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First Skandha · Chapter 20

Chapter 20

Unit 20 of 318First Skandha · Chapter 20First Skandha · Chapter 201 source entries

First Skandha · Chapter 20

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ऋषय ऊचुः शुकस्तु परमां सिद्धिमाप्तवान्देवसत्तमः । किं चकार ततो व्यासस्तन्नो ब्रूहि सविस्तरम् ॥ १ ॥ सूत उवाच शिष्या व्यासस्य येऽप्यासन्वेदाभ्यासपरायणाः । आज्ञामादाय ते सर्वे गताः पूर्वं महीतले ॥ २ ॥ असितो देवलश्चैव वैशम्पायन एव च । जैमिनिश्च सुमन्तुश्च गताः सर्वे तपोधनाः ॥ ३ ॥ तानेतान्वीक्ष्य पुत्रं च लोकान्तरितमप्युत । व्यासः शोकसमाक्रान्तो गमनायाकरोन्मतिम् ॥ ४ ॥ सस्मार मनसा व्यासस्तां निषादसुतां शुभाम् । मातरं जाह्नवीतीरे मुक्तां शोकसमन्विताम् ॥ ५ ॥ स्मृत्वा सत्यवतीं व्यासस्त्यक्त्वा तं पर्वतोत्तमम् । आजगाम महातेजा जन्मस्थानं स्वकं मुनिः ॥ ६ ॥ द्वीपं प्राप्याथ पप्रच्छ क्व गता सा वरानना । निषादास्तं समाचख्युर्दत्ता राज्ञे तु कन्यका ॥ ७ ॥ दाशराजोऽपि सम्पूज्य व्यासं प्रीतिपुरःसरम् । स्वागतेनाभिसत्कृत्य प्रोवाच विहिताञ्जलिः ॥ ८ ॥ दाशराज उवाच अद्य मे सफलं जन्म पावितं नः कुलं मुने । देवानामपि दुर्दर्शं यज्जातं तव दर्शनम् ॥ ९ ॥ यदर्थमागतोऽसि त्वं तद्‌ब्रूहि द्विजसत्तम । अपि दारा धनं पुत्रास्त्वदायत्तमिदं विभो ॥ १० ॥ सरस्वत्यास्तटे रम्ये चकाराश्रममण्डलम् । व्यासस्तपःसमायुक्तस्तत्रैवास समाहितः ॥ ११ ॥ सत्यवत्याः सुतौ जातौ शन्तनोरमितद्युतेः । मत्वा तौ भ्रातरौ व्यासः सुखमाप वने स्थितः ॥ १२ ॥ चित्राङ्गदः प्रथमजो रूपवाञ्छत्रुतापनः । बभूव नृपतेः पुत्रः सर्वलक्षणसंयुतः ॥ १३ ॥ विचित्रवीर्यनामासौ द्वितीयः समजायत । सोऽपि सर्वगुणोपेतः शन्तनोः सुखवर्धनः ॥ १४ ॥ गाङ्गेयः प्रथमस्तस्य महावीरो बलाधिकः । तथैव तौ सुतौ जातौ सत्यवत्यां महाबलौ ॥ १५ ॥ शन्तनुस्तान्सुतान्वीक्ष्य सर्वलक्षणसंयुतान् । अमंस्ताजय्यमात्मानं देवादीनां महामनाः ॥ १६ ॥ अथ कालेन कियता शन्तनुः कालपर्ययात् । तत्याज देहं धर्मात्मा देही जीर्णमिवाम्बरम् ॥ १७ ॥ कालधर्मगते राज्ञि भीष्मश्चक्रे विधानतः । प्रेतकार्याणि सर्वाणि दानानि विविधानि च ॥ १८ ॥ चित्राङ्गदं ततो राज्ये स्थापयामास वीर्यवान् । स्वयं न कृतवान् राज्यं तस्माद्देवव्रतोऽभवत् ॥ १९ ॥ चित्राङ्गदस्तु वीर्येण प्रमत्तः परदुःखदः । बभूव बलवान्वीरः सत्यवत्यात्मजः शुचिः ॥ २० ॥ अथैकदा महाबाहुः सैन्येन महतावृतः । प्रचचार वनोद्देशात्पश्यन्वध्यान्मृगान् रुरून् ॥ २१ ॥ चित्राङ्गदस्तु गन्धर्वो दृष्ट्वा तं मार्गगं नृपम् । उत्ततारान्तिकं भूमेर्विमानवरमास्थितः ॥ २२ ॥ तत्राभूच्च महद्युद्धं तयोः सदृशवीर्ययोः । कुरुक्षेत्रे महास्थाने त्रीणि वर्षाणि तापसाः ॥ २३ ॥ इन्द्रलोकमवापाशु गन्धर्वेण हतो रणे । भीष्मः श्रुत्वा चकाराशु तस्यौर्ध्वदैहिकं तदा ॥ २४ ॥ गाङ्गेयः कृतशोकस्तु मन्त्रिभिः परिवारितः । विचित्रवीर्यनामानं राज्येशं च चकार ह ॥ २५ ॥ मन्त्रिभिर्बोधिता पश्चाद्‌गुरुभिश्च महात्मभिः । स्वपुत्रं राज्यगं दृष्ट्वा पुत्रशोकहतापि च ॥ २६ ॥ सत्यवत्यतिसन्तुष्टा बभूव वरवर्णिनी । व्यासोऽपि भ्रातरं श्रुत्वा राजानं मुदितोऽभवत् ॥ २७ ॥ यौवनं परमं प्राप्तः सत्यवत्याः सुतः शुभः । चकार चिन्तां भीष्मोऽपि विवाहार्थं कनीयसः ॥ २८ ॥ काशिराजसुतास्तिस्रः सर्वलक्षणसंयुताः । तेन राज्ञा विवाहार्थं स्थापिताश्च स्वयंवरे ॥ २९ ॥ राजानो राजपुत्राश्च समाहूताः सहस्रशः । इच्छास्वयंवरार्थं वै पूज्यमानाः समागताः ॥ ३० ॥ तत्र भीष्मो महातेजास्ता जहार बलेन वै । निर्मथ्य राजकं सर्वं रथेनैकेन वीर्यवान् ॥ ३१ ॥ स जित्वा पार्थिवान्सर्वांस्ताश्चादाय महारथः । बाहुवीर्येण तेजस्वी ह्याससाद गजाह्वयम् ॥ ३२ ॥ मातृवद्‌भगिनीवच्च पुत्रीवच्चिन्तयन्किल । तिस्रः समानयामास कन्यका वामलोचनाः ॥ ३३ ॥ सत्यवत्यै निवेद्याशु द्विजानाहूय सत्वरः । दैवज्ञान्वेदविदुषः पर्यपृच्छच्छुभं दिनम् ॥ ३४ ॥ कृत्वा विवाहसम्भारं यदा वै भ्रातरं निजम् । विचित्रवीर्यं धर्मिष्ठं विवाहयति ता यदा ॥ ३५ ॥ तदा ज्येष्ठाप्युवाचेदं कन्यका जाह्नवीसुतम् । लज्जमानासितापाङ्गी तिसॄणां चारुलोचना ॥ ३६ ॥ गङ्गापुत्र कुरुश्रेष्ठ धर्मज्ञ कुलदीपक । मया स्वयंवरे शाल्वो वृतोऽस्ति मनसा नृपः ॥ ३७ ॥ वृताहं तेन राज्ञा वै चित्ते प्रेमसमाकुले । यथायोग्यं कुरुष्वाद्य कुलस्यास्य परन्तप ॥ ३८ ॥ तेनाहं वृतपूर्वाऽस्मि त्वं च धर्मभृतां वरः । बलवानसि गाङ्गेय यथेच्छसि तथा कुरु ॥ ३९ ॥ सूत उवाच एवमुक्तस्तया तत्र कन्यया कुरुनन्दनः । अपृच्छत् ब्राह्मणान्वृद्धान्मातरं सचिवांस्तथा ॥ ४० ॥ सर्वेषां मतमाज्ञाय गाङ्गेयो धर्मवित्तमः । गच्छेति कन्यकां प्राह यथारुचि वरानने ॥ ४१ ॥ विसर्जिताथ सा तेन गता शाल्वनिकेतनम् । उवाच तं वरारोहा राजानं मनसेप्सितम् ॥ ४२ ॥ विनिर्मुक्तास्मि भीष्मेण त्वन्मनस्केति धर्मतः । आगतास्मि महाराज गृहाणाद्य करं मम ॥ ४३ ॥ धर्मपत्‍नी तवात्यन्तं भवामि नृपसत्तम । चिन्तितोऽसि मया पूर्वं त्वयाहं नात्र संशयः ॥ ४४ ॥ शाल्व उवाच गृहीता त्वं वरारोहे भीष्मेण पश्यतो मम । रथे संस्थापिता तेन न ग्रहीष्ये करं तव ॥ ४५ ॥ परोच्छिष्टां च कः कन्यां गृह्णाति मतिमान्नरः । अतोऽहं न ग्रहीष्यामि त्यक्तां भीष्मेण मातृवत् ॥ ४६ ॥ रुदती विलपन्ती सा त्यक्ता तेन महात्मना । पुनर्भीष्मं समागत्य रुदती चेदमब्रवीत् ॥ ४७ ॥ शाल्वो मुक्तां त्वया वीर न गृह्णाति गृहाण माम् । धर्मज्ञोऽसि महाभाग मरिष्याम्यन्यथा ह्यहम् ॥ ४८ ॥ भीष्म उवाच अन्यचित्तां कथं त्वां वै गृह्णामि वरवर्णिनि । पितरं स्वं वरारोहे व्रज शीघ्नं निराकुला ॥ ४९ ॥ तथोक्ता सा तु भीष्मेण जगाम वनमेव हि । तपश्चकार विजने तीर्थे परमपावने ॥ ५० ॥ द्वे भार्ये चातिरूपाढ्ये तस्य राज्ञो बभूवतुः । अम्बालिका चाम्बिका च काशिराजसुते शुभे ॥ ५१ ॥ राजा विचित्रवीर्योऽसौ ताभ्यां सह महाबलः । रेमे नानाविहारैश्च गृहे चोपवने तथा ॥ ५२ ॥ वर्षाणि नव राजेन्द्रः कुर्वन् क्रीडा मनोरमाम् । प्रापासौ मरणं भूयो गृहीतो राजयक्ष्मणा ॥ ५३ ॥ मृते पुत्रेऽतिदुःखार्ता जाता सत्यवती तदा । कारयामास पुत्रस्य प्रेतकार्याणि मन्त्रिभिः ॥ ५४ ॥ भीष्ममाह तदैकान्ते वचनं चातिदुःखिता । राज्यं कुरु महाभाग पितुस्ते शन्तनोः सुत ॥ ५५ ॥ भ्रातुर्भार्यां गृहाण त्वं वंशञ्च परिरक्षय । यथा न नाशमायाति ययातेर्वंश इत्युत ॥ ५६ ॥ भीष्म उवाच प्रतिज्ञा मे श्रुता मातः पित्रर्थे या मया कृता । नाहं राज्यं करिष्यामि न चाहं दारसंग्रहम् ॥ ५७ ॥ सूत उवाच तदा चिन्तातुरा जाता कथं वंशो भवेदिति । नालसाद्धि सुखं मह्यं समुत्पन्ने ह्यराजके ॥ ५८ ॥ गाङ्गेयस्तामुवाचेदं मा चिन्तां कुरु भामिनि । पुत्रं विचित्रवीर्यस्य क्षेत्रजं चोपपादय ॥ ५९ ॥ कुलीनं द्विजमाहूय वध्वा सह नियोजय । नात्र दोषोऽस्ति वेदेऽपि कुलरक्षाविधौ किल ॥ ६० ॥ पौत्रं चैवं समुत्पाद्य राज्यं देहि शुचिस्मिते । अहं च पालयिष्यामि तस्य शासनमेव हि ॥ ६१ ॥ तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं तस्य कानीनं स्वसुतं मुनिम् । जगाम मनसा व्यासं द्वैपायनमकल्मषम् ॥ ६२ ॥ स्मृतमात्रस्ततो व्यास आजगाम स तापसः । कृत्वा प्रणामं मात्रेऽथ संस्थितो दीप्तिमान्मुनिः ॥ ६३ ॥ भीष्मेण पूजितः कामं सत्यवत्या च मानितः । तस्थौ तत्र महातेजा विधूमोऽग्निरिवापरः ॥ ६४ ॥ तमुवाच मुनिं माता पुत्रमुत्पादयाधुना । क्षेत्रे विचित्रवीर्यस्य सुन्दरं तव वीर्यजम् ॥ ६५ ॥ व्यासः श्रुत्वा वचो मातुराप्तवाक्यममन्यत । ओमित्युक्त्वा स्थितस्तत्र ऋतुकालमचिन्तयत् ॥ ६६ ॥ अम्बिका च यदा स्नाता नारी ऋतुमती तदा । सङ्गं प्राप्य मुनेः पुत्रमसूतान्धं महाबलम् ॥ ६७ ॥ जन्मान्धं च सुतं वीक्ष्य दुःखिता सत्यवत्यपि । द्वितीयां च वधूमाह पुत्रमुत्पादयाशु वै ॥ ६८ ॥ ऋतुकालेऽथ सम्प्राप्ते व्यासेन सह सङ्गता । तथा चाम्बालिका रात्रौ गर्भं नारी दधार सा ॥ ६९ ॥ सोऽपि पाण्डुः सुतो जातो राज्ययोग्यो न सम्मतः । पुत्रार्थे प्रेरयामास वर्षान्ते च पुनर्वधूम् ॥ ७० ॥ आहूय च ततो व्यासं सम्प्रार्थ्य मुनिसत्तमम् । प्रेषयामास रात्रौ सा शयनागारमुत्तमम् ॥ ७१ ॥ न गता च वधूस्तत्र प्रेष्या सम्प्रेषिता तया । तस्यां च विदुरो जातो दास्यां धर्मांशतः शुभः ॥ ७२ ॥ एवं व्यासेन ते पुत्रा धृतराष्ट्रादयस्त्रयः । उत्पादिता महावीरा वंशरक्षणहेतवे ॥ ७३ ॥ एतद्वः सर्वमाख्यातं तस्य वंशसमुद्‌भवम् । व्यासेन रक्षितो वंशो भ्रातृधर्मविदानघाः ॥ ७४ ॥

