तपस्तेपे सुतस्यार्थे सभार्यः कुरुनन्दन। `प्रतीपस्य तु भार्यायां गर्भः श्रीमानवर्धत
Pratipa performed austerities with his wife for the sake of a son, O joy of the Kurus; and in Pratipa's wife, a glorious embryo grew.
श्रिया परमया युक्तः शरच्छुक्ले यथा शशी। ततस्तु दशमे मासि प्राजायत रविप्रभम्
Endowed with supreme splendor, like the moon in the bright half of autumn, then in the tenth month, a son was born, radiant like the sun.
कुमारं देवगर्भाभं प्रतीपमहिषी तदा।' तयोः समभवत्पुत्रो वृद्धयोः स महाभिषक्
At that time, Pratipa's queen gave birth to a son resembling one born of the gods; to those aged parents, a son was born, a great healer.
शान्तस्य जज्ञे सन्तानस्तस्मादासीत्स शान्तनुः। `तस्य जातस्य कृत्यानि प्रतीपोऽकारयत्प्रभुः
From Shantanu, a lineage was born to Shantanu; thus he was called Shantanu. When he was born, Pratipa, the lord, performed the required rites.
जातकर्मादि विप्रेण वेदोक्तैः कर्मभिस्तदा। नामकर्म च विप्रास्तु चक्रुः परमसत्कृतम्
At that time, the priest performed the birth and other rites for him, as prescribed in the Vedas; and the naming ceremony was conducted by the Brahmins with great honor.
शान्तनोरवनीपाल वेदोक्तैः कर्मभिस्तदा। ततः संवर्धितो राजा शान्तनुर्लोकधार्मिकः
Shantanu, the protector of the earth, was then raised with the rites prescribed in the Vedas; thus the king Shantanu, righteous in conduct, was brought up.
स तु लेभे परां निष्ठां प्राप्य धर्मभृतां वरः। धनुर्वेदे च वेदे च गतिं स परमा गतः
He attained the highest excellence, being the foremost among upholders of righteousness; in the science of archery and in the Vedas, he reached the highest attainment.
यौवनं चापि संप्राप्तः कुमारो वदतां वरः।' संस्मरंश्चाक्षयाँल्लोकान्विजातान्स्वेन कर्मणा
When the prince, best among speakers, reached youth, remembering the imperishable worlds attained by his own deeds—
पुण्यकर्मकृदेवासीच्छान्तनुः कुरुसत्तमः। प्रतीपः शान्तनुं पुत्रं यौवनस्थं ततोऽन्वशात्
Shantanu, the best of the Kurus, became a doer of virtuous deeds; then Pratipa instructed his son Shantanu, who was in the prime of youth.
पुरा स्त्री मां समभ्यागाच्छान्तनो भूतये तव। त्वामाव्रजेद्यदि रहः सा पुत्र वरवर्णिनी
Once, a woman approached me, O Shantanu, for your sake; if that beautiful-complexioned lady comes to you in private, my son—
कामयानाऽभिरूपाढ्या दिव्यस्त्री पुत्रकाम्यया। सा त्वया नानुयोक्तव्या कासि कस्यासि चाङ्गने
A beautiful and richly adorned celestial woman, desiring a son, should not be questioned by you—'Who are you, whose daughter are you, O lady?'
यच्च कुर्यान्न तत्कर्म सा प्रष्टव्या त्वयाऽनघ। सन्नियोगाद्भजन्तीं तां भजेथा इत्युवाच तम्
And whatever action she may do, O sinless one, you must not ask her about it; you should accept her as she is, united with you—so he spoke to him.
एवं संदिश्य तनयं प्रतीपः शान्तनुं तदा। स्वे च राज्येऽभिषिच्यैनं वनं राजा विवेश ह
Having thus instructed his son, Pratipa then consecrated Shantanu as king in his own realm and the king entered the forest.
स राजा शान्तनुर्धीमान्देवराजसमद्युतिः। `बभूव सर्वलोकस्य सत्यवागिति संमतः
That king Shantanu, wise and radiant as the lord of the gods, became renowned among all people as one who always spoke the truth.
पीनस्कन्धो महाबाहुर्मत्तवारणविक्रमः। अन्वितः परिपूर्णार्थैः सर्वैर्नृपतिलक्षणैः
Broad-shouldered, mighty-armed, with the strength of a maddened elephant, he possessed all the marks of a king and was endowed with every accomplishment.
