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.
यच्च कुर्यामहं कार्यं शुभं वा यदि वाऽशुभम्
Whatever deed I may do, whether auspicious or inauspicious,
यदा च त्वं नृपश्रेष्ठ न करिष्यसि मे वचः
And whenever, O best of kings, you do not follow my word,
स्मृत्वा जन्म वसूनां सा प्रार्थनापूर्वकं हृदि
Remembering the birth of the Vasus, she kept their request in her heart.
तथेत्युक्ताऽथ सा देवी चकार नृपतिं पतिम्
When he agreed, saying 'So be it,' that goddess made the king her husband.
नृपस्य मंदिरं प्राप्ता सुभगा वरवर्णिनी
The fortunate, radiant lady entered the king’s palace.
साऽपि तं रमयामास भावज्ञा वै वरांगना
She, the noble lady who understood his heart, delighted him.
स तया मृगशावाक्ष्या शच्या शतक्रतुर्यथा
With her, whose eyes were like those of a fawn, he was like Indra with Śacī.
रेमाते मंदिरे दिव्ये रमाना रायणाविव 2.4.
They enjoyed themselves in the splendid palace, like Lakṣmī and Nārāyaṇa.
गर्भं गंगा वसुं पुत्रं सुषुवे चारुलोचना
Gaṅgā, with beautiful eyes, gave birth to a son of the Vasus.
तृतीयेऽथ चतुर्थेऽथ पंचमे षष्ठ एव च
Then, in the third, fourth, fifth, and also the sixth (year)...