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Core:Satyavati invites Krishna Dwaipayana Vyasa.
भीष्म उवाच॥
Bhīṣma said:
पुनर्भरतवंशस्य हेतुं सन्तानवृद्धये । वक्ष्यामि नियतं मातस्तन्मे निगदतः शृणु ॥१-०९९-१॥
O mother, I shall certainly speak again of the cause for the growth of the Bharata lineage. Listen to what I say.
ब्राह्मणो गुणवान्कश्चिद्धनेनोपनिमन्त्र्यताम् । विचित्रवीर्यक्षेत्रेषु यः समुत्पादयेत्प्रजाः ॥१-०९९-२॥
Let some virtuous Brāhmaṇa be invited with wealth, who may beget offspring in the wives of Vicitravīrya.
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana said:
ततः सत्यवती भीष्मं वाचा संसज्जमानया । विहसन्तीव सव्रीडमिदं वचनमब्रवीत् ॥१-०९९-३॥
Then Satyavatī, with trembling voice, as if smiling and modest, said these words to Bhīṣma.
सत्यमेतन्महाबाहो यथा वदसि भारत । विश्वासात्ते प्रवक्ष्यामि सन्तानाय कुलस्य च । न ते शक्यमनाख्यातुमापद्धीयं तथाविधा ॥१-०९९-४॥
O mighty-armed Bhārata, what you say is true. Out of trust, I shall tell you for the sake of the family's progeny. Such a grave matter cannot be concealed from you.
त्वमेव नः कुले धर्मस्त्वं सत्यं त्वं परा गतिः । तस्मान्निशम्य वाक्यं मे कुरुष्व यदनन्तरम् ॥१-०९९-५॥
You alone are righteousness in our family; you are truth, you are our supreme refuge. Therefore, listen to my words and do what follows next.
धर्मयुक्तस्य धर्मात्मन्पितुरासीत्तरी मम । सा कदाचिदहं तत्र गता प्रथमयौवने ॥१-०९९-६॥
O virtuous one, my father had a boat. Once, in my early youth, I went there.
अथ धर्मभृतां श्रेष्ठः परमर्षिः पराशरः । आजगाम तरीं धीमांस्तरिष्यन्यमुनां नदीम् ॥१-०९९-७॥
Then the great sage Parāśara, foremost among the righteous, came to the boat, intending to cross the river Yamunā.
स तार्यमाणो यमुनां मामुपेत्याब्रवीत्तदा । सान्त्वपूर्वं मुनिश्रेष्ठः कामार्तो मधुरं बहु ॥१-०९९-८॥
While being ferried across the Yamunā, he approached me and the best of sages, overwhelmed with desire, spoke many sweet and gentle words.
तमहं शापभीता च पितुर्भीता च भारत । वरैरसुलभैरुक्ता न प्रत्याख्यातुमुत्सहे ॥१-०९९-९॥
O Bhārata, I, afraid of a curse and also of my father, and having been promised rare boons, was unable to refuse him.
अभिभूय स मां बालां तेजसा वशमानयत् । तमसा लोकमावृत्य नौगतामेव भारत ॥१-०९९-१०॥
Overpowering me, a young girl, with his brilliance, he brought me under control, covering the world with darkness while I was still in the boat, O Bhārata.
मत्स्यगन्धो महानासीत्पुरा मम जुगुप्सितः । तमपास्य शुभं गन्धमिमं प्रादात्स मे मुनिः ॥१-०९९-११॥
Formerly, I had a strong fishy smell that was offensive. The sage removed that and gave me this auspicious fragrance.
ततो मामाह स मुनिर्गर्भमुत्सृज्य मामकम् । द्वीपेऽस्या एव सरितः कन्यैव त्वं भविष्यसि ॥१-०९९-१२॥
Then the sage, having released his own seed, told me: "You will remain a maiden on this very river's island."
पाराशर्यो महायोगी स बभूव महानृषिः । कन्यापुत्रो मम पुरा द्वैपायन इति स्मृतः ॥१-०९९-१३॥
That son of Parāśara, a great yogi and sage, born of me, a maiden, is known from olden times as Dvaipāyana.
