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Core:Satyavati invites Krishna Dwaipayana Vyasa.
bhīṣma uvāca ॥
Bhīṣma said:
punar bharatavaṁśasya hetuṁ santānavṛddhaye. vakṣyāmi niyataṁ mātas tan me nigadataḥ śṛṇu ॥1॥
O mother, I shall certainly speak again of the cause for the growth of the Bharata lineage. Listen to what I say.
brāhmaṇo guṇavān kaścid dhanenopanimantryatām. vicitravīryakṣetreṣu yaḥ samutpādayet prajāḥ ॥2॥
Let some virtuous Brāhmaṇa be invited with wealth, who may beget offspring in the wives of Vicitravīrya.
vaiśampāyana uvāca ॥
Vaiśampāyana said:
tataḥ satyavatī bhīṣmaṁ vācā saṁsajjamānayā. vihasantīva savrīḍam idaṁ vacanam abravīt ॥3॥
Then Satyavatī, with trembling voice, as if smiling and modest, said these words to Bhīṣma.
satyam etan mahābāho yathā vadasi bhārata. viśvāsāt te pravakṣyāmi santānāya kulasya ca. na te śakyam anākhyātum āpaddhīyaṁ tathāvidhā ॥4॥
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.
tvam eva naḥ kule dharmas tvaṁ satyaṁ tvaṁ parā gatiḥ. tasmān niśamya vākyaṁ me kuruṣva yad anantaram ॥5॥
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.
dharmayuktasya dharmātman pitur āsīt tarī mama. sā kadācid ahaṁ tatra gatā prathamayauvane ॥6॥
O virtuous one, my father had a boat. Once, in my early youth, I went there.
atha dharmabhṛtāṁ śreṣṭhaḥ paramarṣiḥ parāśaraḥ. ājagāma tarīṁ dhīmāṁs tariṣyan yamunāṁ nadīm ॥7॥
Then the great sage Parāśara, foremost among the righteous, came to the boat, intending to cross the river Yamunā.
sa tāryamāṇo yamunāṁ mām upetya ābravīt tadā. sāntvapūrvaṁ muniśreṣṭhaḥ kāmārto madhuraṁ bahu ॥8॥
While being ferried across the Yamunā, he approached me and the best of sages, overwhelmed with desire, spoke many sweet and gentle words.
tam ahaṁ śāpabhītā ca pitur bhītā ca bhārata. varair asulabhair uktā na pratyākhyātum utsahe ॥9॥
O Bhārata, I, afraid of a curse and also of my father, and having been promised rare boons, was unable to refuse him.
abhibhūya sa māṁ bālāṁ tejasā vaśam ānayat. tamasā lokam āvṛtya naugatām eva bhārata ॥10॥
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.
matsyagandho mahān āsīt purā mama jugupsitaḥ. tam apāsya śubhaṁ gandham imaṁ prādāt sa me muniḥ ॥11॥
Formerly, I had a strong fishy smell that was offensive. The sage removed that and gave me this auspicious fragrance.
tato mām āha sa munir garbham utsṛjya māmakam. dvīpe'syā eva saritaḥ kanyaiva tvaṁ bhaviṣyasi ॥12॥
Then the sage, having released his own seed, told me: "You will remain a maiden on this very river's island."
pārāśaryo mahāyogī sa babhūva mahān ṛṣiḥ. kanyāputro mama purā dvaipāyana iti smṛtaḥ ॥13॥
That son of Parāśara, a great yogi and sage, born of me, a maiden, is known from olden times as Dvaipāyana.
yo vyasya vedāṁś caturas tapasā bhagavān ṛṣiḥ. loke vyāsatvam āpede kārṣṇyāt kṛṣṇatvam eva ca ॥14॥
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.
satyavādī śamaparaḥ tapasvī dagdhakilbiṣaḥ. sa niyukto mayā vyaktaṁ tvayā ca amitadyute. bhrātuḥ kṣetreṣu kalyāṇam apatyaṁ janayiṣyati ॥15॥
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.
sa hi mām uktavāṁs tatra smareḥ kṛtyeṣu mām iti. taṁ smariṣye mahābāho yadi bhīṣma tvam icchasi ॥16॥
He once told me, “Remember me in when required.” I shall remember him, O mighty-armed, if you so desire, O Bhīṣma.
tava hy anumate bhīṣma niyataṁ sa mahātapāḥ. vicitravīryakṣetreṣu putrān utpādayiṣyati ॥17॥
With your consent, O Bhīṣma, that great ascetic shall certainly beget sons in the wives of Vicitravīrya.
