तथेति सा यदा तूक्ता तदा भरतसत्तम। प्रहर्षमतुलं लेभे प्राप्य तं पार्थिवोत्तमम्
When she spoke thus, O best of the Bharatas, he felt incomparable joy, having obtained that foremost of women.
प्रतिज्ञाय तु तत्तस्यास्तथेति मनुजाधिपः। रथमारोप्य तां देवीं जगाम स तया सह
Having pledged to her, 'So be it,' the lord of men placed the lady on his chariot and departed together with her.
सा च शान्तनुमभ्यागात्साक्षाल्लक्ष्मीरिवापरा। आसाद्य शान्तनुस्तां च बुभुजे कामतो वशी
She approached Shantanu like another goddess of fortune herself; and Shantanu, master of his desires, enjoyed her as he wished.
न प्रष्टव्येति मन्वानो न स तां किंचिदूचिवान्। स तस्याः शीलवृत्तेन रूपौदार्यगुणेन च
Remembering her condition, he did not question her at all; he was pleased by her conduct, character, beauty, and noble qualities.
उपचारेण च रहस्तुतोष जगतीपतिः। स राजा परमप्रीतः परमस्त्रीप्रलालितः
By her attentiveness and private affection, the lord of the earth was deeply satisfied, cherished above all by his beloved.
दिव्यरूपा हि सा देवी गङ्गा त्रिपथगामिनी। मानुषं विग्रहं कृत्वा श्रीमन्तं वरवर्णिनी
That goddess Ganga, the threefold-flowing, possessed a divine form; assuming a human body, radiant and beautiful, she appeared.
भाग्योपनतकामस्य भार्या चोपनताऽभवत्। शन्तनोर्नृपसिंहस्य देवराजसमद्युतेः
She became the wife of Shantanu, lion among kings, equal in splendor to the lord of the gods, joined to him by fortune and desire.
संभोगस्नेहचातुर्यैर्हावलास्यैर्मनोहरैः। राजानं रमयामास यथा रज्येत स प्रभुः
With union, affection, skill, and enchanting smiles, she delighted the king as only a master could be pleased.
संवत्सरानृतून्मासान्बुबुधे न बहून्गतान्। रममाणस्तया सार्धं यथाकामं नरेश्वरः
The lord of men, enjoying with her as he wished, did not notice the passing of years, seasons, or months.
दिविष्ठान्मानुषांश्चैव भोगान्भुङ्क्ते स वै नृपः।' आसाद्य शान्तनुः श्रीमान्मुमुदे योषितां वराम्
That glorious Shantanu, having obtained that best of women, enjoyed pleasures both human and divine.
ऋतुकाले तु सा देवी दिव्यं गर्भमधारयत्। अष्टावजनयत्पुत्रांस्तस्मादमरसन्निभान्
In due season, that goddess conceived a divine child, and bore eight sons, each resembling the immortals.
जातं जातं च सा पुत्रं क्षिपत्यम्यसि भारत। सूतके कण्ठमाक्रम्य तान्निनाय यमक्षयम्
But, O Bharata, as each son was born, she cast him into the river, seizing him by the throat and sending him to the abode of Yama.
प्रीणाम्यहं त्वामित्युक्त्वा गङ्गास्रोतस्यमज्जयत्। तस्य तन्न प्रियं राज्ञः शान्तनोरभवत्तदा
Saying, 'I please you,' she submerged the child in the Ganga's stream; but this was not pleasing to King Shantanu.
न च तां किंचनोवाच त्यागाद्भीतो महीपतिः। `अमीमांस्या कर्मयोनिरागमश्चेति शान्तनुः
Yet, out of fear of losing her, the king said nothing; Shantanu thought, 'The origin of this act must be pondered.'
स्मरन्पितृवचश्चैव नापृच्छत्पुत्रकिल्बिषम्। जाताञ्जातांश्च वै हन्ति सा स्त्री सप्त वरान्सुतान्
Remembering her father's words, she did not seek her husband's permission for the sin against her sons; that woman kills both those born and those yet unborn—seven sons over seven years.
शान्तनुर्धर्मभङ्गाच्च नापृच्छत्तां कथंचन। अष्टमं तु जिघांसन्त्यां चुक्षुभे शान्तनोर्धृतिः
Because of his commitment to righteousness, Shantanu never questioned her; but when she sought to kill the eighth, Shantanu's resolve was shaken.
