01.093
Why Vasu’s were cursed.
शन्तनुरुवाच॥
śantanuḥ uvāca॥
[शन्तनुः (śantanuḥ) - Śantanu; उवाच (uvāca) - said.]
Śantanu said:
आपवो नाम को न्वेष वसूनां किं च दुष्कृतम्। यस्याभिशापात्ते सर्वे मानुषीं तनुमागताः ॥१॥
āpavaḥ nāma kaḥ nu eṣaḥ vasūnām kiṁ ca duṣkṛtam। yasya abhiśāpāt te sarve mānuṣīm tanum āgatāḥ ॥1॥
[आपवः (āpavaḥ) - Āpava; नाम (nāma) - named; कः (kaḥ) - who; नु (nu) - indeed; एषः (eṣaḥ) - this; वसूनाम् (vasūnām) - of the Vasus; किम् (kim) - what; च (ca) - and; दुष्कृतम् (duṣkṛtam) - wrongdoing; यस्य (yasya) - by whose; अभिशापात् (abhiśāpāt) - by curse; ते (te) - they; सर्वे (sarve) - all; मानुषीम् (mānuṣīm) - human; तनुम् (tanum) - body; आगताः (āgatāḥ) - have assumed.]
Who is this one named Āpava among the Vasus, and what wrongdoing was done due to whose curse they all assumed human bodies?
अनेन च कुमारेण गङ्गादत्तेन किं कृतम्। यस्य चैव कृतेनायं मानुषेषु निवत्स्यति ॥२॥
anena ca kumāreṇa gaṅgādattena kiṁ kṛtam। yasya ca eva kṛtena ayaṁ mānuṣeṣu nivatsyati ॥2॥
[अनेन (anena) - by this; च (ca) - and; कुमारेण (kumāreṇa) - boy; गङ्गादत्तेन (gaṅgādattena) - Gaṅgādatta; किम् (kim) - what; कृतम् (kṛtam) - was done; यस्य (yasya) - because of which; च (ca) - and; एव (eva) - indeed; कृतेन (kṛtena) - by the act; अयम् (ayam) - he; मानुषेषु (mānuṣeṣu) - among humans; निवत्स्यति (nivatsyati) - will dwell.]
And what was done by this boy Gaṅgādatta, because of which he will dwell among humans?
ईशानाः सर्वलोकस्य वसवस्ते च वै कथम्। मानुषेषूदपद्यन्त तन्ममाचक्ष्व जाह्नवि ॥३॥
īśānāḥ sarvalokasya vasavaḥ te ca vai katham। mānuṣeṣu udapadyanta tat mama ācakṣva jāhnavī ॥3॥
[ईशानाः (īśānāḥ) - lords; सर्वलोकस्य (sarvalokasya) - of all the worlds; वसवः (vasavaḥ) - the Vasus; ते (te) - they; च (ca) - and; वै (vai) - indeed; कथम् (katham) - how; मानुषेषु (mānuṣeṣu) - among humans; उदपद्यन्त (udapadyanta) - were born; तत् (tat) - that; मम (mama) - to me; आचक्ष्व (ācakṣva) - tell; जाह्नवि (jāhnavī) - O Jāhnavī.]
The Vasus, lords of all the worlds—how indeed were they born among humans? Tell me that, O Jāhnavī.
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
vaiśampāyanaḥ uvāca॥
[वैशम्पायनः (vaiśampāyanaḥ) - Vaiśampāyana; उवाच (uvāca) - said.]
Vaiśampāyana said.
सैवमुक्ता ततो गङ्गा राजानमिदमब्रवीत्। भर्तारं जाह्नवी देवी शन्तनुं पुरुषर्षभम् ॥४॥
sā evam uktā tataḥ gaṅgā rājānam idam abravīt। bhartāram jāhnavī devī śantanuṁ puruṣarṣabham ॥4॥
[सा (sā) - she; एवम् (evam) - thus; उक्ता (uktā) - addressed; ततः (tataḥ) - then; गङ्गा (gaṅgā) - Gaṅgā; राजानम् (rājānam) - to the king; इदम् (idam) - this; अब्रवीत् (abravīt) - said; भर्तारम् (bhartāram) - husband; जाह्नवी (jāhnavī) - Jāhnavī; देवी (devī) - goddess; शन्तनुम् (śantanum) - Śantanu; पुरुषर्षभम् (puruṣarṣabham) - best among men.]
Thus addressed, Gaṅgā then said this to the king — Jāhnavī's husband, Śantanu, the best among men.
यं लेभे वरुणः पुत्रं पुरा भरतसत्तम। वसिष्ठो नाम स मुनिः ख्यात आपव इत्युत ॥५॥
yam lebhe varuṇaḥ putram purā bharatasattama। vasiṣṭhaḥ nāma sa muniḥ khyātaḥ āpavaḥ iti uta ॥5॥
[यं (yam) - whom; लेभे (lebhe) - obtained; वरुणः (varuṇaḥ) - Varuṇa; पुत्रम् (putram) - as son; पुरा (purā) - long ago; भरतसत्तम (bharatasattama) - O best of the Bharatas; वसिष्ठः (vasiṣṭhaḥ) - Vasiṣṭha; नाम (nāma) - named; सः (saḥ) - he; मुनिः (muniḥ) - sage; ख्यातः (khyātaḥ) - known; आपवः (āpavaḥ) - Āpava; इति (iti) - thus; उत (uta) - indeed.]
The one whom Varuṇa long ago accepted as a son, O best of the Bharatas, that sage is named Vasiṣṭha, and he is indeed known as Āpava.
तस्याश्रमपदं पुण्यं मृगपक्षिगणान्वितम्। मेरोः पार्श्वे नगेन्द्रस्य सर्वर्तुकुसुमावृतम् ॥६॥
tasya āśramapadam puṇyam mṛgapakṣigaṇānvitam। meroḥ pārśve nagendrasya sarvartu-kusumāvṛtam ॥6॥
[तस्य (tasya) - his; आश्रमपदं (āśramapadam) - hermitage site; पुण्यम् (puṇyam) - sacred; मृगपक्षिगणान्वितम् (mṛgapakṣigaṇānvitam) - filled with groups of deer and birds; मेरोः (meroḥ) - of Meru; पार्श्वे (pārśve) - on the side; नगेन्द्रस्य (nagendrasya) - of the king of mountains; सर्वर्तुकुसुमावृतम् (sarvartu-kusumāvṛtam) - covered with flowers of all seasons.]
