सूत उवाच शन्तनुर्नाम राजर्षिर्मृगयानिरतः सदा । वनं जगाम निघ्नन्वै मृगांश्च महिषान् रुरून्
Suta said: Shantanu, a royal sage, always engaged in hunting, went to the forest, killing deer, buffaloes, and antelopes.
चत्वार्येव तु वर्षाणि पुत्रेण सह भूपतिः । रममाणः सुखं प्राप कुमारेण यथा हरः
For four years, the king enjoyed happiness with his son, just as Shiva does with his child.
एकदा विक्षिपन्बाणान्विनिघ्नन्खड्गसूकरान् । स कदाचिद्वनं प्राप्तः कालिन्दीं सरितां वराम्
Once, while shooting arrows and killing boars and wild pigs, he entered a certain forest and reached the river Kalindi, the best of streams.
महीपतिरनिर्देश्यमाजिघ्रद्गन्धमुत्तमम् । तस्य प्रभवमन्विच्छन्सजञ्चचार वनं तदा
The king perceived an indescribable, excellent fragrance; seeking its source, he wandered through the forest.
न मन्दारस्य गन्धोऽयं मृगनाभिमदस्य न । चम्पकस्य न मालत्या न केतक्या मनोहरः
This fragrance is not of mandāra, nor of musk from the deer, nor of campaka, nor of mālatī, nor of ketakī, so delightful.
न चानुभूतपूर्वोऽयं वाति गन्धवहः शुभः । कुतोऽयमेति वायुर्वै मम घ्राणविमोहनः
Nor has such a pure, fragrant breeze ever been experienced before; from where does this wind come, so bewildering to my sense of smell?
इति सञ्चिन्त्यमानोऽसौ बभ्राम वनमण्डलम् । मोहितो गन्धलोभेन शन्तनुः पवनानुगः
Thus reflecting, Shantanu, overcome by desire for the fragrance, wandered through the forest, following the wind.
स ददर्श नदीतीरे संस्थितां चारुदर्शनाम् । शृङ्गाररहितां कान्तां सुस्थितां मलिनाम्बराम्
There, on the riverbank, he saw a woman of lovely appearance, modest, beautiful, standing firm, dressed in soiled garments.
दृष्ट्वा तामसितापाङ्गीं विस्मितः स महीपतिः । अस्या देहस्य गन्धोऽयमिति सञ्जातनिश्चयः
Seeing her, with dark, enchanting eyes, the king was astonished and became certain: this fragrance comes from her body.
तदद्भुतं रूपमतीव सुन्दरं तथैव गन्धोऽखिललोकसम्मतः । वयश्च तादृङ् नवयौवनं शुभं दृष्ट्वैव राजा किल विस्मितोऽभवत्
That wondrous form was exceedingly beautiful, and likewise the fragrance, esteemed by all the world; her age was that of fresh youth—seeing her, the king was truly amazed.
केयं कुतो वा समुपागताधुना देवाङ्गना वा किमु मानुषी वा । गन्धर्वपुत्री किल नागकन्या जाने कथं गन्धवतीं नु कामिनीम्
Who is she, and from where has she now come? Is she a celestial maiden or a human woman? Perhaps a daughter of the Gandharvas, or a Nāga maiden? How is she, a fragrant and desirable woman?
सञ्चिन्त्य चैवं मनसा नृपोऽसौ न निश्चयं प्राप यदा ततः स्वयम् । गङ्गां स्मरन्कामवशं गतोऽथ पप्रच्छ कान्तां तटसंस्थितां च
Thinking thus in his mind, the king could not reach a conclusion; then, remembering Gaṅgā and overcome by desire, he questioned the lovely woman standing on the riverbank.
कासि प्रिये कस्य सुतासि कस्मा- दिह स्थिता त्वं विजने वरोरु । एकाकिनी किं वद चारुनेत्रे विवाहिता वा न विवाहितासि
Who are you, dear one? Whose daughter are you? For what reason are you here, O beautiful-thighed one, alone in this deserted place? Tell me, charming-eyed one, are you married or unmarried?
सञ्जातकामोऽहमरालनेत्रे त्वां वीक्ष्य कान्तां च मनोरमां च । ब्रूहि प्रिये यासि चिकीर्षसि त्वं किं चेति सर्वं मम विस्तरेण
Desire has arisen in me, O wide-eyed one, seeing you, lovely and enchanting; tell me, dear, what you intend to do, where you are going—tell me everything in detail.
इत्येवमुक्ता सुदती नृपेण प्रोवाच तं सस्मितमम्बुजेक्षणा । दाशस्य पुत्रीं त्वमवेहि राजन् कन्यां पितुः शासनसंस्थितां च
Thus addressed by the king, the sweet-smiling, lotus-eyed maiden replied to him with a smile: 'Know me, O king, as the daughter of a ferryman, a maiden abiding by her father's command.'
