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Second Skandha · Chapter 4

Chapter 4

Unit 24 of 318Second Skandha · Chapter 4Second Skandha · Chapter 41 source entries

Second Skandha · Chapter 4

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सूत उवाच ।। प्रतीपेऽथ दिवं याते शंतनुः सत्यविक्रमः ।। बभूव मृगयाशीलो निघ्नन्व्याघ्रान्मृगान्नृपः ।। १ ।। स कदाचिद्वने घोरे गंगातीरे चरन्नृपः ।। ददर्श मृगशावाक्षीं सुंदरीं चारुभूषणाम् ।। २ ।। दृष्ट्वा तां नृपतिर्मग्नः पित्रोक्तेयं वरानना ।। रूपयौवनसंपन्ना साक्षाल्लक्ष्मीरिवापरा ।। ३ ।। पिबन्मुखांबुजं तस्या न तृप्तिमग्मन्नृपः ।। हृष्टरोमाऽभवत्तत्र व्याप्तचित्त इवानघ ।। ४ ।। महाभिषं साऽपि मत्वा प्रेमयुक्ता बभूव ह ।। किंचिन्मंदस्मितं कृत्वा तस्थावग्रे नृपस्य च ।।५।। वीक्ष्य तामसितापांगीं राजा प्रीतमना भृशम् ।। उवाच मधुरं वाक्यं सांत्वयञ्छ्लक्ष्णया गिरा ।। ६ ।। देवी वा त्वं च वामोरु मानुषी वा वरानने ।। गंधर्वी वाऽथ यक्षी वा नागकन्याऽप्सराऽपि वा ।। ७ ।। याऽसि काऽसि वरारोहे भार्या मे भव सुंदरि ।। प्रेमयुक्तस्मितैव त्वं धर्मपत्नी भवाद्य मे ।। ८ ।। सूत उवाच ।। राजा तां नाभिजानाति गंगेयमिति निश्चितम् ।। महाभिषं समुत्पन्नं नृपं जानाति जाह्नवी ।। ९ ।। पूर्वप्रेमसमायोगाच्छ्रुत्वा वाचं नृपस्य ताम् ।। उवाच नारी राजानं स्मितपूर्वमिदं वचः ।। 2.4.१० ।। स्त्र्युवाच ।। जानामि त्वां नृपश्रेष्ठ प्रतीपतनयं शुभम् ।। का न वांछति चार्वंगी भावित्वात्सदृशं पतिम् ।। ११ ।। वाग्बंधेन नृपश्रेष्ठ चरिष्यामि पतिं किल ।। शृणु मे समयं राजन्वृणोमि त्वां नृपोत्तम ।। १२ ।। यच्च कुर्यामहं कार्यं शुभं वा यदि वाऽशुभम् ।। न निषेध्या त्वया राजन्न वक्तव्यं तथाऽप्रियम् ।।१३।। यदा च त्वं नृपश्रेष्ठ न करिष्यसि मे वचः ।। तदा मुक्त्वा गमिष्यामि यथेष्टं देश मारिष ।।१४।। स्मृत्वा जन्म वसूनां सा प्रार्थनापूर्वकं हृदि ।। महाभिषस्य प्रेमार्थं विचिंत्यैव च जाह्नवी ।। १५ ।। तथेत्युक्ताऽथ सा देवी चकार नृपतिं पतिम् ।। एवं वृता नृपेणाथ गंगा मानुषरूपिणी ।। १६ ।। नृपस्य मंदिरं प्राप्ता सुभगा वरवर्णिनी ।। नृपतिस्तां समासाद्य चिक्रीडोपवने शुभे ।। १७ ।। साऽपि तं रमयामास भावज्ञा वै वरांगना ।। न बुबोध नृपः क्रीडन्गतान्वर्षगणानथ ।। १८ ।। स तया मृगशावाक्ष्या शच्या शतक्रतुर्यथा ।। सा सर्वगुणसंपन्न सोऽपि कामविचक्षणः ।। १९ ।। रेमाते मंदिरे दिव्ये रमाना रायणाविव ।। एवं गच्छति काले सा दधार नृपतेस्तदा ।। 2.4.