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ śukastu paramāṃ siddhimāptavāndevasattamaḥ | kiṃ cakāra tato vyāsastanno brūhi savistaram || 1 || sūta uvāca śiṣyā vyāsasya ye'pyāsanvedābhyāsaparāyaṇāḥ | ājñāmādāya te sarve gatāḥ pūrvaṃ mahītale || 2 || asito devalaścaiva vaiśampāyana eva ca | jaiminiśca sumantuśca gatāḥ sarve tapodhanāḥ || 3 || tānetānvīkṣya putraṃ ca lokāntaritamapyuta | vyāsaḥ śokasamākrānto gamanāyākaronmatim || 4 || sasmāra manasā vyāsastāṃ niṣādasutāṃ śubhām | mātaraṃ jāhnavītīre muktāṃ śokasamanvitām || 5 || smṛtvā satyavatīṃ vyāsastyaktvā taṃ parvatottamam | ājagāma mahātejā janmasthānaṃ svakaṃ muniḥ || 6 || dvīpaṃ prāpyātha papraccha kva gatā sā varānanā | niṣādāstaṃ samācakhyurdattā rājñe tu kanyakā || 7 || dāśarājo'pi sampūjya vyāsaṃ prītipuraḥsaram | svāgatenābhisatkṛtya provāca vihitāñjaliḥ || 8 || dāśarāja uvāca adya me saphalaṃ janma pāvitaṃ naḥ kulaṃ mune | devānāmapi durdarśaṃ yajjātaṃ tava darśanam || 9 || yadarthamāgato'si tvaṃ tad‌brūhi dvijasattama | api dārā dhanaṃ putrāstvadāyattamidaṃ vibho || 10 || sarasvatyāstaṭe ramye cakārāśramamaṇḍalam | vyāsastapaḥsamāyuktastatraivāsa samāhitaḥ || 11 || satyavatyāḥ sutau jātau śantanoramitadyuteḥ | matvā tau bhrātarau vyāsaḥ sukhamāpa vane sthitaḥ || 12 || citrāṅgadaḥ prathamajo rūpavāñchatrutāpanaḥ | babhūva nṛpateḥ putraḥ sarvalakṣaṇasaṃyutaḥ || 13 || vicitravīryanāmāsau dvitīyaḥ samajāyata | so'pi sarvaguṇopetaḥ śantanoḥ sukhavardhanaḥ || 14 || gāṅgeyaḥ prathamastasya mahāvīro balādhikaḥ | tathaiva tau sutau jātau satyavatyāṃ mahābalau || 15 || śantanustānsutānvīkṣya sarvalakṣaṇasaṃyutān | amaṃstājayyamātmānaṃ devādīnāṃ mahāmanāḥ || 16 || atha kālena kiyatā śantanuḥ kālaparyayāt | tatyāja dehaṃ dharmātmā dehī jīrṇamivāmbaram || 17 || kāladharmagate rājñi bhīṣmaścakre vidhānataḥ | pretakāryāṇi sarvāṇi dānāni vividhāni ca || 18 || citrāṅgadaṃ tato rājye sthāpayāmāsa vīryavān | svayaṃ na kṛtavān rājyaṃ tasmāddevavrato'bhavat || 19 || citrāṅgadastu vīryeṇa pramattaḥ paraduḥkhadaḥ | babhūva balavānvīraḥ satyavatyātmajaḥ śuciḥ || 20 || athaikadā mahābāhuḥ sainyena mahatāvṛtaḥ | pracacāra vanoddeśātpaśyanvadhyānmṛgān rurūn || 21 || citrāṅgadastu gandharvo dṛṣṭvā taṃ mārgagaṃ nṛpam | uttatārāntikaṃ bhūmervimānavaramāsthitaḥ || 22 || tatrābhūcca mahadyuddhaṃ tayoḥ sadṛśavīryayoḥ | kurukṣetre mahāsthāne trīṇi varṣāṇi tāpasāḥ || 23 || indralokamavāpāśu gandharveṇa hato raṇe | bhīṣmaḥ śrutvā cakārāśu tasyaurdhvadaihikaṃ tadā || 24 || gāṅgeyaḥ kṛtaśokastu mantribhiḥ parivāritaḥ | vicitravīryanāmānaṃ rājyeśaṃ ca cakāra ha || 25 || mantribhirbodhitā paścād‌gurubhiśca mahātmabhiḥ | svaputraṃ rājyagaṃ dṛṣṭvā putraśokahatāpi ca || 26 || satyavatyatisantuṣṭā babhūva varavarṇinī | vyāso'pi bhrātaraṃ śrutvā rājānaṃ mudito'bhavat || 27 || yauvanaṃ paramaṃ prāptaḥ satyavatyāḥ sutaḥ śubhaḥ | cakāra cintāṃ bhīṣmo'pi vivāhārthaṃ kanīyasaḥ || 28 || kāśirājasutāstisraḥ sarvalakṣaṇasaṃyutāḥ | tena rājñā vivāhārthaṃ sthāpitāśca svayaṃvare || 29 || rājāno rājaputrāśca samāhūtāḥ sahasraśaḥ | icchāsvayaṃvarārthaṃ vai pūjyamānāḥ samāgatāḥ || 30 || tatra bhīṣmo mahātejāstā jahāra balena vai | nirmathya rājakaṃ sarvaṃ rathenaikena vīryavān || 31 || sa jitvā pārthivānsarvāṃstāścādāya mahārathaḥ | bāhuvīryeṇa tejasvī hyāsasāda gajāhvayam || 32 || mātṛvad‌bhaginīvacca putrīvaccintayankila | tisraḥ samānayāmāsa kanyakā vāmalocanāḥ || 33 || satyavatyai nivedyāśu dvijānāhūya satvaraḥ | daivajñānvedaviduṣaḥ paryapṛcchacchubhaṃ dinam || 34 || kṛtvā vivāhasambhāraṃ yadā vai bhrātaraṃ nijam | vicitravīryaṃ dharmiṣṭhaṃ vivāhayati tā yadā || 35 || tadā jyeṣṭhāpyuvācedaṃ kanyakā jāhnavīsutam | lajjamānāsitāpāṅgī tisṝṇāṃ cārulocanā || 36 || gaṅgāputra kuruśreṣṭha dharmajña kuladīpaka | mayā svayaṃvare śālvo vṛto'sti manasā nṛpaḥ || 