Shloka 17
Ādi-parva Adhyāya 97: Satyavatī’s appeal and Bhīṣma’s reaffirmation of satya
गजड़ोवाच मर्त्येषु पुरुषश्रेष्ठ: को वः कर्ता भविष्यति । गंगाजीने कहा--वसुओ! मर्त्यलोकमें ऐसे श्रेष्ठ पुरुष कौन हैं; जो तुमलोगोंके पिता होंगे। वसव ऊचु. प्रतीपस्य सुतो राजा शान्तनुलोंकविश्रुत: । भविता मानुषे लोके स न: कर्ता भविष्यति,वसुगण बोले--प्रतीपके पुत्र राजा शान्तनु लोकविख्यात साधु पुरुष होंगे। मनुष्यलोकमें वे ही मारे जनक होंगे
vasava ūcuḥ | pratīpasya suto rājā śāntanur lokaviśrutaḥ | bhavitā mānuṣe loke sa naḥ kartā bhaviṣyati ||
The Vasus replied: “King Śāntanu, the son of Pratīpa, renowned throughout the world, will be born among humans. He will be the one who becomes our begetter (father) in the mortal realm.” This response frames their descent into human life as governed by moral causality and providence: even divine beings, when bound by a condition or consequence, seek a righteous and celebrated human lineage through which their earthly birth will occur.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights moral causality and rightful lineage: even divine beings, when compelled to take mortal birth, seek a dharmic and renowned human father. It underscores the Mahābhārata’s emphasis that birth, status, and destiny unfold through ethical order (dharma) and consequence (karma).
In the surrounding episode, the Vasus are determining who in the human world will become their father when they are born as mortals. They identify King Śāntanu, son of Pratīpa, famed across the world, as the one who will be their begetter.