२० ।। गर्भं गंगा वसुं पुत्रं सुषुवे चारुलोचना ।। जातमात्रं सुतं वारि चिक्षेपैवं द्वितीयके ।। २१ ।। तृतीयेऽथ चतुर्थेऽथ पंचमे षष्ठ एव च ।। सप्तमे वा हते पुत्रे राजा चिंतापरोऽभवत् ।। २२ ।। किं करोम्यद्य वंशो मे कथं स्यात्सुस्थिरो भुवि ।। सप्त पुत्रा हता नूनमनया पापरूपया ।।२३।। निवारयामि यदि मां त्यक्त्वा यास्यति सर्वथा ।। अष्टमोऽयं सुसंप्राप्तो गर्भो मे मनसीप्सितः ।।२४।। न वारयामि चेदद्य सर्वथेयं जले क्षिपेत् ।। भविता वा न वा चाग्रे संशयोऽयं ममाद्भुतः ।।२५।। संभवेऽपि च दुष्टेयं रक्षयेद्वा न रक्षयेत् ।। एवं संशयिते कार्ये किं कर्तव्यं मयाऽधुना ।। २६ ।। वंशस्य रक्षणार्थं हि यत्नः कार्यः परो मया ।। ततः काले यदा जातः पुत्रोऽयमष्टमो वसुः ।। २७ ।। मुनेर्येन हृता धेनुर्नंदिनी स्त्रीजितेन हि ।। तं दृष्ट्वा नृपतिः पुत्रं तामुवाच पतन्पदे ।।२८।। दासोऽस्मि तव तन्वंगि प्रार्थयामि शुचिस्मिते ।। पुत्रमेकं पुषाम्यद्य देहि जीवंतमद्य मे ।। २९ ।। हिंसिताः सप्त पुत्रा मे करभोरु त्वया शुभाः ।। अष्टमं रक्ष सुश्रोणि पतामि तव पादयोः।।2.4.३०।। अन्यद्वै प्रार्थितं तेऽद्य ददाम्यथ च दुर्लभम् ।। वंशो मे रक्षणीयोऽद्य त्वया परमशोभने ।। ३१ ।। अपुत्रस्य गतिर्नास्ति स्वर्गे वेदविदो विदुः ।। तस्मादद्य वरारोहे प्रार्थयाम्यष्टमं सुतम् ।। ३२ ।। इत्युक्ताऽपि गृहीत्वा तं यदा गंतुं समुत्सुका ।। तदाऽपि कुपितो राजा तामुवाचातिदुःखितः ।।३३।। पापिष्ठे किं करोम्यद्य निरयान्न बिभेषि किम् ।। काऽसि पापकराणां त्वं पुत्री पापरता सदा ।। ३४ ।। यथेच्छं गच्छ वा तिष्ठ पुत्रो मे स्थीयतामिह ।। किं करोमि त्वया पापे वंशांतकरयाऽनया ।। ३५ ।। एवं वदति भूपाले सा गृहीत्वा सुतं शिशुम् ।। गच्छंती वचनं कोपसंयुक्ता तमुवाच ह ।। ३६ ।। पुत्रकामा सुतं त्वेनं पालयामि वने गता ।। समयो मे गमिष्यामि वचनं ह्यन्यथा कृतम् ।। ३७ ।। गगां मां वै विजानीहि देवकार्यार्थमागताम् ।। वसवस्तु पुरा शप्ता वसिष्ठेन महात्मना ।। ३८ ।। व्रजंतु मानुषी योनिं स्थितां चिंतातुरास्तु माम् ।। दृष्ट्वेदं प्रार्थयामासुर्जननी नो भवानघ ।।३९।। तेभ्यो दत्त्वा वरं जाता पत्नी ते नृपसत्तम ।। देवकार्यार्थसिद्ध्यर्थ जानीहि संभवो मम ।। 2.4.४० ।। सप्त ते वसवः पुत्रा मुक्ताः शापादृषेस्तु ते ।। कियंतं कालमेकोऽयं तव पुत्रो भविष्यति ।।४१।। गंगादत्तमिमं पुत्रं गृहाण शंतनो स्वयम् ।। वसु देवं विदित्वैनं सुखं भुंक्ष्व सुतोद्भवम् ।।