Canto 11 - Description of Obtainment of two Brothers

1. After few days, queen Satyavatī got pregnant. No one should get surprised in the fact that the work, done systematically, indeed gets successful.

2. As a result, the beauty of her face gradually became like that of the lustre of soft saffron. All the parts of her body became indolent. She became disinclined towards the activity of armorous sport; and her interest increased in eating sour items.

3. She removed all her ornaments from her body comprehending them to be an unnecessary burden, as there was invaluable gem in her womb. When the sun is supposed to rise, then the Goddess of sky forsakes her ornaments which are in the form of stars.

4. In those days the king Śāntanu, loving her, was respectfully completing all her desires; and he himself was affectionately serving her though there were many maid-servants.

5. In those days she, wielding a baby in her womb like Goddess Pārvatī, wielding a seed of race like the earth and like a small earthen pot full of gems, has become adorable, charming and fascinating.

6. At that time, her golden face round in shape like that of Bilva-fruit;and breasts, having darkness in the front part, stole away the beauty of golden lotus-couple with the middle portion dark because of the sitting of blackbees on them.

7. Her buttocks became heavy, her waist became plump; and the three wrinkles seen on her belly also disappeared gradually.

8. Now royal doctors also started supervising her; so that there does not occur any muddle (mess). A person who is afflicted by the heat of the milk, drinks even butter-milk after thinking twice.

9. As far as the womb was grown, in the same manner the lustre of her face also increased. By the rise of light, does a mirror not shine? Of course it increases.

10. Queen Satyavatī, beautiful like the morning time of the sun-rise and like the evening time of the moon-rise, reached to an advanced (last) stage of pregnancy having become sacred due to immediate meritorious deeds,

11. Queen Satyavatī, protected by the body-guards and other means of protection, was looking extremely beautiful like the sacred flames of fire situated on the fire-alter and the chanting of mantras.

12. Royal doctors were checking her body everyday for health purpose.

Maid-servants were always getting engaged in her service; and the king Śāntanu himself was taking care of her health. As a result, she easily entered into the tenth month.

13. That day, that constellation and that moment came which was awaited eagerly by people. Who does not get excited about his future?

14. Queen Satyavatī gave birth to a bright son in the royal palace at auspicious time. The king Śāntanu experienced quick happiness. Everywhere spread the wave of happiness.

15. The happiness of prince Devavrata saw no bounds of happiness on seeing his younger brother. On this occasion he organised a grand ceremony and opened up the royal treasure for its expense.

16. The king Śāntanu, under the control of God’s will, enthusiastically kept his name ‘Citrāṅgada’ only on seeing the brilliance of the body of that newly born baby.

17. That child, growing like the rising sun, started developing the hearts of people like that of lotuses. By seeing him, the sea of happiness was fluttering in the hearts of people.

18. The happiness of the king on the birth of his son was assumed to be their own by people. People also get attached to their king, when their king always gets engaged in the activities of their welfare.

19. Thereafter, that prince, making everyone happy, started growing like the moon. When he reached to the age of acquiring education, the king sent him to the teachers.

20. As that child was the future king of the Kuru-race, not only King Śāntanu was active for his better education, but prince Devavrata, who was called as Bhīṣma by people, was also active for it.

21. Brilliant prince Citrāṅgada, always keeping his mind in the acquirement of knowledge alone with concentration, effort and hard-work, acquired the expertise in all subjects just in twelve years.

22. He became very impressive after acquiring the proper knowledge of all types of scriptures, arts, weapons, morals, ethical-values, all round science, expertise in politics and rare humanity.

23. At that time, his parents, brother, ministers and people became extremely happy on experiencing his scholarship, power, bodily glamour, and love for justice and towards people.

24. When prince Citrāṅgada became disciple, expert in moral conduct and endowed with good qualities after his training, then his teachers returned him to his father the king Śāntanu by duly conducting convocation ceremony.

25. At that time, the king Śāntanu, experiencing the sense of gratefulness and being happy, gifted in abundance milky cows, grains, clothes and houses to the teachers of his son.

26. The conduct of Citrāṅgada was heart-touching, straight-forward and pleasing. Due to this Bhīṣma (prince Devavrata) experienced quick happiness. He started believing him (Citrāṅgada) as his second soul.

27. Thereafter, prince Devavrata of tranquil-mind, having discussed with his father King Śāntanu, organised a ceremony at auspicious time;and in that he happily gave his prince-hood to the prince Citrāṅgada.

28. Prince Citrāṅgada was very much impressed by this extra-ordinary sacrifice of him; the boundless respect and devotion towards Bhīṣma acquired the place in his mind.

29. In those days, their parents have become assured and experiencing happiness in their minds on seeing the love of Bhīṣma towards Citrāṅgada and the sense of respect and devotion of Citrāṅgada towards Bhīṣma.

30. In this way, queen Satyavatī experienced the happiness of her marriagelife. Once she, taking bath in the spring season, met the king Śāntanu during night, and became pregnant second time after having intercourse.

31. The king came to know this delighting fact from the friend of a queen. He believed himself very lucky; as a gift he gave to that friend of a queen a valuable necklace who had given such good news.

32. Thereafter, he congratulated his wife queen Satyavatī, and expressed his gratefulness. Which farmer does not appreciate his farm on seeing its crop (harvest) being verdant? It means everyone appreciates.

33. For the protection of his woman in post-delivery confinement and child, the king without delay made all the remedies which were done before.

34. After this during the twilight queen Satyavatī happily gave birth to a second lustrous son in the same manner as the bright fifteenth night of a month gives birth to a complete moon.

35. On this occasion the king Śāntanu experienced boundless happiness; and Bhīṣma started bathing in the sea of happiness. Prince Citrāṅgada also became very happy and there ran a wave of happiness amongst all people everywhere.

36. The birth ceremony of a prince was immediately celebrated in Hastināpura. All starting from children to elders get engaged into the sea of happiness.

37. The king Śāntanu, having worshipped Lord Gaṇeśa and Goddess Gaurī, happily named the prince as ‘Vicitravīrya’ on auspicious time given by an astrologer.

38. Bhīṣma was very happy on getting Citrāṅgada and Vicitravīrya. He started believing both of them as his left and right hands.

39. After sometime prince Vicitravīrya became fit for his education. Therefore, King Śāntanu sent him also to the teachers (like Citrāṅgada) for his education.

40. In this way, the king Śāntanu of Kuru race acquired boundless happiness by experiencing good will amongst three sons. As a result, he became carefree from his sons. Thereafter, he, being motivated by queen Satyavatī, engaged his mind in the service of the feet of Lord.