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)...
किं करोम्यद्य वंशो मे कथं स्यात्सुस्थिरो भुवि
What shall I do today? How will my lineage remain secure on earth?
निवारयामि यदि मां त्यक्त्वा यास्यति सर्वथा
If I restrain her, she will certainly leave me behind and go.
न वारयामि चेदद्य सर्वथेयं जले क्षिपेत्
If I do not restrain her today, she will surely cast this one into the water.
संभवेऽपि च दुष्टेयं रक्षयेद्वा न रक्षयेत्
Even if a child is born, she is wicked—she may protect it or she may not.
वंशस्य रक्षणार्थं हि यत्नः कार्यः परो मया
For the sake of preserving my lineage, I must make every possible effort.
मुनेर्येन हृता धेनुर्नंदिनी स्त्रीजितेन हि
Just as the sage’s cow Nandini was taken by Strijit,
दासोऽस्मि तव तन्वंगि प्रार्थयामि शुचिस्मिते
I am your servant, slender-waisted one; I beseech you, O pure-smiling lady.
हिंसिताः सप्त पुत्रा मे करभोरु त्वया शुभाः 2.4.
O beautiful one with thighs like elephant trunks, my seven sons have been harmed by you.
अन्यद्वै प्रार्थितं तेऽद्य ददाम्यथ च दुर्लभम्
Ask for something else today; I will grant even what is difficult to obtain.
अपुत्रस्य गतिर्नास्ति स्वर्गे वेदविदो विदुः
Those learned in the Vedas say that a man without a son has no path to heaven.