सत्यवत्यास्त्वनुमते विवाहे समुपस्थिते। उवाच वाक्यं सव्रीडा ज्येष्ठा काशिपतेः सुता
With Satyavati's consent, when the marriage was arranged, the eldest daughter of the King of Kashi, with modesty, spoke these words:
भीष्म त्वमसि धर्मज्ञः सर्वशास्त्रविशारदः । श्रुत्वा च वचनं धर्म्यं मह्यं कर्तुमिहार्हसि
Bhishma, you are one who knows righteousness, skilled in all the scriptures; having heard my just words, you ought to act accordingly.
मया साल्वपत्तिः पूर्वं मनसाऽभिवृतो वरः। तेन चास्मि वृता पूर्वं रहस्यविदिते पितुः
Previously, in my heart, I had chosen the lord of Salva as my husband; and by him, too, I was chosen before, in secret, unknown to my father.
कथं मामन्यकामां त्वं राजधर्ममतीत्य वै । वासयेथा गृहे भीष्म कौरवः सन्विशेषतः
How can you, Bhishma, especially as a Kaurava, keep me in your house against my will, transgressing royal duty?
एतद्बुद्ध्या विनिश्चित्य मनसा भरतर्षभ । यत्क्षमं ते महाबाहो तदिहारब्धुमर्हसि
Reflecting on this with your mind, O bull among the Bharatas, you should do here what is proper for you, O mighty-armed one.
स मां प्रतीक्षते व्यक्तं साल्वराजो विशांपते । तस्मान्मां त्वं कुरुश्रेष्ठ समनुज्ञातुमर्हसि
The king of Salva, lord of the people, surely awaits me; therefore, O best of the Kurus, you ought to grant me permission.
कृपां कुरु महाबाहो मयि धर्मभृतां वर। त्वं हि सत्यव्रतो वीर पृथिव्यामिति नः श्रुतम्
Show compassion to me, O mighty-armed one, best among upholders of righteousness; for you are known on earth as a man of truth, O hero.
ततोऽहं समनुज्ञाप्य कालीं गन्धवतीं तदा। मन्त्रिणश्चर्त्विजश्चैव तथैव च पुरोहितान्। समनुज्ञामिषं कन्यामम्बां ज्येष्ठां नराधिप
Then, having obtained permission from Kali and Gandhavati, and likewise from the ministers, priests, and family priests, I give permission for the maiden Ambā, the eldest, O king.
अनुज्ञाता ययौ सा तु कन्या साल्वपतेः पुरम्। वृद्धैर्द्विजातिभिर्गुप्ता धात्र्या चानुगता तदा
Thus permitted, that maiden went to the city of the lord of Salva, protected by aged Brahmins and accompanied by her nurse.
अतीत्य च तमध्वानमासमाद नराधिपम । सा तमासाद्य राजानं साल्वं वचनमब्रवीत्
Having traversed that road, she reached the king of Salva; approaching him, she spoke these words.
आगताहं महाबाहो त्वामुद्दिश्य महामते। `अभिनन्दस्व मां राजन्सदा प्रियहिते रताम्
I have come, O mighty-armed, with you in mind, O wise king; welcome me, O king, who am always devoted to your pleasure and welfare.
प्रतिपादय मां राजन्धर्मादींश्चर धर्मतः । त्वं हि मे मनसा ध्यातस्त्वया चाप्युपमन्त्रिता
Accept me, O king, and righteously perform the duties of a husband; for you were the one I contemplated in my heart, and you also invited me.
तामब्रवीत्साल्वपतिः स्मयन्निव विशांपते। त्वयाऽन्यपूर्वया नाहं भार्यार्थी वरवर्णिनि
The lord of Salva, smiling a little, said to her, O lord of the people: 'I do not seek a wife who has belonged to another, O fair-complexioned one.'
गच्छ भद्रे पुनस्तत्र सकाशं भीष्मकस्य वै। नाहमिच्छामि भीष्मेण गृहीतां त्वां प्रसह्य वै
Go back, O gentle one, to the presence of Bhishma; I do not wish to accept you, who were seized by Bhishma by force.
त्वं हि भीष्मेण निर्जित्य नीता प्रीतिमती तदा। परामृश्य महायुद्धे निर्जित्य पृथिवीपतीन्
For you were taken away by Bhishma, after defeating the kings in great battle, and brought here with affection.
