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.
सूक्ष्माम्बरधरामेकां पद्मोदरसमप्रभाम्। `स्नातगात्रां धौतवस्त्रां गङ्गातीररुहे वने
Clad in fine, delicate garments, her complexion rivaled the glow of a lotus' heart; her body freshly bathed, her clothes washed, she stood in the forest on the bank of the Ganga.
प्रकीर्णकेशीं पाणिभ्यां संस्पृशन्तीं शिरोरुहान्। रूपेण वयसा कान्त्या शरीरावयवैस्तथा
Her hair was loose, and with her hands she touched her tresses; in beauty, youth, charm, and the proportions of her body, she was unmatched.
हावभावविलासैश्च लोचनाञ्चलविक्रियैः। श्रोणीभारेण मध्येन स्तनाभ्यामुरसा दृशा
Through her gestures, expressions, playful glances, the movement of her eyes, the fullness of her hips, the slenderness of her waist, the swell of her breasts, her chest, and her gaze—
कवरीभरेण पादाभ्यामिङ्गितेन स्मितेन च। कोकिलालापसंल्लापैर्न्यक्कुर्वन्तीं त्रिलोकगाम्
By the abundance of her hair, the grace of her feet, her subtle signs, and her smile; with her melodious speech and sweet conversation, she surpassed even the beauty of the three worlds.
वाणीं च गिरिजां लक्ष्मीं योषितोन्याः सुराङ्गनाः। सा च शान्तनुमब्यागादलक्ष्मीमपकर्षती
Her voice, her speech, her beauty, her grace, and her charm outshone Sarasvati, Parvati, Lakshmi, and all other celestial women; she approached with a tranquil form, driving away all misfortune.
तां दृष्ट्वा हृष्टरोमाऽभूद्विस्मितो रूपसंपदा। पिबन्निव च नेत्राभ्यां नातृप्यत नराधिपः
Seeing her, his hair stood on end; astonished by her beauty and splendor, the king could not be satisfied, as if he were drinking her in with his eyes.
सा च दृष्ट्वैव राजानं विचरन्तं महाद्युतिम्। स्नेहादागतसौहार्दा नातृप्यत विलासिनी
And she, upon seeing the king—resplendent and wandering there—felt affection and warmth arise within her, and, being playful, she too could not have enough of gazing at him.
गङ्गा कामेन राजानं प्रेक्षमाणा विलासिनी। चञ्चूर्यताग्रतस्तस्य किन्नरीवाप्सरोपमा
Ganga, filled with desire, gazed at the king with playful glances, her eyes darting; like a celestial nymph or a kinnari, she was enchanting.
दृष्ट्वा प्रहृष्टरूपोऽभूद्दर्शनादेव शान्तनुः। रूपेणातीत्य तिष्ठन्तीं सर्वा राजन्ययोषितः
At the mere sight of her, Shantanu became joyful in appearance; she surpassed all royal women in beauty.
तामुवाच ततो राजा सान्त्वयञ्श्लक्ष्णया गिरा। देवी वा दानवी वा त्वं गन्धर्वी चाथवाऽप्सराः
Then the king addressed her, soothing her with gentle and pleasing words: 'Are you a goddess, a danavi, a gandharvi, or perhaps an apsara?'