Shloka 46
अत्रानुवंशशलोको भवति-- य॑ यं कराभ्यां स्पृशति जीर्ण स सुखमश्ुते ॥ पुनर्युवा च भवति तस्मात् त॑ शान्तनुं विदु:ः ॥। इति तदस्य शान्तनुत्वम्,शान्तनुके विषयमें यह अनुवंशश्लोक उपलब्ध होता है-- वे जिस-जिस बूढ़ेको अपने दोनों हाथोंसे छू देते थे, वह बड़े सुख और शान्तिका अनुभव करता था तथा पुनः नौजवान हो जाता था। इसीलिये लोग उन्हें शान्तनुके रूपमें जानने लगे। यही उनके शान्तनु नाम पड़नेका कारण हुआ
atrānuvaṁśaśloko bhavati— yaṁ yaṁ karābhyāṁ spṛśati jīrṇaḥ sa sukham aśnute || punar yuvā ca bhavati tasmāt taṁ śāntanuṁ viduḥ || iti tad asya śāntanutvam |
Vaiśampāyana said: Here a traditional genealogical verse is recited: ‘Whomever the aged king touches with both hands, that person experiences well-being and peace, and becomes young again.’ Therefore people came to know him as Śāntanu. Thus is explained the meaning behind his name—his power to bestow calm and renewal.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights an ideal of kingship where a ruler’s presence brings śānti (calm, well-being) and renewal to others. Śāntanu’s very name is tied to the capacity to confer peace and restoration, suggesting that true royal power is measured by the welfare it generates.
Vaiśampāyana cites an anuvaṁśa-śloka (a traditional dynastic verse) explaining why the king is called Śāntanu: whoever is old and is touched by him with both hands feels happiness and becomes young again; hence people recognize him by that name.