४२।। गांगेयोऽयं महाभाग भविष्यति बलाधिकः ।। अद्य तत्र नयाम्येनं यत्र त्व वै मया वृतः ।। ४३ ।। दास्यामि यौवनप्राप्तं पालयित्वा महीपते ।। न मातृरहितः पुत्रो जीवेन्न च सुखी भवेत् ।। ४४ ।। इत्युक्ताऽन्तर्दधे गंगा तं गृहीत्वा च बालकम् ।। राजा चातीव दुःखार्तः संस्थितो निजमंदिरे ।। ४५ ।। भार्याविरहजं दुःखं तथा पुत्रस्य चाद्भुतम् ।। सर्वदा चिंतयन्नास्ते राज्यं कुर्वन्महीपतिः ।। ४६ ।। एवं गच्छति कालेऽथ नृपतिर्मृगयां गतः ।। निघ्नन्मृगगणान्बाणैर्महिषान्सूकरानपि ।। ४७ ।। गंगातीरमनुप्राप्तः स राजा शंतनुस्तदा ।। नदीं स्तोकजलां दृष्ट्वा विस्मितः स महीपतिः ।। ।। ४८ ।। तत्रापश्यत्कुमारं तं मुंचंतं विशिखान्बहून् ।। आकृष्य च महाचापं क्रीडंतं सरितस्तटे ।। ४९ ।। तं वीक्ष्य विस्मितो राजा न स्म जानाति किंचन ।। नोपलेभे स्मृतिं भूपः पुत्रोऽयं मम वा न वा ।। 2.4.५० ।। दृष्ट्वाऽप्यमानुषं कर्म बाणेषु लघुहस्तताम् ।। विद्यां वाऽप्रतिमां रूपं तस्य वै स्मरसन्निभम् ।। ५१ ।। पप्रच्छ विस्मितो राजा कस्य पुत्रोऽसि चानघ ।। नोवाच किंचिद्वीरोऽसौ मुंचञ्छिलीमुखानथ ।। ५२ ।। अंतर्धानं गतः सोऽथ राजा चिंतातुरोऽभवत् ।। कोऽयं मम सुतो बालः किं करोमि व्रजामि कम् ।। ५३ ।। गंगां तुष्टाव भूपालः स्थितस्तत्र समाहितः ।। दर्शनं सा ददौ चाथ चारुरूपा यथा पुरा ।। ५४ ।। दृष्ट्वा तां चारुसर्वांगीं बभाषे नृपतिः स्वयम् ।। कोऽयं गंगे गतो बालो मम त्वं दर्शयाधुना ।। ५५ ।। गंगोवाच ।। पुत्रोऽयं तव राजेन्द्र रक्षितश्चाष्टमो वसुः ।। ददामि तव हस्ते तु गांगेयोऽयं महातपाः ।। ५६ ।। कीर्तिकर्ता कुलस्यास्य भविता तव सुव्रतः ।। पाठितस्त्वखिलान्वेदान्धनुर्वेदं च शाश्वतम् ।। ५७ ।। वसिष्ठस्याश्रमे दिव्ये संस्थितोऽयं सुतस्तव।। सर्वविद्याविधानज्ञः सर्वार्थकुशलः शुचिः ।। ५८ ।। यद्वेद जामदग्न्योऽसौ तद्वेदायं सुतस्तव ।। गृहाण गच्छ राजेंद्र सुखी भव नराधिप ।। ५९ ।। इत्युक्वांऽतर्दधे गंगा दत्त्वा पुत्रं नृपाय वै ।। नृपतिस्तु मुदा युक्तो बभूवातिसुखान्वितः ।। 2.4.६० ।। समालिंग्य सुतं राजा समाघ्राय च मस्तकम् ।। समारोप्य रथे पुत्रं स्वपुरं स प्रचक्रमे ।।६१।। गत्वा गजाह्वयं राजा चकारोत्सवमुत्तमम् ।। दैवज्ञं च समाहूय पप्रच्छ च शुभं दिनम् ।। ६२ ।। समाहृत्य प्रजाः सर्वाः सचिवान्सर्वशः शुभान् ।। यौवराज्येऽथ गांगेयं स्थापयामास पार्थिवः ।। ६३ ।। कृत्वा तं युवराजानं पुत्रं सर्वगुणान्वितम् ।। सुखमास स धर्मात्मा न सस्मार च जाह्नवीम् ।। ६४ ।। सूत उवाच ।। एतद्वः कथितं सर्वं कारणं वसुशापजम् ।। गांगेयस्य तथोत्पत्तिं जाह्नव्याः संभवं तथा ।। ६५ ।। गंगावतरणं पुण्यं वसूनां संभवं तथा ।। यः शृणोति नरः पापान्मुच्यते नात्र संशयः ।। ६६ ।। पुण्यं पवित्रमाख्यानं कथितं मुनिसत्तमः ।। यथाश्रुतं व्यासात्पुराणं वेदसंमितम् ।। ६७ ।। श्रीमद्भागवतं पुण्यं नानाख्यानकथान्वितम् ।। द्वैपायनमुखोद्भूतं पंच लक्षणसंयुतम् ।। ६८ ।। शृण्वतां सर्वपापघ्नं शुभदं सुखदं तथा ।। इतिहासमिमं पुण्यं कीर्तितं मुनिसत्तमः ।। ६९ ।।