अमात्यलक्षणोपेतः क्षत्रधर्मविशेषवित्। वशे चक्रे महीमेको विजित्य वसुधाधिपान्
Endowed with the qualities of a good minister and expert in the special duties of kshatriyas, he alone brought the earth under his control, having conquered all other rulers.
वेदानागमयत्कृत्स्नान्राजधर्मांश्च सर्वशः। ईजे च बहुभिः सत्रैः क्रतुभिर्भूरिदक्षिणैः
He caused the Vedas to be fully studied and all the royal duties to be observed; he performed many sacrifices and rituals, giving abundant gifts.
तर्पयामास विप्रांश्च वेदाध्ययनकोविदान्। रत्नैरुच्चावचैर्गोभिर्ग्रामैरश्वैर्धनैरपि
He satisfied learned brahmins, skilled in Vedic study, with jewels of every kind, with cows, villages, horses, and wealth.
वयोरूपेण संपन्नः पौरुषेण बलेन च। ऐश्वर्येण प्रतापेन विक्रमेण धनेन च
He excelled in age and beauty, in manliness and strength, in wealth, majesty, valor, and riches.
वर्तमानश्च सत्येन सर्वधर्मविशारदः। तं महीपं महीपाला राजराजमकुर्वत
Living in truth and expert in all dharma, the kings made him, the great ruler, king of kings.
वीतशोकभयाबाधाः सुखस्वप्नप्रबोधाः। श्रिया भरतशार्दूल समपद्यन्त भूमिपाः
Free from sorrow, fear, and affliction, enjoying peaceful sleep and awakening, the kings, O tiger among the Bharatas, became prosperous.
नियमैः सर्ववर्णानां ब्रह्मोत्तरमवर्तत। ब्राह्मणाभिमुखं क्षत्रं क्षत्रियाभिमुखा विशः
By discipline, all the social orders followed the brahmins as supreme; the kshatriyas looked to the brahmins, and the vaishyas to the kshatriyas.
ब्रह्मक्षत्रानुकूलांश्च शूद्राः पर्यचरन्विशः। एवं पशुवराहाणां तथैव मृगपक्षिणाम्
The shudras served the brahmins and kshatriyas with devotion; likewise among cattle, boars, deer, and birds, the same order prevailed.
शान्तनावथ राज्यस्थे नावर्तत वृथा वधः। असुखानामनाथानां तिर्यग्योनिषु वर्तताम्
While Shantanu ruled, needless killing did not occur, even among the unhappy, the helpless, or those living in animal forms.
स एव राजा सर्वेषां भूतानामभवत्पिता। स हस्तिनाम्नि धर्मात्मा विहरन्कुरुनन्दनः
That king became the father of all beings; that righteous soul, delighting in Hastinapura, O joy of the Kurus.
तेजसा सूर्यकल्पोऽभूद्वायुना च समो बले। अन्तकप्रतिमः कोपे क्षमया पृथिवीसमः
In brilliance he was like the sun, in strength equal to the wind; in wrath, he resembled Death, and in patience, he was like the earth.
बभूव राजा सुमतिः प्रजानां सत्यविक्रमः। स वनेषु च रम्येषु शैलप्रस्रवणेषु च
The king was wise and true in valor, a benefactor of his people; he delighted in the beautiful forests and mountain streams.
चचार मृगयाशीलः शान्तनुर्वनगोचरः। स मृगान्महिषांश्चैव विनिघ्नन्राजसत्तमः
Shantanu, fond of hunting, roamed the forests; that best of kings struck down deer and buffaloes.
गङ्गामनु चचारैकः सिद्धचारणसेविताम्। स कदाचिन्महाराज ददर्श परमां स्त्रियम्
Alone, he wandered along the Ganga, frequented by perfected beings and celestial wanderers; there, O great king, he once beheld an extraordinary woman.
जाज्वल्यमानां वपुषा साक्षाच्छ्रियमिवापराम्। सर्वानवद्यां सुदतीं दिव्याभरणभूषिताम्
Radiant in her form, as if she were the very embodiment of prosperity itself; flawless in every aspect, with beautiful teeth, adorned with divine ornaments.