वाजपेयेष्टिसत्राणां सहस्रैश्च सुसंभृतैः। दृष्ट्वा शाकुन्तलो राजा तर्पयित्वा द्विजान्धनैः
With thousands of well-performed Vajapeya and Satra sacrifices, King Shakuntala's son, having satisfied the Brahmins with wealth, beheld this.
पुनः सहस्रं पद्मानां कण्वाय भरतो ददौ। जम्बूनदस्य शुद्धस्य कनकस्य महायशाः
Again, the illustrious Bharata gave a thousand lotus-flowers of pure Jambunada gold to Kanva.
यस्य यूपाः शतव्यामाः परिणाहेऽथ काञ्चनाः। सहस्रव्याममुद्वृद्धाः सेन्द्रैर्देवैः समुच्छ्रिताः
His sacrificial posts were a hundred cubits in circumference and made of gold, raised to a thousand cubits, erected together with Indra and the gods.
स्वलङ्कृता भ्राजमानाः सर्वरत्नैर्मनोरमैः। हिरण्यं द्विरदानश्वान्महिषोष्ट्रगजाविकम्
Adorned and shining, delightful with all kinds of gems; he gave gold, elephants, horses, buffaloes, camels, oxen, and cattle.
दासीदासं धनं धान्यं गाः सुशीलाः सवत्सकाः। भूमिं यूपसहस्राङ्कां कण्वाय बहुदक्षिणाम्
He gave maidservants and manservants, wealth, grain, and cows of good character with calves; and land marked by a thousand sacrificial posts, rich in gifts, to Kanva.
बहूनां ब्रह्मकल्पानां धनं दत्त्वा क्रतून्बहून्। ग्रामान्गृहाणि शुभ्राणि कोटिशोथाददत्तदा
Having given wealth to many Brahma-like men and performed many sacrifices, he also gave villages and splendid houses by the crore at that time.
भरताद्भारती कीर्तिर्येनेदं भारतं कुलम्।' भरतस्यान्वये जाता देवकल्पा महारथाः
From Bharata arose the fame called Bharati, by whom this Bharata lineage was established; in the line of Bharata were born great chariot-warriors, equal to the gods.
बहवो ब्रह्मकल्पाश्च बभूवुः क्षत्रसत्तमाः। तेषामपरिमेयानि नामधेयानि सन्त्युत
Many among them, foremost among the Kshatriyas, were like Brahma himself; their names are indeed countless.
तेषां कुले यथा मुख्यान्कीर्तयिष्यामि भारत। महाभागान्देवकल्पान्सत्यार्जवपरायणान्
Among their line, I will recount the chief ones, O Bharata—those greatly fortunate, godlike, devoted to truth and uprightness.
इक्ष्वाकुवंशप्रभो राजासीत्पृथिवीपतिः। महाभिषगिति ख्यातः सत्यवाक्सत्यविक्रमः
In the illustrious line of Ikshvaku, there was a king, lord of the earth, famed as Mahabhisha, truthful in speech and steadfast in truth.
सोऽश्वमेधसहस्रेण राजसूयशतेन च। तोषयामास देवेशं स्वर्गं लेभे ततः प्रभुः
He pleased the lord of the gods by performing a thousand Ashvamedha sacrifices and a hundred Rajasuya sacrifices, and thus attained heaven.
ततः कदाचिद्ब्रह्माणमुपासांचक्रिरे सुराः। तत्र राजर्षयो ह्यासन्स च राजा महाभिषक्
Then, once, the gods worshipped Brahma; there were royal sages present, and King Mahabhisha was among them.
अथ गङ्गा सरिच्छ्रेष्ठा समुपायात्पितामहम्। तस्या वासः समुद्धूतं मारुतेन शशिप्रभम्
Then Ganga, the foremost of rivers, approached the Grandsire; her garment, stirred by the wind, shone with the radiance of the moon.
ततोऽभवन्सुरगणाः सहसाऽवाङ्मुखास्तदा। महाभिषक्तु राजर्षिरशङ्को दृष्टवान्नदीम्
At that moment, the hosts of gods turned their faces away, but the royal sage Mahabhisha, unhesitating, gazed upon the river.
सोपध्यातो भगवता ब्रह्मणा तु महाभिषक्। उक्तश्च जातो मर्त्येषु पुनर्लोकानवाप्स्यसि
The blessed Brahma, displeased with Mahabhisha, said: 'You shall be born among mortals again; you will attain the worlds only thereafter.'
