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.
राष्ट्रं च रञ्जयामास वृत्तेन भरतर्षभ। स तथा सह पुत्रेण रममाणो महीपतिः
O bull among the Bharatas, the king delighted the kingdom by his conduct; thus, enjoying himself with his son, the lord of the earth was pleased.
वर्तयामास वर्षाणि चत्वार्यमितविक्रमः। स कदाचिद्वनं यातो यमुनामभितो नदीम्
Thus, with restrained power, he passed four years; once, he went to the forest near the river Yamuna.
महीपतिरनिर्देश्यमाजिघ्रद्गन्धमुत्तमम्। तस्य प्रभवमन्विच्छन्विचचार समन्ततः
The king perceived an indescribable, excellent fragrance; seeking its source, he wandered all around.
स ददर्श तदा कन्यां दाशानां देवरूपिणीम्। तामपृच्छत्स दृष्ट्वैव कन्यामसितलोचनाम्
Then he saw a maiden of the Dashas, divine in form; seeing her, the dark-eyed maiden, he questioned her.
कस्य त्वमसि का चासि किं च भीरु चिकीर्षसि। साऽब्रवीद्दाशकन्याऽस्मि धर्मार्थं वाहये तरिम्
"Whose are you? Who are you? And what do you intend, O timid one?" She replied, "I am the daughter of a Dasha; I ferry people across for the sake of righteousness and livelihood."
पितुर्नियोगाद्भद्रं ते दाशराज्ञो महात्मनः। रूपमाधुर्यगन्धैस्तां संयुक्तां देवरूपिणीम्
"By the command of my father, O blessed one, the great-souled king of the Dashas,"—she, endowed with beauty, sweetness, and fragrance, divine in form—
समीक्ष्य राजा दाशेयीं कामयामास शान्तनुः। स गत्वा पितरं तस्या वरयामास तां तदा
Seeing the Dasha maiden, King Shantanu desired her; going to her father, he then sought her in marriage.
पर्यपृच्छत्ततस्तस्याः पितरं सोत्मकारणात्। स च तं प्रत्युवाचेदं दाशराजो महीपतिम्
Then, for the sake of his son, he questioned her father; and the king of the Dashas replied to him thus.
जातमात्रैव मे देया वराय वरवर्णिनी। हृदि कामस्तु मे कश्चित्तं निबोध जनेश्वर
"My daughter, radiant as a celestial, is to be given to a suitor as soon as she is born; but, O lord of men, hear the desire that is in my heart."
यदीमां धर्मपत्नीं त्वं मत्तः प्रार्थयसेऽनघ। सत्यवागसि सत्येन समयं कुरु मे ततः
"If you, O sinless one, seek this maiden as your lawful wife from me, who speak the truth, then make a vow to me by truth."