His hermitage was sacred, filled with groups of deer and birds, on the slope of Mount Meru, covered with flowers of all seasons.
स वारुणिस्तपस्तेपे तस्मिन्भरतसत्तम। वने पुण्यकृतां श्रेष्ठः स्वादुमूलफलोदके ॥७॥
sa vāruṇiḥ tapastepe tasmin bharatasattama। vane puṇyakṛtām śreṣṭhaḥ svādu-mūlaphalodake ॥7॥
[स (sa) - he; वारुणिः (vāruṇiḥ) - son of Varuṇa; तपः (tapaḥ) - austerity; तेपे (tepe) - performed; तस्मिन् (tasmin) - there; भरतसत्तम (bharatasattama) - O best of the Bharatas; वने (vane) - in the forest; पुण्यकृताम् (puṇyakṛtām) - of the meritorious; श्रेष्ठः (śreṣṭhaḥ) - foremost; स्वादुमूलफलोदके (svādu-mūla-phalodake) - having tasty roots, fruits, and water.]
There, O best of the Bharatas, the son of Varuṇa performed austerities in that forest, being the foremost among the meritorious, living on tasty roots, fruits, and pure water.
दक्षस्य दुहिता या तु सुरभीत्यतिगर्विता। गां प्रजाता तु सा देवी कश्यपाद्भरतर्षभ ॥८॥
dakṣasya duhitā yā tu surabhī iti atigarvitā। gāṁ prajātā tu sā devī kaśyapāt bharatarṣabha ॥8॥
[दक्षस्य (dakṣasya) - of Dakṣa; दुहिता (duhitā) - daughter; या (yā) - who; तु (tu) - indeed; सुरभी (surabhī) - Surabhi; इति (iti) - by name; अति गर्विता (atigarvitā) - very proud; गां (gām) - the cow; प्रजाता (prajātā) - gave birth to; तु (tu) - indeed; सा (sā) - she; देवी (devī) - goddess; कश्यपात् (kaśyapāt) - from Kaśyapa; भरतर्षभ (bharatarṣabha) - O best of the Bharatas.]
The goddess Surabhi, the proud daughter of Dakṣa, O best of the Bharatas, gave birth to the cow from Kaśyapa.
अनुग्रहार्थं जगतः सर्वकामदुघां वराम्। तां लेभे गां तु धर्मात्मा होमधेनुं स वारुणिः ॥९॥
anugrahārthaṁ jagataḥ sarvakāmadughāṁ varām। tāṁ lebhe gāṁ tu dharmātmā homadhenuṁ sa vāruṇiḥ ॥9॥
[अनुग्रहार्थं (anugrahārtham) - for the blessing; जगतः (jagataḥ) - of the world; सर्वकामदुघाम् (sarvakāmadughām) - fulfiller of all desires; वराम् (varām) - excellent; ताम् (tām) - her; लेभे (lebhe) - obtained; गां (gām) - the cow; तु (tu) - indeed; धर्मात्मा (dharmātmā) - the righteous one; होमधेनुम् (homadhenum) - sacrificial cow; स (sa) - he; वारुणिः (vāruṇiḥ) - son of Varuṇa.]
For the blessing of the world, the righteous son of Varuṇa obtained that excellent cow, the wish-fulfilling and sacrificial cow.
सा तस्मिंस्तापसारण्ये वसन्ती मुनिसेविते। चचार रम्ये धर्म्ये च गौरपेतभया तदा ॥१०॥
sā tasmin tāpasāraṇye vasantī munisevite। cacāra ramye dharmye ca gaur apetabhayā tadā ॥10॥
[सा (sā) - she; तस्मिन् (tasmin) - in that; तापसारण्ये (tāpasāraṇye) - forest of ascetics; वसन्ती (vasantī) - dwelling; मुनिसेविते (munisevite) - served by sages; चचार (cacāra) - roamed; रम्ये (ramye) - delightful; धर्म्ये (dharmye) - righteous; च (ca) - and; गौः (gauḥ) - the cow; अपेतभया (apetabhayā) - without fear; तदा (tadā) - then.]
There, in that forest of ascetics attended by sages, the cow dwelt and roamed freely, delightfully and righteously, without any fear.
अथ तद्वनमाजग्मुः कदाचिद्भरतर्षभ। पृथ्वाद्या वसवः सर्वे देवदेवर्षिसेवितम् ॥११॥
atha tad vanam ājagmuḥ kadācit bharatarṣabha। pṛthv-ādyā vasavaḥ sarve devadevarṣisevitam ॥11॥
[अथ (atha) - then; तत् (tat) - that; वनम् (vanam) - forest; आजग्मुः (ājagmuḥ) - they came to; कदाचित् (kadācit) - once; भरतर्षभ (bharatarṣabha) - O best of the Bharatas; पृथ्वीआद्याः (pṛthv-ādyāḥ) - Pṛthvī and others; वसवः (vasavaḥ) - the Vasus; सर्वे (sarve) - all; देवदेवर्षिसेवितम् (devadevarṣisevitam) - served by gods and sages.]
Then once, O best of the Bharatas, all the Vasus including Pṛthvī came to that forest, which was attended by gods and sages.
ते सदारा वनं तच्च व्यचरन्त समन्ततः। रेमिरे रमणीयेषु पर्वतेषु वनेषु च ॥१२॥
te sadārā vanaṁ tac ca vyacarante samantataḥ। remire ramaṇīyeṣu parvateṣu vaneṣu ca ॥12॥
[ते (te) - they; सदाराः (sadārāḥ) - with their wives; वनम् (vanam) - forest; तत् (tat) - that; च (ca) - and; व्यचरन्त (vyacarante) - roamed; समन्ततः (samantataḥ) - all around; रेमिरे (remire) - they enjoyed; रमणीयेषु (ramaṇīyeṣu) - delightful; पर्वतेषु (parvateṣu) - mountains; वनेषु (vaneṣu) - forests; च (ca) - and.]
They, along with their wives, roamed all around that forest and rejoiced in the delightful mountains and woods.
