सम्प्राप्तोऽहं महाभाग ज्ञात्वा तां दुःखितां सतीम् । आश्वासिता मयात्यर्थं भीष्मेण च महात्मना
I arrived, O illustrious one, knowing her to be sorrowful and virtuous; I comforted her greatly, along with the great-souled Bhīṣma.
विचित्रवीर्यस्त्वपरो वीर्यवान्पृथिवीपतिः । कृतो भीष्मेण भ्राता वै स्त्रीराज्यविमुखेन ह
Vicitravīrya, another brother, powerful and lord of the earth, was made king by Bhīṣma, who was averse to the rule of women.
काशिराजसुते रम्ये विजित्य पृथिवीपतीन् । भीष्मेणानीय स्वबलात्कन्यके द्वे समर्पिते
Bhīṣma, conquering the kings of the earth, brought the two beautiful daughters of the king of Kāśī by force and gave them to him.
सत्यवत्यै शुभे काले विवाहः परिकल्पितः । भ्रातुर्विचित्रवीर्यस्य तदाहं सुखितोऽभवम्
At an auspicious time, a marriage was arranged for Satyavatī; for my brother Vicitravīrya, then I was happy.
पुनः सोऽपि मृतो भ्राता यक्ष्मणा पीडितो भृशम् । अनपत्यो युवा धन्वी माता मे दुःखिताभवत्
Again, that brother died, afflicted greatly by consumption; he was young, childless, and a bowman; my mother became sorrowful.
काशिराजसुते द्वे तु मृतं दृष्ट्वा पतिं तदा । पतिव्रताधर्मपरे भगिन्यौ सम्बभूवतुः
The two daughters of the king of Kāśī, seeing their husband dead, then became devoted to the dharma of chastity, both sisters.
ते ऊचतुः सतीं श्वश्रूं रुदतीं भृशदुःखिताम् । पतिना सहगामिन्यौ भविष्यावो हुताशने
They said to their mother-in-law, Sati, who was weeping and deeply distressed: 'We will follow our husband and enter the fire together with him.'
पुत्रेण सह ते श्वश्रु स्वर्गे गत्वाथ नन्दने । सुखेन विहरिष्यावः पतिना सह संयुते
With your son, O mother-in-law, we shall go to heaven, to Nandana, and there enjoy happiness united with our husband.
निवारिते तदा मात्रा वध्वौ तस्मान्महोद्यमात् । स्नेहभावं समाश्रित्य भीष्मस्य वचनात्तदा
Then, when their mother restrained the two brides from that great resolve, out of affection and following Bhishma's advice,
गाङ्गेयेन च मात्रा मे सम्मन्त्र्य च परस्परम् । कृत्वौर्ध्वदैहिकं सर्वं संस्मृतोऽहं गजाह्वये
After Ganga's son and my mother had consulted together, and all the funeral rites were performed, I was remembered at Gajahvaya.
स्मृतमात्रस्तु मात्रा वै ज्ञात्वा भावं मनोगतम् । तरसैवागतश्चाहं नगरं नागसाह्वयम्
As soon as my mother remembered me and understood her inner feeling, I quickly arrived at the city called Nagasahvaya.
प्रणम्य मातरं मूर्ध्ना संस्थितोऽथ कृताञ्जलिः । तामब्रवं सुतप्ताङ्गीं पुत्रशोकेन कर्शिताम्
Bowing my head to my mother, I stood there with joined palms and spoke to her, whose body was scorched and emaciated by grief for her son.
मातस्त्वया किमाहूतो मनसाहं तपस्विनि । आज्ञापय महत्कार्ये दासोऽस्मि करवाणि किम्
'Mother, why have you called me in your mind, O austere one? Command me in this great matter—what shall I do? I am your servant.'
त्वं मे तीर्थं परं मातर्देवश्च प्रथितः परः । आगतश्चिन्तितश्चात्र ब्रूहि कृत्यं तव प्रियम्
'You are my supreme holy place, mother, and renowned as the highest deity. I have come, as you wished and thought of me; tell me your cherished task.'
व्यास उवाच इत्युक्त्वाहं स्थितस्तत्र मातुरग्रे यदा मुने । तदा सा मामुवाचेदं पश्यन्ती भीष्ममन्तिके
Vyasa said: Having spoken thus, I stood there before my mother, O sage, and then she addressed me, glancing at Bhishma nearby.
