देशे पुण्यतमे चैव महर्षिभिरलङ्कृते
In the most sacred land, adorned by great sages,
उत्तरे यामुने तीरे प्रतिष्ठाने महायशाः
on the northern bank of the Yamunā, at Pratiṣṭhāna, renowned far and wide,
गन्धर्वलोके विदिता आयुर्द्धीमानमावसुः
in the world of the Gandharvas, Āyus, Dhīmān, and Āvasu became known.
अमाव सोस्तु वै जाते भीमो राजाथ विश्वचित्
To Amāvasu was born Bhīma, the king, and then Viśvacit.
विद्वांस्तु काञ्चनस्यापि सुहोत्रो ऽभून्महाबल
The learned and mighty Suhotra was born from Kāñcana.
प्रतिगत्य ततो गङ्गा वितते य५कर्मणि
Then, having returned, Gaṅgā was present at the extended sacrifice.
गङ्गया प्लावितं दृष्ट्वा यज्ञवाटं समन्ततः
Seeing the sacrificial enclosure entirely flooded by Gaṅgā,
तदाराजर्षिणा पीतां गङ्गां दृष्ट्वा सुरर्षयः
At that time, seeing Gaṅgā drunk by the royal sage, the divine sages—
यौवनाश्वस्य पौत्रीं तु कावेरीं जह्नुरावहत्
Jahnu took Kāverī, the granddaughter of Yauvanāśva,
कावेरीं सरितां श्रेष्ठ जह्नुभार्यामनिन्दिताम्
Kāverī, the best of rivers, blameless and wife of Jahnu,
कावेर्यां जनयामास अजकस्तस्य चात्मजः
From Kāverī was born Ajaka, his own son.
बभूव मृग शीलः सुशस्तस्यात्मजः स्मृतः
His son, known as Mṛgaśīla, was virtuous.
कुशांबः कुशानाभश्च अमूर्तरयमो वसुः
Kuśāmba, Kuśānābha, Amūrtarayas, and Vasu—
पूर्णे वर्षसहस्रे वै शतक्रतुरपश्यत
When a thousand years were complete, Indra beheld him.
समर्थः पुत्रजनने स्वयमेवास्य शाश्वतः
He himself, eternal, was capable of producing sons.
गाधिर्नामाभवत्पुत्रः कौशिकः पाकशासनः
A son named Gādhi was born to him, the Kauśika, subduer of enemies.
पूर्वं कन्या महाभागा नाम्ना सत्यवती शुभा
Previously, a highly fortunate daughter named Satyavatī, auspicious,
तस्याः प्रीतस्तु वै भर्त्ता भार्गवो भृगुनन्दनः
Her husband, the Bhārgava, descendant of Bhṛgu, was pleased with her.
अथावोचत्प्रियां तत्र ऋचीको भार्गवस्तदा
Then, there, Ṛcīka the Bhārgava spoke to his beloved.
तस्या जनिष्यते पुत्रो दीप्तिमान्क्षत्त्रियर्षभः
A son will be born to her, radiant, a foremost kṣatriya sage.
तवापि पुत्रं कल्याणि धृतिमन्तं तपोधनम्
And to you also, O blessed one, a son endowed with fortitude and ascetic wealth.
एवमुक्त्वा तु तां भार्यामृचीको भृगुनन्दनः
Thus having spoken to his wife, Ṛcīka, descendant of Bhṛgu—
गाधिः सदारस्तु तदा ऋचीकाश्रममभ्यगात्
At that time, Gādhi, together with his wife, went to the hermitage of Ṛcīka.
चरुद्वयं गृहीत्वा तु ऋषेः स्त्यवती तदा
Then Satyavatī took the two offerings prepared by the sage.
माता तु तस्यै दैवैन दुहित्रे स्वचरुं ददौ
By divine arrangement, her mother gave her own offering to her daughter.
अथ सत्यवती गर्भं क्षत्रियान्तकरं शुभम्
Then Satyavatī conceived a pure child, destined to bring an end to the kṣatriyas.
तामृचीकस्ततो दृष्ट्वा योगेनाप्यवमृश्य च
Ṛcīka, seeing this and discerning it through his yogic insight,
मात्रासि वञ्चिता भद्रे चरुव्यत्यासहेतुना
said, 'O blessed one, you have been deceived by your mother due to the exchange of offerings.'
माता जनिष्यते चापि तथा भूतं तपोधनम्
'Your mother will also give birth accordingly, O ascetic one.'
एवमुक्ता महाभागा भर्त्रा सत्यवती तदा
Thus addressed by her husband, Satyavatī, the illustrious one, at that time,