तत्रैकस्य तु भार्या वै वसोर्वासवविक्रम। सा चरन्ती वने तस्मिन्गां ददर्श सुमध्यमा ॥ या सा वसिष्ठस्य मुनेः सर्वकामधुगुत्तमा ॥१३॥
tatra ekasya tu bhāryā vai vasor vāsavavikrama। sā carantī vane tasmin gāṁ dadarśa sumadhyamā। yā sā vasiṣṭhasya muneḥ sarvakāmadhug uttamā ॥13॥
[तत्र (tatra) - there; एकस्य (ekasya) - of one; तु (tu) - indeed; भार्या (bhāryā) - wife; वै (vai) - truly; वसोः (vasoḥ) - of a Vasu; वासवविक्रम (vāsavavikrama) - O you of Indra-like prowess; सा (sā) - she; चरन्ती (carantī) - roaming; वने (vane) - in the forest; तस्मिन् (tasmin) - in that; गां (gām) - cow; ददर्श (dadarśa) - saw; सुमध्यमा (sumadhyamā) - slender-waisted; या (yā) - who; सा (sā) - that; वसिष्ठस्य (vasiṣṭhasya) - of Vasiṣṭha; मुनेः (muneḥ) - of the sage; सर्वकामधुक् (sarvakāmadhuk) - fulfiller of all desires; उत्तमा (uttamā) - excellent.]
There, O Indra-like hero, the slender-waisted wife of one of the Vasus, while wandering in the forest, saw the excellent wish-fulfilling cow belonging to the sage Vasiṣṭha.
सा विस्मयसमाविष्टा शीलद्रविणसम्पदा। दिवे वै दर्शयामास तां गां गोवृषभेक्षण ॥१४॥
sā vismayasamāviṣṭā śīladraviṇasampadā। dive vai darśayāmāsa tāṁ gāṁ govṛṣabhekṣaṇa ॥14॥
[सा (sā) - she; विस्मयसमाविष्टा (vismaya-samāviṣṭā) - filled with wonder; शीलद्रविणसम्पदा (śīla-draviṇa-sampadā) - with the wealth of virtue and qualities; दिवे (dive) - to her husband (named Dīva); वै (vai) - indeed; दर्शयामास (darśayāmāsa) - showed; ताम् (tām) - that; गां (gām) - cow; गोवृषभेक्षण (govṛṣabhekṣaṇa) - O bull-eyed one.]
Filled with wonder at her virtue and wealth, she showed that cow to her husband Dīva, the bull-eyed one.
स्वापीनां च सुदोग्ध्रीं च सुवालधिमुखां शुभाम्। उपपन्नां गुणैः सर्वैः शीलेनानुत्तमेन च ॥१५॥
svāpīnāṁ ca sudogdhriṁ ca suvāladhimukhāṁ śubhām। upapannāṁ guṇaiḥ sarvaiḥ śīlenānuttamena ca ॥15॥
[स्वापीनाम् (svāpīnām) - of sleeping mats (or soft udders); च (ca) - and; सुदोग्ध्रीम् (sudogdhriṁ) - excellent milker; च (ca) - and; सुवालधिमुखाम् (suvāladhimukhām) - with a beautiful mouth and forehead; शुभाम् (śubhām) - auspicious; उपपन्नाम् (upapannām) - endowed; गुणैः (guṇaiḥ) - with qualities; सर्वैः (sarvaiḥ) - all; शीलेन (śīlena) - by character; अनुत्तमेन (anuttamena) - unsurpassed; च (ca) - and.]
She was a gentle and excellent milker, beautiful in face and form, endowed with all virtues and unmatched in character.
एवङ्गुणसमायुक्तां वसवे वसुनन्दिनी। दर्शयामास राजेन्द्र पुरा पौरवनन्दन ॥१६॥
evaṁ guṇasamāyuktāṁ vasave vasunandinī। darśayāmāsa rājendra purā pauravanandana ॥16॥
[एवम् (evam) - thus; गुणसमायुक्ताम् (guṇasamāyuktām) - endowed with virtues; वसवे (vasave) - to Vasu; वसुनन्दिनी (vasunandinī) - daughter of a Vasu; दर्शयामास (darśayāmāsa) - showed; राजेन्द्र (rājendra) - O king; पुरा (purā) - formerly; पौरवनन्दन (pauravanandana) - O joy of the Paurava line.]
Thus endowed with virtues, the daughter of a Vasu showed her to the Vasu, O king, long ago, O scion of the Paurava lineage.
द्यौस्तदा तां तु दृष्ट्वैव गां गजेन्द्रेन्द्रविक्रम। उवाच राजंस्तां देवीं तस्या रूपगुणान्वदन् ॥१७॥
dyauḥ tadā tāṁ tu dṛṣṭvā eva gāṁ gajendra-indra-vikrama। uvāca rājaṁs tāṁ devīṁ tasyā rūpaguṇān vadan ॥17॥
[द्यौः (dyauḥ) - Dyau (a Vasu); तदा (tadā) - then; ताम् (tām) - her; तु (tu) - indeed; दृष्ट्वा (dṛṣṭvā) - having seen; एव (eva) - just; गां (gām) - the cow; गजेन्द्रेन्द्रविक्रम (gajendra-indra-vikrama) - O you of elephant-like might; उवाच (uvāca) - said; राजन् (rājan) - O king; ताम् (tām) - her; देवीं (devīm) - the goddess; तस्या (tasyāḥ) - her; रूपगुणान् (rūpaguṇān) - form and qualities; वदन् (vadan) - speaking of.]
O king, then Dyau of elephant-like might, having just seen the cow, spoke to that goddess, describing her form and virtues.
एषा गौरुत्तमा देवि वारुणेरसितेक्षणे। ऋषेस्तस्य वरारोहे यस्येदं वनमुत्तमम् ॥१८॥
eṣā gauḥ uttamā devi vāruṇe asitekṣaṇe। ṛṣeḥ tasya varārohe yasya idaṁ vanam uttamam ॥18॥
[एषा (eṣā) - this; गौः (gauḥ) - cow; उत्तमा (uttamā) - excellent; देवि (devi) - O goddess; वारुणे (vāruṇe) - O daughter of Varuṇa; असितेक्षणे (asitekṣaṇe) - with dark eyes; ऋषेः (ṛṣeḥ) - of the sage; तस्य (tasya) - his; वरारोहे (varārohe) - O slender-waisted lady; यस्य (yasya) - whose; इदं (idaṁ) - this; वनम् (vanam) - forest; उत्तमम् (uttamam) - excellent.]
