Mahabharata Condensed in the Poet's Own Words /24

Santanu did not like to grant the fisher-
man that boon. Love-mad, he returned to
Hastinapura.
 
विवर्तुं नाशकत्तस्य पिता पुत्रस्य शान्तनुः ।
ततस्स पितुराज्ञाय मतं सम्यगवेक्ष्य च ।
उच्चैःश्रवसमागम्य कन्यां वव्रे पितुस्स्वयम् ॥
Santanu, the father, could not disclose
(his love) to his son. Having (however)
learnt his father's intention and having
thought about it deeply, the son came
to Ucchaisravas, the fisherman, and himself
requested his daughter for (Santanu ) his father.
 
'अद्यप्रभृति मे दाश ब्रह्मचर्यं भविष्यति ।
अपुत्रस्यापि मे लोका भविष्यन्त्यक्षया दिवि ।
ऊर्ध्वरेता भविष्यामि दाश सत्यं ब्रवीमि ते ॥'
"Fisherman, from to-day, I will be
a celibate. Though I become issueless,
the imperishable worlds in heaven shall be
mine. I tell you in truth, fisherman, I
will remain continent."
 
ददानीत्येव तं दाशो धर्मात्मा प्रत्यभाषत ॥
"I shall give (her)," replied the righteous
fisherman.