Shloka 8
Satyavatī’s Disclosure and the Summoning of Vyāsa
Niyoga for Kuru Succession
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
divyarūpā hi sā devī gaṅgā tripathagāminī | mānuṣaṁ vigrahaṁ kṛtvā śrīmantam varavarṇinī ||
Sinabi ni Vaiśampāyana: Ang diyosang si Gaṅgā, na may anyong makalangit at tanyag bilang “yaong dumaraan sa tatlong landas,” ay nag-anyong tao. Ang napakagandang iyon ay dumating kay Haring Śāntanu, na maningning na gaya ni Indra, bilang kanyang asawa—na wari’y ang kapalaran mismo ang nagkatawang-tao upang salubungin siya.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
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.
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.