वेदविद्भागकर्ता च ख्यातश्च भुवनत्रये । सूत उवाच इत्युक्त्वा तां वशं यातां भुक्त्वा स मुनिसत्तमः
He will be a knower of the Vedas, a divider of their branches, and famed throughout the three worlds.
जगाम तरसा स्नात्वा कालिन्दीसलिले मुनिः । सापि सत्यवती जाता सद्यो गर्भवती सती
Having spoken thus, the best of sages, after enjoying her, departed swiftly, bathing in the waters of the Kālindī.
सुषुवे यमुनाद्वीपे पुत्रं काममिवापरम् । जातमात्रस्तु तेजस्वी तामुवाच स्वमातरम्
Satyavatī immediately became pregnant, and on the island in the Yamunā, she gave birth to a son, as if another embodiment of desire.
तपस्येव मनः कृत्वा विविशे चातिवीर्यवान् । गच्छ मातर्यथाकामं गच्छाम्यहमतः परम्
As soon as he was born, the radiant child addressed his mother, having set his mind on asceticism.
तपः कर्तुं महाभागे दर्शयिष्यामि वै स्मृतः । मातर्यदा भवेत्कार्यं तव किञ्चिदनुत्तमम्
Go, mother, as you wish; I will now depart to perform austerities. Whenever you have some important need, remember me, and I will appear.
स्मर्तव्योऽहं तदा शीघ्रमागमिष्यामि भामिनि । स्वस्ति तेऽस्तु गमिष्यामि त्यक्त्वा चिन्तां सुखं वस
At that time, O beautiful one, recall me, and I will come swiftly. Farewell to you; I depart. Abandon worry and live happily.
इत्युक्त्वा निर्ययौ व्यासः सापि पित्रन्तिकं गता । द्वीपे न्यस्तस्तया बालस्तस्माद्द्वैपायनोऽभवत्
Having spoken thus, Vyāsa departed, and she went to her father's presence. Because the child was placed on the island, he became known as Dvaipāyana.
जातमात्रो जगामाशु वृद्धिं विष्ण्वंशयोगतः । तीर्थे तीर्थे कृतस्तानश्चचार तप उत्तमम्
Immediately upon birth, he grew rapidly, due to the power of Vishnu's lineage. He performed supreme austerities at various sacred places.
एवं द्वैपायनो जज्ञे सत्यवत्यां पराशरात् । चकार वेदशाखाश्च प्राप्तं ज्ञात्वा कलेर्युगम्
Thus, Dvaipāyana was born from Parāśara and Satyavatī. He arranged the branches of the Vedas, knowing the arrival of the Kali age.
वेदविस्तारकरणाद्व्यासनामाभवन्मुनिः । पुराणसंहिताश्चक्रे महाभारतमुत्तमम्
Because he expanded the Vedas, the sage became known as Vyāsa. He composed the Purāṇas and the great Mahābhārata.
शिष्यानध्यापयामास वेदान्कृत्वा विभागशः । सुमन्तुं जैमिनिं पैलं वैशम्पायनमेव च
He taught the Vedas to his disciples, dividing them accordingly: Sumantu, Jaimini, Paila, and also Vaishampayana.
असितं देवलं चैव शुकं चैव स्वमात्मजम् । सूत उवाच एतच्च कथितं सर्वं कारणं मुनिसत्तमाः
And also Asita, Devala, and his own son Shuka; thus spoke Sūta: All this, O best of sages, has been told as the reason.
सत्यवत्याः सुतस्यापि समुत्पत्तिस्तथा शुभा । संशयोऽत्र न कर्तव्यः सम्भवे मुनिसत्तमाः
The auspicious birth of Satyavati's son has likewise been described; O best of sages, there should be no doubt about his origin.
महतां चरिते चैव गुणा ग्राह्या मुनेरिति । कारणाच्च समुत्पत्तिः सत्यवत्या झषोदरे
In the lives of the great, only virtues should be accepted, O sage; and for this reason, Satyavati's birth from the belly of a fish occurred.
पराशरेण संयोगः पुनः शन्तनुना तथा । अन्यथा तु मुनेश्चित्तं कथं कामाकुलं भवेत्
Her union with Parashara, and later with Shantanu, happened thus; otherwise, how could a sage's mind become overwhelmed by desire?
अनार्यजुष्टं धर्मज्ञः कृतवान्स कथं मुनिः । सकारणेयमुत्पत्तिः कथिताश्चर्यकारिणी
How could that sage, knower of dharma, have acted in a way unworthy of the noble? This birth, with its cause, has been told—truly a wondrous event.
श्रुत्वा पापाच्च निर्मुक्तो नरो भवति सर्वथा । य एतच्छुभमाख्यानं शृणोति श्रुतिमान्नरः
Whoever hears this auspicious account, being attentive, is completely freed from sin.
न दुर्गतिमवाप्नोति सुखी भवति सर्वदा
He does not fall into misfortune and is always happy.
प्रतीपसकाशाच्छन्तनुजन्मादिवर्णनम् उत्पत्तिस्तु त्वया प्रोक्ता व्यासस्यामिततेजसः
The account of Shantanu's birth from Pratipa is now described; you have already told of the origin of Vyasa, of immeasurable splendor.
तथाऽप्येकस्तु संदेहश्चित्तेऽस्माकं सुसंस्थितः
Yet, even so, one doubt remains firmly in our minds.
माता व्यासस्य या प्रोक्ता नाम्ना सत्यवती शुभा
The mother of Vyasa, who was named Satyavati, has been mentioned.
निषादपुत्रीं स कथं वृतवान्नृपतिः स्वयम्
How did the king himself choose her, the daughter of a Nishada?
शंतनोः प्रथमा पत्नी का ह्यभूत्कथयाधुना
Who was Shantanu's first wife? Tell us now.
त्वया प्रोक्तं पुरा सूत राजा चित्रांगदः कृतः
You have previously said, O Sūta, that King Chitrangada was born.
चित्रांगदे हते वीरे कृतस्तदनुजस्तथा
When the heroic Chitrangada was killed, his younger brother was then born.
ज्येष्ठे भीष्मे स्थिते पूर्वे धमिष्ठं रूपवत्यपि
While the eldest, Bhishma, remained before, steadfast and handsome.
मृते विचित्रवीर्ये तु सत्यवत्यतिदुःखिता
When Vichitravirya died, Satyavati was greatly afflicted with sorrow.
कथं राज्यं न भीष्माय ददौ सा वरवर्णिनी 2.3.
How did that illustrious woman not give the kingdom to Bhishma?
अधर्मस्तु कृतः कस्माद्व्यासेनामिततेजसा
Why was unrighteousness committed by Vyasa, whose power is immeasurable?
पुराणकर्ता धर्मात्मा स कथं कृतवान्मुनिः
He, the author of the Purana and a soul devoted to righteousness—how did that sage act thus?