sūta uvāca || pratīpe'tha divaṃ yāte śaṃtanuḥ satyavikramaḥ || babhūva mṛgayāśīlo nighnanvyāghrānmṛgānnṛpaḥ || 1 || sa kadācidvane ghore gaṃgātīre carannṛpaḥ || dadarśa mṛgaśāvākṣīṃ suṃdarīṃ cārubhūṣaṇām || 2 || dṛṣṭvā tāṃ nṛpatirmagnaḥ pitrokteyaṃ varānanā || rūpayauvanasaṃpannā sākṣāllakṣmīrivāparā || 3 || pibanmukhāṃbujaṃ tasyā na tṛptimagmannṛpaḥ || hṛṣṭaromā'bhavattatra vyāptacitta ivānagha || 4 || mahābhiṣaṃ sā'pi matvā premayuktā babhūva ha || kiṃcinmaṃdasmitaṃ kṛtvā tasthāvagre nṛpasya ca ||5|| vīkṣya tāmasitāpāṃgīṃ rājā prītamanā bhṛśam || uvāca madhuraṃ vākyaṃ sāṃtvayañchlakṣṇayā girā || 6 || devī vā tvaṃ ca vāmoru mānuṣī vā varānane || gaṃdharvī vā'tha yakṣī vā nāgakanyā'psarā'pi vā || 7 || yā'si kā'si varārohe bhāryā me bhava suṃdari || premayuktasmitaiva tvaṃ dharmapatnī bhavādya me || 8 || sūta uvāca || rājā tāṃ nābhijānāti gaṃgeyamiti niścitam || mahābhiṣaṃ samutpannaṃ nṛpaṃ jānāti jāhnavī || 9 || pūrvapremasamāyogācchrutvā vācaṃ nṛpasya tām || uvāca nārī rājānaṃ smitapūrvamidaṃ vacaḥ || 2.4.10 || stryuvāca || jānāmi tvāṃ nṛpaśreṣṭha pratīpatanayaṃ śubham || kā na vāṃchati cārvaṃgī bhāvitvātsadṛśaṃ patim || 11 || vāgbaṃdhena nṛpaśreṣṭha cariṣyāmi patiṃ kila || śṛṇu me samayaṃ rājanvṛṇomi tvāṃ nṛpottama || 12 || yacca kuryāmahaṃ kāryaṃ śubhaṃ vā yadi vā'śubham || na niṣedhyā tvayā rājanna vaktavyaṃ tathā'priyam ||13|| yadā ca tvaṃ nṛpaśreṣṭha na kariṣyasi me vacaḥ || tadā muktvā gamiṣyāmi yatheṣṭaṃ deśa māriṣa ||14|| smṛtvā janma vasūnāṃ sā prārthanāpūrvakaṃ hṛdi || mahābhiṣasya premārthaṃ viciṃtyaiva ca jāhnavī || 15 || tathetyuktā'tha sā devī cakāra nṛpatiṃ patim || evaṃ vṛtā nṛpeṇātha gaṃgā mānuṣarūpiṇī || 16 || nṛpasya maṃdiraṃ prāptā subhagā varavarṇinī || nṛpatistāṃ samāsādya cikrīḍopavane śubhe || 17 || sā'pi taṃ ramayāmāsa bhāvajñā vai varāṃganā || na bubodha nṛpaḥ krīḍangatānvarṣagaṇānatha || 18 || sa tayā mṛgaśāvākṣyā śacyā śatakraturyathā || sā sarvaguṇasaṃpanna so'pi kāmavicakṣaṇaḥ || 19 || remāte maṃdire divye ramānā rāyaṇāviva || evaṃ gacchati kāle sā dadhāra nṛpatestadā || 2.4.20 || garbhaṃ gaṃgā vasuṃ putraṃ suṣuve cārulocanā || jātamātraṃ sutaṃ vāri cikṣepaivaṃ dvitīyake || 21 || tṛtīye'tha caturthe'tha paṃcame ṣaṣṭha eva ca || saptame vā hate putre rājā ciṃtāparo'bhavat || 22 || kiṃ karomyadya vaṃśo me kathaṃ syātsusthiro bhuvi || sapta putrā hatā nūnamanayā pāparūpayā ||23|| nivārayāmi