O slender-waisted dark-eyed goddess, this excellent cow belongs to that sage, son of Varuṇa, whose this forest is.
अस्याः क्षीरं पिबेन्मर्त्यः स्वादु यो वै सुमध्यमे। दश वर्षसहस्राणि स जीवेत्स्थिरयौवनः ॥१९॥
asyāḥ kṣīraṁ piben martyaḥ svādu yaḥ vai sumadhyame। daśa varṣasahasrāṇi sa jīvet sthirayauvanaḥ ॥19॥
[अस्याः (asyāḥ) - her; क्षीरम् (kṣīram) - milk; पिबेत् (pibet) - drinks; मर्त्यः (martyaḥ) - mortal; स्वादु (svādu) - sweet; यः (yaḥ) - who; वै (vai) - indeed; सुमध्यमे (sumadhyame) - O slender-waisted one; दश (daśa) - ten; वर्षसहस्राणि (varṣa-sahasrāṇi) - thousand years; सः (saḥ) - he; जीवेत् (jīvet) - lives; स्थिरयौवनः (sthirayauvanaḥ) - with stable youth.]
Whoever among mortals drinks her sweet milk, O slender-waisted one, will live for ten thousand years with unaging youth.
एतच्छ्रुत्वा तु सा देवी नृपोत्तम सुमध्यमा। तमुवाचानवद्याङ्गी भर्तारं दीप्ततेजसम् ॥२०॥
etat śrutvā tu sā devī nṛpottama sumadhyamā। tam uvāca anavadyāṅgī bhartāraṁ dīptatejasam ॥20॥
[एतत् (etat) - this; श्रुत्वा (śrutvā) - hearing; तु (tu) - indeed; सा (sā) - she; देवी (devī) - the goddess; नृपोत्तम (nṛpottama) - O best of kings; सुमध्यमा (sumadhyamā) - slender-waisted; तम् (tam) - him; उवाच (uvāca) - said; अनवद्याङ्गी (anavadyāṅgī) - flawless-limbed; भर्तारम् (bhartāram) - husband; दीप्ततेजसम् (dīptatejasam) - of blazing splendor.]
Hearing this, O best of kings, the slender-waisted, flawless-limbed goddess spoke to her husband of blazing splendor.
अस्ति मे मानुषे लोके नरदेवात्मजा सखी। नाम्ना जिनवती नाम रूपयौवनशालिनी ॥२१॥
asti me mānuṣe loke naradevātmajā sakhī। nāmnā jinavatī nāma rūpayauvanaśālinī ॥21॥
[अस्ति (asti) - there is; मे (me) - to me; मानुषे (mānuṣe) - in the human; लोके (loke) - world; नरदेवात्मजा (naradevātmajā) - daughter of a human king; सखी (sakhī) - friend; नाम्ना (nāmnā) - by name; जिनवती (jinavatī) - Jinavatī; नाम (nāma) - named; रूपयौवनशालिनी (rūpa-yauvana-śālinī) - possessing beauty and youth.]
I have a friend in the human world, the daughter of a king, named Jinavatī, who is endowed with beauty and youth.
उशीनरस्य राजर्षेः सत्यसन्धस्य धीमतः। दुहिता प्रथिता लोके मानुषे रूपसम्पदा ॥२२॥
uśīnarasya rājarṣeḥ satyasaṁdhasya dhīmataḥ। duhitā prathitā loke mānuṣe rūpasampadā ॥22॥
[उशीनरस्य (uśīnarasya) - of Uśīnara; राजर्षेः (rājarṣeḥ) - royal sage; सत्यसन्धस्य (satyasaṁdhasya) - truth-abiding; धीमतः (dhīmataḥ) - wise; दुहिता (duhitā) - daughter; प्रथिता (prathitā) - renowned; लोके (loke) - in the world; मानुषे (mānuṣe) - among humans; रूपसम्पदा (rūpasampadā) - for beauty.]
She is the daughter of the wise and truthful royal sage Uśīnara, renowned in the human world for her beauty.
तस्या हेतोर्महाभाग सवत्सां गां ममेप्सिताम्। आनयस्वामरश्रेष्ठ त्वरितं पुण्यवर्धन ॥२३॥
tasyā hetoḥ mahābhāga savatsāṁ gāṁ mama īpsitām। ānayasva amaraśreṣṭha tvaritaṁ puṇyavardhana ॥23॥
[तस्या (tasyāḥ) - for her; हेतोः (hetoḥ) - for the sake; महाभाग (mahābhāga) - O greatly fortunate; सवत्साम् (savatsām) - with calf; गां (gām) - the cow; मम (mama) - my; इप्सिताम् (īpsitām) - desired; आनयस्व (ānayasva) - bring; अमरश्रेष्ठ (amaraśreṣṭha) - O best among immortals; त्वरितम् (tvaritam) - quickly; पुण्यवर्धन (puṇyavardhana) - increaser of merit.]
O greatly fortunate and best among immortals, for her sake bring me the cow with her calf, whom I desire, quickly, O increaser of merit.
यावदस्याः पयः पीत्वा सा सखी मम मानद। मानुषेषु भवत्वेका जरारोगविवर्जिता ॥२४॥
yāvat asyāḥ payaḥ pītvā sā sakhī mama mānada। mānuṣeṣu bhavatv ekā jarāroga vivarjitā ॥24॥
[यावत् (yāvat) - so that; अस्याः (asyāḥ) - her; पयः (payaḥ) - milk; पीत्वा (pītvā) - having drunk; सा (sā) - she; सखी (sakhī) - friend; मम (mama) - my; मानद (mānada) - O honorable one; मानुषेषु (mānuṣeṣu) - among humans; भवतु (bhavatu) - may she become; एका (ekā) - the one; जरारोगविवर्जिता (jarāroga-vivarjitā) - free from old age and disease.]
So that, having drunk this milk, my friend may become the one among humans who is free from aging and disease, O honorable one.
