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.
शंतनुर्नाम राजर्षिस्तस्य भार्या भवानघे
O faultless one, there is a royal sage named Shantanu; you will be his wife.
एवं शापविनिर्मोक्षो भविता नात्र संशयः
Thus, release from the curse will occur; there is no doubt about this.
गंगाऽपि निर्गता देवी चिंत्यमाना पुनः पुनः
The goddess Ganga, being repeatedly contemplated, also descended.
शंतनुर्नाम राजर्षिर्धर्मात्मा सत्यसंगरः
There was a royal sage named Shantanu, righteous and steadfast in truth.
तदा च सलिलात्तस्मान्निःसृता वरवर्णिनी
Then, from the waters, emerged a woman of exquisite beauty.
अंके स्थितां स्त्रियं चाह मापृष्ट्वा किं वरानने
Without asking, he addressed the woman seated on his lap, O lovely-faced one.
सा तमाह वरारोहा यदर्थं राजसत्तम
She, possessing splendid form, spoke to him: For what purpose, O foremost of kings?
तामवोचदथो राजा रूपयौवनशालिनीम् 2.3.
The king then spoke to her, radiant with beauty and youth.
स्थिता दक्षिणमूरुं मे त्वमाश्लिष्य च भामिनि
You, O charming one, are seated embracing my right thigh.
स्नुषा मे भव कल्याणि जाते पुत्रेऽतिवाञ्छिते
Become my daughter-in-law, O auspicious one, when a greatly desired son is born.