Shloka 8

Satyavatī’s Disclosure and the Summoning of Vyāsa

Niyoga for Kuru Succession

Devanagari script

दिव्यरूपा हि सा देवी गड़ा त्रिपथगामिनी । मानुषं विग्रहं कृत्वा श्रीमन्तं वरवर्णिनी,त्रिपथगामिनी दिव्यरूपिणी देवी गंगा ही अत्यन्त सुन्दर मनुष्य-देह धारण करके देवराज इन्द्रके समान तेजस्वी नृूपशिरोमणि महाराज शान्तनुको, जिन्हें भाग्यसे इच्छानुसार सुख अपने-आप मिल रहा था, सुन्दरी पत्नीके रूपमें प्राप्त हुई थीं

Transliteration

divyarūpā hi sā devī gaṅgā tripathagāminī | mānuṣaṁ vigrahaṁ kṛtvā śrīmantam varavarṇinī ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana sprach: Die Göttin Gaṅgā, von göttlicher Gestalt und berühmt als die „Drei-Wege-Geherin“, nahm einen menschlichen Leib an. Die überaus schöne Frau kam daraufhin zu dem ruhmreichen König Śāntanu, strahlend wie Indra, als seine Gemahlin—als hätte das Glück selbst sichtbare Gestalt angenommen, um ihm zu begegnen.

Word by Word

दिव्यरूपाhaving a divine form

हिindeed/for

साshe

देवीgoddess

गङ्गाGanga

त्रिपथगामिनीmoving in the three paths (heaven/earth/netherworld)

मानुषम्human

विग्रहम्body/form

कृत्वाhaving made/assuming

श्रीमन्तम्splendid/fortunate

वरवर्णिनीof excellent complexion/beautiful

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Gaṅgā

Śāntanu

Indra

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the meeting of human kingship with divine agency: prosperity and destiny (śrī) can appear as if personified, and divine powers may enter human life in embodied form, shaping royal lineage and responsibility.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana describes the river-goddess Gaṅgā, called Tripathagāminī, taking on a human body and becoming the wife of King Śāntanu, who is portrayed as exceptionally radiant and fortunate.