एतन्मम महाभाग कर्तुमर्हस्यनिन्दित। प्रियं प्रियतरं ह्यस्मान्नास्ति मेऽन्यत्कथञ्चन ॥२५॥
etan mama mahābhāga kartum arhasi anindita। priyaṁ priyataraṁ hi asmāt nāsti me anyat kathañcana ॥25॥
[एतत् (etat) - this; मम (mama) - for me; महाभाग (mahābhāga) - O greatly fortunate; कर्तुम् (kartum) - to do; अर्हसि (arhasi) - you ought; अनिन्दित (anindita) - O blameless one; प्रियम् (priyam) - dear; प्रियतरम् (priyataraṁ) - dearest; हि (hi) - indeed; अस्मात् (asmāt) - than this; नास्ति (nāsti) - there is not; मे (me) - to me; अन्यत् (anyat) - anything else; कथञ्चन (kathañcana) - at all.]
O greatly fortunate and blameless one, you ought to do this for me — there is nothing dearer to me than this, not in any way.
एतच्छ्रुत्वा वचस्तस्या देव्याः प्रियचिकीर्षया। पृथ्वाद्यैर्भ्रातृभिः सार्धं द्यौस्तदा तां जहार गाम् ॥२६॥
etat śrutvā vacas tasyā devyāḥ priyacikīrṣayā। pṛthv-ādyaiḥ bhrātṛbhiḥ sārdhaṁ dyauḥ tadā tāṁ jahāra gām ॥26॥
[एतत् (etat) - this; श्रुत्वा (śrutvā) - having heard; वचः (vacaḥ) - words; तस्या (tasyāḥ) - of that; देव्याः (devyāḥ) - goddess; प्रियचिकीर्षया (priyacikīrṣayā) - desiring to please; पृथ्वीआद्यैः (pṛthv-ādyaiḥ) - with Pṛthvī and others; भ्रातृभिः (bhrātṛbhiḥ) - with brothers; सार्धम् (sārdham) - along with; द्यौः (dyauḥ) - Dyau; तदा (tadā) - then; ताम् (tām) - her; जहार (jahāra) - stole; गाम् (gām) - the cow.]
Having heard the goddess's words and desiring to please her, Dyau then stole the cow along with his brothers, including Pṛthvī and others.
तया कमलपत्राक्ष्या नियुक्तो द्यौस्तदा नृप। ऋषेस्तस्य तपस्तीव्रं न शशाक निरीक्षितुम् ॥ हृता गौः सा तदा तेन प्रपातस्तु न तर्कितः ॥२७॥
tayā kamalapatrākṣyā niyukto dyauḥ tadā nṛpa। ṛṣeḥ tasya tapastiivraṁ na śaśāka nirīkṣitum। hṛtā gauḥ sā tadā tena prapātaḥ tu na tarkitaḥ ॥27॥
[तया (tayā) - by her; कमलपत्राक्ष्या (kamalapatrākṣyā) - lotus-eyed one; नियुक्तः (niyuktaḥ) - instructed; द्यौः (dyauḥ) - Dyau; तदा (tadā) - then; नृप (nṛpa) - O king; ऋषेः (ṛṣeḥ) - of the sage; तस्य (tasya) - his; तपःतीव्रम् (tapastiivram) - intense austerity; न (na) - not; शशाक (śaśāka) - was able; निरीक्षितुम् (nirīkṣitum) - to face; हृता (hṛtā) - stolen; गौः (gauḥ) - the cow; सा (sā) - she; तदा (tadā) - then; तेन (tena) - by him; प्रपातः (prapātaḥ) - downfall; तु (tu) - but; न (na) - not; तर्कितः (tarkitaḥ) - anticipated.]
Dyau, being instructed by the lotus-eyed goddess, O king, was unable to face the sage's intense austerity. The cow was thus stolen by him then, but he did not foresee the downfall that would follow.
अथाश्रमपदं प्राप्तः फलान्यादाय वारुणिः। न चापश्यत गां तत्र सवत्सां काननोत्तमे ॥२८॥
atha āśramapadam prāptaḥ phalāni ādāya vāruṇiḥ। na ca apaśyat gāṁ tatra savatsāṁ kānanottame ॥28॥
[अथ (atha) - then; आश्रमपदं (āśramapadam) - to the hermitage; प्राप्तः (prāptaḥ) - returned; फलानि (phalāni) - fruits; आदाय (ādāya) - having collected; वारुणिः (vāruṇiḥ) - son of Varuṇa; न (na) - not; च (ca) - and; अपश्यत् (apaśyat) - saw; गां (gām) - the cow; तत्र (tatra) - there; सवत्साम् (savatsām) - with calf; काननोत्तमे (kānanottame) - in the excellent forest.]
Then the son of Varuṇa returned to the hermitage with fruits in hand, but did not see the cow with her calf there in the excellent forest.
ततः स मृगयामास वने तस्मिंस्तपोधनः। नाध्यगच्छच्च मृगयंस्तां गां मुनिरुदारधीः ॥२९॥
tataḥ sa mṛgayām āsa vane tasmin tapodhanaḥ। na adhyagacchat ca mṛgayan tāṁ gāṁ muniḥ udāradhīḥ ॥29॥
[ततः (tataḥ) - then; सः (saḥ) - he; मृगयाम् (mṛgayām) - in search; आस (āsa) - went; वने (vane) - in the forest; तस्मिन् (tasmin) - that; तपोधनः (tapodhanaḥ) - ascetic sage; न (na) - not; अध्यगच्छत् (adhyagacchat) - found; च (ca) - and; मृगयन् (mṛgayan) - while searching; ताम् (tām) - her; गां (gām) - the cow; मुनिः (muniḥ) - the sage; उदारधीः (udāradhīḥ) - noble-minded.]
Then the noble-minded sage, rich in austerity, searched for the cow in that forest, but could not find her despite his efforts.
ज्ञात्वा तथापनीतां तां वसुभिर्दिव्यदर्शनः। ययौ क्रोधवशं सद्यः शशाप च वसूंस्तदा ॥३०॥
jñātvā tathā apanītāṁ tāṁ vasubhiḥ divyadarśanaḥ। yayau krodhavaśaṁ sadyaḥ śaśāpa ca vasūn tadā ॥30॥
[ज्ञात्वा (jñātvā) - having known; तथा (tathā) - thus; अपनीताम् (apanītām) - stolen; ताम् (tām) - her; वसुभिः (vasubhiḥ) - by the Vasus; दिव्यदर्शनः (divyadarśanaḥ) - divine-sighted one; ययौ (yayau) - went; क्रोधवशम् (krodhavaśam) - under the sway of anger; सद्यः (sadyaḥ) - immediately; शशाप (śaśāpa) - cursed; च (ca) - and; वसून् (vasūn) - the Vasus; तदा (tadā) - then.]
