01.094
Core-Pancharatra:Bhishma’s Vow, and the boon from Shantanu.
vaiśampāyanaḥ uvāca॥
Vaiśampāyana said:
sa evaṁ śantanuḥ dhīmān devarājarṣi-satkṛtaḥ। dharmātmā sarvalokeṣu satyavāk iti viśrutaḥ ॥1॥
Thus was Śantanu, wise and honored by gods, kings, and sages, righteous in all the worlds, renowned as a speaker of truth.
damaḥ dānaṁ kṣamā buddhiḥ hrīḥ dhṛtiḥ tejaḥ uttamam। nityam āsan mahāsattve śantanau puruṣarṣabhe ॥2॥
Self-restraint, generosity, forgiveness, wisdom, modesty, fortitude, and supreme splendor were always present in the great-souled Śantanu, the best of men.
evaṁ sa guṇasampanno dharmārthakuśalo nṛpaḥ। āsīt bharatavaṁśasya goptā sādhujanasya ca ॥3॥
Thus, the virtuous and righteous king, skilled in dharma and wealth, became the protector of the Bharata lineage and of the virtuous.
kambugrīvaḥ pṛthu vyaṁsaḥ matta vāraṇa vikramaḥ। dharma eva paraḥ kāmāt arthāt ca iti vyavasthitaḥ ॥4॥
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.
etān āsan mahāsattve śantanau bharatarṣabha। na ca asya sadṛśaḥ kaścit kṣatriyaḥ dharmataḥ abhavat ॥5॥
These virtues were present in Śantanu, the great-souled one, O best of the Bharatas; and no kṣatriya equaled him in righteousness.
vartamānaṁ hi dharme sve sarvadharmavidāṁ varam। taṁ mahīpā mahīpālaṁ rājarājye abhyaṣecayan ॥6॥
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.
vītaśoka-bhayābādhāḥ sukhasvapna-vibodhanāḥ। prati bhārata-goptāraṁ samapadyanta bhūmipāḥ ॥7॥
Freed from sorrow, fear, and afflictions, and waking from pleasant dreams, the kings gathered around the protector of the Bhārata land.
śantanupra-mukhaiḥ gupte loke nṛpatibhiḥ tadā। niyamāt sarvavarṇānāṁ brahmottaram avartata ॥8॥
Then, with the world protected by kings headed by Śantanu, the supremacy of the Brahmins prevailed through the disciplined conduct of all varṇas.
brahma paryacarat kṣatram viśaḥ kṣatram anuvratāḥ। brahmakṣatra-anuraktāś ca śūdrāḥ paryacaran viśaḥ ॥9॥
The Kṣatriyas served the Brahmins; the Vaiśyas were obedient to the Kṣatriyas; and the Śūdras, devoted to both Brahmins and Kṣatriyas, served the Vaiśyas.
sa hāstinapure ramye kurūṇāṁ puṭabhedane। vasan sāgara-paryantām anvaśād vai vasundharām ॥10॥
Residing in the delightful Hastināpura, capital of the Kurus, he ruled the earth extending to the ocean.
sa devarājasadṛśaḥ dharmajñaḥ satyavāk ṛjuḥ। dānadharmatapoyogāt śriyā paramayā yutaḥ ॥11॥
He was like Indra, a knower of dharma, truthful, upright, endowed with supreme splendor through charity, righteousness, austerity, and discipline.
arāgādveṣasaṁyuktaḥ somavat priyadarśanaḥ। tejasā sūryasaṅkāśaḥ vāyuvegasamo jave॥ antakapratimaḥ kope kṣamayā pṛthivīsamaḥ ॥12॥
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.
vadhaḥ paśu-varāhāṇāṁ tathaiva mṛgapakṣiṇām। śantanau pṛthivīpāle nāvartata vṛthā nṛpa ॥13॥
Under King Śantanu, the protector of the earth, the killing of animals, boars, deer, or birds did not occur without purpose, O king.
dharmabrahmottare rājye śantanuḥ vinayātmavān। samaṁ śaśāsa bhūtāni kāmarāgavivarjitaḥ ॥14॥
In a kingdom where dharma and the Brahmins were supreme, Śantanu ruled all beings equally with humility, free from lust and attachment.