यो व्यस्य वेदांश्चतुरस्तपसा भगवानृषिः । लोके व्यासत्वमापेदे कार्ष्ण्यात्कृष्णत्वमेव च ॥१-०९९-१४॥
The divine sage who divided the four Vedas through austerity attained the title of Vyāsa in the world, and due to his dark complexion, also the name Kṛṣṇa.
सत्यवादी शमपरस्तपस्वी दग्धकिल्बिषः । स नियुक्तो मया व्यक्तं त्वया च अमितद्युते ॥ भ्रातुः क्षेत्रेषु कल्याणमपत्यं जनयिष्यति ॥१-०९९-१५॥
That ascetic, truth-speaking and tranquil, sinless through austerity, if appointed by me and certainly by you, O one of immense radiance. He will beget auspicious offspring in your brother’s wives.
स हि मामुक्तवांस्तत्र स्मरेः कृत्येषु मामिति । तं स्मरिष्ये महाबाहो यदि भीष्म त्वमिच्छसि ॥१-०९९-१६॥
He once told me, “Remember me in when required.” I shall remember him, O mighty-armed, if you so desire, O Bhīṣma.
तव ह्यनुमते भीष्म नियतं स महातपाः । विचित्रवीर्यक्षेत्रेषु पुत्रानुत्पादयिष्यति ॥१-०९९-१७॥
With your consent, O Bhīṣma, that great ascetic shall certainly beget sons in the wives of Vicitravīrya.
महर्षेः कीर्तने तस्य भीष्मः प्राञ्जलिरब्रवीत् । धर्ममर्थं च कामं च त्रीनेतान्योऽनुपश्यति ॥१-०९९-१८॥
As the great sage was praised, Bhīṣma with joined palms said: He who sees righteousness, wealth, and desire as distinct and rightly ordered—
अर्थमर्थानुबन्धं च धर्मं धर्मानुबन्धनम् । कामं कामानुबन्धं च विपरीतान्पृथक्पृथक् । यो विचिन्त्य धिया सम्यग्व्यवस्यति स बुद्धिमान् ॥१-०९९-१९॥
He who considers and discerns wealth, righteousness, and desire — each with their true consequences and their opposites — separately and with proper intellect, is truly wise.
तदिदं धर्मयुक्तं च हितं चैव कुलस्य नः । उक्तं भवत्या यच्छ्रेयः परमं रोचते मम ॥१-०९९-२०॥
What you have spoken is righteous and beneficial to our family. That which is the supreme good pleases me greatly.
ततस्तस्मिन्प्रतिज्ञाते भीष्मेण कुरुनन्दन । कृष्णद्वैपायनं काली चिन्तयामास वै मुनिम् ॥१-०९९-२१॥
Then, O joy of the Kurus, when Bhīṣma had made his vow, Kālī (Satyavatī) began to think of the sage Kṛṣṇa Dvaipāyana.
स वेदान्विब्रुवन्धीमान्मातुर्विज्ञाय चिन्तितम् । प्रादुर्बभूवाविदितः क्षणेन कुरुनन्दन ॥१-०९९-२२॥
The wise sage, expounder of the Vedas, having known his mother’s thought, appeared instantly and unnoticed, O joy of the Kurus.
तस्मै पूजां तदा दत्त्वा सुताय विधिपूर्वकम् । परिष्वज्य च बाहुभ्यां प्रस्नवैरभिषिच्य च । मुमोच बाष्पं दाशेयी पुत्रं दृष्ट्वा चिरस्य तम् ॥१-०९९-२३॥
Then, giving ritual worship to her son, embracing him with her arms and bathing him in tears, Dāśeyī shed tears on seeing her son after a long time.
तामद्भिः परिषिच्यार्तां महर्षिरभिवाद्य च । मातरं पूर्वजः पुत्रो व्यासो वचनमब्रवीत् ॥१-०९९-२४॥
Sprinkling the distressed mother with water, and saluting her, the elder-born son Vyāsa spoke words to his mother.
