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.
तथेत्युक्ता गता सा वै कामिनी दिव्य दर्शना
She replied, 'So be it,' and departed, that passionate woman of divine appearance.
ततः कालेन कियता जाते पुत्रे वयस्विनि
After some time, O youthful one, a son was born.
वृत्तांतं कथयित्वा तु पुनरूचे निजं सुतम्
Having narrated the events, he again spoke to his own son.
कामयाना वरारोहा ता भजेथा मनोरमाम्
Desiring her, O splendid one, you should take that enchanting woman.
धर्मपत्नीं च तां कृत्वा भविता त्वं सुखी किल एवं संदिश्य तं पुत्रं भूपतिः प्रीतमानसः
Making her your lawful wife, you shall indeed be happy; thus instructing his son, the king, with a joyful heart.
दत्त्वा राज्यश्रियं सर्वां वनं राजा विवेश ह
Having bestowed all royal splendor, the king entered the forest.
जगाम स्वर्गं राजाऽसौ देहं त्यक्त्वा स्वतेजसा
That king, abandoning his body by his own power, ascended to heaven.
प्रजां वै पालयामास धर्मदंडो महीपतिः ।। 2.3.
The king, wielding the rod of righteousness, protected his subjects.
देवव्रतोत्पतिवर्णनम् सूत उवाच बभूव मृगयाशीलो निघ्नन्व्याघ्रान्मृगान्नृपः
Description of Devavrata's birth. Sūta said: The king was fond of hunting, slaying tigers and deer.
स कदाचिद्वने घोरे गंगातीरे चरन्नृपः
Once, the king wandered in the dreadful forest along the bank of the Ganges.