devarṣi-pitṛ-yajñārtham ārabhyanta tadā kriyāḥ। na ca adharmeṇa keṣāñcit prāṇinām abhavat vadhaḥ ॥15॥
Then, sacrificial rites for gods, sages, and ancestors were undertaken, and no living being was slain unrighteously.
asukhānām anāthānāṁ tiryag-yoniṣu vartatām। sa eva rājā bhūtānāṁ sarveṣām abhavat pitā ॥16॥
To the miserable, the shelterless, and those born in lower species, he became as a father — the king of all living beings.
tasmin kuru-pati-śreṣṭhe rāja-rājeśvare sati। śritā vāg abhavat satyaṁ dāna-dharmāśritaṁ manaḥ ॥17॥
While that best of Kuru kings, the emperor of kings, reigned, speech was rooted in truth, and minds in charity and righteousness.
sa samāḥ ṣoḍaśāṣṭau ca catasro'ṣṭau tathāparāḥ। ratim aprāpnuvan strīṣu babhūva vana-gocaraḥ ॥18॥
For sixteen, eight, four, and again eight more years, without desiring pleasure from women, he lived as a wanderer in the forest.
tathā-rūpaḥ tathā-ācāraḥ tathā-vṛttaḥ tathā-śrutaḥ। gāṅgeyaḥ tasya putraḥ abhūt nāmnā devavrataḥ vasuḥ ॥19॥
Such was his form, conduct, character, and fame — his son, born of Gaṅgā, was Devavrata by name, a divine Vasu in human form.
sarvāstreṣu sa niṣṇātaḥ pārthiveṣu itareṣu ca। mahābalaḥ mahāsattvaḥ mahāvīryaḥ mahārathaḥ ॥20॥
He was skilled in all weapons, above all kings and others — of immense strength, great courage, and might, a supreme chariot-warrior.
sa kadācin mṛgaṁ viddhvā gaṅgām anusarannadīm। bhāgīrathīm alpa-jalāṁ śantanur dṛṣṭavān nṛpaḥ ॥21॥
Once, having shot a deer and following the Gaṅgā river, King Śantanu beheld the Bhāgīrathī with diminished waters.
tāṁ dṛṣṭvā cintayāmāsa śantanuḥ puruṣarṣabhaḥ। syandate kiṁ nu iyaṁ na adya sarit-śreṣṭhā yathā purā ॥22॥
Seeing her, the best of men, Śantanu, pondered: “Why is this supreme river not flowing today as she did before?”
tato nimittam anvicchan dadarśa sa mahāmanāḥ। kumāraṁ rūpa-sampannaṁ bṛhantaṁ cāru-darśanam ॥23॥
Then, as the great-minded one sought the cause, he saw a handsome and tall boy of graceful appearance.
divyam astraṁ vikurvāṇaṁ yathā devaṁ purandaram। kṛtsnāṁ gaṅgāṁ samāvṛtya śaraiḥ tīkṣṇaiḥ avasthitam ॥24॥
He saw him wielding a divine weapon like the god Indra, having covered the entire Gaṅgā with sharp arrows and standing firm.
tāṁ śaraiḥ āvṛtāṁ dṛṣṭvā nadīṁ gaṅgāṁ tad-antike। abhavat vismitaḥ rājā karma dṛṣṭvā ati-mānuṣam ॥25॥
Seeing the river Gaṅgā covered with arrows nearby, the king became astonished, having witnessed a deed beyond human power.
jātamātraṁ purā dṛṣṭaṁ taṁ putraṁ śantanuḥ tadā। na upalebhe smṛtiṁ dhīmān abhijñātuṁ tam ātmajam ॥26॥
Though Śantanu had once seen his son at birth, he did not at that moment recall it and was unable to recognize him as his own child.
sa tu taṁ pitaraṁ dṛṣṭvā mohayām āsa māyayā। saṁmohya tu tataḥ kṣipraṁ tatraiva antaradhīyata ॥27॥
Having seen his father, he deluded him with his illusion, and having bewildered him, he immediately vanished from that very spot.
tad adbhutaṁ tadā dṛṣṭvā tatra rājā sa śantanuḥ। śaṅkamānaḥ sutaṁ gaṅgām abravīt darśaya iti ha ॥28॥
Seeing that wondrous sight, King Śantanu, suspecting it was his son, said to Gaṅgā, “Show him to me, indeed.”