Realizing that she had been taken by the Vasus, the divinely-sighted sage immediately became enraged and cursed the Vasus at once.
यस्मान्मे वसवो जह्रुर्गां वै दोग्ध्रीं सुवालधिम्। तस्मात्सर्वे जनिष्यन्ति मानुषेषु न संशयः ॥३१॥
yasmāt me vasavaḥ jahrur gāṁ vai dogdhriṁ suvāladhim। tasmāt sarve janiṣyanti mānuṣeṣu na saṁśayaḥ ॥31॥
[यस्मात् (yasmāt) - because; मे (me) - my; वसवः (vasavaḥ) - the Vasus; जह्रुः (jahrur) - stole; गां (gām) - the cow; वै (vai) - indeed; दोग्ध्रीम् (dogdhriṁ) - the milker; सुवालधिम् (suvāladhim) - of beautiful forehead; तस्मात् (tasmāt) - therefore; सर्वे (sarve) - all; जनिष्यन्ति (janiṣyanti) - will be born; मानुषेषु (mānuṣeṣu) - among humans; न (na) - not; संशयः (saṁśayaḥ) - doubt.]
Because the Vasus have stolen my cow, the milker with the beautiful forehead, therefore all of them shall be born among humans — there is no doubt of it.
एवं शशाप भगवान्वसूंस्तान्मुनिसत्तमः। वशं कोपस्य सम्प्राप्त आपवो भरतर्षभ ॥३२॥
evaṁ śaśāpa bhagavān vasūn tān munisattamaḥ। vaśaṁ kopasya samprāpta āpavaḥ bharatarṣabha ॥32॥
[एवम् (evam) - thus; शशाप (śaśāpa) - cursed; भगवान् (bhagavān) - the venerable one; वसून् (vasūn) - the Vasus; तान् (tān) - those; मुनिसत्तमः (munisattamaḥ) - best among sages; वशम् (vaśam) - under the control; कोपस्य (kopasya) - of anger; सम्प्राप्त (samprāpta) - having come; आपवः (āpavaḥ) - Āpava; भरतर्षभ (bharatarṣabha) - O best of Bharatas.]
Thus the venerable sage Āpava, overcome by anger, cursed those Vasus, O best of the Bharatas.
शप्त्वा च तान्महाभागस्तपस्येव मनो दधे। एवं स शप्तवान्राजन्वसूनष्टौ तपोधनः॥ महाप्रभावो ब्रह्मर्षिर्देवान्रोषसमन्वितः ॥३३॥
śaptvā ca tān mahābhāgaḥ tapasi eva mano dadhe। evaṁ sa śaptavān rājan vasūn aṣṭau tapodhanaḥ॥ mahāprabhāvaḥ brahmarṣiḥ devān roṣasamanvitaḥ ॥33॥
[शप्त्वा (śaptvā) - having cursed; च (ca) - and; तान् (tān) - them; महाभागः (mahābhāgaḥ) - the greatly fortunate; तपसि (tapasi) - in austerity; एव (eva) - indeed; मनः (manaḥ) - mind; दधे (dadhe) - fixed; एवम् (evam) - thus; सः (saḥ) - he; शप्तवान् (śaptavān) - cursed; राजन् (rājan) - O king; वसून् (vasūn) - the Vasus; अष्टौ (aṣṭau) - eight; तपोधनः (tapodhanaḥ) - ascetic sage; महाप्रभावः (mahāprabhāvaḥ) - of great power; ब्रह्मर्षिः (brahmarṣiḥ) - brahma-ṛṣi; देवान् (devān) - the gods; रोषसमन्वितः (roṣasamanvitaḥ) - filled with anger.]
Having cursed them, the greatly fortunate sage fixed his mind again on austerities. Thus the ascetic of great power, the brahma-ṛṣi, cursed the eight Vasus, O king, being filled with anger against the gods.
अथाश्रमपदं प्राप्य तं स्म भूयो महात्मनः। शप्ताः स्म इति जानन्त ऋषिं तमुपचक्रमुः ॥३४॥
atha āśramapadaṁ prāpya taṁ sma bhūyo mahātmanaḥ। śaptāḥ sma iti jānanta ṛṣiṁ tam upacakramuḥ ॥34॥
[अथ (atha) - then; आश्रमपदं (āśramapadam) - the hermitage; प्राप्य (prāpya) - reaching; तम् (tam) - him; स्म (sma) - indeed; भूयः (bhūyaḥ) - again; महात्मनः (mahātmanaḥ) - of the great-souled one; शप्ताः स्म (śaptāḥ sma) - we are cursed; इति (iti) - thus; जानन्तः (jānantaḥ) - knowing; ऋषिम् (ṛṣim) - the sage; तम् (tam) - him; उपचक्रमुः (upacakramuḥ) - approached.]
Then, realizing, “We are cursed”, having returned to the hermitage of that great-souled one, they approached that sage once again.
प्रसादयन्तस्तमृषिं वसवः पार्थिवर्षभ। न लेभिरे च तस्मात्ते प्रसादमृषिसत्तमात्॥ आपवात्पुरुषव्याघ्र सर्वधर्मविशारदात् ॥३५॥
prasādayantas tam ṛṣiṁ vasavaḥ pārthivarṣabha। na lebhire ca tasmāt te prasādam ṛṣisattamāt॥ āpavāt puruṣavyāghra sarvadharmaviśāradāt ॥35॥
[प्रसादयन्तः (prasādayantaḥ) - trying to appease; तम् (tam) - him; ऋषिम् (ṛṣim) - the sage; वसवः (vasavaḥ) - the Vasus; पार्थिवर्षभ (pārthivarṣabha) - O bull among kings; न (na) - not; लेभिरे (lebhire) - obtained; च (ca) - and; तस्मात् (tasmāt) - from him; ते (te) - they; प्रसादम् (prasādam) - grace; ऋषिसत्तमात् (ṛṣisattamāt) - from the best of sages; आपवात् (āpavāt) - from Āpava; पुरुषव्याघ्र (puruṣavyāghra) - O tiger among men; सर्वधर्मविशारदात् (sarvadharmaviśāradāt) - from the knower of all dharmas.]
