पाराशर्यो महायोगी स बभूव महानृषिः। कन्यापुत्रो मम पुरा द्वैपायन इति श्रुतः
That son of Parashara became a great yogi and a mighty sage; my son, born of a maiden, was known as Dvaipayana.
यो व्यस्य वेदांश्चतुरस्तपसा भगवानृषिः। लोके व्यासत्वमापेदे कार्ष्ण्यात्कृष्णत्वमेव च
That blessed sage, who divided the four Vedas through austerity, attained the status of Vyasa in the world, and, because of his dark complexion, was called Krishna.
सत्यवादी शमपरस्तपस्वी दग्धकिल्बिषः। सद्योत्पन्नः स तु महान्सह पित्रा ततो गतः
Truthful, self-controlled, ascetic, and free from sin, he was born instantly, and then departed together with his father.
स नियुक्तो मया व्यक्तं त्वया चाप्रतिमद्युतिः। भ्रातुः क्षेत्रेषु कल्याणमपत्यं जनयिष्यति
He was clearly appointed by me and by you, O one of unmatched splendor, to produce good offspring in the fields of your brother.
स हि मामुक्तवांस्तत्र स्मरेः कृच्छ्रेषु मामिति। तं स्मरिष्ये महाबाहो यदि भीष्म त्वमिच्छसि
He told me there, 'Remember me in times of hardship.' I will remember him, O mighty-armed Bhishma, if you desire.
तव ह्यनुमते भीष्म नियतं स महातपाः। विचित्रवीर्यक्षेत्रेषु पुत्रानुत्पादयिष्यति
With your consent, Bhishma, that great ascetic will surely beget sons in the fields of Vichitravirya.
महर्षेः कीर्तने तस्य भीष्मः प्राञ्जलिरब्रवीत्। `देशकालौ च जानासि क्रियतामर्थसिद्धये
At the mention of that great sage, Bhishma, with joined palms, said, 'You know the proper place and time; let it be done for the fulfillment of the purpose.'
अर्थमर्थानुबन्धं च धर्मं धर्मानुबन्धनम्। कामं कामानुबन्धं च विपरीतान्पृथक्पृथक्
The purpose, its connection to other purposes, righteousness, its connection to righteousness, desire, its connection to desire, and their opposites, each separately.
यो विचिन्त्य धिया धीरो व्यवस्यति स बुद्धिमान्। तदिदं धर्मयुक्तं च हितं चैव कुलस्य नः
He who, reflecting with intelligence, decides with resolve—he is truly wise; and this which is bound to righteousness and beneficial to our family.
उक्तं भवत्या यच्छ्रेयस्तन्मह्यं रोचते भृशम्
What you have spoken for our welfare greatly pleases me.
कृष्णद्वैपायनं काली चिन्तयामास वै मुनिम्। स वेदान्विब्रुवन्धीमान्मातुर्विज्ञाय चिन्तितम्
Kṛṣṇa Dvaipāyana, the sage, considered his mother Kālī’s thoughts; that wise one, knowing her mind, appeared while expounding the Vedas.
प्रादुर्बभूवाविदितः क्षणेन कुरुनन्दन। तस्मै पूजां ततः कृत्वा सुताय विधिपूर्वकम्
He manifested there, unseen, in a moment, O joy of the Kurus; after that, she performed the proper rites of worship for her son.
परिष्वज्य च बाहुभ्यां प्रस्रवैरभ्यषिञ्चत। मुमोच बाष्पं दाशेयी पुत्रं दृष्ट्वा चिरस्य तु
Embracing him with her arms, she bathed him with flowing tears; seeing her son after so long, the daughter of Daśa shed tears.
तामद्भिः परिषिच्यार्तां महर्षिरभिवाद्य च। मातरं पूर्वजः पुत्रो व्यासो वचनमब्रवीत्
Sprinkling her, who was distressed, with water, and offering her respects, the great sage, her eldest son Vyāsa, spoke these words to his mother.