darśayām āsa taṁ gaṅgā bibhratī rūpam uttamam। gṛhītvā dakṣiṇe pāṇau taṁ kumāram alaṅkṛtam ॥29॥
Gaṅgā then showed him, bearing a most excellent form, holding that adorned boy by his right hand.
alaṅkṛtām ābharaṇaiḥ arajombara-dhāriṇīm। dṛṣṭapūrvām api satīṁ na abhyajānāt sa śantanuḥ ॥30॥
Even though he had seen her before, Śantanu did not recognize her—so adorned with ornaments and clad in spotless garments.
gaṅgo'vāca॥
Gaṅgā said:
yaṁ putram aṣṭamam rājan tvaṁ purā mayy ajāyithāḥ। sa te ayaṁ puruṣavyāghra nayasva enaṁ gṛhāntikam ॥31॥
O king, this is your eighth son, whom you once begot in me; O tiger among men, take him now to your home.
vedān adhijage sāṅgān vasiṣṭhāt eva vīryavān। kṛtāstraḥ parameṣvāso devarājasamo yudhi ॥32॥
He has thoroughly studied the Vedas with their auxiliaries from Vasiṣṭha, is powerful, trained in weapons, a supreme archer, and equal to Indra in battle.
surāṇāṁ saṁmato nityam asurāṇāṁ ca bhārata। uśanā veda yat śāstram ayaṁ tad veda sarvaśaḥ ॥33॥
O Bhārata, he is ever honored by both gods and demons. Whatever science Uśanas knows, this one knows entirely as well.
tathaiva āṅgirasaḥ putraḥ surāsura-namaskṛtaḥ। yat veda śāstraṁ tat ca api kṛtsnam asmin pratiṣṭhitam॥ tava putre mahābāhau sāṅgopāṅgaṁ mahātmani ॥34॥
Likewise, the son of Aṅgiras, worshiped by gods and demons, all the knowledge he possesses is fully established in your mighty-armed, great-souled son, in full and complete detail.
ṛṣiḥ parair anādhṛṣyo jāmadagnyaḥ pratāpavān। yad astraṁ veda rāmaś ca tad api asmin pratiṣṭhitam ॥35॥
The invincible sage Jāmadagnya Rāma, renowned for his might—whatever divine weapon he knows, that too is established in your son.
maheṣvāsam imaṁ rājan rāja-dharmārtha-kovidam। mayā dattaṁ nijaṁ putraṁ vīraṁ vīra gṛhān naya ॥36॥
O king, this heroic son of mine, a master archer and knower of royal dharma and artha, is given by me — O hero, take your son home.
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
Vaiśampāyana said:
tayā evaṁ samanujñātaḥ putram ādāya śantanuḥ। bhrājamānaṁ yathā ādityam āyayau sva-puraṁ prati ॥37॥
Thus permitted by her, Śantanu took his radiant son, shining like the sun, and returned to his own city.
pauravaḥ sva-puraṁ gatvā purandara-pura-upamam। sarva-kāma-samṛddhārthaṁ mene ātmānam ātmanā॥ pauraveṣu tataḥ putraṁ yauvarājye abhyaṣecayat॥38॥
Returning to his city, glorious like the city of Indra and rich in all enjoyments, Śantanu considered himself truly fulfilled and anointed his son as crown prince among the Pauravas.
pauravān śantanoḥ putraḥ pitaraṁ ca mahāyaśāḥ। rāṣṭraṁ ca rañjayām āsa vṛttena bharatarṣabha ॥39॥
O bull among the Bharatas, the illustrious son of Śantanu brought joy to the Pauravas, to his father, and to the entire kingdom by his noble conduct.
sa tathā saha putreṇa ramamāṇo mahīpatiḥ। vartayām āsa varṣāṇi catvāri amita-vikramaḥ ॥40॥
Thus delighting in the company of his son, the mighty king spent four years in happiness, he of immeasurable valor.
sa kadācit vanaṁ yāto yamunām abhito nadīm। mahīpatir anirdeśyam ājighrad gandham uttamam ॥41॥
Once, while roaming the forest near the Yamunā river, the king perceived an indescribably excellent fragrance.
