Page:The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa (1884).djvu/333

Rh residing in Hastinapore, the delightful capital of the Kurus, ruled the whole earth bounded by the seas. He was truthful and guileless, and like the king of the celestials himself conversant with the dictates of virtue. And from the combination in him of liberality, religion, and asceticism, he acquired great good fortune. He was free from anger and malice, and was handsome in person like Soma himself. In splendour he was like the Sun and in impetuosity of valor like Vayu. In wrath he was like Yama, and in patience like the Earth, And, O king, while Shantanu ruled the earth, no deer, boars, birds, or other animals were needlessly slain. In his dominions the great virtue of kindness to all creatures prevailed, and the king himself with the soul of mercy and destitute of desire and wrath, extended equal protection unto all creatures. Then sacrifices in honor of the gods, the Rishis and the Pitris, commenced, and no creature was deprived of life sinfully. And Shantanu was the king and father of all,—of those that were miserable and those that had no protectors, of birds and beasts, in fact, of every created thing. And during the rule of that best of Kurus—of that King of kings—speech became united with truth, and the minds of men were set upon liberality and religion. And Shantanu having enjoyed domestic felicity for six and thirty years retired into the woods.

"And Shantanu's son—the Vasu born of Ganga and named —resembled Shantanu himself in personal beauty, in habits and behaviour, and in learning. And in all branches of knowledge, worldly or spiritual, his skill was very great. His strength and energy were extraordinary. He became a mighty charioteer. In fact, he was a great being.

"One day in pursuing along the banks of the Ganges, a deer that he had struck with his arrow, king Shantanu observed that the river had become shallow. And observing this, that bull among men, Shantanu, began to reflect upon this strange appearance. He mentally asked why that first of rivers ran not so quickly as before. And while seeking for a cause, the illustrious monarch beheld that a youth of great comeliness, of well-built and amiable person, like Indra