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.
तां दृष्ट्वा चिन्तयामास शान्तनुः पुरुषर्षभः। स्यन्दते किं न्वियं नाद्य सरिच्छ्रेष्ठा यथा पुरा
Seeing her, Shantanu, the foremost of men, began to wonder: Why does this best of rivers not flow today as she did before?
ततो निमित्तमन्विच्छन्ददर्श स महामनाः। कुमारं रूपसंपन्नं बृहन्तं चारुदर्शनम्
Then that great-minded king sought the cause and saw a handsome youth, tall and of pleasing appearance.
दिव्यमस्त्रं विकुर्वाणं यथा देवं पुरन्दरम्। कृत्स्नां गङ्गां समावृत्य शरैस्तीक्ष्णैरवस्थितम्
He was wielding a divine weapon, like the god Indra himself, standing in the midst of the entire Ganga, surrounded by sharp arrows.
तां शरैराचितां दृष्ट्वा नदीं गङ्गां तदन्तिके। अभवद्विस्मितो राजा दृष्ट्वा कर्मातिमानुषम्
Seeing the river Ganga filled with arrows near him, the king was astonished, beholding a deed beyond human capacity.
जातमात्रं पुरा दृष्टं तं पुत्रं शान्तनुस्तदा। नोपलेभे स्मृतिं धीमानभिज्ञातुं तमात्मजम्
Shantanu, wise as he was, did not recognize that son whom he had seen at birth long ago, nor could he recall him as his own child.
स तु तं पितरं दृष्ट्वा मोहयामास मायया। संमोह्य तु ततः क्षिप्रं तत्रैवान्तरधीयत
But that youth, seeing his father, bewildered him by his power of illusion, and having thus deluded him, quickly vanished from that very spot.
तदद्बुतं ततो दृष्ट्वा तत्र राजा स शान्तनुः। सङ्कमानः सुतं गङ्गामब्रवीद्दर्शयेति ह
Then, having witnessed this wonder, King Shantanu, longing for his son, spoke to Ganga, saying, 'Show him to me.'
दर्शयामास तं गङ्गा बिभ्रती रूपमुत्तमम्। गृहीत्वा दक्षिणे पाणौ तं कुमारमलङ्कृतम्
Ganga then revealed him, bearing an excellent form, holding that adorned youth by his right hand.
अलङ्कृतामाभरणैर्विरजोम्बरधारिणीम्। दृष्टपूर्वामपि स तां नाभ्यजानात्स शान्तनुः
She herself was adorned with ornaments and wore spotless garments; though Shantanu had seen her before, he did not recognize her.
यं पुत्रमष्टमं राजंस्त्वं पुरा मय्यविन्दथाः। स चायं पुरुषव्याघ्र सर्वास्त्रविदनुत्तमः
O tiger among men, the eighth son whom you once begot in me—he is this one, supreme among those skilled in all weapons.
गृहाणेमं महाराज मया संवर्धितं सुतम्। आदाय पुरुषव्याघ्र नयस्वैनं गृहं विभो
Take this son, great king, whom I have raised; receive him, O mighty one, and bring him home.
वेदानधिजगे साङ्गान्वसिष्ठादेष वीर्यवान्। कृतास्त्रः परमेष्वासो देवराजसमो युधि
He has learned the Vedas with their branches from Vasishtha, is accomplished in weapons, a supreme archer, and equal to the king of the gods in battle.
सुराणां संमतो नित्यमसुराणां च भारत। उशा वेद यच्छास्त्रमयं तद्वेद सर्वशः
He is always esteemed among the gods and the asuras, O Bharata; whatever knowledge of weapons Ushanas possesses, he knows entirely.
तथैवाङ्गिरसः पुत्रः सुरसुरनमस्कृतः। यद्वेद शास्त्रं तच्चापि कृत्स्नमस्मिन्प्रतिष्ठितम्
Likewise, whatever the son of Angiras, revered by gods and asuras, knows of the science of arms, all that is established in him.
तव पुत्रे महाबाहौ साङ्गोपाङ्गं महात्मनि। ऋषिः परैरनाधृष्यो जामदग्न्यः प्रतापवान्
In your son, mighty-armed and great-souled, is established the complete and detailed knowledge; the sage Jamadagni, unconquerable by others, is matched by his energy.
यदस्त्रं वेद राभश्च तदेतस्मिन्प्रतिष्ठितम्। महेष्वासमिमं राजन्राजधर्मार्थकोविदम्
Whatever weapon Rābha knows, that too is established in him; this great archer, O king, is skilled in royal duties and the pursuit of wealth.
इत्युक्त्वा सा महाभागा तत्रैवान्तरधीयत।' तयैवं समनुज्ञातः पुत्रमादाय शान्तनुः
Having spoken thus, that illustrious one vanished there; thus permitted by her, Shantanu took his son.
भ्राजमानं यथाऽदित्यमाययौ स्वपुरं प्रति। पौरवस्तु पुरीं गत्वा पुरन्दरपुरोपमाम्
Shining like the sun, he returned towards his own city; and the descendant of Puru, having entered the city, which was like Indra's own, ...
सर्वकामसमृद्धार्थं मेने सोत्मानमात्मना। पौरवेषु ततः पुत्रं राज्यार्थमभयप्रदम्
He considered himself to have attained all desired prosperity, and then, for the sake of the kingdom among the Pauravas, he appointed his son as the giver of safety.
गुणवन्तं महात्मानं यौवराज्येऽभ्यषेचयत्। पौरवाञ्शान्तनोः पुत्रः पितरं च महायशाः
The illustrious son of Shantanu, endowed with virtues and great soul, installed his father as crown prince among the Pauravas.