तानेतान्वीक्ष्य पुत्रं च लोकान्तरितमप्युत । व्यासः शोकसमाक्रान्तो गमनायाकरोन्मतिम्
Seeing them and his son departed from the world, Vyasa, overwhelmed by sorrow, resolved to depart.
सस्मार मनसा व्यासस्तां निषादसुतां शुभाम् । मातरं जाह्नवीतीरे मुक्तां शोकसमन्विताम्
Vyasa remembered in his mind that virtuous Nishada maiden, his mother, freed from sorrow, dwelling on the banks of the Jahnavi.
स्मृत्वा सत्यवतीं व्यासस्त्यक्त्वा तं पर्वतोत्तमम् । आजगाम महातेजा जन्मस्थानं स्वकं मुनिः
Recalling Satyavati, Vyasa, abandoning that lofty mountain, the great sage of brilliant energy, went to his own birthplace.
द्वीपं प्राप्याथ पप्रच्छ क्व गता सा वरानना । निषादास्तं समाचख्युर्दत्ता राज्ञे तु कन्यका
Having reached the island, he inquired, 'Where has that beautiful-faced woman gone?' The Nishadas informed him: 'The maiden was given to the king.'
दाशराजोऽपि सम्पूज्य व्यासं प्रीतिपुरःसरम् । स्वागतेनाभिसत्कृत्य प्रोवाच विहिताञ्जलिः
The King of the Dashas, having respectfully worshipped Vyasa with great affection, welcomed him with due honor and addressed him with joined palms.
दाशराज उवाच अद्य मे सफलं जन्म पावितं नः कुलं मुने । देवानामपि दुर्दर्शं यज्जातं तव दर्शनम्
The King of the Dashas said: Today my birth has borne fruit, and our lineage is purified, O Sage, for even the gods rarely behold what I have seen—your presence.
यदर्थमागतोऽसि त्वं तद्ब्रूहि द्विजसत्तम । अपि दारा धनं पुत्रास्त्वदायत्तमिदं विभो
For whatever purpose you have come, O best of twice-born, please tell me that. My wives, wealth, and sons—all this is at your disposal, O illustrious one.
सरस्वत्यास्तटे रम्ये चकाराश्रममण्डलम् । व्यासस्तपःसमायुक्तस्तत्रैवास समाहितः
On the beautiful bank of the Sarasvati, Vyasa established a hermitage, and there, absorbed in austerities, he resided with focused mind.
सत्यवत्याः सुतौ जातौ शन्तनोरमितद्युतेः । मत्वा तौ भ्रातरौ व्यासः सुखमाप वने स्थितः
When the two sons of Satyavati, radiant descendants of Shantanu, were born, Vyasa, considering them brothers, lived contentedly in the forest.
चित्राङ्गदः प्रथमजो रूपवाञ्छत्रुतापनः । बभूव नृपतेः पुत्रः सर्वलक्षणसंयुतः
Chitrangada, the eldest, handsome and a subduer of foes, became the king's son, endowed with all auspicious marks.
विचित्रवीर्यनामासौ द्वितीयः समजायत । सोऽपि सर्वगुणोपेतः शन्तनोः सुखवर्धनः
The second son, named Vichitravirya, was also born; he too was endowed with every virtue and brought happiness to Shantanu.
गाङ्गेयः प्रथमस्तस्य महावीरो बलाधिकः । तथैव तौ सुतौ जातौ सत्यवत्यां महाबलौ
The first among them was Ganga's son, a mighty hero of superior strength; likewise, those two sons born to Satyavati were also exceedingly powerful.
शन्तनुस्तान्सुतान्वीक्ष्य सर्वलक्षणसंयुतान् । अमंस्ताजय्यमात्मानं देवादीनां महामनाः
Seeing his sons endowed with all auspicious marks, Shantanu, great of mind, considered himself invincible even among the gods.
अथ कालेन कियता शन्तनुः कालपर्ययात् । तत्याज देहं धर्मात्मा देही जीर्णमिवाम्बरम्
Then, after some time, Shantanu, righteous in soul, relinquished his body according to the course of time, as one casts off worn-out garments.
कालधर्मगते राज्ञि भीष्मश्चक्रे विधानतः । प्रेतकार्याणि सर्वाणि दानानि विविधानि च
When the king had departed according to the law of time, Bhishma performed all the funeral rites and various charitable acts as prescribed.
