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.
दृष्ट्वा तां नृपतिर्मग्नः पित्रोक्तेयं वरानना
Seeing her, the king was captivated; this is what his father had spoken, O lovely-faced one.
पिबन्मुखांबुजं तस्या न तृप्तिमग्मन्नृपः
Drinking the water from her lotus-like mouth, the king was not satisfied.
महाभिषं साऽपि मत्वा प्रेमयुक्ता बभूव ह
She too, considering him to be Mahābhiṣa, became filled with love.
वीक्ष्य तामसितापांगीं राजा प्रीतमना भृशम्
Seeing her, whose eyes were dark at the corners, the king became exceedingly pleased at heart.
देवी वा त्वं च वामोरु मानुषी वा वरानने
O slender-thighed one, whether you are a goddess or a human, O beautiful-faced lady,
याऽसि काऽसि वरारोहे भार्या मे भव सुंदरि
Whoever you are, O lovely-hipped one, become my wife, O beautiful woman.
सूत उवाच महाभिषं समुत्पन्नं नृपं जानाति जाह्नवी
Sūta said: Gāṅgā knew that the king was Mahābhiṣa reborn.
पूर्वप्रेमसमायोगाच्छ्रुत्वा वाचं नृपस्य ताम् 2.4.
Because of their previous loving union, upon hearing the king’s words,
स्त्र्युवाच का न वांछति चार्वंगी भावित्वात्सदृशं पतिम्
The woman said: What beautiful woman does not wish for a worthy husband, having contemplated it?
वाग्बंधेन नृपश्रेष्ठ चरिष्यामि पतिं किल
By a bond of words, O best of kings, I will indeed become your wife.