37 || vṛtāhaṃ tena rājñā vai citte premasamākule | yathāyogyaṃ kuruṣvādya kulasyāsya parantapa || 38 || tenāhaṃ vṛtapūrvā'smi tvaṃ ca dharmabhṛtāṃ varaḥ | balavānasi gāṅgeya yathecchasi tathā kuru || 39 || sūta uvāca evamuktastayā tatra kanyayā kurunandanaḥ | apṛcchat brāhmaṇānvṛddhānmātaraṃ sacivāṃstathā || 40 || sarveṣāṃ matamājñāya gāṅgeyo dharmavittamaḥ | gaccheti kanyakāṃ prāha yathāruci varānane || 41 || visarjitātha sā tena gatā śālvaniketanam | uvāca taṃ varārohā rājānaṃ manasepsitam || 42 || vinirmuktāsmi bhīṣmeṇa tvanmanasketi dharmataḥ | āgatāsmi mahārāja gṛhāṇādya karaṃ mama || 43 || dharmapat‍nī tavātyantaṃ bhavāmi nṛpasattama | cintito'si mayā pūrvaṃ tvayāhaṃ nātra saṃśayaḥ || 44 || śālva uvāca gṛhītā tvaṃ varārohe bhīṣmeṇa paśyato mama | rathe saṃsthāpitā tena na grahīṣye karaṃ tava || 45 || parocchiṣṭāṃ ca kaḥ kanyāṃ gṛhṇāti matimānnaraḥ | ato'haṃ na grahīṣyāmi tyaktāṃ bhīṣmeṇa mātṛvat || 46 || rudatī vilapantī sā tyaktā tena mahātmanā | punarbhīṣmaṃ samāgatya rudatī cedamabravīt || 47 || śālvo muktāṃ tvayā vīra na gṛhṇāti gṛhāṇa mām | dharmajño'si mahābhāga mariṣyāmyanyathā hyaham || 48 || bhīṣma uvāca anyacittāṃ kathaṃ tvāṃ vai gṛhṇāmi varavarṇini | pitaraṃ svaṃ varārohe vraja śīghnaṃ nirākulā || 49 || tathoktā sā tu bhīṣmeṇa jagāma vanameva hi | tapaścakāra vijane tīrthe paramapāvane || 50 || dve bhārye cātirūpāḍhye tasya rājño babhūvatuḥ | ambālikā cāmbikā ca kāśirājasute śubhe || 51 || rājā vicitravīryo'sau tābhyāṃ saha mahābalaḥ | reme nānāvihāraiśca gṛhe copavane tathā || 52 || varṣāṇi nava rājendraḥ kurvan krīḍā manoramām | prāpāsau maraṇaṃ bhūyo gṛhīto rājayakṣmaṇā || 53 || mṛte putre'tiduḥkhārtā jātā satyavatī tadā | kārayāmāsa putrasya pretakāryāṇi mantribhiḥ || 54 || bhīṣmamāha tadaikānte vacanaṃ cātiduḥkhitā | rājyaṃ kuru mahābhāga pituste śantanoḥ suta || 55 || bhrāturbhāryāṃ gṛhāṇa tvaṃ vaṃśañca parirakṣaya | yathā na nāśamāyāti yayātervaṃśa ityuta || 56 || bhīṣma uvāca pratijñā me śrutā mātaḥ pitrarthe yā mayā kṛtā | nāhaṃ rājyaṃ kariṣyāmi na cāhaṃ dārasaṃgraham || 57 || sūta uvāca tadā cintāturā jātā kathaṃ vaṃśo bhavediti | nālasāddhi sukhaṃ mahyaṃ samutpanne hyarājake || 58 || gāṅgeyastāmuvācedaṃ mā cintāṃ kuru bhāmini | putraṃ vicitravīryasya kṣetrajaṃ copapādaya || 59 || kulīnaṃ dvijamāhūya vadhvā saha niyojaya | nātra doṣo'sti vede'pi kularakṣāvidhau kila || 60 || pautraṃ caivaṃ samutpādya rājyaṃ dehi śucismite | ahaṃ ca pālayiṣyāmi tasya śāsanameva hi || 61 || tacchrutvā vacanaṃ tasya kānīnaṃ svasutaṃ munim | jagāma manasā vyāsaṃ dvaipāyanamakalmaṣam || 62 || smṛtamātrastato vyāsa ājagāma sa tāpasaḥ | kṛtvā praṇāmaṃ mātre'tha saṃsthito dīptimānmuniḥ || 63 || bhīṣmeṇa pūjitaḥ kāmaṃ satyavatyā ca mānitaḥ | tasthau tatra mahātejā vidhūmo'gnirivāparaḥ || 64 || tamuvāca muniṃ mātā putramutpādayādhunā | kṣetre vicitravīryasya sundaraṃ tava vīryajam || 65 || vyāsaḥ śrutvā vaco māturāptavākyamamanyata | omityuktvā sthitastatra ṛtukālamacintayat || 66 || ambikā ca yadā snātā nārī ṛtumatī tadā | saṅgaṃ prāpya muneḥ putramasūtāndhaṃ mahābalam || 67 || janmāndhaṃ ca sutaṃ vīkṣya duḥkhitā satyavatyapi | dvitīyāṃ ca vadhūmāha putramutpādayāśu vai || 68 || ṛtukāle'tha samprāpte vyāsena saha saṅgatā | tathā cāmbālikā rātrau garbhaṃ nārī dadhāra sā || 69 || so'pi pāṇḍuḥ suto jāto rājyayogyo na sammataḥ | putrārthe prerayāmāsa varṣānte ca punarvadhūm || 70 || āhūya ca tato vyāsaṃ samprārthya munisattamam | preṣayāmāsa rātrau sā śayanāgāramuttamam || 71 || na gatā ca vadhūstatra preṣyā sampreṣitā tayā | tasyāṃ ca viduro jāto dāsyāṃ dharmāṃśataḥ śubhaḥ || 72 || evaṃ vyāsena te putrā dhṛtarāṣṭrādayastrayaḥ | utpāditā mahāvīrā vaṃśarakṣaṇahetave || 73 || etadvaḥ sarvamākhyātaṃ tasya vaṃśasamud‌bhavam | vyāsena rakṣito vaṃśo bhrātṛdharmavidānaghāḥ || 74 ||