O bull among kings, the Vasus, tiger among men, tried to appease the sage, the knower of all dharmas, but they did not obtain forgiveness from the best of sages — Āpava.
उवाच च स धर्मात्मा सप्त यूयं धरादयः। अनु संवत्सराच्छापमोक्षं वै समवाप्स्यथ ॥३६॥
uvāca ca sa dharmātmā sapta yūyaṁ dharādayaḥ। anu saṁvatsarāt śāpamokṣaṁ vai samavāpsyatha ॥36॥
[उवाच (uvāca) - said; च (ca) - and; सः (saḥ) - he; धर्मात्मा (dharmātmā) - the righteous one; सप्त (sapta) - seven; यूयम् (yūyam) - you; धरादयः (dharādayaḥ) - Dhara and others; अनु (anu) - after; संवत्सरात् (saṁvatsarāt) - a year; शापमोक्षम् (śāpamokṣam) - release from the curse; वै (vai) - indeed; समवाप्स्यथ (samavāpsyatha) - you will obtain.]
And the righteous sage said, “You seven, Dhara and the others, shall indeed obtain release from the curse after one year.”
अयं तु यत्कृते यूयं मया शप्ताः स वत्स्यति। द्यौस्तदा मानुषे लोके दीर्घकालं स्वकर्मणा ॥३७॥
ayaṁ tu yatkṛte yūyaṁ mayā śaptāḥ sa vatsyati। dyauḥ tadā mānuṣe loke dīrghakālaṁ svakarmaṇā ॥37॥
[अयम् (ayam) - this one; तु (tu) - but; यत्कृते (yatkṛte) - because of whom; यूयम् (yūyam) - you; मया (mayā) - by me; शप्ताः (śaptāḥ) - were cursed; सः (saḥ) - he; वत्स्यति (vatsyati) - will live; द्यौः (dyauḥ) - Dyau; तदा (tadā) - then; मानुषे (mānuṣe) - in the human; लोके (loke) - world; दीर्घकालम् (dīrghakālam) - for a long time; स्वकर्मणा (svakarmaṇā) - due to his own act.]
But this one, Dyau, because of whom you were cursed by me, shall live for a long time in the human world due to his own deed.
नानृतं तच्चिकीर्षामि युष्मान्क्रुद्धो यदब्रुवम्। न प्रजास्यति चाप्येष मानुषेषु महामनाः ॥३८॥
nānarṛtaṁ tac cikīrṣāmi yuṣmān kruddho yad abruvam। na prajās yati ca api eṣa mānuṣeṣu mahāmanāḥ ॥38॥
[न (na) - not; अनृतम् (anarṛtam) - untrue; तत् (tat) - that; चिकीर्षामि (cikīrṣāmi) - I desire to make; युष्मान् (yuṣmān) - you; क्रुद्धः (kruddhaḥ) - angry; यत् (yat) - what; अब्रुवम् (abruvam) - I spoke; न (na) - not; प्रजास्यति (prajās yati) - will procreate; च (ca) - and; अपि (api) - also; एषः (eṣaḥ) - this one; मानुषेषु (mānuṣeṣu) - among humans; महामनाः (mahāmanāḥ) - noble-minded.]
I do not wish that what I angrily spoke to you be rendered untrue; and this noble-minded one shall also not procreate among humans.
भविष्यति च धर्मात्मा सर्वशास्त्रविशारदः। पितुः प्रियहिते युक्तः स्त्रीभोगान्वर्जयिष्यति ॥ एवमुक्त्वा वसून्सर्वाञ्जगाम भगवानृषिः ॥३९॥
bhaviṣyati ca dharmātmā sarvaśāstra-viśāradaḥ। pituḥ priyahite yuktaḥ strībhogān varjayiṣyati॥ evam uktvā vasūn sarvān jagāma bhagavān ṛṣiḥ ॥39॥
[भविष्यति (bhaviṣyati) - he shall be; च (ca) - and; धर्मात्मा (dharmātmā) - righteous; सर्वशास्त्रविशारदः (sarvaśāstra-viśāradaḥ) - well-versed in all scriptures; पितुः (pituḥ) - to his father; प्रियहिते (priyahite) - in what is dear and beneficial; युक्तः (yuktaḥ) - devoted; स्त्रीभोगान् (strībhogān) - sensual pleasures with women; वर्जयिष्यति (varjayiṣyati) - he will renounce; एवम् (evam) - thus; उक्त्वा (uktvā) - having spoken; वसून् (vasūn) - to the Vasus; सर्वान् (sarvān) - all; जगाम (jagāma) - departed; भगवान् (bhagavān) - the revered; ऋषिः (ṛṣiḥ) - sage.]
He shall be righteous, well-versed in all scriptures, devoted to his father’s joy and welfare, and shall renounce pleasures with women. Thus having spoken to all the Vasus, the revered sage departed.
ततो मामुपजग्मुस्ते समस्ता वसवस्तदा। अयाचन्त च मां राजन्वरं स च मया कृतः ॥ जाताञ्जातान्प्रक्षिपास्मान्स्वयं गङ्गे त्वमम्भसि ॥४०॥
tato mām upajagmuḥ te samastā vasavaḥ tadā। ayācanta ca māṁ rājan varaṁ sa ca mayā kṛtaḥ॥ jātān jātān prakṣipā asmān svayaṁ gaṅge tvam ambhasi ॥40॥
[ततः (tataḥ) - then; माम् (mām) - me; उपजग्मुः (upajagmuḥ) - approached; ते (te) - they; समस्ताः (samastāḥ) - all; वसवः (vasavaḥ) - the Vasus; तदा (tadā) - then; अयाचन्त (ayācanta) - requested; च (ca) - and; माम् (mām) - me; राजन् (rājan) - O king; वरम् (varam) - a boon; सः (saḥ) - that; च (ca) - and; मया (mayā) - by me; कृतः (kṛtaḥ) - granted; जातान् (jātān) - as born; जातान् (jātān) - one by one; प्रक्षिप (prakṣipa) - cast off; अस्मान् (asmān) - us; स्वयं (svayam) - yourself; गङ्गे (gaṅge) - O Gaṅgā; त्वम् (tvam) - you; अम्भसि (ambhasi) - in water.]
