Having seen her, he asked that black-eyed maiden, "O timid maiden, who are you? What are you doing here?” She said, “Blessing be upon you! I am the daughter of the chief of the fishermen. By the command of my father I am engaged to row this boat of take people across this river for religious merits.” Having seen her endued with celestial beauty, amiableness and fragrance, the king Shantanu desired to possess her. He went to her father and asked him to bestow her upon him.
कस्य त्वमसि का चासि किं च भीरु चिकीर्षसि। साब्रवीद् दाशकन्यास्मि धर्मार्थं वाहये तरिम्॥ पितुर्नियोगाद् भद्रं ते दाशराज्ञो महात्मनः। रूपमाधुर्यगन्धैस्तां संयुक्तां देवरूपिणीम्॥ समीक्ष्य राजा दाशेयी कामयामास शान्तनुः। स गत्वा पितरं तस्या वरयामास तां तदा॥