दिव्यज्ञानेन दृष्टं हि दृष्टमात्रेण ते वपुः
It is by divine knowledge that your form was perceived at the very moment I saw you.
प्रणयग्रहणार्थाय वक्ष्येव वासवि तच्छृणु। बर्हिषद इति ख्याताः पितरः सोमपास्तुते
For the sake of accepting affection, I will tell you this, O Vāsavī, listen: The Pitṛs known as Barhiṣads, O Soma-drinker, are renowned.
तेषां त्वं मानसी कन्या अच्छोदा नाम विश्रुता। अच्छोदं नाम तद्दिव्यं सरो यस्मात्समुत्थितम्
You are their mind-born daughter, famed as Acchodā, because you arose from that divine lake named Acchoda.
त्वया न दृष्टपूर्वास्तु पितरस्ते कदाचन। संभूता मनसा तेषां पितॄन्स्वान्नाभिजानती
You have never before seen your fathers; born from their mind, you do not know your own Pitṛs.
सा त्वन्यं पितरं वव्रे स्वानतिक्रम्य तान्पितॄन्। नाम्ना वसुरिति ख्यातं मनुपुत्रं दिवि स्थितम्
She chose another as her father, forsaking her own Pitṛs, namely Vasu by name, a son of Manu, renowned and dwelling in heaven.
अद्रिकाऽप्सरसा युक्तं विमाने दिवि विष्ठितम्। सा तेन व्यभिचारेण मनसा कामचारिणी
He was united with Adrikā, an apsaras, residing in a celestial chariot in heaven; by that mental transgression, she, moved by desire, acted thus.
पितरं प्रार्थयित्वाऽन्यं योगाद्भष्टा पपात सा। अपश्यत्पतमाना सा विमानत्रयमन्तिकात्
Having desired another father, through the power of yoga she fell from heaven; as she was falling, she saw from near the three celestial chariots.
त्रसरेणुप्रमाणांस्तांस्तत्रापश्यत्स्वकान्पितॄन्। सुसूक्ष्मानपरिव्यक्तानङ्गैरङ्गेष्विवाहितान्
There she saw her own Pitṛs, as small as particles of dust, extremely subtle, indistinct, with bodies barely perceptible, as if joined limb to limb.
तातेति तानुवाचार्ता पतन्ती सा ह्यधोमुखी। तैरुक्ता सा तु माभैषीस्तेन सा संस्थिता दिवि
Falling headlong, she cried out to them in distress, 'Father!' They told her, 'Do not fear,' and thus she remained in heaven.
ततः प्रसादयामास स्वान्पितॄन्दीनया गिरा। तामूचुः पितरः कन्यां भ्रैष्टश्वर्यां व्यतिक्रमात्
Then she began to propitiate her fathers with humble words; the Pitṛs said to their daughter, 'You have lost your sovereignty by transgression.'
भ्रष्टैश्वर्या स्वदोषेण पतसि त्वं शुचिस्मिते। यैरारभन्ते कर्माणि शरीरैरिह देवताः
'You have lost your sovereignty by your own fault, O fair-smiling one, and so you fall. The gods here perform actions with bodies.'
तैरेव तत्कर्मफलं प्राप्नुवन्ति स्म देवताः। मनुष्यास्त्वन्यदेहेन शुभाशुभमिति स्थितिः
'By those very bodies, the gods obtain the fruits of those actions; but humans, through another body, experience good or evil—such is the order.'
सद्यः फलन्ति कर्माणि देवत्वे प्रेत्य मानुषे। तस्मात्त्वं पतसे पुत्रि प्रेत्यत्वं प्राप्स्यसे फलम्
Actions bear fruit immediately among the gods, but after death among humans; therefore, my daughter, you will fall and receive the result after death.
पितृहीना तु कन्या त्वं वसोर्हि त्वं सुता मता। मत्स्ययोनौ समुत्पन्ना सुताराज्ञो भविष्यसि
You are a maiden without a father, considered the daughter of Vasu; born from the womb of a fish, you will become the daughter of a king.
अद्रिका मत्स्यरूपाऽभूद्गङ्गायमनुसङ्गमे। पराशरस्य दायादं त्वं पुत्रं जनयिष्यसि
Adrikā, in the form of a fish, met with the river Ganga; you will bear a son for Parāśara, who will be his heir.
