सोऽस्मि संशयमापन्नस्त्वयि शान्ते कथं भवेत्। इति ते कारणं तात दुःखस्योक्तमशेषतः
Therefore, I am troubled with doubt as to how there will be peace in you, O Shantanu; thus, my son, I have told you fully the reason for my sorrow.
ततस्तत्कारणं राज्ञो ज्ञात्वा सर्वमशेषतः। देवव्रतो महाबुद्धिः प्रज्ञया चान्वचिन्तयत्
Then, having learned the entire reason for the king's sorrow, Devavrata, of great intelligence, reflected with wisdom.
अपत्यफलसंयुक्तमेतच्छ्रुत्वा पितुर्वचः। सूतं भूयोऽपि संतप्त आह्वयामास वै पितुः
Hearing his father's words, filled with the concern for the fruit of offspring, the afflicted Devavrata again summoned his father's charioteer.
सूतस्तु कुरुमुख्यस्य उपयातस्तदाज्ञया। तमुवाच महाप्राज्ञो भीष्मो वै सारथिं पितुः
The charioteer, by the order of the foremost of the Kurus, approached; and Bhishma, the wise one, spoke to his father's charioteer.
त्वं सारथे पितुर्मह्यं सखासि रथधूर्गतः। अपि जानासि यदि वै कस्यां भावो नृपस्य तु
You are my father's charioteer and my friend, skilled in driving the chariot; if you know, tell me truly in whose heart the king's affection lies.
दाशकन्या कुरुश्रेष्ठ तत्र भावः पितुर्गतः
O best of the Kurus, the king's affection was fixed upon the daughter of the ferryman.
वृतः स नरदेवेन तदा वचनमब्रवीत्। योऽस्यां पुमान्भवेज्जातः स राजा त्वदनन्तरम्
Chosen by the king, he then spoke these words: 'The son born of her shall become king after you.'
नाकामयत तं दातुं पिता तव वरं तदा। स चापि निश्चयस्तस्य न च दद्यां ततोऽन्यथा
At that time, your father did not wish to grant that boon; yet he was firm in his resolve, and would not give her on any other terms.
ततः स पितुराज्ञाय मतं सम्यगवेक्ष्य च। ज्ञात्वा च मानसं पुत्रः प्रययौ यमुनां प्रति
Then, having understood his father's command and carefully considered his father's will, the son, knowing his mind, set out toward the Yamuna.
क्षत्रियैः सह धर्मात्मा पुराणैर्धर्मचारिभिः। उच्चैश्श्रवसमागम्य कन्यां वव्रे पितुः स्वयम्
Accompanied by righteous Kshatriyas of old who followed dharma, he met Ucchaihshravas and sought the maiden for his father himself.
तं दाशः प्रतिजग्राह विधिवत्प्रतिपूज्य च। अब्रवीच्चैनमासीनं राजसंसदि भारत
The ferryman duly received him with honor, and, seating him in the royal assembly, spoke to him, O Bharata.
राज्यशुल्का प्रदातव्या कन्येयं याचतां वर। अपत्यं यद्भवेदस्याः स राजाऽस्तु पितुः परम्
'A royal bride-price must be given for this maiden by those who seek her; the son born of her shall be king after her father.'
त्वमेवात्र महाबाहो शान्तनोर्वंशवर्धनः। पुत्रः शस्त्रभृतां श्रेष्ठः किं नु वक्ष्यामि ते वचः
'You alone, O mighty-armed, are the increaser of Shantanu's line, the best of warriors; what can I say to you?'
कुमारिकायाः शुल्कार्थं किंचिद्वक्ष्यामि भारत।' कोहि संबन्धखं श्लाघ्यमीप्सितं यौनमीदृशम्। अतिक्रामन्न तप्येत साक्षादपि शतक्रतुः
'For the sake of the maiden's bride-price, I will say something, O Bharata: who would desire such a connection, so difficult and blameworthy, and not regret it—even Indra himself would not overstep it without remorse.'
