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.
वधः पशुवराहाणां तथैव मृगपक्षिणाम्। शान्तनौ पृथिवीपाले नावर्तत तथा नृप
The slaughter of cattle, boars, deer, and birds did not occur under King Shantanu, O ruler.
ब्रह्मधर्मोत्तरे राज्ये शान्तनुर्विनयात्मवान्। समं शशास भूतानि कामरागविवर्जितः
In the kingdom governed by the highest righteousness, Shantanu, self-controlled, ruled all beings equally, free from desire and passion.
चकोरनेत्रस्ताम्रास्यः सिंहर्षभगतिर्युवा। गुणैरनुपमैर्युक्तः समस्तैराभिगामिकैः। गम्भीरः सत्वसंपन्नः पूर्णचन्द्रनिभाननः
With eyes like a chakora bird, a coppery mouth, the gait of a lion or bull, youthful, endowed with incomparable virtues, possessing all noble qualities, deep, rich in spirit, and with a face like the full moon.
देवर्षिपितृयज्ञार्थमारभ्यन्त तदा क्रियाः। न चाधर्मेण केषांचित्प्राणिनामभवद्वधः
At that time, rites for the gods, sages, and ancestors were performed; and there was no killing of any living beings through unrighteousness.
असुखानामनाथानां तिर्यग्योनिषु वर्तताम्। स एव राजा सर्वेषां भूतानामभवत्पिता
For those who were unhappy, destitute, or born in animal forms, that king became a father to all creatures.
तस्मिन्कुरुपतिश्रेष्ठे राजराजेश्वरे सति। श्रिता वागभवत्सत्यं दानधर्माश्रितं मनः
While that foremost of the Kurus, the lord of kings, reigned, truth resided in speech, and the mind was devoted to charity and righteousness.
यज्ञार्थं पशवः सृष्टाः संतानार्थं च मैथुनम्।' स समाः षोडशाष्टौ च चतस्रोऽष्टौ तथाऽपराः। रतिमप्राप्नुवन्स्त्रीषु बभूव वनगोचरः
Animals were created for sacrifice, and union was for the sake of offspring; for sixteen, eight, four, and another eight years, he did not seek pleasure with women, living as one who roamed the forest.
तथारूपस्तथाचारस्तथावृत्तस्तथाश्रुतः। गाङ्गेयस्तस्य पुत्रोऽभून्नाम्ना देवव्रतो वसुः
His form, conduct, character, and learning were all such; his son by name was Devavrata, called Vasu, born of Ganga.
सर्वास्त्रेषु स निष्णातः पार्थिवेष्वितरेषु च। महाबलो महासत्वो महावीर्यो महारथः
He was skilled in all weapons, and in all the arts of kingship; mighty in strength, spirit, and valor, and a great chariot-warrior.
स कदाचिन्मृगं विद्ध्वा गङ्गामनुसरन्नदीम्। भागीरथीमल्पजलां शान्तनुर्दृष्टवान्नृपः
Once, after striking a deer, Shantanu followed the river Ganga, and the king beheld the Bhagirathi, with little water.