tasya prabhavam anvicchan vicacāra samantataḥ। sa dadarśa tadā kanyāṁ dāśānāṁ deva-rūpiṇīm ॥42॥
Seeking the source of that scent, he wandered all around and then saw a maiden of the boatmen, divine in appearance.
tām apṛcchat sa dṛṣṭvā eva kanyām asita-locanām। kasya tvam asi kā ca asi kiṁ ca bhīru cikīrṣasi ॥43॥
Seeing the dark-eyed maiden, he asked, “Whose are you? Who are you, and what do you intend, O timid one?”
sā abravīd dāśa-kanyāsmi dharmārthaṁ vāhaye tarīm। pitur niyogāt bhadraṁ te dāśa-rājño mahātmanaḥ ॥44॥
She replied, “I am the daughter of the boatman; I ferry the boat for righteous duty, by command of my great-souled father, the king of the boatmen. Blessings to you.”
rūpa-mādhurya-gandhaiḥ tāṁ saṁyuktāṁ deva-rūpiṇīm। samīkṣya rājā dāśeyīṁ kāmayām āsa śantanuḥ ॥45॥
Seeing her endowed with beauty, charm, and fragrance, and of divine appearance, Śantanu desired the boatman’s daughter.
sa gatvā pitaraṁ tasyā varayām āsa tāṁ tadā। paryapṛcchat tataḥ tasyāḥ pitaraṁ ca ātma-kāraṇāt ॥46॥
He then went to her father and sought her hand, and further questioned him, prompted by his own concern.
sa ca taṁ pratyuvācedaṁ dāśa-rājo mahīpatim। jātamātraiva me deyā varāya varavarṇinī। hṛdi kāmas tu me kaścit taṁ nibodha janeśvara ॥47॥
The boatman king replied to the monarch, “This girl of fine beauty is to be given to a suitor from birth; yet know this, O king — there is a desire I hold in my heart.”
yadīṁāṁ dharmapatnīṁ tvaṁ mattaḥ prārthayase'nagha। satyavāk asi satyena samayaṁ kuru me tataḥ ॥48॥
If you seek this girl from me as a lawful wife, O faultless one, and are truthful, then make me a promise by truth itself.
samayena pradadyāṁ te kanyām aham imāṁ nṛpa। na hi me tvat-samaḥ kaścid varo jātu bhaviṣyati ॥49॥
With a vow, I would give you this maiden, O king — for surely there will never be a suitor equal to you.
śantanuḥ uvāca॥
Śantanu said:
śrutvā tava varaṁ dāśa vyavasyeyaṁ ahaṁ na vā। dātavyaṁ cet pradāsyāmi na tu adeyaṁ kathañcana ॥50॥
Hearing your condition, O boatman, I cannot yet decide; if it is to be given, I shall give, but I cannot grant what should never be given by any means.
dāśa uvāca॥
The boatman said:
asyāṁ jāyeta yaḥ putraḥ sa rājā pṛthivīpatiḥ। tvad-ūrdhvam abhiṣektavyaḥ na anyaḥ kaścana pārthivaḥ ॥51॥
Whoever is born of her shall be king, O lord of earth. After you, no one else but he shall be anointed ruler.
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
Vaiśampāyana said:
na ākāmayata taṁ dātuṁ varaṁ dāśāya śantanuḥ। śarīra-jena tīvreṇa dahyamānaḥ api bhārata ॥52॥
Śantanu did not wish to grant that boon to the boatman, O Bhārata, even though he was tormented intensely by desire arising from his body.
sa cintayann eva tadā dāśa-kanyāṁ mahīpatiḥ। pratyayāt hāstinapuraṁ śoka-upahata-cetanaḥ ॥53॥
Though constantly thinking of the boatman’s daughter, the king returned in sorrow to Hastināpura, his mind overwhelmed by grief.
tataḥ kadācit śocantaṁ śantanuṁ dhyānam āsthitam। putraḥ devavrataḥ abhyetya pitaraṁ vākyam abravīt ॥54॥
Then one day, seeing Śantanu grieving and deep in meditation, his son Devavrata approached and spoke to his father.
