dwelt in his person, considering that to be their
fittest abode. Men, seeing the behaviour of that
monarch of great achievements came to know that virtue
was ever superior to pleasure and profit. These
were the attributes that dwelt in that great being—that
bull among men—Santanu. And truly there
was never a king like Santanu. All the kings of
the earth, beholding him devoted to virtue, bestowed
upon that foremost of virtuous men the title of King
of kings. And all the kings of the earth during
the time of that lord-protector of the Bharata race,
were without woe and fear and anxiety of any kind.
And they all slept in peace, rising from bed every
morning after happy dreams. And owing to that
monarch of splendid achievements resembling Indra
himself in energy, all the kings of the earth became
virtuous and devoted to liberality, religious acts
and sacrifices. And when the earth was ruled
by Santanu and other monarchs like him, the religious
merits of every order increased very greatly.
The Kshatriyas served the Brahmanas; the Vaisyas waited
upon the Kshatriyas, and the Sudras adoring the Brahmanas
and the Kshatriyas, waited upon the Vaisyas.
And Santanu residing in Hastinapura, the delightful
capital of the Kurus, ruled the whole earth bounded
by 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 a 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 valour like Vayu. In wrath
he was like Yama, and in patience like the Earth.
And, O king, while Santanu 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 void of desire and wrath, extended
equal protection unto all creatures. Then sacrifices
in honour of the gods, the Rishis, and Pitris commenced,
and no creature was deprived of life sinfully.
And Santanu 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 the best of Kurus—of
that king of kings—speech became united
with truth, and the minds of men were directed towards
liberality and virtue. And Santanu, having enjoyed
domestic felicity for six and thirty years, retired
into the woods.
“And Santanu’s son, the Vasu born of Ganga, named Devavrata resembled Santanu 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 car-warrior. In fact he was a great king.