अथैनामष्टमे पुत्रे जाते प्रहसतीमिव। उवाच राजा दुःखार्तः परीप्सन्पुत्रमात्मनः
Then, as the eighth son was born and she seemed to smile, the king, tormented by grief and longing to save his son, spoke to her.
आलभन्तीं तदा दृष्ट्वा तां स कौरवनन्दनः। अब्रवीद्भरतश्रेष्ठो वाक्यं परमदुःखितः
Seeing her about to seize the child, that joy of the Kurus, the best of the Bharatas, spoke to her, overwhelmed by sorrow.
मावधीः कस्य काऽसीति किं हिनत्सि सुतानिति। पुत्रघ्नि सुमहत्पापं संप्राप्तं ते सुगर्हितम्
"Do not kill him! Whose are you? Why do you destroy your sons? Killing one's own child is a great and terrible sin, and you have incurred severe blame."
पुत्रकाम न ते हन्मि पुत्रं पुत्रवतां वर। जीर्णस्तु मम वासोऽयं यथा स समयः कृतः
"Desiring a son, I do not kill your child, O best of those with sons. My obligation to you is fulfilled, just as this old garment of mine is worn out."
अहं गङ्गा जह्नुसुता महर्षिगणसेविता। देवकार्यार्थसिद्ध्यर्थमुषिताऽहं त्वया सह
"I am Ganga, daughter of Jahnu, attended by great sages. For the sake of fulfilling a divine purpose, I have dwelt with you."
इमेऽष्टौ वसवो देवा महाभागा महौजसः। वसिष्ठशापदोषेण मानुषत्वमुपागताः
"These eight Vasus, great and mighty gods, have, due to Vasistha's curse, taken birth as humans."
तेषां जनयिता नान्यस्त्वदृते भुवि विद्यते। मद्विधा मानुषी धात्री लोके नास्तीह काचन
"No one but you could be their father on earth, and no woman like me could be their mother in this world."
तस्मात्तज्जननीहेतोर्मानुषत्वमुपागता। जनयित्वा वसूनष्टौ जिता लोकास्त्वयाऽक्षयाः
"Therefore, for the sake of bearing them, I took human form; having given birth to the eight Vasus, you have gained imperishable worlds."
देवानां समयस्त्वेष वसूनां संश्रुतो मया। जातं जातं मोक्षयिष्ये जन्मतो मानुषादिति
"This was the agreement I made with the Vasus: 'Each one born, I will release from human birth.'"
तत्ते शापाद्विनिर्मुक्ता आपवस्य महात्मनः। स्वस्ति तेस्तु गमिष्यामि पुत्रं पाहि महाव्रतम्
"Thus, by the curse of the great soul Apava, they are freed. Farewell to you; I will go. Protect this son, who is devoted to great vows."
अयं तव सुतस्तेषां वीर्येण कुलनन्दनः। संभूतोतिजनं कर्म करिष्यति न संशयः।। ।। इति श्रीमन्महाभारते आदिपर्वणि संभवपर्वणि पञ्चाधिकशततमोऽध्यायः।। 105
"This son of yours, born from their energy, O joy of the lineage, will accomplish extraordinary deeds—of this there is no doubt."
शान्तनोः कीर्तयिष्यामि सर्वानेव गुणानहम्। दमो दानं क्षमा बुद्धिर्ह्रीर्धृतिस्तेज उत्तमम्। नित्यान्यासन्महासत्वे शान्तनौ पुरुषर्षभे
I will recount all the virtues of Shantanu: self-control, generosity, patience, wisdom, modesty, steadfastness, and supreme brilliance—these were always present in the great-souled Shantanu, the foremost among men.
एवं स गुणसंपन्नो धर्मार्थकुशलो नृपः। आसीद्भरतवंशस्य गोप्ता सर्वजनस्य च
Thus endowed with virtues and skilled in righteousness and wealth, the king was the protector of the Bharata lineage and of all people.
कम्बुग्रीवः पृथुव्यंसो मत्तवारणविक्रमः। अन्वितः परिपूर्णार्थैः सर्वैर्नृपतिलक्षणैः
He had a conch-like neck, broad shoulders, the strength of a maddened elephant, and was adorned with all the marks of royalty and prosperity.