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.
अधिरोह रथं मातर्गच्छावः स्वगृहानिति। एवमुक्त्वा तु भीष्मस्तां रथमारोप्य भामिनीं
Climb into the chariot, Mother, let us go to our home—thus speaking, Bhishma placed the radiant lady upon the chariot.
आगम्य हास्तिनपुरं शान्तनोः संन्यवेदयत्। तस्य तद्दुष्करं कर्म प्रशशंसुर्नाराधिपाः
Arriving at Hastinapura, he informed Shantanu of all that had happened; the kings praised that difficult deed of his.
समेताश्च पृथक्चैव भीष्मोयमिति चाब्रुवन्। तच्छ्रुत्वा दुष्करं कर्म कृतं भीष्मेण शान्तनुः
Gathered together and separately, they said, 'This is Bhishma.' Hearing of that difficult act accomplished by Bhishma,
बभूव दुःखितो राजा चिररात्राय भारत। स तेन कर्मणा सूनोः प्रीतस्तस्मै वरं ददौ
King Shantanu became sorrowful for many days and nights, O Bharata; yet, pleased by his son's deed, he granted him a boon.
स्वच्छन्दमरणं तुष्टो ददौ तस्मै महात्मने। न ते मृत्युः प्रभविता यावज्जीवितुमिच्छसि
Pleased, he gave that great-souled one the boon of choosing his own time of death: 'Death shall not overpower you as long as you wish to live.'
त्वत्तो ह्यनुज्ञां संप्राप्य मृत्युः प्रभविताऽनघ
'Only upon receiving your permission, O sinless one, shall death have power over you.'
चेदिराजसुतां ज्ञात्वा दाशराजेन वर्धिताम्। विवाहं कारयामास शास्त्रदृष्टेन कर्मणा
Knowing that the daughter of the king of Chedi had been raised by the fisherman-king, he arranged her marriage according to scriptural rites.
ततो विवाहे निर्वृत्ते स राजा शान्तनुर्नृपः। तां कन्यां रूपसंपन्नां स्वगृहे संन्यवेशयत्
After the marriage was completed, King Shantanu settled that beautiful maiden in his own house.
ततः शान्तनवो धीमान्सत्यवत्यामजायत। वीरश्चित्राङ्गदो नाम वीर्यवान्पुरुषेश्वरः
Then, from Satyavati, the wise Shantanu had a son named Chitrangada, a heroic and mighty lord among men.
अथापरं महेष्वासं सत्यवत्यां सुतं प्रभुः। विचित्रवीर्यं राजानं जनयामास वीर्यवान्
And then, from Satyavati, the powerful king begot another son, a great archer named Vichitravirya.