त्वया निवृत्तमेतत्तु यन्मां चोदयसि प्रियम्। अन्यथा प्रतिपन्नं मां नाशयेद्धर्मविप्लवः
'This, that you urge me to do what is dear, has been rejected by you yourself. Otherwise, if I acted differently, it would destroy righteousness.'
प्राप्य दक्षिणमूरुं मे त्वमाश्लिष्टा वराङ्गने। अपत्यानां स्नुषाणां च भीरु विद्ध्येतदासनम्
'O beautiful-limbed one, you have sat upon my right thigh; know, timid lady, that this seat is for daughters-in-law and descendants.'
सव्योरुः कामिनीभोग्यस्त्वया स च विवर्जितः। तस्मादहं नाचरिष्ये त्वयि कामं वराङ्गने
My left thigh is meant for the enjoyment of women, but you have avoided it; therefore, O beautiful-limbed one, I will not approach you with desire.
स्नुषा मे भव सुश्रोणि पुत्रार्थं त्वां वृणोम्यहम्। स्नुषापक्षं हि वामोरु त्वमागम्य समाश्रिता
Become my daughter-in-law, O lovely-hipped one; I choose you for the sake of a son. By coming to me, O slender-waisted lady, you have taken the side of the daughter-in-law.
एवमप्यस्तु धर्मज्ञ संयुज्येयं सुतेन ते। त्वद्भक्त्या तु भजिष्यामि प्रख्यातं भारतं कुलम्
So be it, O knower of righteousness; let me be united with your son. Through devotion to you, I will honor the illustrious Bharata lineage.
पृथिव्यां पार्थिवा ये च तेषां यूयं परायणम्। गुणा न हि मया शक्या वक्तुं वर्षशतैरपि
You are the refuge for all the kings on earth; your virtues cannot be described by me, not even in a hundred years.
कुलस्य ये वः प्रथितास्तत्साधुत्वमथोत्तमम्। समयेनेह धर्मज्ञ आचरेयं च यद्विभो
The renowned excellence and supreme virtue of your lineage is well known; O knower of righteousness, I will act here according to the agreement, O lord.
तत्सर्वमेव पुत्रस्ते न मीमांसेत कर्हिचित्। एवं वसन्ती पुत्रे ते वर्धयिष्याम्यहं रतिम्
Let your son never doubt any of this at any time; thus, dwelling here, I will foster affection for your son.
तथेत्युक्त्वा तु सा राजंस्तत्रैवान्तरधीयत। `अदृश्या राजसिंहस्य पश्यतः साऽभवत्तदा
Having said 'so be it,' she vanished there itself, O king; she became invisible to the lion among kings, even as he watched.
पुत्रजन्म प्रतीक्षन्वै स राजा तदधारयत्। एतस्मिन्नेव काले तु प्रतीपः क्षत्रियर्षभः
The king waited for the birth of a son, holding this in mind; and at that very time, Pratipa, the bull among Kshatriyas—
तपस्तेपे सुतस्यार्थे सभार्यः कुरुनन्दन। `प्रतीपस्य तु भार्यायां गर्भः श्रीमानवर्धत
Pratipa performed austerities with his wife for the sake of a son, O joy of the Kurus; and in Pratipa's wife, a glorious embryo grew.
श्रिया परमया युक्तः शरच्छुक्ले यथा शशी। ततस्तु दशमे मासि प्राजायत रविप्रभम्
Endowed with supreme splendor, like the moon in the bright half of autumn, then in the tenth month, a son was born, radiant like the sun.
कुमारं देवगर्भाभं प्रतीपमहिषी तदा।' तयोः समभवत्पुत्रो वृद्धयोः स महाभिषक्
At that time, Pratipa's queen gave birth to a son resembling one born of the gods; to those aged parents, a son was born, a great healer.
शान्तस्य जज्ञे सन्तानस्तस्मादासीत्स शान्तनुः। `तस्य जातस्य कृत्यानि प्रतीपोऽकारयत्प्रभुः
From Shantanu, a lineage was born to Shantanu; thus he was called Shantanu. When he was born, Pratipa, the lord, performed the required rites.
जातकर्मादि विप्रेण वेदोक्तैः कर्मभिस्तदा। नामकर्म च विप्रास्तु चक्रुः परमसत्कृतम्
At that time, the priest performed the birth and other rites for him, as prescribed in the Vedas; and the naming ceremony was conducted by the Brahmins with great honor.
