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.
सत्यवत्यै निवेद्याशु द्विजानाहूय सत्वरः । दैवज्ञान्वेदविदुषः पर्यपृच्छच्छुभं दिनम्
Reporting swiftly to Satyavati, he called for learned Brahmins and astrologers, and inquired about an auspicious day.
कृत्वा विवाहसम्भारं यदा वै भ्रातरं निजम् । विचित्रवीर्यं धर्मिष्ठं विवाहयति ता यदा
When all the arrangements for the marriage were made, he prepared to wed his own righteous brother, Vichitravirya, to those maidens.
तदा ज्येष्ठाप्युवाचेदं कन्यका जाह्नवीसुतम् । लज्जमानासितापाङ्गी तिसॄणां चारुलोचना
Then, the eldest of the maidens, her eyes dark and downcast with modesty, spoke these words to Bhishma, son of Ganga, in the presence of the others.
गङ्गापुत्र कुरुश्रेष्ठ धर्मज्ञ कुलदीपक । मया स्वयंवरे शाल्वो वृतोऽस्ति मनसा नृपः
O son of Ganga, best of the Kurus, knower of dharma, lamp of the lineage, in my heart I have chosen King Shalva as my husband at the svayamvara.
वृताहं तेन राज्ञा वै चित्ते प्रेमसमाकुले । यथायोग्यं कुरुष्वाद्य कुलस्यास्य परन्तप
I was chosen by that king, my heart filled with love; do what is proper today, O subduer of foes, for the sake of this family.
तेनाहं वृतपूर्वाऽस्मि त्वं च धर्मभृतां वरः । बलवानसि गाङ्गेय यथेच्छसि तथा कुरु
I was previously chosen by him, and you are foremost among the upholders of dharma; you are mighty, O son of Ganga—do as you see fit.
सूत उवाच एवमुक्तस्तया तत्र कन्यया कुरुनन्दनः । अपृच्छत् ब्राह्मणान्वृद्धान्मातरं सचिवांस्तथा
The bard said: Thus addressed by the maiden, the delight of the Kurus consulted the aged Brahmins, his mother, and the ministers.
सर्वेषां मतमाज्ञाय गाङ्गेयो धर्मवित्तमः । गच्छेति कन्यकां प्राह यथारुचि वरानने
Having learned the opinion of all, Bhishma, best knower of dharma, said to the maiden with a lovely face, 'Go as you desire.'
विसर्जिताथ सा तेन गता शाल्वनिकेतनम् । उवाच तं वरारोहा राजानं मनसेप्सितम्
Then, released by him, she went to the abode of Shalva and spoke to that king, her chosen one, who delighted her heart.
विनिर्मुक्तास्मि भीष्मेण त्वन्मनस्केति धर्मतः । आगतास्मि महाराज गृहाणाद्य करं मम
Freed by Bhishma, I am yours in heart and by dharma; I have come, great king—take my hand today.