yadi māṃ tyaktvā yāsyati sarvathā || aṣṭamo'yaṃ susaṃprāpto garbho me manasīpsitaḥ ||24|| na vārayāmi cedadya sarvatheyaṃ jale kṣipet || bhavitā vā na vā cāgre saṃśayo'yaṃ mamādbhutaḥ ||25|| saṃbhave'pi ca duṣṭeyaṃ rakṣayedvā na rakṣayet || evaṃ saṃśayite kārye kiṃ kartavyaṃ mayā'dhunā || 26 || vaṃśasya rakṣaṇārthaṃ hi yatnaḥ kāryaḥ paro mayā || tataḥ kāle yadā jātaḥ putro'yamaṣṭamo vasuḥ || 27 || muneryena hṛtā dhenurnaṃdinī strījitena hi || taṃ dṛṣṭvā nṛpatiḥ putraṃ tāmuvāca patanpade ||28|| dāso'smi tava tanvaṃgi prārthayāmi śucismite || putramekaṃ puṣāmyadya dehi jīvaṃtamadya me || 29 || hiṃsitāḥ sapta putrā me karabhoru tvayā śubhāḥ || aṣṭamaṃ rakṣa suśroṇi patāmi tava pādayoḥ||2.4.30|| anyadvai prārthitaṃ te'dya dadāmyatha ca durlabham || vaṃśo me rakṣaṇīyo'dya tvayā paramaśobhane || 31 || aputrasya gatirnāsti svarge vedavido viduḥ || tasmādadya varārohe prārthayāmyaṣṭamaṃ sutam || 32 || ityuktā'pi gṛhītvā taṃ yadā gaṃtuṃ samutsukā || tadā'pi kupito rājā tāmuvācātiduḥkhitaḥ ||33|| pāpiṣṭhe kiṃ karomyadya nirayānna bibheṣi kim || kā'si pāpakarāṇāṃ tvaṃ putrī pāparatā sadā || 34 || yathecchaṃ gaccha vā tiṣṭha putro me sthīyatāmiha || kiṃ karomi tvayā pāpe vaṃśāṃtakarayā'nayā || 35 || evaṃ vadati bhūpāle sā gṛhītvā sutaṃ śiśum || gacchaṃtī vacanaṃ kopasaṃyuktā tamuvāca ha || 36 || putrakāmā sutaṃ tvenaṃ pālayāmi vane gatā || samayo me gamiṣyāmi vacanaṃ hyanyathā kṛtam || 37 || gagāṃ māṃ vai vijānīhi devakāryārthamāgatām || vasavastu purā śaptā vasiṣṭhena mahātmanā || 38 || vrajaṃtu mānuṣī yoniṃ sthitāṃ ciṃtāturāstu mām || dṛṣṭvedaṃ prārthayāmāsurjananī no bhavānagha ||39|| tebhyo dattvā varaṃ jātā patnī te nṛpasattama || devakāryārthasiddhyartha jānīhi saṃbhavo mama || 2.4.40 || sapta te vasavaḥ putrā muktāḥ śāpādṛṣestu te || kiyaṃtaṃ kālameko'yaṃ tava putro bhaviṣyati ||41|| gaṃgādattamimaṃ putraṃ gṛhāṇa śaṃtano svayam || vasu devaṃ viditvainaṃ sukhaṃ bhuṃkṣva sutodbhavam ||42|| gāṃgeyo'yaṃ mahābhāga bhaviṣyati balādhikaḥ || adya tatra nayāmyenaṃ yatra tva vai mayā vṛtaḥ || 43 || dāsyāmi yauvanaprāptaṃ pālayitvā mahīpate || na mātṛrahitaḥ putro jīvenna ca sukhī bhavet || 44 || ityuktā'ntardadhe gaṃgā taṃ gṛhītvā ca bālakam || rājā cātīva duḥkhārtaḥ saṃsthito nijamaṃdire || 45 || bhāryāvirahajaṃ duḥkhaṃ tathā putrasya cādbhutam || sarvadā ciṃtayannāste rājyaṃ kurvanmahīpatiḥ || 46 || evaṃ gacchati kāle'tha nṛpatirmṛgayāṃ gataḥ || nighnanmṛgagaṇānbāṇairmahiṣānsūkarānapi || 47 || gaṃgātīramanuprāptaḥ sa rājā śaṃtanustadā || nadīṃ stokajalāṃ dṛṣṭvā vismitaḥ sa mahīpatiḥ || || 48 || tatrāpaśyatkumāraṃ taṃ muṃcaṃtaṃ viśikhānbahūn || ākṛṣya ca mahācāpaṃ krīḍaṃtaṃ saritastaṭe || 49 || taṃ vīkṣya vismito rājā na sma jānāti kiṃcana || nopalebhe smṛtiṃ bhūpaḥ putro'yaṃ mama vā na vā || 2.4.50 || dṛṣṭvā'pyamānuṣaṃ karma bāṇeṣu laghuhastatām || vidyāṃ vā'pratimāṃ rūpaṃ tasya vai smarasannibham || 51 || papraccha vismito rājā kasya putro'si cānagha || novāca kiṃcidvīro'sau muṃcañchilīmukhānatha || 52 || aṃtardhānaṃ gataḥ so'tha rājā ciṃtāturo'bhavat || ko'yaṃ mama suto bālaḥ kiṃ karomi vrajāmi kam || 53 || gaṃgāṃ tuṣṭāva bhūpālaḥ sthitastatra samāhitaḥ || darśanaṃ sā dadau cātha cārurūpā yathā purā || 54 || dṛṣṭvā tāṃ cārusarvāṃgīṃ babhāṣe nṛpatiḥ svayam || ko'yaṃ gaṃge gato bālo mama tvaṃ darśayādhunā || 55 || gaṃgovāca || putro'yaṃ tava rājendra rakṣitaścāṣṭamo vasuḥ || dadāmi tava haste tu gāṃgeyo'yaṃ mahātapāḥ || 56 || kīrtikartā kulasyāsya bhavitā tava suvrataḥ || pāṭhitastvakhilānvedāndhanurvedaṃ ca śāśvatam || 57 || vasiṣṭhasyāśrame divye saṃsthito'yaṃ sutastava|| sarvavidyāvidhānajñaḥ sarvārthakuśalaḥ śuciḥ || 58 || yadveda jāmadagnyo'sau tadvedāyaṃ sutastava || gṛhāṇa gaccha rājeṃdra sukhī bhava narādhipa || 59 || ityukvāṃ'tardadhe gaṃgā dattvā putraṃ nṛpāya vai || nṛpatistu mudā yukto babhūvātisukhānvitaḥ || 2.4.60 || samāliṃgya sutaṃ rājā samāghrāya ca mastakam || samāropya rathe putraṃ svapuraṃ sa pracakrame ||61|| gatvā gajāhvayaṃ rājā cakārotsavamuttamam || daivajñaṃ ca samāhūya papraccha ca śubhaṃ dinam || 62 || samāhṛtya prajāḥ sarvāḥ sacivānsarvaśaḥ śubhān || yauvarājye'tha gāṃgeyaṃ sthāpayāmāsa pārthivaḥ || 63 || kṛtvā taṃ yuvarājānaṃ putraṃ sarvaguṇānvitam || sukhamāsa sa dharmātmā na sasmāra ca jāhnavīm || 64 || sūta uvāca || etadvaḥ kathitaṃ sarvaṃ kāraṇaṃ vasuśāpajam || gāṃgeyasya tathotpattiṃ jāhnavyāḥ saṃbhavaṃ tathā || 65 || gaṃgāvataraṇaṃ puṇyaṃ vasūnāṃ saṃbhavaṃ tathā || yaḥ śṛṇoti naraḥ pāpānmucyate nātra saṃśayaḥ || 66 || puṇyaṃ pavitramākhyānaṃ kathitaṃ munisattamaḥ || yathāśrutaṃ vyāsātpurāṇaṃ vedasaṃmitam || 67 || śrīmadbhāgavataṃ puṇyaṃ nānākhyānakathānvitam || dvaipāyanamukhodbhūtaṃ paṃca lakṣaṇasaṃyutam || 68 || śṛṇvatāṃ sarvapāpaghnaṃ śubhadaṃ sukhadaṃ tathā || itihāsamimaṃ puṇyaṃ kīrtitaṃ munisattamaḥ || 69 ||

