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.
गांगेयोऽयं महाभाग भविष्यति बलाधिकः
This son of Ganga, O greatly fortunate one, will become exceedingly powerful.
दास्यामि यौवनप्राप्तं पालयित्वा महीपते
O king, after raising him until he reaches youth, I will give him to you.
इत्युक्ताऽन्तर्दधे गंगा तं गृहीत्वा च बालकम्
Having spoken thus, Ganga disappeared, taking the boy with her.
भार्याविरहजं दुःखं तथा पुत्रस्य चाद्भुतम्
He suffered the sorrow born of separation from his wife, and also the wonder concerning his son.
एवं गच्छति कालेऽथ नृपतिर्मृगयां गतः
As time passed in this way, the king then went out to hunt.
गंगातीरमनुप्राप्तः स राजा शंतनुस्तदा
At that time, King Shantanu arrived at the bank of the Ganga.
तत्रापश्यत्कुमारं तं मुंचंतं विशिखान्बहून्
There he saw that boy releasing many arrows.
तं वीक्ष्य विस्मितो राजा न स्म जानाति किंचन 2.4.
Seeing him, the king was astonished and did not know anything.
दृष्ट्वाऽप्यमानुषं कर्म बाणेषु लघुहस्तताम्
Even witnessing such superhuman skill, the boy's swiftness with arrows,
पप्रच्छ विस्मितो राजा कस्य पुत्रोऽसि चानघ
Amazed, the king asked, 'O sinless one, whose son are you?''