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.
तस्य कीर्तिमतो वृत्तमवेक्ष्य सततं नराः। धर्म एव परः कामादर्थाच्चेति व्यवस्थितः
Observing his ever-glorious conduct, people always concluded that for him, righteousness was supreme over desire and wealth.
एवमासीन्महासत्वः शान्तनुर्भरतर्षभ। न चास्य सदृशः कश्चिद्धर्मतः पार्थिवोऽभवत्
Thus was the great-souled Shantanu, O best of the Bharatas; and in righteousness, no other king equaled him.
वर्तमानं हि धर्मेषु सर्वधर्मभृतां वरम्। तं महीपा महीपालं राजराज्येऽभ्यषेचयन्
Indeed, while he abided in righteousness, the foremost among all upholders of duty, the kings anointed him, the protector of the earth, as sovereign over the kingdom.
वीतशोकभयाबाधाः सुखस्वप्ननिबोधनाः। पतिं भारतगोप्तारं समपद्यन्त भूमिपाः
Freed from sorrow, fear, and affliction, waking from sleep in happiness, the kings accepted him as their lord, the protector of the Bharatas.
तेन कीर्तिमता शिष्टाः शक्रप्रतिमतेजसा। यज्ञदानक्रियाशीलाः समपद्यन्त भूमिपाः
Because of his fame and his energy, equal to Indra, those kings, devoted to sacrifice, charity, and righteous acts, flourished under his rule.
शान्तनुप्रमुखैर्गुप्ते लोके नृपतिभिस्तदा। नियमात्सर्ववर्णानां धर्मोत्तरमवर्तत
When the world was protected by kings led by Shantanu, the highest righteousness prevailed among all classes, through strict observance.
ब्रह्म पर्यचरत्क्षत्रं विशः क्षत्रमनुव्रताः। ब्रह्मक्षत्रानुरक्ताश्च शूद्राः पर्यचरन्विशः
The Brahmins served the Kshatriyas, and the people followed the Kshatriyas; the Shudras, devoted to the Brahmins and Kshatriyas, served the people.
स हास्तिनपुरे रम्ये कुरूणां पुटभेदने। वसन्सागरपर्यन्तामन्वशासद्वसुन्धराम्
Dwelling in the delightful city of Hastinapura, at the heart of the Kurus, he ruled the earth extending to the ocean's edge.
स देवराजसदृशो धर्मज्ञः सत्यवागृजुः। दानधर्मतपोयोगाच्छ्रिया परमया युतः
He was like the king of the gods, wise in righteousness, truthful in speech, upright, endowed with supreme prosperity through charity, righteousness, and ascetic practice.
अरागद्वेषसंयुक्तः सोमवत्प्रियदर्शनः।। तेजसा सूर्यकल्पोऽभूद्वायुवेगसमो जवे। अन्तकप्रतिमः कोपे क्षमया पृथिवीसमः
Free from attachment and aversion, pleasing to behold like the moon, he was radiant like the sun, swift as the wind, terrible in anger like Death, and patient as the earth.