English translation

1-8. The Risis said “O Suta! What did Veda Vyasa do, when the highest Yogi S’uka, Deva-like, acquired all the excellent supernatural powers? Kindly describe all these in detail.”

Hearing this question, Suta spoke O Rishis! Vyasa already had with him many disciples Asita, Devala, Vais'ampayana, Jaimini, Sumantu and others, all engaged in the study of the Vedas. After their studies were over, they all went out to propagate Dharma on the earth. Then Vyasa, seeing that the disciples went to the earth and his son S’uka Deva had got to the next world, became very much distressed with sorrow and wanted to go to some other place. He then decided to go to his birth place and went to the banks of the Ganges and there remembered his auspicious mother Satyavati, forsaken by him before, very sorrowful, and the daughter of a fisherman. He then quitted that heaven-like mountain, the source of all happiness and came to his own birth place. Reaching the island where he was born, he enquired the whereabouts of the beautiful faced, the fisherman's daughter as well the wife of a king. The fishermen replied that their king had given her in marriage to the king S'antanu. Then the king of fishermen, seeing Vyasa there, gladly worshipped him and gave him a cordial welcome and spoke with folded palms, thus

9-16. O Muni! When I have become so fortunate as to see you, rare even to the Devas, then my birth has been sanctified today and you have purified my family. O Brahmin! Kindly say what for have you come?

