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?'
यक्षी वा पन्नगी वाऽपि मानुषी वा सुमध्यमे। `याऽसि काऽसि सुरप्रख्ये महिषी मे भवानघे
'Or are you a yakshi, a serpent maiden, or a human woman of lovely waist? Whoever you are, O one equal to the gods, become my queen, O sinless one.'
त्वां गता हि मम प्रामा वसु यन्मेऽस्ति किंचन।' याचे त्वां सुरगर्भाभे भार्या मे भव शोभने
'For you have captured my mind, and whatever wealth I possess is yours; I beg you, O one born of the gods, O beautiful one, be my wife.'
एतच्छ्रुत्वा वचो राज्ञः सस्मितं मृदु वल्गु च। यशस्विनी च साऽगच्छच्छान्तनोर्भूतये तदा
Hearing these words of the king, she approached Shantanu with a gentle, charming, and smiling demeanor, intent on his welfare.
सा तु दृष्ट्वा नृपश्रेष्ठं चरन्तं तीरमाश्रितम्। वसूनां समयं स्मृत्वाऽथाभ्यगच्छदनिन्दिता
Having seen the best of kings wandering on the riverbank, she remembered the agreement with the Vasus and, being blameless, approached him.
प्रजार्थिनी राजपुत्रं शान्तनुं पृथिवीपतिम्। प्रतीपवचनं चापि संस्मृत्यैव स्वयं नृपम्
Desiring offspring, she approached King Shantanu, the lord of the earth, recalling also the words of Pratipa.
कालोऽयमिति मत्वा सा वसूनां शापचोदिता। उवाच चैव राज्ञः सा ह्लादयन्ती मनो गिरा
Thinking, 'Now is the time,' prompted by the curse of the Vasus, she spoke to the king, delighting his mind with her words.
भविष्यामि महीपाल महिषी ते वशानुगा। न तु त्वं वा द्वितीयो वा ज्ञातुमिच्छेत्कथंचन
O king, I shall become your queen, obedient to your will; but neither you nor anyone else should ever seek to know my actions.
यत्तु कुर्यामहं राजञ्शुभं वा यदि वाऽशुभम्। न तद्वारयितव्याऽस्मि न वक्तव्या तथाऽप्रियम्
Whatever I may do, whether auspicious or inauspicious, you must not prevent me, nor speak any unpleasant word to me.
एवं हि वर्तमानेऽहं त्वयि वत्स्यामि पार्थिव। वारिता विप्रियं चोक्ता त्यजेयं त्वामसंशयम्
If, while living with you, I am forbidden or addressed harshly, then without doubt, I shall leave you.
एष मे समयो राजन्भज मां त्वं यथेप्सितम्। अनुनीताऽस्मि ते पित्रा भर्ता मे त्वं भव प्रभो
This is my condition, O king; accept me as you desire. Your father has pleaded with me; now, lord, be my husband.