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.
इत्युक्ताऽपि गृहीत्वा तं यदा गंतुं समुत्सुका
Though addressed thus, when she took the child and was eager to depart,
पापिष्ठे किं करोम्यद्य निरयान्न बिभेषि किम्
O most sinful one, what shall I do today? Do you not fear the hells?
यथेच्छं गच्छ वा तिष्ठ पुत्रो मे स्थीयतामिह
Go or stay as you wish, but let my son remain here.
एवं वदति भूपाले सा गृहीत्वा सुतं शिशुम्
As the king spoke thus, she took the infant son,
पुत्रकामा सुतं त्वेनं पालयामि वने गता
Desiring a son, I will raise this child of yours, having gone to the forest.
गगां मां वै विजानीहि देवकार्यार्थमागताम्
Know me as Ganga, come here for the sake of the gods’ work.
व्रजंतु मानुषी योनिं स्थितां चिंतातुरास्तु माम्
Let me, troubled in mind, go and dwell in a human womb.
तेभ्यो दत्त्वा वरं जाता पत्नी ते नृपसत्तम 2.4.
Having granted them a boon, O best of kings, I was born as your wife.
सप्त ते वसवः पुत्रा मुक्ताः शापादृषेस्तु ते
Your seven sons, O Vasava, have been released from the curse of the sage.
गंगादत्तमिमं पुत्रं गृहाण शंतनो स्वयम्
Take this son, given by Ganga, for yourself, O Shantanu.