भवत्या यदभिप्रेतं तदहं कर्तुमागतः । शाधि मां धर्मतत्त्वज्ञे करवाणि प्रियं तव ॥१-०९९-२५॥
I have come to do whatever you desire. Instruct me, O knower of dharma, and I shall do what is dear to you.
तस्मै पूजां ततोऽकार्षीत्पुरोधाः परमर्षये । स च तां प्रतिजग्राह विधिवन्मन्त्रपूर्वकम् ॥१-०९९-२६॥
Then the priest performed worship for the great sage, and he accepted it in due ritual form with mantras.
तमासनगतं माता पृष्ट्वा कुशलमव्ययम् । सत्यवत्यभिवीक्ष्यैनमुवाचेदमनन्तरम् ॥१-०९९-२७॥
The mother, seeing him seated and having asked after his unchanging well-being, Satyavatī then spoke these words to him.
मातापित्रोः प्रजायन्ते पुत्राः साधारणाः कवे । तेषां पिता यथा स्वामी तथा माता न संशयः ॥१-०९९-२८॥
Sons are equally born of mother and father, O sage. Of them, the mother is as much the lord as the father is — there is no doubt.
विधातृविहितः स त्वं यथा मे प्रथमः सुतः । विचित्रवीर्यो ब्रह्मर्षे तथा मेऽवरजः सुतः ॥१-०९९-२९॥
You, ordained by the Creator, are my first-born son, O brāhmaṇa-sage, and Vicitravīrya is likewise my younger son.
यथैव पितृतो भीष्मस्तथा त्वमपि मातृतः । भ्राता विचित्रवीर्यस्य यथा वा पुत्र मन्यसे ॥१-०९९-३०॥
Just as Bhīṣma is a brother to Vicitravīrya through the father, so are you through the mother. Consider yourself either his brother or his son.
अयं शान्तनवः सत्यं पालयन्सत्यविक्रमः । बुद्धिं न कुरुतेऽपत्ये तथा राज्यानुशासने ॥१-०९९-३१॥
This son of Śāntanu, though steadfast in truth and valor, does not set his mind either on having offspring or on ruling the kingdom.
स त्वं व्यपेक्षया भ्रातुः सन्तानाय कुलस्य च । भीष्मस्य चास्य वचनान्नियोगाच्च ममानघ ॥१-०९९-३२॥
So you, out of consideration for your brother, the family lineage, the word of Bhīṣma, and my request, O sinless one—
अनुक्रोशाच्च भूतानां सर्वेषां रक्षणाय च । आनृशंस्येन यद्ब्रूयां तच्छ्रुत्वा कर्तुमर्हसि ॥१-०९९-३३॥
Out of compassion for all beings and to protect them, and with kindness, whatever I say — you should hear and do it.
यवीयसस्तव भ्रातुर्भार्ये सुरसुतोपमे । रूपयौवनसम्पन्ने पुत्रकामे च धर्मतः ॥१-०९९-३४॥
In the wives of your younger brother, who are like celestial maidens, endowed with beauty and youth, and desiring offspring in accordance with dharma —
तयोरुत्पादयापत्यं समर्थो ह्यसि पुत्रक । अनुरूपं कुलस्यास्य सन्तत्याः प्रसवस्य च ॥१-०९९-३५॥
O son, you are indeed capable — beget offspring from them, appropriate to this family and its lineage.
व्यास उवाच॥
Vyāsa said:
वेत्थ धर्मं सत्यवति परं चापरमेव च । यथा च तव धर्मज्ञे धर्मे प्रणिहिता मतिः ॥१-०९९-३६॥
O Satyavatī, you know both the higher and lower dharma, and your mind is indeed firmly set in dharma, O knower of righteousness.
तस्मादहं त्वन्नियोगाद्धर्ममुद्दिश्य कारणम् । ईप्सितं ते करिष्यामि दृष्टं ह्येतत्पुरातनम् ॥१-०९९-३७॥
Therefore, by your command, and with dharma as the cause, I shall do what you desire, for this has been practiced from ancient times.
