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.
मृते पुत्रेऽतिदुःखार्ता जाता सत्यवती तदा । कारयामास पुत्रस्य प्रेतकार्याणि मन्त्रिभिः
When her son died, Satyavatī was overwhelmed with grief; she had the funeral rites for her son performed by the ministers.
भीष्ममाह तदैकान्ते वचनं चातिदुःखिता । राज्यं कुरु महाभाग पितुस्ते शन्तनोः सुत
In solitude, Bhīṣma was addressed by her, greatly distressed: 'Take up the kingdom, O fortunate one, you are the son of Śantanu, your father.'
भ्रातुर्भार्यां गृहाण त्वं वंशञ्च परिरक्षय । यथा न नाशमायाति ययातेर्वंश इत्युत
'Take your brother's wife and preserve the lineage, so that the dynasty does not perish, just as the lineage of Yayāti was preserved.'
भीष्म उवाच प्रतिज्ञा मे श्रुता मातः पित्रर्थे या मया कृता । नाहं राज्यं करिष्यामि न चाहं दारसंग्रहम्
Bhīṣma said: 'Mother, you have heard the vow I made for my father; I will not rule the kingdom, nor will I take a wife.'
सूत उवाच तदा चिन्तातुरा जाता कथं वंशो भवेदिति । नालसाद्धि सुखं मह्यं समुत्पन्ने ह्यराजके
The charioteer said: At that time, she became anxious, wondering how the lineage would continue; happiness was not possible for me when the kingdom was without a ruler.
गाङ्गेयस्तामुवाचेदं मा चिन्तां कुरु भामिनि । पुत्रं विचित्रवीर्यस्य क्षेत्रजं चोपपादय
Gāṅgeya said to her: 'Do not worry, O beautiful one; produce a son for Vicitravīrya by means of a kṣetraja.'
कुलीनं द्विजमाहूय वध्वा सह नियोजय । नात्र दोषोऽस्ति वेदेऽपि कुलरक्षाविधौ किल
Call a noble Brahmin and appoint him together with the wives; there is no fault in this, even according to the Vedas, for the protection of the lineage.
पौत्रं चैवं समुत्पाद्य राज्यं देहि शुचिस्मिते । अहं च पालयिष्यामि तस्य शासनमेव हि
Thus producing a grandson, grant him the kingdom, O pure-smiling one; I will indeed govern according to his command.
तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं तस्य कानीनं स्वसुतं मुनिम् । जगाम मनसा व्यासं द्वैपायनमकल्मषम्
Hearing his words, she thought in her mind of her own son, the sage Vyāsa, the sinless son of Kānīna.
स्मृतमात्रस्ततो व्यास आजगाम स तापसः । कृत्वा प्रणामं मात्रेऽथ संस्थितो दीप्तिमान्मुनिः
As soon as she remembered, Vyāsa, that ascetic, came; after bowing to his mother, the radiant sage stood there.