अपत्यं चैतदार्यस्य यो युष्माकं समो गुणैः। यस्य शुक्रात्सत्यवती संभूता वरवर्णिनी
'The son born to this noble lady, equal to you in virtues, from whose seed Satyavati, of excellent complexion, has arisen—'
तेन मे बहुशस्तात पिता ते परिकीर्तितः। अर्हः सत्यवतीं वोढुं धर्मज्ञः स नराधिपः
'By him, O dear one, your father has often been praised; that king, knower of dharma, is worthy to wed Satyavati.'
इयं सत्यवती देवी पितरं तेऽब्रवीत्तथा। अर्थितश्चापिराजर्षिः प्रत्याख्यातः पुरा मया
This Satyavati, the noble lady, spoke thus to your father; though the royal sage sought her, I once refused him.
कन्यापितृत्वात्किंचित्तु वक्ष्यामि त्वां नराधिप। बलवत्सपत्नतामत्र दोषं पश्यामि केवलम्
'Yet, as the girl's father, I must say something to you, O king: I see only the fault of strong rivalry here.'
भूयांसं त्वयि पश्यामि तद्दोषमपराजित।' यस्य हि त्वं सपत्नः स्या गन्धर्वस्यासुरस्य वा
'I see this fault as greater in you, O unconquered one; for whoever has you as a rival, whether Gandharva or Asura—'
न स जातु चिरं जीवेत्त्वयि क्रुद्धे परन्तप। एतावानत्र दोषो हि नान्यः कश्चन पार्थिव
'He would never live long if you were angered, O subduer of foes; this is the only fault here, O king, there is no other.'
एतज्जानीहि भद्रं ते दानादाने परन्तप
'Know this, and may good be yours, O subduer of foes, regarding the giving and withholding.'
एवमुक्तस्तु गाङ्गेयस्तद्युक्तं प्रत्यभाषत। शृण्वतां भूमिपालानां पितुरर्थाय भारत
Thus addressed, Ganga's son replied fittingly, in the presence of the assembled kings, for the sake of his father, O Bharata.
इदं वचनमाधत्स्व नास्ति वक्तास्य मत्समः। अन्यो जातो न जनिता न च कश्चन संप्रति
Hold to this word: there is no one equal to me in speaking for him; no other has been born, nor is anyone born now.
एवमेतत्करिष्यामि यथा त्वमनुभाषसे। योऽस्यां जनिष्यते पुत्रः स नो राजा भविष्यति
So shall I act, just as you have spoken; the son who will be born to her shall become our king.
इत्युक्तः पुनरेव स्म तं दाशः प्रत्यभाषत। चिकीर्षुर्दुष्करं कर्म राज्यार्थे भरतर्षभ
Thus addressed, the fisherman replied again, desiring to accomplish a difficult deed for the sake of the kingdom, O bull among the Bharatas.
त्वमेव नाथः संप्राप्तः शान्तनोरमितद्युते। कन्यायाश्चैव धर्मात्मन्प्रभुर्दानाय चेश्वरः
You alone, O radiant one, have come as the protector for Shantanu and for the maiden; you are the master in righteousness and the lord in the matter of the gift.
इदं तु वचनं सौम्य कार्यं चैव निबोध मे। कौमारिकाणां शीलेन वक्ष्याम्यहमरिन्दम
But now, gentle one, listen to this word and duty of mine; I will speak, O subduer of foes, according to the conduct of maidens.
यत्त्वया सत्यवत्यर्थे सत्यधर्मपरायण। राजमध्ये प्रतिज्ञातमनुरूपं तवैव तत्
What you have promised in the assembly for the sake of Satyavati, devoted to truth and righteousness, is indeed fitting for you.
नान्यथा तन्महाबाहो संशयोऽत्र न कश्चन। तवापत्यं भवेद्यत्तु तत्र नः संशयो महान्
It cannot be otherwise, O mighty-armed one; there is no doubt in this. But as for your offspring, there is great doubt for us there.
तस्यैतन्मतमाज्ञाय सत्यधर्मपरायणः। प्रत्यजानात्तदा राजन्पितुः प्रियचिकीर्षया
Hearing this opinion, the one devoted to truth and righteousness then accepted it, O king, wishing to please his father.