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.
विमनस्कौ तु तौ तूर्णं निःसृतौ ब्रह्मणोंऽतिकात्
The two, distressed in mind, quickly departed from Brahma's presence.
प्रतीपं चिंतयामास पितरं पुरुवंशजम्
He began to ponder Pratipa, his father, descended from the Puru lineage.
वसिष्ठस्याऽऽश्रमं प्राप्ता रममाणा यदृच्छया
They arrived at the hermitage of Vasistha, delighting there by chance.
द्यौर्नामा तस्य भार्याऽथ नंदिनीं गां ददर्श ह
His wife was named Dyau; she saw Nandini, the cow.
द्यौस्तामाह वसिष्ठस्य गौरियं शृणु सुंदरि
Dyau said to her, 'Listen, beautiful one, this is Vasistha’s cow.'
अयुतायुर्भवेन्यूनं सदैवाऽगतयौवनः
Her lifespan will be less than ten thousand years, and she will always remain youthful.
उशीनरस्य राजर्षेः पुत्री परमशोभना
The daughter of the royal sage Ushinara was supremely beautiful.
आनयस्वाऽऽश्रमश्रेष्ठं नंदिनीं कामदां शुभाम् 2.3.
Bring to the foremost hermitage Nandini, the auspicious wish-granting cow.
मानुषेषु भवेदेका जरारोगविवर्जिता
Among humans, she alone would be free from old age and disease.
अवमन्य मुनिं दांतं पृथ्वाद्यैः सहितोऽनघः
Without fault, he, together with the earth and others, disrespected the restrained sage.
आजगामाऽऽश्रमपदं फलान्यादाय सत्वरः
He quickly came to the hermitage, bringing fruits.
मृगयामास तेजस्वी गह्वरेषु वनेष्वपि
The radiant one hunted in the thickets and forests.
वारुणिश्चापि विज्ञाय ध्यानेन वसुभिर्हृताम्
Varuna, realizing by meditation that the Vasus had taken it, also understood.
तस्मात्सर्वे जनिष्यंति मानुषेषु न संशयः
Therefore, all of them will be born among humans, without doubt.
श्रुत्वा विमनसः सर्वे प्रययुर्दुःखिताश्च ते
Hearing this, they all became dejected and departed, filled with sorrow.
प्रसादयंतस्तमृषिं वसव शरणं गताः
Seeking refuge, the Vasus approached the sage, trying to appease him.
अनुसंवत्सरं सर्वे शापमोक्षमवाप्स्यथ
After one year, you all will obtain release from the curse.
तस्माद्द्यौर्मानुषे देहे दीर्घकालं वसिष्यति 2.3.
Therefore, Dyau will remain in a human body for a long time.
ऊचुस्तां प्रणताः सर्वे शप्तां चिंतातुरां नदीम्
All of them, bowed and afflicted by the curse, spoke to the river, who was troubled in mind.
मानुषाणां च जठरं चिंतेयं महती हि नः
We are greatly concerned about entering the womb of humans.