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."
समयेन प्रदद्यां ते कन्यामहमिमां नृप। न हि मे त्वत्समः कश्चिद्वरो जातु भविष्यति
"By a vow I would give you this maiden, O king; for no suitor equal to you will ever arise for her."
श्रुत्वा तव वरं दाश व्यवस्येयमहं तव। दातव्यं चेत्प्रदास्यामि न त्वदेयं कथंचन
"Having heard your request, O Dasha, I will decide; if it is to be given, I will give, but it cannot be given otherwise."
अस्यां जायेत यः पुत्रः स राजा पृथिवीपते। त्वदूर्ध्वमभिषेक्तव्यो नान्यः कश्चन पार्थिव
"The son who is born from her, O lord of the earth, must be anointed king after you; no other, O king."
नाकामयत तं दातुं वरं दाशाय शान्तनुः। शरीरजेन तीव्रेण दह्यमानोऽपि भारत
Shantanu did not wish to grant that boon to the Dasha, O Bharata, even though he was burning intensely with bodily desire.
स चिन्तयन्नेव तदा दाशकन्यां महीपतिः। प्रत्ययाद्धास्तिनपुरं कामोपहतचेतनः
Thus, while thinking of the Dasha maiden, the king, his mind overcome by desire, returned to Hastinapura.
ततः कदाचिच्छोचन्तं शान्तनुं ध्यानमास्थितम्। पुत्रो देवव्रतोऽभ्येत्य पितरं वाक्यमब्रवीत्
Then, once, as Shantanu sat grieving and absorbed in thought, his son Devavrata approached and spoke to his father.
सर्वतो भवतः क्षेमं विधेयाः सर्वपार्थिवाः। तत्किमर्थमिहाभीक्ष्णं परिशोचसि दुःखितः
All the kings are obedient to you, and everywhere there is safety for you; so why do you grieve so deeply and lament again and again?
ध्यायन्निव च मां राजन्नाभिभाषसि किंचन। न चाश्वेन विनिर्यासि विवर्णो हरिणः कृशः
O King, you seem lost in thought and do not speak a word to me; you do not go out with your horse, your color is faded, and you have grown thin like a deer.
व्याधिमिच्छामि ते ज्ञातुं प्रतिकुर्यां हि तत्र वै
I wish to know what afflicts you, so that I may act accordingly.
विवर्तुं नाशकत्तस्मै पिता पुत्रस्य शान्तनुः।' एवमुक्तः स पुत्रेण शान्तनुः प्रत्यभाषत
Shantanu, the father, was unable to reply to his son; but thus addressed by his son, Shantanu spoke.