Shloka 6
Satyavatī’s Disclosure and the Summoning of Vyāsa
Niyoga for Kuru Succession
(रथमारोप्य तां देवीं जगाम स तया सह । सा च शान्तनुमभ्यागात् साक्षाल्लक्ष्मीरिवापरा ।।) तब राजा शान्तनु देवी गंगाको रथपर बिठाकर उनके साथ अपनी राजधानीको चले गये। साक्षात् दूसरी लक्ष्मीके समान सुशोभित होनेवाली गंगादेवी शान्तनुके साथ गयीं। आसाद्य शान्तनुस्तां च बुभुजे कामतो वशी । न प्रष्टव्येति मन्वानो नस तां किंचिदूचिवान्,इन्द्रियोंको वशमें रखनेवाले राजा शान्तनु उस देवीको पाकर उसका इच्छानुसार उपभोग करने लगे। पिताका यह आदेश था कि उससे कुछ पूछना मत; अत: उनकी आज्ञा मानकर राजाने उससे कोई बात नहीं पूछी
rathamāropya tāṃ devīṃ jagāma sa tayā saha | sā ca śāntanum abhyāgāt sākṣāl lakṣmīr ivāparā || 6 ||
Tendo colocado aquela deusa numa carruagem, partiu com ela. E ela veio ao rei Śāntanu, radiante como a própria Lakṣmī em outra forma. Śāntanu, senhor de seus sentidos, ao obtê-la passou a viver com ela segundo o desejo de ambos; mas, lembrando a antiga injunção de não a interrogar, não lhe perguntou coisa alguma.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights ethical restraint and fidelity to an injunction: Śāntanu, though captivated by a divine woman, governs his impulses and honors the condition of not questioning her, modeling self-control and commitment to one’s word.
Śāntanu places the goddess Gaṅgā on a chariot and departs with her; she approaches him shining like a second Lakṣmī. The broader episode frames their union under a strict condition that the king must not question her actions.