sarvataḥ bhavataḥ kṣemaṁ vidheyāḥ sarva-pārthivāḥ। tat kimartham iha abhīkṣṇaṁ pariśocasi duḥkhitaḥ। dhyānan iva ca kiṁ rājan na abhibhāṣasi kiñcana ॥55॥
All is well with you, and all kings obey you — so why, O sorrowful one, do you grieve here constantly? Why do you remain silent like one in deep meditation, O king?
evam uktaḥ sa putreṇa śantanuḥ pratyabhāṣata। asaṁśayaṁ dhyāna-paraṁ yathā māttha tathā asmi uta ॥56॥
Thus addressed by his son, Śantanu replied, “Indeed, I am absorbed in meditation exactly as you have said.”
apatyaṁ naḥ tvam evaikaḥ kule mahati bhārata। anityatā ca martyānām ataḥ śocāmi putraka ॥57॥
You alone are the only progeny in our great lineage, O Bhārata. Because of the impermanence of mortals, I grieve, dear son.
kathaṁcit tava gāṅgeya vipattau nāsti naḥ kulam। asaṁśayaṁ tvam evaikaḥ śatād api varaḥ sutaḥ ॥58॥
If some misfortune were to befall you, O Gāṅgeya, our lineage would cease. Without doubt, you alone are a son superior to a hundred others.
na cāpy ahaṁ vṛthā bhūyo dārān kartum iha utsahe। santānasya avināśāya kāmaye bhadram astu te। anapatyat eka-putratvam ity āhuḥ dharma-vādinaḥ ॥59॥
Nor am I willing to take a wife again in vain. I seek only the preservation of lineage. Blessings to you. The dharma-teachers say: “To have no child, or only one, is itself a misfortune.”
agnihotraṁ trayo vedā yajñāś ca saha dakṣiṇāḥ। sarvāṇi etāni apatyasya kalāṁ nārhanti ṣoḍaśīm ॥60॥
The Agnihotra, the three Vedas, and all sacrifices along with their offerings — none of these equal even a sixteenth part of having a worthy child.
evam eva manuṣyeṣu syāt ca sarva-prajāsu api। yad apatyaṁ mahāprājña tatra me nāsti saṁśayaḥ। eṣā trayī purāṇānām uttamānāṁ ca śāśvatī॥61॥
So it is among men and indeed among all beings — there is no doubt for me, O wise one, that progeny is supreme. This is the eternal threefold teaching of the Purāṇas and the noble ones.
tvaṁ ca śūraḥ sadā amarṣī śastra-nityaḥ ca bhārata। na anyatra śastrāt tasmāt te nidhanaṁ vidyate anagha॥62॥
And you are ever valiant, intolerant of dishonor, and ever armed, O Bhārata. Therefore, O sinless one, death for you exists only by weapon and not otherwise.
saḥ asmi saṁśayam āpannaḥ tvayi śānte kathaṁ bhavet। iti te kāraṇaṁ tāta duḥkhasya uktam aśeṣataḥ॥63॥
So I have fallen into doubt — how shall things be if you are lost? Thus, dear son, I have now fully told you the cause of my sorrow.
tataḥ tat kāraṇaṁ jñātvā kṛtsnaṁ ca evam aśeṣataḥ। devavrataḥ mahābuddhiḥ prayayau anucintayan॥64॥
Then, having fully understood the cause, Devavrata, the one of great intellect, departed, deeply pondering over it.
abhyagacchat tadā eva āśu vṛddhāmātyaṁ pituḥ hitam। tam apṛcchat tadā abhyetya pituḥ tat śoka-kāraṇam॥65॥
Then, Devavrata swiftly approached his father's faithful old minister and asked him the cause of his father's sorrow.
tasmai sa kuru-mukhyāya yathāvat paripṛcchate। varaṁ śaśaṁsa kanyāṁ tām uddiśya bharatarṣabha ॥66॥
To him — who asked properly, he revealed the condition of the chief of the Kurus regarding the maiden, O bull among the Bharatas.
tataḥ devavrataḥ vṛddhaiḥ kṣatriyaiḥ sahitaḥ tadā। abhigamya dāśa-rājānaṁ kanyāṁ vavre pituḥ svayam ॥67॥
Then Devavrata, accompanied by elder Kṣatriyas, approached the boatman-king and sought the maiden himself on behalf of his father.