maharṣeḥ kīrtane tasya bhīṣmaḥ prāñjalir abravīt. dharmam arthaṁ ca kāmaṁ ca trīn etān yo'nupaśyati ॥18॥
As the great sage was praised, Bhīṣma with joined palms said: He who sees righteousness, wealth, and desire as distinct and rightly ordered—
artham arthānubandhaṁ ca dharmaṁ dharmānubandhanam. kāmaṁ kāmānubandhaṁ ca viparītān pṛthak pṛthak. yo vicintya dhiyā samyag vyavasyati sa buddhimān ॥19॥
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.
tad idaṁ dharmayuktaṁ ca hitaṁ caiva kulasya naḥ. uktaṁ bhavatyā yat śreyaḥ paramaṁ rocate mama ॥20॥
What you have spoken is righteous and beneficial to our family. That which is the supreme good pleases me greatly.
tatas tasmin pratijñāte bhīṣmeṇa kurunandana. kṛṣṇadvaipāyanaṁ kālī cintayām āsa vai munim ॥21॥
Then, O joy of the Kurus, when Bhīṣma had made his vow, Kālī (Satyavatī) began to think of the sage Kṛṣṇa Dvaipāyana.
sa vedān vibruvan dhīmān mātur vijñāya cintitam. prādurbabhūvāviditaḥ kṣaṇena kurunandana ॥22॥
The wise sage, expounder of the Vedas, having known his mother’s thought, appeared instantly and unnoticed, O joy of the Kurus.
tasmai pūjāṁ tadā dattvā sutāya vidhipūrvakam. pariṣvajya ca bāhubhyāṁ prasnavair abhiṣicya ca. mumoca bāṣpaṁ dāśeyī putraṁ dṛṣṭvā cirasya tam ॥23॥
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.
tām adbhiḥ pariṣiçyārtāṁ maharṣir abhivādya ca. mātaraṁ pūrvajaḥ putro vyāso vacanam abravīt ॥24॥
Sprinkling the distressed mother with water, and saluting her, the elder-born son Vyāsa spoke words to his mother.
bhavatyā yad abhipretaṁ tad ahaṁ kartum āgataḥ. śādhi māṁ dharmatattvajñe karavāṇi priyaṁ tava ॥25॥
I have come to do whatever you desire. Instruct me, O knower of dharma, and I shall do what is dear to you.
tasmai pūjāṁ tato'kārṣīt purodhāḥ paramarṣaye. sa ca tāṁ pratijagrāha vidhivan mantrapūrvakam ॥26॥
Then the priest performed worship for the great sage, and he accepted it in due ritual form with mantras.
tam āsanagataṁ mātā pṛṣṭvā kuśalam avyayam. satyavatī abhivīkṣya enam uvāca idam anantaram ॥27॥
The mother, seeing him seated and having asked after his unchanging well-being, Satyavatī then spoke these words to him.
mātāpitror prajāyante putrāḥ sādhāraṇāḥ kave. teṣāṁ pitā yathā svāmī tathā mātā na saṁśayaḥ ॥28॥
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.
vidhātṛvihitaḥ sa tvaṁ yathā me prathamaḥ sutaḥ. vicitravīryo brahmarṣe tathā me'varajaḥ sutaḥ ॥29॥
You, ordained by the Creator, are my first-born son, O brāhmaṇa-sage, and Vicitravīrya is likewise my younger son.
yathaiva pitṛto bhīṣmas tathā tvam api mātṛtaḥ. bhrātā vicitravīryasya yathā vā putra manyase ॥30॥
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.
ayaṁ śāntanavaḥ satyaṁ pālayan satyavikramaḥ. buddhiṁ na kurute'patye tathā rājyānuśāsane ॥31॥
This son of Śāntanu, though steadfast in truth and valor, does not set his mind either on having offspring or on ruling the kingdom.
sa tvaṁ vyapekṣayā bhrātuḥ santānāya kulasya ca. bhīṣmasya cāsya vacanān niyogāc ca mamānagha ॥32॥
So you, out of consideration for your brother, the family lineage, the word of Bhīṣma, and my request, O sinless one—
anukrośāc ca bhūtānāṁ sarveṣāṁ rakṣaṇāya ca. ānṛśaṁsyena yad brūyāṁ tac chrutvā kartum arhasi ॥33॥
Out of compassion for all beings and to protect them, and with kindness, whatever I say — you should hear and do it.