यया हृतमनाश्चासि गङ्गया त्वं हि दुर्मते। सा ते वै मानुषे लोके विप्रियाण्याचरिष्यति
'Because your mind was captivated by Ganga, O misguided one, she will cause you sorrow in the world of men.'
यदा ते भविता मन्युस्तदा शापाद्विमोक्ष्यते
'When anger arises in you, then, by the power of the curse, you will be released.'
प्रतीपं रोचयामास पितरं भूरितेजसम्। सा महाभिषजं दृष्ट्वा नदी दैर्याच्च्युतं नृपम्
She, seeing the king Mahabhisha, radiant as fire, and fallen from courage, chose Pratipa, his father, as her desired one.
तमेव मनसा ध्यायन्त्युपावृत्ता सरिद्वरा। सा तु विध्वस्तवपुषः कश्मलाभिहतान्नृप
Meditating upon him in her heart, the best of rivers approached; but she, her form shattered and afflicted by sorrow, saw the king.
ददर्श पथि गच्छन्ती वसून्देवान्दिवौकसः। तथारूपांश्च तान्दृष्ट्वा प्रपच्छ सरितां वरा
As she was going along the path, she saw the Vasus, the gods dwelling in heaven, appearing in such a state; seeing them thus, the best of rivers questioned them.
किमिदं नष्टरूपाः स्थ कच्चित्क्षेमं दिवौकसाम्। तामूचुर्वसवो देवाः शप्ताः स्मो वै महानदि
'Why are you in this ruined state? Is all well with the gods?' The Vasus, the gods, replied to her: 'O great river, we have been cursed.'
अल्पेऽपराधे संरम्भाद्वसिष्ठेन महात्मना। विमूढा हि वयं सर्वे प्रच्छन्नमृषिसत्तमम्
'Because of a small offense, out of anger, the great-souled Vasistha cursed us all, for we had foolishly concealed the best of sages.'
सन्ध्यां वसिष्ठमासीनं तमत्यभिसृताः पुरा। तेन कोपाद्वयं शप्ता योनौ संभवतेति ह
'Long ago, we approached Vasistha, seated at twilight; out of wrath, he cursed us: "You shall be born in the womb of mortals."'
न तच्छक्यं निवर्तयितुं यदुक्तं ब्रह्मवादिना। त्वमस्मान्मानुषी भूत्वा सूष्व पुत्रान्वसून्भुवि
'What has been spoken by the knower of Brahman cannot be undone; become a woman among mortals and bear us, the Vasus, as sons on earth.'
न मानुषीणां जठरं प्रविशेम वयं शुभे। इत्युक्ता तैश्च वसुभिस्तथेत्युक्त्वाऽब्रवीदिदम्
O auspicious one, we must not enter the wombs of human women. Thus addressed by the Vasus, she replied, 'So be it,' and then spoke these words.
प्रतीपस्य सुतो राजा शान्तनुर्लोकविश्रुतः। भविता मानुषे लोके स नः कर्ता भविष्यति
The king Pratipa's son, Shantanu, renowned in the world, will be born among humans; he will be our agent.
ममाप्येवं मतं देवा यथा मां वदथानघाः। प्रियं तस्य करिष्यामि युष्माकं चेतदीप्सितम्
This is also my view, O sinless ones, just as you have said to me. I will do what pleases him, if this is your wish.
जातान्कुमारान्स्वानप्सु प्रक्षेप्तुं वै त्वमर्हसि। यथा नचिरकालं नो निष्कृतिः स्यात्त्रिलोकगे
When the sons are born, you should cast them into the waters, so that our release in the three worlds will not be delayed.
जिघृक्षवो वयं सर्वे सुरभिं मन्दबुद्धयः। शप्ता ब्रह्मर्षिणा तेन तांस्त्वं मोचय चाशु नः
We all, lacking discernment, wished to seize Surabhi and were cursed by the Brahmarshi; therefore, quickly free us from that curse.
एवमेतत्करिष्यामि पुत्रस्तस्य विधीयताम्। नास्य मोघः सङ्गमः स्यात्पुत्रहेतोर्मया सह
So shall I do. Let a son be begotten for him, so that his union with me for the sake of a son is not in vain.