taṁ dāśaḥ pratijagrāha vidhivat pratipūjya ca। abravīt ca enam āsīnaṁ rāja-saṁsadi bhārata ॥68॥
The boatman, having honored him properly and according to custom, welcomed him and spoke to him as he sat in the royal assembly, O Bhārata.
tvam eva nāthaḥ paryāptaḥ śantanoḥ puruṣarṣabha। putraḥ putra-vatāṁ śreṣṭhaḥ kiṁ nu vakṣyāmi te vacaḥ ॥69॥
You alone, O best of men, are a sufficient protector for Śantanu. As the best of sons among the noble, what word can I even speak to you?
kaḥ hi sambandhakam ślāghyam īpsitam yaunim īdṛśam। atikrāman tapyeta sākṣāt api śatakratuḥ ॥70॥
Who, indeed, would desire and boast of such a marital alliance? Even Indra himself would feel remorse if he transgressed such a union.
apatyaṁ ca etad ārjyasya yaḥ yuṣmākaṁ samaḥ guṇaiḥ। yasya śukrāt satyavatī prādurbhūtā yaśasvinī ॥71॥
O illustrious one, this offspring of the ferryman, Satyavatī, was born from the seed, equal to you in virtues.
tena me bahuśaḥ tāta pitā te parikīrtitaḥ। arhaḥ satyavatīṁ voḍhuṁ sarva-rāj-asu bhārata ॥72॥
Your father, dear one, has been praised many times and is deemed worthy among all kings to marry Satyavatī, O Bhārata.
asitaḥ hi api devarṣiḥ pratyākhyātaḥ purā mayā। satyavatyā bhṛśaṁ hi arthī sa āsīt ṛṣi-sattamaḥ ॥73॥
Even the divine sage Asita, who earnestly sought Satyavatī, was formerly rejected by me, though he was the foremost among sages.
kanyā-pitṛtvāt kiñcit tu vakṣyāmi bharatarṣabha। balavat sapatnatām atra doṣaṁ paśyāmi kevalam ॥74॥
Because I am the girl’s father, I will say something, O Bharata’s best — rivalry among heirs here seems to me a great and sole fault.
yasya hi tvaṁ sapatnaḥ syāt gandharvasya asurasya vā। na sa jātu sukhaṁ jīvet tvayi kruddhe parantapa ॥75॥
He who has you as a rival — be he a Gandharva or an Asura — would never live happily, O scorcher of foes, if you were to grow angry.
etāvān atra doṣaḥ hi na anyaḥ kaścana pārthiva। etat jānīhi bhadraṁ te dāna-ādāne parantapa ॥76॥
This is the only fault herein; there is truly no other, O king. Know this well — blessings to you — in the matter of this giving and taking, O scorcher of foes.
evam uktaḥ tu gāṅgeyaḥ tat yuktaṁ pratyabhāṣata। śṛṇvatāṁ bhūmi-pālānām pitur arthāya bhārata ॥77॥
O Bhārata, thus addressed, Devavrata—Gāṅgeya — replied fittingly, for the sake of his father, the ruler of earth.
idaṁ me matam ādatsva satyaṁ satya-vatāṁ vara। na eva jātaḥ na vā jātaḥ īdṛśaṁ vaktum utsaheta ॥78॥
Accept this as my firm resolve — it is truth, O best among the truthful. None born, nor ever to be born, would dare to utter such words.
evam etat kariṣyāmi yathā tvam anu bhāṣase। yaḥ asyāṁ janiṣyate putraḥ sa naḥ rājā bhaviṣyati ॥79॥
So shall I do exactly as you have said. The son born of her shall indeed be our king.
iti uktaḥ punaḥ eva atha tam dāśaḥ pratyabhāṣata। cikīrṣuḥ duṣkaraṁ karma rājyārthe bharatarṣabha ॥80॥
Thus addressed, the boatman again replied to him, desiring to accomplish that difficult deed for the sake of the kingdom, O bull among the Bharatas.
