01.094
Bhishma’s Vow, and the boon from Shantanu.
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana said:
स एवं शन्तनुर्धीमान्देवराजर्षिसत्कृतः। धर्मात्मा सर्वलोकेषु सत्यवागिति विश्रुतः ॥१॥
Thus was Śantanu, wise and honored by gods, kings, and sages, righteous in all the worlds, renowned as a speaker of truth.
दमो दानं क्षमा बुद्धिर्ह्रीर्धृतिस्तेज उत्तमम्। नित्यान्यासन्महासत्त्वे शन्तनौ पुरुषर्षभे ॥२॥
Self-restraint, generosity, forgiveness, wisdom, modesty, fortitude, and supreme splendor were always present in the great-souled Śantanu, the best of men.
एवं स गुणसम्पन्नो धर्मार्थकुशलो नृपः। आसीद्भरतवंशस्य गोप्ता साधुजनस्य च ॥३॥
Thus, the virtuous and righteous king, skilled in dharma and wealth, became the protector of the Bharata lineage and of the virtuous.
कम्बुग्रीवः पृथुव्यंसो मत्तवारणविक्रमः। धर्म एव परः कामादर्थाच्चेति व्यवस्थितः ॥४॥
With a neck like a conch, broad chest, and the gait of a proud elephant, he was firmly established in holding dharma above desire and wealth.
एतान्यासन्महासत्त्वे शन्तनौ भरतर्षभ। न चास्य सदृशः कश्चित्क्षत्रियो धर्मतोऽभवत् ॥५॥
These virtues were present in Śantanu, the great-souled one, O best of the Bharatas; and no kṣatriya equaled him in righteousness.
वर्तमानं हि धर्मे स्वे सर्वधर्मविदां वरम्। तं महीपा महीपालं राजराज्येऽभ्यषेचयन् ॥६॥
Seeing him abiding firmly in his own dharma, the best among all knowers of righteousness, the kings anointed him, the lord of the earth, in supreme sovereignty.
वीतशोकभयाबाधाः सुखस्वप्नविबोधनाः। प्रति भारतगोप्तारं समपद्यन्त भूमिपाः ॥७॥
Freed from sorrow, fear, and afflictions, and waking from pleasant dreams, the kings gathered around the protector of the Bhārata land.
शन्तनुप्रमुखैर्गुप्ते लोके नृपतिभिस्तदा। नियमात्सर्ववर्णानां ब्रह्मोत्तरमवर्तत ॥८॥
Then, with the world protected by kings headed by Śantanu, the supremacy of the Brahmins prevailed through the disciplined conduct of all varṇas.
ब्रह्म पर्यचरत्क्षत्रं विशः क्षत्रमनुव्रताः। ब्रह्मक्षत्रानुरक्ताश्च शूद्राः पर्यचरन्विशः ॥९॥
The Kṣatriyas served the Brahmins; the Vaiśyas were obedient to the Kṣatriyas; and the Śūdras, devoted to both Brahmins and Kṣatriyas, served the Vaiśyas.
स हास्तिनपुरे रम्ये कुरूणां पुटभेदने। वसन्सागरपर्यन्तामन्वशाद्वै वसुन्धराम् ॥१०॥
Residing in the delightful Hastināpura, capital of the Kurus, he ruled the earth extending to the ocean.
स देवराजसदृशो धर्मज्ञः सत्यवागृजुः। दानधर्मतपोयोगाच्छ्रिया परमया युतः ॥११॥
He was like Indra, a knower of dharma, truthful, upright, endowed with supreme splendor through charity, righteousness, austerity, and discipline.
अरागद्वेषसंयुक्तः सोमवत्प्रियदर्शनः। तेजसा सूर्यसङ्काशो वायुवेगसमो जवे ॥ अन्तकप्रतिमः कोपे क्षमया पृथिवीसमः ॥१२॥
Free from passion and hatred, pleasing like the moon, brilliant like the sun, swift as the wind, like Yama in wrath, and like the earth in forbearance.
वधः पशुवराहाणां तथैव मृगपक्षिणाम्। शन्तनौ पृथिवीपाले नावर्तत वृथा नृप ॥१३॥
Under King Śantanu, the protector of the earth, the killing of animals, boars, deer, or birds did not occur without purpose, O king.
धर्मब्रह्मोत्तरे राज्ये शन्तनुर्विनयात्मवान्। समं शशास भूतानि कामरागविवर्जितः ॥१४॥
In a kingdom where dharma and the Brahmins were supreme, Śantanu ruled all beings equally with humility, free from lust and attachment.
देवर्षिपितृयज्ञार्थमारभ्यन्त तदा क्रियाः। न चाधर्मेण केषाञ्चित्प्राणिनामभवद्वधः ॥१५॥
Then, sacrificial rites for gods, sages, and ancestors were undertaken, and no living being was slain unrighteously.