Then all the Vasus approached me, O king, and begged me for a boon, which I granted: “O Gaṅgā, as each one is born, cast us yourself into the waters.”
एवं तेषामहं सम्यक्षप्तानां राजसत्तम। मोक्षार्थं मानुषाल्लोकाद्यथावत्कृतवत्यहम् ॥४१॥
evaṁ teṣām ahaṁ samyak śaptānāṁ rājasattama। mokṣārtham mānuṣāt lokāt yathāvat kṛtavatya aham ॥41॥
[एवम् (evam) - thus; तेषाम् (teṣām) - of them; अहम् (aham) - I; सम्यक् (samyak) - rightly; शप्तानाम् (śaptānām) - of the cursed; राजसत्तम (rājasattama) - O best of kings; मोक्षार्थम् (mokṣārtham) - for liberation; मानुषात् (mānuṣāt) - from the human; लोकात् (lokāt) - world; यथावत् (yathāvat) - properly; कृतवत्यहम् (kṛtavaty aham) - I have done.]
Thus, O best of kings, I have rightly acted on behalf of those cursed, and done what is proper for their liberation from the human world.
अयं शापादृषेस्तस्य एक एव नृपोत्तम। द्यौ राजन्मानुषे लोके चिरं वत्स्यति भारत ॥४२॥
ayaṁ śāpād ṛṣeḥ tasya eka eva nṛpottama। dyauḥ rājan mānuṣe loke ciraṁ vatsyati bhārata ॥42॥
[अयम् (ayam) - this one; शापात् (śāpāt) - by the curse; ऋषेः (ṛṣeḥ) - of the sage; तस्य (tasya) - of him; एकः (ekaḥ) - only; एव (eva) - alone; नृपोत्तम (nṛpottama) - O best of kings; द्यौः (dyauḥ) - Dyau; राजन् (rājan) - O king; मानुषे (mānuṣe) - in the human; लोके (loke) - world; चिरम् (ciram) - for a long time; वत्स्यति (vatsyati) - will live; भारत (bhārata) - O Bhārata.]
This one alone, Dyau, O best of kings, because of the sage’s curse, shall live long in the human world, O Bhārata.
एतदाख्याय सा देवी तत्रैवान्तरधीयत। आदाय च कुमारं तं जगामाथ यथेप्सितम् ॥४३॥
etad ākhyāya sā devī tatraiva antaradhīyata। ādāya ca kumāraṁ taṁ jagāma atha yathepsitam ॥43॥
[एतत् (etat) - this; आख्याय (ākhyāya) - having narrated; सा (sā) - she; देवी (devī) - the goddess; तत्र (tatra) - there; एव (eva) - itself; अन्तरधीयत (antaradhīyata) - disappeared; आदाय (ādāya) - taking; च (ca) - and; कुमारम् (kumāram) - the boy; तम् (tam) - him; जगाम (jagāma) - went; अथ (atha) - then; यथेप्सितम् (yathepsitam) - as she desired.]
Having narrated this, the goddess vanished then and there, and taking the boy with her, she went as she desired.
स तु देवव्रतो नाम गाङ्गेय इति चाभवत्। द्विनामा शन्तनोः पुत्रः शन्तनोरधिको गुणैः ॥४४॥
sa tu devavrataḥ nāma gāṅgeya iti ca abhavat। dvināmā śantanauḥ putraḥ śantanoḥ adhikaḥ guṇaiḥ ॥44॥
[सः (saḥ) - he; तु (tu) - indeed; देवव्रतः (devavrataḥ) - Devavrata; नाम (nāma) - by name; गाङ्गेयः (gāṅgeyaḥ) - son of Gaṅgā; इति (iti) - thus; च (ca) - and; अभवत् (abhavat) - became; द्विनामा (dvināmā) - having two names; शन्तनोः (śantanoḥ) - of Śantanu; पुत्रः (putraḥ) - son; शन्तनोः (śantanoḥ) - than Śantanu; अधिकः (adhikaḥ) - greater; गुणैः (guṇaiḥ) - in virtues.]
He became known both as Devavrata and Gāṅgeya, the son of Gaṅgā, having two names, and in virtues he surpassed Śantanu himself.
शन्तनुश्चापि शोकार्तो जगाम स्वपुरं ततः। तस्याहं कीर्तयिष्यामि शन्तनोरमितान्गुणान् ॥४५॥
śantanuḥ ca api śokārtaḥ jagāma svapuraṁ tataḥ। tasya ahaṁ kīrtayiṣyāmi śantanoḥ amitān guṇān ॥45॥
[शन्तनुः (śantanuḥ) - Śantanu; च (ca) - and; अपि (api) - also; शोकार्तः (śokārtaḥ) - afflicted with grief; जगाम (jagāma) - went; स्वपुरम् (svapuram) - to his own city; ततः (tataḥ) - then; तस्य (tasya) - of him; अहम् (aham) - I; कीर्तयिष्यामि (kīrtayiṣyāmi) - shall praise; शन्तनोः (śantanoḥ) - of Śantanu; अमितान् (amitān) - countless; गुणान् (guṇān) - virtues.]
Śantanu too, afflicted with sorrow, then returned to his own city. I shall now recount the countless virtues of Śantanu.
महाभाग्यं च नृपतेर्भारतस्य यशस्विनः। यस्येतिहासो द्युतिमान्महाभारतमुच्यते ॥४६॥
mahābhāgyaṁ ca nṛpateḥ bhāratasya yaśasvinaḥ। yasya itihāsaḥ dyutimān mahābhāratam ucyate ॥46॥
[महाभाग्यम् (mahābhāgyam) - great fortune; च (ca) - and; नृपतेः (nṛpateḥ) - of the king; भारतस्य (bhāratasya) - of Bhārata; यशस्विनः (yaśasvinaḥ) - the glorious; यस्य (yasya) - whose; इतिहासः (itihāsaḥ) - history; द्युतिमान् (dyutimān) - resplendent; महाभारतम् (mahābhāratam) - Mahābhārata; उच्यते (ucyate) - is called.]
And the great fortune of that glorious Bhārata king — his radiant history is what is called the Mahābhārata.
