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.
उच्चैश्श्रवः समाधत्स्व प्रतिज्ञां जनसंसदि। ऋषयो वाथ वा देवा भूतान्यन्तर्हितानि च
Proclaim your vow aloud in the assembly, whether sages, gods, or hidden beings are present.
यानि यानीह शृण्वन्तु नास्ति वक्तास्य मत्समः।' दाशराज निबोधेदं वचनं मे नृपोत्तम
Let all who are here listen—whatever beings there are; there is no one equal to me in speaking for him. O king of the fishermen, attend to my word.
शृण्वतां भूमिपालानां यद्ब्रवीमि पितुः कृते। राज्यं तावत्पूर्वमेव मया त्यक्तं नराधिपाः
In the hearing of the assembled kings, I declare what I say for my father’s sake: I have already renounced the kingdom, O lords of men.
अपत्यहेतोरपि च करिष्येऽद्य विनिश्चयम्। अद्यप्रभृति मे दाश ब्रह्मचर्यं भविष्यति
Even for the sake of offspring, today I make this resolve: from this day forth, O fisherman, I will observe celibacy.
अपुत्रस्यापि मे लोका भविष्यन्त्यक्षया दिवि। `न हि जन्मप्रभृत्युक्तं मया किंचिदिहानृतम्
Even without a son, my worlds in heaven will remain undiminished; for from birth I have never spoken a falsehood here.
यावत्प्राणा ध्रियन्ते वै मम देहं समाश्रिताः। तावन्न जनयिष्यामि पित्रे कन्यां प्रयच्छ मे
As long as life remains in my body, I shall not beget a child; give me the maiden for my father.
परित्यजाम्यहं राज्यं मैथुनं चापि सर्वशः। ऊर्ध्वरेता भविष्यामि दाश सत्यं ब्रवीमि ते
I renounce the kingdom and all sexual union entirely; I shall remain ever-celibate. O fisherman, I speak the truth to you.
तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा संप्रहृष्टतनूरुहः। ददानीत्येव तं दाशो धर्मात्मा प्रत्यभाषत
Hearing these words, his hair standing on end with joy, the righteous fisherman replied, 'I will give her.'
ततोन्तरिक्षेऽप्सरसो देवाः सर्षिगणास्तदा। `तद्दृष्टा दुष्करं कर्म प्रशशंसुश्च पार्थिवाः
Then in the sky, the Apsaras, gods, and hosts of sages, and the kings who witnessed that difficult deed, praised him.
अभ्यवर्षन्त कुसुमैर्भीष्मोऽयमिति चाब्रुवन्। ततः स पितुरर्थाय तामुवाच यशस्विनीम्
They showered flowers and said, 'He is Bhishma!' Then, for his father's sake, he spoke to the illustrious maiden.