yavīyasas tava bhrātur bhārye surasutopame. rūpayauvanasampanne putrakāme ca dharmataḥ ॥34॥
In the wives of your younger brother, who are like celestial maidens, endowed with beauty and youth, and desiring offspring in accordance with dharma —
tayor utpādayāpatyaṁ samartho hy asi putraka. anurūpaṁ kulasyāsya santatyāḥ prasavasya ca ॥35॥
O son, you are indeed capable — beget offspring from them, appropriate to this family and its lineage.
vyāsa uvāca ॥
Vyāsa said:
vettha dharmaṁ satyavati paraṁ cāparameva ca. yathā ca tava dharmajñe dharme praṇihitā matiḥ ॥36॥
O Satyavatī, you know both the higher and lower dharma, and your mind is indeed firmly set in dharma, O knower of righteousness.
tasmād ahaṁ tvanniyogād dharmam uddiśya kāraṇam. īpsitaṁ te kariṣyāmi dṛṣṭaṁ hy etat purātanam ॥37॥
Therefore, by your command, and with dharma as the cause, I shall do what you desire, for this has been practiced from ancient times.
bhrātuḥ putrān pradāsyāmi mitrāvaruṇayoḥ samān. vrataṁ caretāṁ te devyau nirdiṣṭam iha yan mayā ॥38॥
I shall give sons to my brother, equal to Mitra and Varuṇa. Let the two queens observe the vow I prescribe here.
saṁvatsaraṁ yathānyāyaṁ tataḥ śuddhe bhaviṣyataḥ. na hi mām avratopetā upeyāt kācid aṅganā ॥39॥
They shall be purified in a year according to rule. No woman who has not observed the vow may approach me.
satyavaty uvāca ॥
Satyavatī said:
yathā sadyaḥ prapadyeta devī garbhaṁ tathā kuru. arājakeṣu rāṣṭreṣu nāsti vṛṣṭir na devatāḥ ॥40॥
Do so that the queen may immediately conceive. In kingdoms without a king, there is neither rain nor the presence of the gods.
katham arājakaṁ rāṣṭraṁ śakyaṁ dhārayituṁ prabho. tasmād garbhaṁ samādhatsva bhīṣmas taṁ vardhayiṣyati ॥41॥
O lord, how can a kingdom without a king be sustained? Therefore, conceive a child — Bhīṣma will raise him.
vyāsa uvāca ॥
Vyāsa said:
yadi putraḥ pradātavyo mayā kṣipram akālikam. virūpatāṁ me sahatām etad asyāḥ paraṁ vratam ॥42॥
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.
yadi me sahate gandhaṁ rūpaṁ veṣaṁ tathā vapuḥ. adyaiva garbhaṁ kausalyā viśiṣṭaṁ pratipadyatām ॥43॥
If she can endure my smell, form, attire, and body, let Kausalyaa conceive this very day a special child.
vaiśampāyana uvāca ॥
Vaiśampāyana said:
samāgamanam ākāṅkṣan iti so'ntarhito muniḥ. tato'bhigamya sā devī snuṣāṁ rahasi saṅgatām. dharmyam arthasamāyuktam uvāca vacanaṁ hitam ॥44॥
The sage, desiring union, disappeared. Then the queen privately approached her daughter-in-law and spoke beneficial words that were righteous and purposeful.
kausalyē dharmatantraṁ yad bravīmi tvāṁ nibodha me. bharatānāṁ samucchedo vyaktaṁ madbhāgyasaṅkṣayāt ॥45॥
O Kausalyaa, listen to this righteous course I speak. The extinction of the Bhāratas is apparent due to the decline of my fortune.
vyathitāṁ māṁ ca samprekṣya pitṛvaṁśaṁ ca pīḍitam. bhīṣmo buddhimadān me'tra dharmasya ca vivṛddhaye ॥46॥
Seeing me afflicted and the paternal line in distress, Bhīṣma, in his wisdom, has acted for my sake and for the growth of dharma.
sā ca buddhiḥ tavādhīnā putri jñātaṁ mayeti ha. naṣṭaṁ ca bhārataṁ vaṁśaṁ punar eva samuddhara ॥47॥
This decision is in your hands, O daughter — I know it well. Restore again the lost Bhārata lineage.
putraṁ janaya suśroṇi devarājasamaprabham. sa hi rājyadhuraṁ gurvīm udvakṣyati kulasya naḥ ॥48॥
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.
sā dharmato'nunīyaināṁ kathaṁcid dharmacāriṇīm. bhojayām āsa viprāṁś ca devarṣīn atithīṁs tathā ॥49॥
She, having somehow persuaded her to act righteously, then caused brāhmaṇas, divine sages, and guests to be fed.