tvam eva nāthaḥ paryāptaḥ śantanoḥ amitadyuteḥ। kanyāyāś ca eva dharmātman prabhuḥ dānāya ca īśvaraḥ ॥81॥
You alone are a worthy protector for Śantanu of boundless glory, O righteous one, and also master and lord for giving away this maiden.
idaṁ tu vacanaṁ saumya kāryaṁ ca eva nibodha me। kaumārikāṇāṁ śīlena vakṣyāmi aham ariṁdama ॥82॥
But hear this word and duty from me, O gentle one; I shall speak according to the conduct of maidens, O subduer of enemies.
yat tvayā satyavaty-arthe satya-dharma-parāyaṇa। rāja-madhye pratijñātaṁ anurūpaṁ tava eva tat ॥83॥
What you have vowed in the presence of kings for the sake of Satyavatī, O devotee of truth and righteousness, is truly befitting of you alone.
na anyathā tat mahābāho saṁśayaḥ atra na kaścana। tava apatyaṁ bhavet yat tu tatra naḥ saṁśayaḥ mahān ॥84॥
There is no doubt at all, O mighty-armed one, about your vow. But there is great doubt in us concerning whether you might someday have offspring.
tasya tat matam ājñāya satya-dharma-parāyaṇaḥ। pratyajānāta tadā rājan pituḥ priya-cikīrṣayā ॥85॥
O king, understanding his intent, the one devoted to truth and righteousness, out of his desire to please his father, then consented.
devavrata uvāca॥
Devavrata said:
dāśa-rāja nibodha etat vacanaṁ me nṛpottama। śṛṇvatāṁ bhūmi-pālānām yat bravīmi pituḥ kṛte ॥86॥
O boatman king, hear this word of mine, O best of rulers; I say this in the hearing of all kings, for the sake of my father.
rājyaṁ tāvat pūrvam eva mayā tyaktaṁ narādhipa। apatya-hetoḥ api ca karomi eṣaḥ viniścayaḥ ॥87॥
I have already renounced the kingdom, O lord of men. And now, even for the sake of progeny, I take this firm resolve.
adya prabhṛti me dāśa brahmacaryaṁ bhaviṣyati। aputrasya api me lokāḥ bhaviṣyanti akṣayāḥ divi ॥88॥
From this day forth, O boatman, I shall observe celibacy. Even without sons, my heavenly worlds shall remain eternal.
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
Vaiśampāyana said:
tasya tat vacanaṁ śrutvā samprahṛṣṭa-tanūruhaḥ। dadānīti eva taṁ dāśaḥ dharmātmā pratyabhāṣata ॥89॥
Hearing that solemn vow, with hair bristling in joy, the righteous boatman said, “I give her to you.”
tataḥ antarikṣe apsaraso devāḥ sa-ṛṣigaṇāḥ tathā। abhyavarṣanta kusumaiḥ bhīṣmaḥ ayam iti ca abruvan ॥90॥
Then the gods, celestial nymphs, and sages in the sky showered flowers and declared, “This is Bhīṣma, One who is awe-inspiring or dreadful!”
tataḥ sa pitur-arthāya tām uvāca yaśasvinīm। adhiroha rathaṁ mātaḥ gacchāvaḥ svagṛhān iti ॥91॥
Then, for his father’s sake, he said to the illustrious lady, “Mother, mount the chariot — let us go to our home.”
evam uktvā tu bhīṣmaḥ tāṁ ratham āropya bhāminīm। āgamya hāstinapuraṁ śantanoḥ saṁnyavedayat ॥92॥
Having said this, Bhīṣma placed the radiant lady on the chariot, arrived at Hastinapura, and formally presented her to Śantanu.
tasya tat duṣkaraṁ karma praśaśaṁsuḥ narādhipāḥ। sametāḥ ca pṛthak ca eva bhīṣmaḥ ayam iti ca abruvan ॥93॥
The kings, both those assembled and those apart, praised his difficult deed and declared, “This is truly Bhīṣma!”
tat dṛṣṭvā duṣkaraṁ karma kṛtaṁ bhīṣmeṇa śantanuḥ। svacchanda-maraṇaṁ tasmai dadau tuṣṭaḥ pitā svayam ॥94॥
Seeing that difficult vow fulfilled by Bhīṣma, Śantanu, pleased, granted him the boon of death at will, of his own accord.
