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.
धर्मपत्नी तवात्यन्तं भवामि नृपसत्तम । चिन्तितोऽसि मया पूर्वं त्वयाहं नात्र संशयः
O foremost of kings, I shall become your lawful wife completely; I have desired you before, and there is no doubt about this.
शाल्व उवाच गृहीता त्वं वरारोहे भीष्मेण पश्यतो मम । रथे संस्थापिता तेन न ग्रहीष्ये करं तव
Śālva said: You, O beautiful one, were seized by Bhīṣma before my very eyes; he placed you upon his chariot, so I will not take your hand.
परोच्छिष्टां च कः कन्यां गृह्णाति मतिमान्नरः । अतोऽहं न ग्रहीष्यामि त्यक्तां भीष्मेण मातृवत्
Who, possessing wisdom, accepts a maiden who has been touched by another? Therefore, I will not accept one abandoned by Bhīṣma, as if she were my mother.
रुदती विलपन्ती सा त्यक्ता तेन महात्मना । पुनर्भीष्मं समागत्य रुदती चेदमब्रवीत्
She, weeping and lamenting, was forsaken by that great-souled one; again approaching Bhīṣma, she spoke these words while crying.
शाल्वो मुक्तां त्वया वीर न गृह्णाति गृहाण माम् । धर्मज्ञोऽसि महाभाग मरिष्याम्यन्यथा ह्यहम्
Śālva will not accept me, O hero, since you have released me; accept me yourself, you who know righteousness, O fortunate one, otherwise I shall die.
भीष्म उवाच अन्यचित्तां कथं त्वां वै गृह्णामि वरवर्णिनि । पितरं स्वं वरारोहे व्रज शीघ्नं निराकुला
Bhīṣma said: How can I accept you, O beautiful one, when your mind is set on another? Go swiftly to your father, O lovely one, without distress.
तथोक्ता सा तु भीष्मेण जगाम वनमेव हि । तपश्चकार विजने तीर्थे परमपावने
Thus addressed by Bhīṣma, she went to the forest; she performed austerities in solitude at a supremely pure holy place.
द्वे भार्ये चातिरूपाढ्ये तस्य राज्ञो बभूवतुः । अम्बालिका चाम्बिका च काशिराजसुते शुभे
That king had two wives, both exceedingly beautiful: Ambālikā and Ambikā, the auspicious daughters of the king of Kāśī.
राजा विचित्रवीर्योऽसौ ताभ्यां सह महाबलः । रेमे नानाविहारैश्च गृहे चोपवने तथा
King Vicitravīrya, mighty in strength, enjoyed himself with them in various amusements, both in the house and in the gardens.
वर्षाणि नव राजेन्द्रः कुर्वन् क्रीडा मनोरमाम् । प्रापासौ मरणं भूयो गृहीतो राजयक्ष्मणा
The king spent nine years, O ruler, engaging in delightful play; then he died, having been afflicted by royal consumption.