नाहं त्वय्यन्यपूर्वायां भार्यार्थी वरवर्णिनि । कथमस्मद्विधो राजा परपूर्वां प्रवेशयेत्
I do not seek a wife who has belonged to another, O fair-complexioned one; how can a king like me accept a woman previously possessed by another?
नारीं विदितविज्ञानः परेषां धर्ममादिशन्। यथेष्टं गम्यतां भद्रे मा त्वां कालोऽत्यगादयम्
A wise man, knowing the law, does not accept a woman who has belonged to another; go wherever you wish, O gentle one, let not this time pass you by.
अम्बा तमब्रवीद्राजन्ननङ्गशरपीडिता। नैवं वद महीपाल नैतदेवं कथंचन
Ambā said to him, afflicted by the arrows of love: 'Do not speak thus, O king; it is never so, in any way.'
नास्मि प्रीतिमती नीता भीष्मेणामित्रकर्शन । बलान्नीतास्मि रुदती विद्राव्य पृथिवीपतीन्
I was not taken by Bhishma, O tormentor of foes, with affection; I was led away by force, weeping, after he had routed the kings of the earth.
भजस्व मां साल्वपते भक्तां बालामनागसम् । भक्तानां हि परित्यागो न धर्मेषु प्रशस्यते
Take me, O lord of the Salvas, devoted, innocent, and blameless; for abandonment of the devoted is not praised in righteousness.
साहमामन्त्र्य गाङ्गेयं समरेष्वनिवर्तिनम् । अनुज्ञाता च तेनैव ततोऽहं भृशमागता
Having addressed Ganga's son, who does not turn back in battle, and having been permitted by him, I then came here in great distress.
न स भीष्मो महाबाहुर्मामिच्छति विशांपते । भ्रातृहेतोः समारम्भो भीष्मस्येति श्रुतं मया
That mighty-armed Bhishma does not desire me, O king of men; I have heard that Bhishma's undertaking was for the sake of his brother.
भगिन्यौ मम ये नीते अम्बिकाम्बालिके नृप। प्रादाद्विचित्रवीर्याय गाङ्गेयो हि यवीयसे
My sisters, Ambika and Ambalika, were taken, O king; Ganga's son gave them to Vichitravirya, the younger.
यथा साल्वपते नान्यं वरं यामि कथंचन। त्वामृते पुरुषव्याघ्र तथा मूर्धानमालभे
O lord of the Salvas, I will not choose any other husband in any way; except for you, tiger among men, I will thus lay my head down.
न चान्यपूर्वा राजेन्द्र त्वामहं समुपस्थिता। सत्यं ब्रवीमि साल्वैतत्सत्येनात्मानमालभे
Nor have I approached you after any other, O king; I speak this truth, O Salva, and by this truth I lay myself down.
भजस्व मां विशालाक्ष स्वयं कन्यामुपस्थिताम्। अनन्यपूर्वां राजेन्द्र त्वत्प्रसादाभिकाङ्क्षिणीम्
Take me, O wide-eyed one, as I come to you of my own will, a maiden; one who has not been with another, O king, desiring your favor.
तामेवं भाषमाणां तु साल्वः काशिपतेः सुताम्। अत्यजद्भरतश्रेष्ठ जीर्णां त्वचमिवोरगः
As she spoke thus, Salva abandoned the daughter of the king of Kashi, O best of Bharatas, as a serpent sheds its worn-out skin.
एवं बहुविधैर्वाक्यैर्याच्यमानस्तया नृपः । नाश्रद्दधत्साल्वपतिः कन्यायां भरतर्षभ
Though she pleaded with him in many ways, the king, O bull among Bharatas, the lord of the Salvas did not believe in the maiden.
ततः सा मन्युनाऽऽविष्टा ज्येष्ठा काशिपतेः सुता। अब्रवीत्साश्रुनयना बाष्पविप्लुतया गिरा
Then, possessed by anger, the eldest daughter of the king of Kashi spoke, her eyes filled with tears, her voice choked with sobs.
त्वया त्यक्ता गमिष्यामि यत्र तत्र विशांपते। तत्र मे गतयः सन्तु सन्तः सत्यं यथा ध्रुवम्
Rejected by you, O king, I will go wherever; let my paths be among the virtuous, as surely as truth endures.