यो वेदमेकं ब्रह्मर्षिश्चतुर्धा विबजिष्यति। महाभिषक्सुतस्यैव शन्तनोः कीर्तिवर्धनम्
He, a brahmarshi, will divide the single Veda into four; the son of the great physician, he will increase the fame of Śantanu.
ज्येष्ठं चित्राङ्गदं वीरं चित्रवीरं च विश्रुतम्। एतान्सूत्वा सुपुत्रांस्त्वं पुनरेव गमिष्यसि
You will give birth to the eldest, the heroic Citrāngada, and the renowned Citravīrya; after bearing these noble sons, you will depart again.
व्यतिक्रमात्पितॄणां च प्राप्स्यसे जन्म कुत्सितम्। अस्यैव राज्ञस्त्वं कन्या ह्यद्रिकायां भविष्यसि
Because of transgressing the ancestors, you will obtain a lowly birth; you will be the daughter of this very king, born from Adrikā.
अष्टाविंशे भवित्री त्वं द्वापरे मत्स्ययोनिजा। एवमुक्ता पुरा तैस्त्वं जाता सत्यवती शुभा
In the twenty-eighth Dvāpara, you will be born from the womb of a fish; thus spoken by them in ancient times, you were born as the auspicious Satyavatī.
अद्रिकेत्यभिविख्याता ब्रह्मशापाद्वराप्सरा। मीनभावमनुप्राप्ता त्वं जनित्वा गता दिवम्
Known as Adrikā, a celestial nymph by Brahma's curse, you took the form of a fish, and after giving birth, you returned to heaven.
तस्यां जातासि सा कन्या राज्ञो वीर्येण चैवहि। तस्माद्वासवि भद्रं ते याचे वंशकरं सुतम्
From her you were born, that maiden, by the king's seed; therefore, O blessed one, Vasu asked you for a son to continue his lineage.
संगमं मम कल्याणि कुरुष्वेत्यभ्यभाषत
He spoke: 'O fortunate one, grant me union.'
विस्मयाविष्टसर्वाङ्गी जातिस्मरणतां गता। साब्रवीत्पश्य भगवन्परपारे स्थितानृषीन्
Overwhelmed with astonishment in all her limbs, recalling her past birth, she said: 'Behold, O lord, the sages standing on the far shore.'
आवयोर्दृष्टयोरेभिः कथं नु स्यात्समागमः। एवं तयोक्तो भगवान्नीहारमसृजत्प्रभुः
'How can there be union between us, seen by these?' Thus addressed, the lord created a mist.
येन देशः स सर्वस्तु तमोभूत इवाभवत्। दृष्ट्वा सृष्टं तु नीहारं ततस्तं परमर्षिणा
By which the entire region became as if enveloped in darkness; seeing the mist thus created by the great sage,
विस्मिता साभवत्कन्या व्रीडिता च तपस्विनी
The maiden became astonished and bashful, devoted to austerity.
त्वत्संयोगाच्च दुष्येत कन्याभावो ममाऽनघ। कन्यात्वे दूषिते वापि कथं शक्ष्ये द्विजोत्तम
Because of union with you, O sinless one, my maidenhood will be lost; if my virginity is defiled, how will I be able to return home, best of twice-born?
गृह गन्तुमुषे चाहं धीमन्न स्थातुमुत्सहे। एतत्संचिन्त्य भगवन्विधत्स्व यदनन्तरम्
Wise one, I wish to go home, I cannot remain; considering this, O lord, arrange what should follow.
एवमुक्तवतीं तीं तु प्रीतिमानुषिसत्तमः। उवाच मत्प्रियं कृत्वा कन्यैव त्वं भविष्यति
To her who had spoken thus, the best of men replied with affection: 'Having done my wish, you shall remain a maiden.'
वृणीष्व च वरं भीरुं यं त्वमिच्छसि भामिनि। वृथा हि न प्रसादो मे भूतपूर्वः शुचिस्मिते
'Choose a boon, O timid one, whatever you desire, O beautiful one; for my favor has never before been fruitless, O pure-smiling lady.'