पुत्र तेऽद्य मृतो भ्राता पीडितो राजयक्ष्मणा । तेनाहं दुःखिता जाता वंशच्छेदभयादिह
'My son, today your brother has died, afflicted by a royal disease. Because of this, I am distressed here, fearing the extinction of our lineage.'
तस्मात्त्वमद्य मेधाविन् मयाहूतः समाधिना । गाङ्गेयस्य मतेनात्र पाराशर्यार्थसिद्धये
'Therefore, O wise one, I have called you today through meditation, with Ganga's son consenting, to fulfill the purpose of the son of Parashara.'
कुलं स्थापय नष्टं त्वं शन्तनोर्नामकारणात् । रक्ष मां दुःखतः कृष्ण वंशच्छेदोद्भवाद्द्रुतम्
'Restore the lost lineage of Shantanu for the sake of his name. Protect me, O Krishna, from sorrow and the imminent extinction of our line.'
काशिराजसुते भार्ये भ्रातुस्तव यवीयसः । साधोर्विचित्रवीर्यस्य रूपयौवनभूषिते
'The wives of your younger brother, daughters of the king of Kashi, are virtuous and adorned with beauty and youth, the spouses of Vichitravirya.'
ताभ्यां सङ्गम्य मेधाविन् पुत्रोत्पादनकं कुरु । रक्षस्व भारतं वंशं नात्र दोषोऽस्ति कर्हिचित्
'Unite with those two, O wise one, to beget sons. Preserve the Bharata lineage—there is no fault in this at any time.'
व्यास उवाच इति मातुर्वचः श्रुत्वा जातश्चिन्तातुरो ह्यहम् । लज्जयाऽऽकुलचित्तस्तामब्रवं विनयानतः
Vyasa said: Hearing my mother's words, I became troubled with anxious thoughts, and, my mind disturbed by shame, I spoke to her, bowing humbly.
मातः पापाधिकं कर्म परदाराभिमर्शनम् । ज्ञात्वा धर्मपथं सम्यक्करोमि कथमादरात्
'Mother, to approach another's wife is a most sinful act. Knowing the path of righteousness, how can I do this with respect?'
तथा यवीयसो भ्रातुर्वधूः कन्या प्रकीर्तिता । व्यभिचारं कथं कुर्यामधीत्य निगमानहम्
'Moreover, the wife of my younger brother is regarded as a maiden. How can I commit such a transgression, having studied the scriptures?'
अन्यायेन न कर्तव्यं सर्वथा कुलरक्षणम् । न तरन्ति हि संसारात्पितरः पापकारिणः
'By no means should the protection of the lineage be done unjustly, for fathers who commit sin do not cross over from this world.'
लोकानामुपदेष्टा यः पुराणानां प्रवर्तकः । स कथं कुत्सितं कर्म ज्ञात्वा कुर्यान्महाद्भुतम्
How could he, who is the teacher of the worlds and the promoter of the ancient scriptures, knowingly perform a reprehensible deed? This is truly astonishing.
पुनरुक्तो ह्यहं मात्रा रुदत्या भृशमन्तिके । पुत्रशोकातितप्ता या वंशरक्षणकाम्यया
Again, I was urged by my mother, who was weeping intensely nearby, tormented by the grief of her son and desiring to preserve the lineage.
पाराशर्य न ते दोषो वचनान्मम पुत्रक । गुरूणां वचनं तथ्यं सदोषमपि मानवैः
O son of Parāśara, you are not at fault, for you acted on my words; the words of elders, even if flawed, are to be followed by people.
कर्तव्यमविचार्यैव शिष्टाचारप्रमाणतः । वचनं कुरु मे पुत्र न ते दोषोऽस्ति मानद
One must act without hesitation, guided by the conduct of the virtuous; therefore, my son, do as I say—there is no fault in you, O bestower of honor.
पुत्रस्य जननं कृत्वा सुखिनी कुरु मातरम् । विशेषेण तु सन्तप्तां मग्नां शोकार्णवे सुत
By begetting a son, make your mother happy, especially as she is deeply afflicted and submerged in an ocean of sorrow, O child.
इति तां ब्रुवतीं श्रुत्वा तदा सुरनदीसुतः । मामुवाच विशेषज्ञः सूक्ष्मधर्मस्य निर्णये
Hearing her speak thus, the son of the river goddess then addressed me, being one skilled in discerning subtle righteousness.