भ्रातुः पुत्रान्प्रदास्यामि मित्रावरुणयोः समान् । व्रतं चरेतां ते देव्यौ निर्दिष्टमिह यन्मया ॥१-०९९-३८॥
I shall give sons to my brother, equal to Mitra and Varuṇa. Let the two queens observe the vow I prescribe here.
संवत्सरं यथान्यायं ततः शुद्धे भविष्यतः । न हि मामव्रतोपेता उपेयात्काचिदङ्गना ॥१-०९९-३९॥
They shall be purified in a year according to rule. No woman who has not observed the vow may approach me.
सत्यवत्युवाच॥
Satyavatī said:
यथा सद्यः प्रपद्येत देवी गर्भं तथा कुरु । अराजकेषु राष्ट्रेषु नास्ति वृष्टिर्न देवताः ॥१-०९९-४०॥
Do so that the queen may immediately conceive. In kingdoms without a king, there is neither rain nor the presence of the gods.
कथमराजकं राष्ट्रं शक्यं धारयितुं प्रभो । तस्माद्गर्भं समाधत्स्व भीष्मस्तं वर्धयिष्यति ॥१-०९९-४१॥
O lord, how can a kingdom without a king be sustained? Therefore, conceive a child — Bhīṣma will raise him.
व्यास उवाच॥
Vyāsa said:
यदि पुत्रः प्रदातव्यो मया क्षिप्रमकालिकम् । विरूपतां मे सहतामेतदस्याः परं व्रतम् ॥१-०९९-४२॥
If a son must be given by me swiftly and at an untimely hour, let her endure my intense form — this shall be her highest vow.
यदि मे सहते गन्धं रूपं वेषं तथा वपुः । अद्यैव गर्भं कौसल्या विशिष्टं प्रतिपद्यताम् ॥१-०९९-४३॥
If she can endure my smell, form, attire, and body, let Kausalyaa conceive this very day a special child.
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana said:
समागमनमाकाङ्क्षन्निति सोऽन्तर्हितो मुनिः । ततोऽभिगम्य सा देवी स्नुषां रहसि सङ्गताम् । धर्म्यमर्थसमायुक्तमुवाच वचनं हितम् ॥१-०९९-४४॥
The sage, desiring union, disappeared. Then the queen privately approached her daughter-in-law and spoke beneficial words that were righteous and purposeful.
कौसल्ये धर्मतन्त्रं यद्ब्रवीमि त्वां निबोध मे । भरतानां समुच्छेदो व्यक्तं मद्भाग्यसङ्क्षयात् ॥१-०९९-४५॥
O Kausalyaa, listen to this righteous course I speak. The extinction of the Bhāratas is apparent due to the decline of my fortune.
व्यथितां मां च सम्प्रेक्ष्य पितृवंशं च पीडितम् । भीष्मो बुद्धिमदान्मेऽत्र धर्मस्य च विवृद्धये ॥१-०९९-४६॥
Seeing me afflicted and the paternal line in distress, Bhīṣma, in his wisdom, has acted for my sake and for the growth of dharma.
सा च बुद्धिस्तवाधीना पुत्रि ज्ञातं मयेति ह । नष्टं च भारतं वंशं पुनरेव समुद्धर ॥१-०९९-४७॥
This decision is in your hands, O daughter — I know it well. Restore again the lost Bhārata lineage.
पुत्रं जनय सुश्रोणि देवराजसमप्रभम् । स हि राज्यधुरं गुर्वीमुद्वक्ष्यति कुलस्य नः ॥१-०९९-४८॥
O fair-hipped one, bear a son as radiant as the king of the gods. He shall bear the heavy burden of ruling our family’s kingdom.
सा धर्मतोऽनुनीयैनां कथञ्चिद्धर्मचारिणीम् । भोजयामास विप्रांश्च देवर्षीनतिथींस्तथा ॥१-०९९-४९॥
She, having somehow persuaded her to act righteously, then caused brāhmaṇas, divine sages, and guests to be fed.