तरीमिमां धर्मनिमित्तमेव संवाहयामीह जले नृपेन्द्र । पिता गृहे मेऽद्य गतोऽस्ति कामं सत्यं ब्रवीम्यर्थपते तवाग्रे
O king of men, I am ferrying this boat here for the sake of duty, on the water; my father has gone home today—this is the truth I speak before you, O lord of wealth.
इत्येवमुक्त्वा विरराम बाला कामातुरस्तां नृपतिर्बभाषे । कुरुप्रवीरं कुरु मां पतिं त्वं वृथा न गच्छेन्ननु यौवनं ते
Having spoken thus, the maiden fell silent; but the king, overcome by desire, spoke to her: 'Make me, O noble lady, the foremost of the Kurus, your husband—let not your youth go to waste in vain.'
न चास्ति पत्नी मम वै द्वितीया त्वं धर्मपत्नी भव मे मृगाक्षि । दासोऽस्मि तेऽहं वशगः सदैव मनोभवस्तापयति प्रिये माम्
I have no other wife; be my lawful wife, doe-eyed one. I am your servant, always under your control; O dear one, the god of love torments me.
गता प्रिया मां परिहृत्य कान्ता नान्या वृताहं विधुरोऽस्मि कान्ते । त्वां वीक्ष्य सर्वावयवातिरम्यां मनो हि जातं विवशं मदीयम्
My beloved has left me and gone away; I have chosen no other, and I am forlorn, O beautiful one. Seeing you, so lovely in every limb, my mind has become utterly captivated.
श्रुत्वामृतास्वादरसं नृपस्य वचोऽतिरम्यं खलु दाशकन्या । उवाच तं सात्त्विकभावयुक्ता कृत्वातिधैर्यं नृपतिं सुगन्धा
Hearing the king's words, sweet as nectar and exceedingly delightful, the ferryman's daughter, endowed with a pure disposition, composed herself with great courage and spoke to the king, Sugandhā.
यदात्थ राजन् मयि तत्तथैव मन्येऽहमेतत्तु यथा वचस्ते । नास्मि स्वतन्त्रा त्वमवेहि कामं दाता पिता मेऽर्थय तं त्वमाशु
O king, what you have said to me, I consider just so, as your words declare; but know truly, I am not independent—my father is the giver; seek his consent quickly.
न स्वैरिणीहास्म्यपि दाशपुत्री पितुर्वशेऽहं सततं चरामि । स चेद्ददाति प्रथितः पिता मे गृहाण पाणिं वशगास्मि तेऽहम्
Though I am the daughter of a ferryman, I am not free; I always act under my father's authority. If my renowned father gives his consent, take my hand—I am yours to command.
मनोभवस्त्वां नृप किं दुनोति यथा पुनर्मां नवयौवनां च । दुनोति तत्रापि हि रक्षणीया धृतिः कुलाचारपरम्परासु
O King, why does the god of love trouble you as he does me, now that I am in the bloom of youth? Even in such matters, one must preserve self-control and uphold the traditions of the family.
सूत उवाच इत्याकर्ण्य वचस्तस्या नृपति काममोहितः । गतो दाशपतेर्गेहं तस्या याचनहेतवे
Sūta said: Hearing her words, the king, overcome by desire, went to the house of the ferryman to make his request.
दृष्ट्वा नृपतिमायान्तं दाशोऽतिविस्मयं गतः । प्रणामं नृपतेः कृत्वा कृताञ्जलिरभाषत
Seeing the king approaching, the ferryman was greatly astonished; bowing with joined palms, he spoke to the king.
दाश उवाच दासोऽस्मि तव भूपाल कृतार्थोऽहं तवागमे । आज्ञां देहि महाराज यदर्थमिह चागमः
The ferryman said: I am your servant, O king; your arrival has fulfilled my wishes. Command me, great king—what is the purpose of your coming here?
राजोवाच धर्मपत्नीं करिष्यामि सुतामेतां तवानघ । त्वया चेद्दीयते मह्यं सत्यमेतद्ब्रवीमि ते
The king said: O sinless one, if you give her to me, I will make your daughter my lawful wife. I speak this truthfully to you.
दाश उवाच कन्यारत्नं मदीयं चेद्यत्त्वं प्रार्थयसे नृप । दातव्यं तु प्रदास्यामि न त्वदेयं कदाचन
The ferryman said: O king, if you desire my precious daughter, I am indeed ready to give her; but she is not to be given to you under ordinary terms.
तस्याः पुत्रो महाराज त्वदन्ते पृथिवीपतिः । सर्वथा चाभिषेक्तव्यो नान्यः पुत्रस्तवेति वै
Her son, O great king, must become king after you; he alone must be anointed as your successor—no other son of yours.
सूत उवाच श्रुत्वावाक्यं तु दाशस्य राजा चिन्तातुरोऽभवत् । गाङ्गेयं मनसा कृत्वा नोवाच नृपतिस्तदा
Sūta said: Hearing the ferryman's words, the king became troubled with anxiety; thinking of Gāṅgeya, he did not reply at that time.