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?''
अंतर्धानं गतः सोऽथ राजा चिंतातुरोऽभवत्
Then he vanished from sight, and the king became troubled with anxious thoughts.
गंगां तुष्टाव भूपालः स्थितस्तत्र समाहितः
Standing there with a focused mind, the king praised Ganga.
दृष्ट्वा तां चारुसर्वांगीं बभाषे नृपतिः स्वयम्
Seeing her, beautiful in every limb, the king himself spoke.
गंगोवाच ददामि तव हस्ते तु गांगेयोऽयं महातपाः
Ganga said: 'I now place this son of Ganga, great in austerity, into your hands.'
कीर्तिकर्ता कुलस्यास्य भविता तव सुव्रतः
He will bring fame to this lineage and will be devoted to you.
वसिष्ठस्याश्रमे दिव्ये संस्थितोऽयं सुतस्तव
This son of yours has been raised in the divine hermitage of Vasishtha.
यद्वेद जामदग्न्योऽसौ तद्वेदायं सुतस्तव
What Jamadagni knew of the Vedas, your son knows as well.
इत्युक्वांऽतर्दधे गंगा दत्त्वा पुत्रं नृपाय वै 2.4.
Having spoken thus, Ganga vanished, after giving the son to the king.
समालिंग्य सुतं राजा समाघ्राय च मस्तकम्
The king embraced his son and smelled his head.
गत्वा गजाह्वयं राजा चकारोत्सवमुत्तमम्
The king went to Gajahvaya and held a splendid festival.