; पुत्रान् (putrān) - sons; तस्याम् (tasyām) - in her; अमर-वर्णिनः (amara-varṇinaḥ) - resembling the immortals in splendor.]
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॥
jātaṁ jātaṁ ca sā putraṁ kṣipaty ambhasi bhārata. prīṇāmi tvāham ity uktvā gaṅgāsrotasy amajjayat ॥44॥
[जातम् (jātam) - born; जातम् (jātam) - just born; च (ca) - and; सा (sā) - she; पुत्रम् (putram) - son; क्षिपति (kṣipati) - cast; अम्भसि (ambhasi) - into the water; भारत (bhārata) - O Bhārata; प्रीणामि (prīṇāmi) - I please; त्वा (tvā) - you; अहम् (aham) - I; इति (iti) - thus; उक्त्वा (uktvā) - saying; गङ्गा-स्रोतसि (gaṅgā-srotasi) - into the stream of Gaṅgā; अमज्जयत् (amajjayat) - she drowned.]
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॥
tasya tan na priyaṁ rājñaḥ śantanor abhavat tadā. na ca tāṁ kiñcanovāca tyāgād bhīto mahīpatiḥ ॥45॥
[तस्य (tasya) - to him; तत् (tat) - that; न (na) - not; प्रियं (priyam) - pleasing; राज्ञः (rājñaḥ) - to the king; शन्तनुः (śantanuḥ) - Śantanu; अभवत् (abhavat) - was; तदा (tadā) - then; न (na) - not; च (ca) - and; ताम् (tām) - to her; किञ्चन (kiñcana) - anything; उवाच (uvāca) - said; त्यागात् (tyāgāt) - due to fear of abandonment; भीतः (bhītaḥ) - afraid; महीपतिः (mahīpatiḥ) - the lord of the earth.]
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॥
atha tām aṣṭame putre jāte prahasitām iva. uvāca rājā duḥkhārtaḥ parīpsan putram ātmanaḥ ॥46॥
[अथ (atha) - then; ताम् (tām) - to her; अष्टमे (aṣṭame) - eighth; पुत्रे (putre) - son; जाते (jāte) - having been born; प्रहसिताम् (prahasitām) - smiling; इव (iva) - as if; उवाच (uvāca) - said; राजा (rājā) - the king; दुःख-आर्तः (duḥkhārtaḥ) - afflicted with grief; परीप्सन् (parīpsan) - desiring to keep; पुत्रम् (putram) - the son; आत्मनः (ātmanaḥ) - of his own.]
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॥
mā vadhīḥ kāsi kasyāsi kiṁ hiṁsasi sutān iti. putraghni sumahat pāpaṁ mā prāpas tiṣṭha garhite ॥47॥
[मा (mā) - do not; वधीः (vadhīḥ) - kill; कासि (kāsi) - who are you; कस्य असि (kasya asi) - whose are you; किम् (kim) - why; हिंससि (hiṁsasi) - are you harming; सुतान् (sutān) - sons; इति (iti) - thus; पुत्रघ्नि (putraghni) - killer of sons; सुमहत् (sumahat) - very great; पापम् (pāpam) - sin; मा (mā) - do not; प्रापः (prāpaḥ) - incur; तिष्ठ (tiṣṭha) - stop; गर्हिते (garhite) - O condemned one.]
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॥
stry uvāca॥
[स्त्री (strī) - the woman; उवाच (uvāca) - said.]
The woman said:
पुत्रकाम न ते हन्मि पुत्रं पुत्रवतां वर। जीर्णस्तु मम वासोऽयं यथा स समयः कृतः ॥४८॥
putrakāma na te hanmi putraṁ putravatāṁ vara. jīrṇas tu mama vāso'yaṁ yathā sa samayaḥ kṛtaḥ ॥48॥
[पुत्र-काम (putra-kāma) - desiring a son; न (na) - not; ते (te) - your; हन्मि (hanmi) - I kill; पुत्रम् (putram) - the son; पुत्रवतां वर (putravatāṁ vara) - O best among fathers; जीर्णः (jīrṇaḥ) - worn out; तु (tu) - but; मम (mama) - my; वासः (vāsaḥ) - stay (or garment); अयम् (ayam) - this; यथा (yathā) - as; सः (saḥ) - that; समयः (samayaḥ) - agreement; कृतः (kṛtaḥ) - was made.]
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॥
ahaṁ gaṅgā jahnusutā maharṣigaṇasevitā. devakāryārthasiddhyartham uṣitāhaṁ tvayā saha ॥49॥
[अहम् (aham) - I; गङ्गा (gaṅgā) - Gaṅgā; जह्नु-सुता (jahnu-sutā) - daughter of Jahnu; महर्षि-गण-सेविता (maharṣi-gaṇa-sevitā) - served by groups of great sages; देव-कार्यार्थ-सिद्ध्यर्थम् (deva-kāryārtha-siddhyartham) - for fulfilling the purpose of the gods; उषिता (uṣitā) - have dwelt; अहम् (aham) - I; त्वया (tvayā) - with you; सह (saha) - together.]
