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?
जुगुप्सितमिदं कर्म स कथं कृतवान्मुनिः
How did that sage perform this act, which is so reprehensible?
व्यास शिष्योऽसि मेधाविन्संदेहं छेत्तुमर्हसि
Vyasa, you are his disciple and wise; you ought to dispel this doubt.
सूत उवाच सत्यवान्धर्मशीलश्च चक्रवर्ती नृपोत्तमः
Suta said: Satyavat, noble in righteousness, was the supreme king and emperor.
अश्वमेधसहस्रेण वाजपेयशतेन च ।। तोषयामास देवेंद्रं स्वर्गं प्राप महामतिः
With a thousand horse sacrifices and a hundred Vājapeya rituals, he pleased Indra, the lord of the gods, and attained heaven, being of great intelligence.
एकदा ब्रह्मसदनं गतो राजा महाभिषः
Once, King Mahabhisha went to the abode of Brahma.
गंगा महानदी तत्र संस्थिता सेवितुं विभुम्
There, the great river Ganga was present, serving the Lord.
अधोमुखाः सुराः सर्वे न विलोक्यैव तां स्थिताः
All the gods stood with their faces turned downward, not looking at her.
साऽपि तं प्रेमसंयुक्तं नृपं ज्ञातवती नदी 2.3.
That river, recognizing the king who was filled with love, also knew him.
ब्रह्मा चुकोप तौ तूर्णं शशाप च रुषाऽन्वितः
Brahma became angry with them both and swiftly cursed them, filled with wrath.
पुण्येन महताऽऽविष्टस्त्वमवाप्स्यसि सर्वथा
You will surely obtain embodiment, endowed with great merit.