शान्तनोरवनीपाल वेदोक्तैः कर्मभिस्तदा। ततः संवर्धितो राजा शान्तनुर्लोकधार्मिकः
Shantanu, the protector of the earth, was then raised with the rites prescribed in the Vedas; thus the king Shantanu, righteous in conduct, was brought up.
स तु लेभे परां निष्ठां प्राप्य धर्मभृतां वरः। धनुर्वेदे च वेदे च गतिं स परमा गतः
He attained the highest excellence, being the foremost among upholders of righteousness; in the science of archery and in the Vedas, he reached the highest attainment.
यौवनं चापि संप्राप्तः कुमारो वदतां वरः।' संस्मरंश्चाक्षयाँल्लोकान्विजातान्स्वेन कर्मणा
When the prince, best among speakers, reached youth, remembering the imperishable worlds attained by his own deeds—
पुण्यकर्मकृदेवासीच्छान्तनुः कुरुसत्तमः। प्रतीपः शान्तनुं पुत्रं यौवनस्थं ततोऽन्वशात्
Shantanu, the best of the Kurus, became a doer of virtuous deeds; then Pratipa instructed his son Shantanu, who was in the prime of youth.
पुरा स्त्री मां समभ्यागाच्छान्तनो भूतये तव। त्वामाव्रजेद्यदि रहः सा पुत्र वरवर्णिनी
Once, a woman approached me, O Shantanu, for your sake; if that beautiful-complexioned lady comes to you in private, my son—
कामयानाऽभिरूपाढ्या दिव्यस्त्री पुत्रकाम्यया। सा त्वया नानुयोक्तव्या कासि कस्यासि चाङ्गने
A beautiful and richly adorned celestial woman, desiring a son, should not be questioned by you—'Who are you, whose daughter are you, O lady?'
यच्च कुर्यान्न तत्कर्म सा प्रष्टव्या त्वयाऽनघ। सन्नियोगाद्भजन्तीं तां भजेथा इत्युवाच तम्
And whatever action she may do, O sinless one, you must not ask her about it; you should accept her as she is, united with you—so he spoke to him.
एवं संदिश्य तनयं प्रतीपः शान्तनुं तदा। स्वे च राज्येऽभिषिच्यैनं वनं राजा विवेश ह
Having thus instructed his son, Pratipa then consecrated Shantanu as king in his own realm and the king entered the forest.
स राजा शान्तनुर्धीमान्देवराजसमद्युतिः। `बभूव सर्वलोकस्य सत्यवागिति संमतः
That king Shantanu, wise and radiant as the lord of the gods, became renowned among all people as one who always spoke the truth.
पीनस्कन्धो महाबाहुर्मत्तवारणविक्रमः। अन्वितः परिपूर्णार्थैः सर्वैर्नृपतिलक्षणैः
Broad-shouldered, mighty-armed, with the strength of a maddened elephant, he possessed all the marks of a king and was endowed with every accomplishment.
अमात्यलक्षणोपेतः क्षत्रधर्मविशेषवित्। वशे चक्रे महीमेको विजित्य वसुधाधिपान्
Endowed with the qualities of a good minister and expert in the special duties of kshatriyas, he alone brought the earth under his control, having conquered all other rulers.
वेदानागमयत्कृत्स्नान्राजधर्मांश्च सर्वशः। ईजे च बहुभिः सत्रैः क्रतुभिर्भूरिदक्षिणैः
He caused the Vedas to be fully studied and all the royal duties to be observed; he performed many sacrifices and rituals, giving abundant gifts.
तर्पयामास विप्रांश्च वेदाध्ययनकोविदान्। रत्नैरुच्चावचैर्गोभिर्ग्रामैरश्वैर्धनैरपि
He satisfied learned brahmins, skilled in Vedic study, with jewels of every kind, with cows, villages, horses, and wealth.
वयोरूपेण संपन्नः पौरुषेण बलेन च। ऐश्वर्येण प्रतापेन विक्रमेण धनेन च
He excelled in age and beauty, in manliness and strength, in wealth, majesty, valor, and riches.
वर्तमानश्च सत्येन सर्वधर्मविशारदः। तं महीपं महीपाला राजराजमकुर्वत
Living in truth and expert in all dharma, the kings made him, the great ruler, king of kings.