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॥
aṣṭe me vasavo devā mahābhāgā mahaujasaḥ. vasiṣṭhaśāpadoṣeṇa mānuṣatvam upāgatāḥ ॥50॥
[अष्टे (aṣṭe) - the eight; मे (me) - of mine; वसवः (vasavaḥ) - Vasus (divine beings); देवा (devāḥ) - gods; महा-भागाः (mahā-bhāgāḥ) - greatly fortunate; महा-उजसः (mahā-ojasāḥ) - immensely powerful; वसिष्ठ-शाप-दोषेण (vasiṣṭha-śāpa-doṣeṇa) - by the curse of Vasiṣṭha; मानुषत्वम् (mānuṣatvam) - human birth; उपागताः (upāgatāḥ) - have attained.]
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॥
teṣāṁ janayitā nānyas tvadṛte bhuvi vidyate. madvidhā mānuṣī dhātrī na caivāstīha kācana ॥51॥
[तेषाम् (teṣām) - of them; जनयिता (janayitā) - begetter; न (na) - not; अन्यः (anyaḥ) - another; त्वत्-ऋते (tvad-ṛte) - except you; भुवि (bhuvi) - on earth; विद्यते (vidyate) - exists; मत्-विधा (mat-vidhā) - like me; मानुषी (mānuṣī) - human; धात्री (dhātrī) - bearer; न (na) - not; च (ca) - and; एव (eva) - even; अस्ति (asti) - is; इह (iha) - here; काचन (kācana) - any.]
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॥
tasmāt tajjananīhetor mānuṣatvam upāgatā. janayitvā vasūn aṣṭau jitā lokās tvayākṣayāḥ ॥52॥
[तस्मात् (tasmāt) - therefore; तत्-जननी-हेतोः (tat-jananī-hetoḥ) - for the sake of birthing them; मानुषत्वम् (mānuṣatvam) - human form; उपागता (upāgatā) - I assumed; जनयित्वा (janayitvā) - having borne; वसून् (vasūn) - the Vasus; अष्टौ (aṣṭau) - eight; जिताः (jitāḥ) - conquered; लोकाः (lokāḥ) - worlds; त्वया (tvayā) - by you; अक्षयाः (akṣayāḥ) - eternal.]
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॥
devānāṁ samayas tveṣa vasūnāṁ saṁśruto mayā. jātaṁ jātaṁ mokṣayiṣye janmataḥ mānuṣād iti ॥53॥
[देवानाम् (devānām) - of the gods; समयः (samayaḥ) - agreement; त्वेषः (tveṣaḥ) - this; वसूनाम् (vasūnām) - of the Vasus; संश्रुतः (saṁśrutaḥ) - was accepted; मया (mayā) - by me; जातम् जातम् (jātam jātam) - each one born; मोक्षयिष्ये (mokṣayiṣye) - I shall liberate; जन्मतः (janmataḥ) - from birth; मानुषात् (mānuṣāt) - from human form; इति (iti) - thus.]
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॥
tat te śāpād vinirmuktā āpavasya mahātmanaḥ. svasti te'stu gamiṣyāmi putraṁ pāhi mahāvratam ॥54॥
[तत् (tat) - thus; ते (te) - by you; शापात् (śāpāt) - from the curse; विनिर्मुक्ताः (vinirmuktāḥ) - freed; आपवस्य (āpavasya) - of Āpava (Vasiṣṭha); महात्मनः (mahātmanaḥ) - the great-souled; स्वस्ति (svasti) - farewell/blessing; ते (te) - to you; अस्तु (astu) - may it be; गमिष्यामि (gamiṣyāmi) - I shall go; पुत्रम् (putram) - the son; पाहि (pāhi) - protect; महा-व्रतम् (mahāvratam) - the noble one.]
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॥
eṣa paryāyavāso me vasūnāṁ sannidhau kṛtaḥ. matprasūtaṁ vijānīhi gaṅgādattam imaṁ sutam ॥55॥
[एषः (eṣaḥ) - this; पर्याय-वासः (paryāya-vāsaḥ) - temporary dwelling; मे (me) - my; वसूनाम् (vasūnām) - among the Vasus; संनिधौ (sannidhau) - in their presence; कृतः (kṛtaḥ) - has been done; मत्-प्रसूतम् (mat-prasūtam) - born from me; विजानीहि (vijānīhi) - know; गङ्गा-दत्तम् (gaṅgā-dattam) - given by Gaṅgā; इमम् (imam) - this; सुतम् (sutam) - son.]
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.