English translation

1-8. Suta said On the king Pratipa, ascending to the Heavens, the truly hero-king S’antanu went out a hunting tigers and other forest animals. Once, while he was roaming in a wild wilderness, on the banks of the Ganges, he saw a fawn-eyed well decorated beautiful woman. No sooner the king S’antanu saw her than he became addicted to her and thought within himself thus “Certainly my father spoke of this beautiful faced woman who is looking like a second Laksmi, endowed with beauty and youth.” The king could not rest satisfied simply with seeing the lotus-like face. The hairs on his body stood on their ends and his heart was very much attracted to her. Ganga Devi, too, knew him to be the king Mahabhisa and became, in her turn, very much attached to him. She then went smiling towards the king. Seeing the blue-coloured lady looking askance at him, the king became very happy and consoled her in sweet words and said “O, one of beautiful thighs! Are you Devi; ManusT (human kind) Gandharvi; Yakshi, the daughter of Nagas (serpents), or a celestial nymph? Whoever you may be, O beautiful one! be my wife; your sweet smiles, it seems, are brimful of love; so be my legal wife to-day.”

9-26. Suta said The king S’antanu could not recognise the lady to be Ganga; but Ganga knew that he is the king Mahabhisa and is born as S’antanu. Hearing the above words of the king, Ganga, out of her previous affections, spoke out to the king, smiling “O king! I know that you are the son of the king Pratipa. Behold! Though it is inevitable that woman will get their husbands, yet who is that beautiful lady that does not husband according to her liking and qualifications? But I can take you as my husband, if you make a certain promise to me. Hear my resolve afterwards I will marry you.

O king! Whatever I will do, be it good or bad, auspicious or inauspicious, you must not hinder or interrupt me nor ever say that is

not to your liking and satisfaction. Whenever you will break this my resolve, I will instantly quit you and go to another place wherever I like. The king S’antanu, then, said “Well! That will be” and promised to the above effect; then Ganga Devi recollected within herself Vasus' words and thought of the attachment of the king Mahabhisa and accepted S’antanu as her husband. Thus married to the king S’antanu, the beautiful Ganga in human form went to his abode. The king, on having got possession of her, began to enjoy in pleasant gardens. The lady, too, appreciated his mental feelings and began to serve him to his satisfaction. Thus many years elapsed in lovely enjoyments and intercourses between the couple who looked like Indra and his pair Sachi; and they did not feel at all how the time passed. The lady endowed with all qualities and the clever king, well- versed in the art of loving, began to enjoy incessantly like Laksmi and Narayana, in their divine palace.

Thus many years passed when the lovely eyed lady became pregnant of the king S’antanu's sperm and, in due time, gave birth to a son who was a Vasu. No sooner the son was born than Ganga Devi threw it in the waters of the Ganges. Thus the second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh sons were threwn successively on the waters. Then the king became very anxious and thought within himself“What am I to do now? How my family be preserved? This my wife, incarnate of sin, has killed my seven sons; if I now desist her, she will instantly leave me and go away. Now this is the eighth pregnancy as desired by me. Now if I do not interrupt her, she will certainly throw my son in the Ganges. Whether a son will be born again or not is doubtful; and even if that be born, it is doubtful whether she will preserve that child; now what am I to do in this doubtful point? However I will try my best to continue the thread of my family line.”

27-46. Now, in due time, the Vasu who, having been influenced by his wife had stolen Vas’istha's cow Nandini, became born as the eighth son of Ganga Devi; the king S’antanu, seeing this son fell