भवत्या यदभिप्रेतं तदहं कर्तुमागतः। शाधि मां धर्मतत्त्वज्ञे करवाणि प्रियं तव
What you desire, for that I have come; command me, knower of righteousness, and I will do what pleases you.
तस्मै पूजां ततोऽकार्षीत्पुरोधाः परमर्षये। स च तां प्रतिजग्राह विधिमन्मन्त्रपूर्वकम्
Then the officiating priest performed worship for that supreme sage; and he accepted it according to proper rite and mantra.
पूजितो मन्त्रपूर्वं तु विधिवत्प्रीतिमाप सः। तमासनगतं माता पृष्ट्वा कुशलमव्ययम्
Thus worshipped with mantras and proper rites, he was pleased; and as he sat, his mother asked after his unchanging welfare.
सत्यवत्यथ वीक्ष्यैनमुवाचेदमनन्तरम्। मातापित्रोः प्रजायन्ते पुत्राः साधारणाः कवे
Then Satyavatī, seeing him, immediately spoke: 'O sage, sons are born equally from both mother and father.'
तेषां पिता यथा स्वीमी तथा माता न संशयः। विधानविहितः स त्वं यथा मे प्रथमः सुतः
As the father is their own, so too is the mother, without doubt; by ordinance you are my eldest son.
विचित्रवीर्यो ब्रह्मर्षे तथा मेऽवरजः सुतः। यथैव पितृतो भीष्मस्तथा त्वमपि मातृतः
O brāhmaṇa sage, Vicitravīrya is likewise my younger son; as Bhīṣma is from the father, so you are from the mother.
भ्राता विचित्रवीर्यस्य यथा वा पुत्र मन्यसे। अयं शान्तनवः सत्यं पालयन्सत्यविक्रमः
As you consider yourself a brother or son to Vicitravīrya, so is this truthful son of Śāntanu, upholding truth with firm resolve.
बुद्धिं न कुरुतेऽपत्ये तथा राज्याऽनुशासने। स त्वं व्यपेक्षया भ्रातुः सन्तानाय कुलस्य च
He does not act regarding offspring or the rule of the kingdom; therefore, for the sake of your brother’s line and our family, you must consider this.
भीष्मस्य चास्य वचनान्नियोगाच्च ममानघ। अनुक्रोशाच्च भूतानां सर्वेषां रक्षणाय च
By the words of Bhīṣma, by my command, O sinless one, and out of compassion for all beings and for their protection,
आनृशंस्याच्च यद्ब्रूयां तच्छ्रुत्वा कर्तुमर्हसि। यवीयसस्व भ्रातुर्भार्ये सुरसुतोपमे
And out of kindness, whatever I say, having heard it, you should do; with the wives of your younger brother, who are like daughters of the gods.
रूपयौवनसंपन्ने पुत्रकामे च धर्मतः। तयोरुत्पादयापत्यं समर्थो ह्यसि पुत्रक
Endowed with beauty and youth, and desiring sons in accordance with righteousness; you are capable, my son, of begetting offspring on them.
अनुरूपं कुलस्यास्य संतत्याः प्रसवस्य च
Suitable for the continuation of this family and for the birth of heirs.
तथा तव महाप्राज्ञे धर्मे प्रणिहिता मतिः। तस्मादहं त्वन्नियोगाद्धर्ममुद्दिश्य कारणम्
In the same way, O wise one, your mind is fixed on righteousness; therefore, at your command, I will act for the sake of dharma.
ईप्सितं ते करिष्यामि दृष्टं ह्येतत्सनातनम्। भ्रातुः पुत्रान्प्रदास्यामि मित्रावरुणयोः समान्
I will do what you desire, for this ancient practice has been seen; I will give sons to your brother, equal to Mitra and Varuna.
व्रतं चरेतां ते देव्यौ निर्दिष्टमिह यन्मया। संवत्सरं यथान्यायं ततः शुद्धे भविष्यतः
Let your two queens observe the vow I have prescribed here; for one year, as is proper, and then they will be purified.
सद्यो यथा प्रपद्येते देव्यौ गर्भं तथा कुरु
Just as the two queens are ready, so let them conceive at once.