My wife, son and all my riches and every other thing that I have are at your disposal. Thus hearing the history of his mother Satyavati, Vyasa erected an As’rama on the beautiful banks of the river Sarasvati and remained there in tapasya with an enlightened mind.

Some time elapsed when the highly energetic S’antanu got through his wife Satyavati two sons. Vyasa Deva considered them as his two brothers and became very glad, though he himself used to live in the forest. The first son of the king S’antanu was Chitrangada, endowed with all auspicious qualities, exceedingly beautiful, and tormenting his foes; the second son was Vichitra-virya; he was endowed with all qualities. The king S’antanu became very happy to get these children. S’antanu had one son before through his wife Ganga; he was a great hero and very powerful; and the two sons of Satyavati were equally powerful. The high souled S’antanu now seeing the three sons, all endowed with all auspicious qualities, began to think that the Devas were incapable to defeat him.

17-34. After some time, the religious S’antanu quitted his worn-out body as a man quits his clothes worn out in due time. After the king S’antanu had ascended the Heavens, the energetic Bhis'ma performed duly his funeral obsequies and gave various things in charity to the Brahmanas. He did not accept the kingdom himself; but placed Chitrangada on the throne and became known by the name of Devavrata (truthful in vow like the Devas). The pure souled Chitrangada, born of Satyavati became so much powerful by sheer force of his arms, and became so great a hero that the enemies felt endless troubles. Now once on an occasion, the greatly powerful Chitrangada, surrounded by a great army, went on an hunting excursion to the forest in quest of ruru deer, etc., when the Gandarbha Chitrangada, seeing the king on the way, alighted from his chariot.

O ascetics! A fierce battle then ensued for three years on that sacred and wide expanse Kuruksettra between the two heroes, both equally powerful. In the battle, the king Chitrangada, the son of S’antanu was slain by the Gandarbha Chitrangada and went up to Heavens. Bhis’ma, born of the womb of Ganga, hearing the above news, expressed his sorrows and, being surrounded by the ministers completed all the funeral obsequies and installed Vichitravirya on the

throne. The beautiful Satyavati became very much agitated by the death of her son; but when the ministers and the highsouled spiritual teachers consoled her, she became glad when she saw that her youngest son became king. Vyasa Deva, too, felt himself glad to hear that his youngest brother had been made king. After some time when the all auspicious, Satyavati's son Vichitravirya attained his youth,

Bhis’ma began to think of his marriage. At this time the king of Kasi (Kas'iraj) called an assembly Svayamvara (where the kings are invited and the bride selects the bridegroom) for the marriage of her three daughters, endowed with all auspicious qualities, at one and the same time. Thousands and thousands of kings and princes from various countries were invited there in the assembly; and, worshipped duly, they went and decorated the hall. At that time the highly energetic fiery Bhis’ma alone, mounting on his chariot, attacked the infantry and cavalry, and defeated all the kings assembled there, and perforce carried away the three daughters of Kas'iraj and took them to Hastinapur. Bhis’ma behaved towards those three daughters as if they were mothers, sisters or daughters and informed Satyavati without any delay of everything that had happened.

35-39. Then he called for the astrologers and Brahmins, versed in the Vedas and enquired about the auspicious day for their marriage. When the day was fixed and when every preparation was made, the religious Bhis’ma wanted Vichitravirya to marry them. At this time, the eldest daughter, beautiful-eyed spoke out modestly to the Ganga's son Bhis’ma “O Ganga's son, the illustrious son of your family and the best of the Kurus! You are the best knower of Dharma; therefore what more shall I say to you. In the Svayamvara assembly I mentally selected S'alva and it struck me that he, too, looked on me with a very loving heart towards me. So, O tormentor of foes! Now do what is fit for that sacred family; O Ganga's son! Not only you are extraordinarily powerful but you are also the foremost of

the religious. Salva mentally wanted to marry me; now do as you like.”

40-44. When the eldest daughter spoke thus, Bhis’ma asked the aged Brahmanas, ministers and his mother “What ought to be done now” and, taking the opinions of all, spoke to that daughter“O beautiful one! You can go wherever you like.” Thus saying, Bhis’ma released her. Then the beautiful daughter of Kasiraj went to the house of Salvaraj and expressed to him her heart's desire “O great king! Knowing me attached to yourself, Bhis’ma has quitted me according to the laws of Dharma; I have therefore come to you now; marry me. O best of the kings! I will be your legal wife, for already I used to think you as my husband and you, too, must have thought me your wife.”