चित्राङ्गदं ततो राज्ये स्थापयामास वीर्यवान् । स्वयं न कृतवान् राज्यं तस्माद्देवव्रतोऽभवत्
Then he installed the valiant Chitrangada in the kingdom; but he himself did not assume the throne, and thus Devavrata became known as Bhishma.
चित्राङ्गदस्तु वीर्येण प्रमत्तः परदुःखदः । बभूव बलवान्वीरः सत्यवत्यात्मजः शुचिः
Chitrangada, son of Satyavati, pure and powerful, became reckless in his strength and brought suffering to others.
अथैकदा महाबाहुः सैन्येन महतावृतः । प्रचचार वनोद्देशात्पश्यन्वध्यान्मृगान् रुरून्
Once, that mighty-armed one, surrounded by a great army, roamed about the forest, observing and hunting deer and antelopes.
चित्राङ्गदस्तु गन्धर्वो दृष्ट्वा तं मार्गगं नृपम् । उत्ततारान्तिकं भूमेर्विमानवरमास्थितः
There, the Gandharva named Chitrangada, seeing the king traveling along the path, descended near him, seated in a splendid aerial chariot.
तत्राभूच्च महद्युद्धं तयोः सदृशवीर्ययोः । कुरुक्षेत्रे महास्थाने त्रीणि वर्षाणि तापसाः
There arose a great battle between those two, equal in valor, at the sacred field of Kurukshetra, lasting three years, O ascetics.
इन्द्रलोकमवापाशु गन्धर्वेण हतो रणे । भीष्मः श्रुत्वा चकाराशु तस्यौर्ध्वदैहिकं तदा
Struck down in battle by the Gandharva, he swiftly attained Indra's realm; Bhishma, upon hearing this, promptly performed his funeral rites.
गाङ्गेयः कृतशोकस्तु मन्त्रिभिः परिवारितः । विचित्रवीर्यनामानं राज्येशं च चकार ह
Ganga's son, though stricken with grief, surrounded by ministers, installed Vichitravirya as king.
मन्त्रिभिर्बोधिता पश्चाद्गुरुभिश्च महात्मभिः । स्वपुत्रं राज्यगं दृष्ट्वा पुत्रशोकहतापि च
After being advised by the ministers and then by the noble teachers, even though she was afflicted by grief for her son, she became satisfied upon seeing her own son ascend the throne.
सत्यवत्यतिसन्तुष्टा बभूव वरवर्णिनी । व्यासोऽपि भ्रातरं श्रुत्वा राजानं मुदितोऽभवत्
Satyavati, radiant in beauty, became exceedingly pleased; and Vyasa too rejoiced upon hearing that his brother had become king.
यौवनं परमं प्राप्तः सत्यवत्याः सुतः शुभः । चकार चिन्तां भीष्मोऽपि विवाहार्थं कनीयसः
Satyavati’s virtuous son, having attained full youth, caused Bhishma also to be concerned about arranging a marriage for his younger brother.
काशिराजसुतास्तिस्रः सर्वलक्षणसंयुताः । तेन राज्ञा विवाहार्थं स्थापिताश्च स्वयंवरे
The three daughters of the king of Kashi, endowed with all auspicious marks, were presented by their father for marriage in a svayamvara ceremony.
राजानो राजपुत्राश्च समाहूताः सहस्रशः । इच्छास्वयंवरार्थं वै पूज्यमानाः समागताः
Kings and princes by the thousands were invited and honored, all assembled desiring to win the svayamvara.
तत्र भीष्मो महातेजास्ता जहार बलेन वै । निर्मथ्य राजकं सर्वं रथेनैकेन वीर्यवान्
There, the mighty Bhishma seized those maidens by force, overcoming all the assembled kings with his single chariot and valor.
स जित्वा पार्थिवान्सर्वांस्ताश्चादाय महारथः । बाहुवीर्येण तेजस्वी ह्याससाद गजाह्वयम्
Having defeated all the rulers, that great chariot-warrior, radiant with strength of arms, took the maidens and reached Hastinapura.
मातृवद्भगिनीवच्च पुत्रीवच्चिन्तयन्किल । तिस्रः समानयामास कन्यका वामलोचनाः
Thinking of them as a mother would, or as a sister or daughter, he brought those three lovely-eyed maidens together.