unto Ganga's feet and said “O thin-bodied woman! I pray to you to give my life to-day; better nourish this my one son. O beautiful one! You killed in succession my seven exceedingly beautiful sons. O one of beautiful hips! I now fall at your feet. O beautiful one! save the life of this child of mine. If you ask from me any other thing to day, even that be very rare, I will give it to you; but you better now keep the thread of my family line. The Pundits, versed in the Vedas, say that he who has no issues cannot go to Heaven; so, O Beautiful one! To¬ day I pray to you to keep the life of this my eighth son.” Though thus spoken by S’antanu, Ganga Devi was eager to take away the son to throw in the waters; the king became very sorrowful and angrily spoke out “O vile and vicious woman! What are you going to do? Do you not fear hell! of what villain are you the daughter, that you are always doing this vicious deed? O Sinner! go away wherever you will or remain here as yon like, it matters little; but my son will remain here. When you attempt to bring my family to extinction, what use is there in living with you?” When the king thus spoke to the woman who was ready to take away the son she angrily spoke as follows O King! When you have acted against my promise, my word is broken and my connection with you has stopped from to-day. Therefore I will take this son to the forest, where I will nourish him. I am Ganga; to fulfil God's work I have come here. The high-souled Vas'istha cursed before the eight Vasus “Better be born as men”; they became very anxious; and seeing me they prayed “O Sinless one! let you be mother of us all.” O best of kings! I granted them what they desired; and then for the purpose of serving god's ends, I became your wife. Know this my history. The seven Vasus already were born and were freed; now this is the last Vasu and he will remain here for sometime as your son. O S’antanu! now take this son offered by Ganga. Know this to be the Deva Vasu and enjoy the pleasure of having a son. O highly fortunate one! This son will be famous by the name of Gangeya (Ganga's son) and will be the most powerful of all. O King! To-day I will take this son to the place where I chose you as my husband; I will nourish him and when he attains his youth, I will return him to you. For, this son, if deprived of mother, will not be happy nor will he live.” Thus saying, Ganga vanished with the

son; the King S’antanu became very sorrowful and passed away his time in his palace. The king thought always of the separation from his wife and son and thus painfully governed his kingdom.

47-69. Thus some time passed on, when, once on an occasion, the king S’antanu went out a hunting and killed, with arrows, buffaloes, boar, and other wild animals and came to the banks of the Ganges. Here he saw with great wonder that a boy was playing with a great bow and was shooting arrows after arrows. The king's attention was more attracted towards the boy, but whether that boy was his or not, did not at all come to his mind. Looking at his extraordinary feats, his agility in shooting arrows with ease and quickness, his learning that can have no equal and his beautiful form, as if of Cupid, he became greatly surprised and asked him “O Sinless one! whose son are you?” The hero boy did not reply anything but went away shooting his arrows. The king thought within himself “Who is this boy? Whose son is he? What to do now? To whom shall I go now?” Thus pondering, he recollected within himself and began to recite verses in praise of Ganga; Ganga, assuming her beautiful form as before, became visible to the king. Seeing her, the king said “O Ganga! Who is this boy that has just gone? Will you show him once more to me now?” Hearing these words of S’antanu, Ganga said “O king of kings! He is your son, he is that eighth Vasu. So long I have nourished him and now I hand him over to you. O Suvrata! This is the great ascetic Gangeya. He is the illustrious scion of your family. The glory of your line will be enhanced. I have taught him the whole science of archery. This pure son of yours dwelt in the hermitage of Vas'istha and has become versed in all the Vidyas and skilled in all the actions. Your this son knows everything that Jamadgni Paras'uram knew. So, O king of kings! Take now your son and be happy. Thus saying, Ganga gave him his son and vanished; the king also became very glad and embraced his son; he smelled his head and took him to his chariot and drove towards his own city. On returning to Hastinapur, the king held a great festival (utsab) in honor

of the arrival of his son; he called all his astrologers and enquired what day was auspicious. He then called all his subjects and ministers and installed Gangeya as the Crown Prince. The religious S’antanu became very happy on making Gangeya, the Crown Prince; he forgot the pains due to Ganga's bereavement. Suta said - “Thus I have described to you the cause of the curse on Vasus, the birth of Bhisma from the womb of Ganga, the union of Ganga and S’antanu, etc.. He who hears in this world this holy story of Ganga's birth and the birth of the Vasu, is freed of all sins and gets mukti. O Munis! I have described these meritorious holy accounts, as I heard from the mouth of Vyasa. Any body who hears this holy S’rimad Bhagavatam, endowed with five characteristics and filled with various anecdotes, that came out of the mouth of Vyasa, finds all his sins destroyed and attains peace and blessedness. O Munis! Thus has been described completely to you this holy history.

Thus ends the fourth Chapter on the birth of the Vasus in the Mahapurana S’rimad Devi Bhagavatam of 18,000 verses.

Complete chapter-aligned witnesses. Sanskrit Wikisource page 14778, revision 75571 (2016-08-03T10:45:21Z). 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/bk02ch04.htm. Historic spelling and transliteration are lightly normalized; no verse-by-verse alignment is asserted.