45-47. S'alva replied as follows “O beautiful one! When Bhis’ma caught hold of your arm before me and took you to his chariot, then I won't marry you. You can say yourself what intelligent man can marry a woman touched by another? Therefore I won't marry you, though Bhis’ma has quitted you, in the light of another.” Hearing these words of S’alva, the daughter of Kasiraj wept bitterly; yet S’alva quitted her. Therefore, finding no other way, she went back to Bhis’ma weeping, and said as follows

48-50. O great warrior! S’alva did not consent to marry me, as you first took me to the chariot and afterwards left me. So, O Mahabhaga! You better look to Dharma and marry me, as you know best what is Dharma. If you do not marry me, I will certainly quit my life. Hearing her words Bhis’ma said O beautiful one! How can I accept you, when your mind has become attached towards another. So, O fair one! You better go back soon to your own father with a calm, clear mind. When Bhis’ma said thus, that daughter of Kasiraj

did not go back, out of sheer shame, to her father's house, but went to a forest and in a greatly solitary place of pilgrimage began to practise asceticism.

51-56. Now the other two daughters of Kasiraj, beautiful and all auspicious Ambalika and Ambika became the wives of the king Vichitravirya. Thus the powerful king Vichitravirya began to enjoy various pleasures in the palace and in the gardens and thus passed his time. For full nine years the king Vichitravirya enjoyed the sexual pleasures and became attacked with consumption and fell into the jaws of death. Hearing the death news of her son Vichitravirya, Satyavati became very sorry and surrounded by her ministers, performed his funeral obsequies. Then she spoke privately to Bhis’ma with a grievous heart“O highly fortunately son! now you better govern your father's kingdom and see that the family of Yayati does not become extinct. So better take your brother's wife and try your best to continue your family line.

57-74. Bhis’ma then said:-- "O Mother! Did you not hear of the promise that I already made before my father? So I cannot ever marry and govern the kingdom.” Hearing these words of Bhis’ma, Satyavati became anxious. She began to think as follows “How now the continuity of the family be kept! And it is not advisable to remain idle when the kingdom has become kingless; no happiness can be derived in this state.” Thus thinking, she became exceedingly distressed; then the Ganga's son, Bhis’ma spoke to her“O respected one! Do not worry your mind with cares; now take steps so as to secure a son from Vichitravirya's wife. Call some best Brahmin, born of a good family and unite him with Vichitravirya's wife. There is no fault, as far as I know, in doing thus to keep up the family line. O sweet smiling one! Thus having begotten the grandson, give him this kingdom; I will also obey his commands.” Hearing these reasonable words of Bhis’ma, Satyavati remembered

her own son, the sinless Vyasa Deva, who was born to her during her virginity. As soon as Vyasa was remembered, he, the great ascetic and effulgent like the sun, came there and bowed down to his mother. The highly energetic Vyasa was then worshipped duly by Bhis’ma and welcome by Satyavati and began to rest there like a smokeless fire. The mother Satyavati then spoke to the chief Muni “O son! Now procreate a beautiful son from your sperm and the ovum of Vichitravirya's wife.” Hearing the mother's words, Vyasa considered them as Veda's injunction and thought they must be obeyed and promised before her that he must obey and and fulfil her orders. He remained there, waiting for the menstruation period.

When the due period of menstruation arrived, Ambika bathed and had a sexual intercourse with Vyasa and begot a very powerful son, but a blind one (since she closed her eyes at the sight of Vyasa during her intercourse). Seeing the son born blind Satyavati became exceedingly sorry; she, then, asked her other son's wife “Go soon and get a son born of you in the aforesaid manner.” When the menstruation period arrived, Ambalika during the night time went to Vyasa and mixed and became pregnant. In due time a son was born; that child became of a very pale colour; so Satyavati thought the new child, too, unfit for the kingdom; therefore at the end of the year again asked her son's wife Ambalika to go to Vyasa. She asked Vyasa also for the same purpose and sent Ambalika to his bed room. But Ambalika became afraid, and could not go herself but sent her maid servant for the purpose. Thus from the womb of the maid servant the high souled Vidura was born, having Dharma's parts and the most auspicious towards all. Thus Vyasa begot three very powerful sons Dhritarastra, Pandu and Vidura for the continuity of the family line. O sinless Maharsis! Thus I have described to you how my Guru Vyasa Deva, who knows well all the Dharmas, kept up the continuity of his family and how he begot sons in the womb of his brother Vichitravirya's wives, according to the laws of Dharma, to keep up a family.

Thus ends the twentieth chapter of the 1st Skandha as well as the first Skandha on Vyasa doing his duties in the Mahapuranam S'ri Devi Bhagavatam of 18,000 verses by Maharsi Veda Vyasa.

Complete chapter-aligned witnesses. Sanskrit Wikisource page 24716, revision 75567 (2016-08-03T06:42:10Z). English is Swami Vijñanananda’s complete 1921–23 public-domain translation, controlled against the archival OCR and its chapter page at https://sacred-texts.com/hin/db/bk01ch20.htm. Historic spelling and transliteration are lightly normalized; no verse-by-verse alignment is asserted.