(Sambhava Parva continued)
" said, ' then, on returning to his capital which was like unto to the city of , entered his inner apartments and established there his bride . And the monarch, directed by , established 's daughter in a mansion especially erected near the artificial woods of Asokas in his gardens. And the king surrounded 's daughter with a thousand maids and honoured her by making every arrangement for her food and garments. But it was with that the royal son of sported like a celestial for many years in joy and bliss. And when her season came, the fair conceived. And she brought forth as her first child a fine boy. And when a thousand years had passed away, 's daughter having attained to puberty saw that her season had come. She became anxious and said to herself, 'My season hath has arrived. But I have not yet chosen a husband. O, what hath has happened, what should I do? How am I to obtain the fruition of my wishes? hath has become mother. My youth is doomed to pass away in vain. Shall I choose him also for my husband whom hath has chosen? This is, indeed, my resolve: that monarch should give me a son. Will not the virtuous one grant me a private interview?'
" continued, 'While was thus busy with her thoughts, the king wandering listlessly came to that very wood of Asokas, and beholding before him, stood there in silence. Then of sweet smiles seeing the monarch before her with nobody to witness what might pass, approached him and said with joined palms, 'O son of , no one can behold the ladies that dwell in the inner apartments of , of , of , of , of , and of thee you! Thou you knowest know, O king, that I am both handsome and well-born. I solicit thee you, O king! My season hath has arrived. See that it goeth goes not in vain.'
" answered, 'Well do I know that honour of birth is thine yours, born as thou you art in the proud race of the Danavas. Thou you art also gifted with beauty. I do not, indeed, see even the speck of a fault in thy your feature. But commanded me, while I was united with , that never should 's daughter he summoned to my bed.'
" then said, 'It hath has been said, O king, that it is not sinful to lie on the occasion of a joke, in respect of women sought to be enjoyed, on occasions of marriage, in peril of immediate death and of the loss of one's whole fortune. Lying is excusable on these five occasions. O king, it is not true that he is fallen who speaks not the truth when asked. Both and myself have been called hither here as companions to serve the same purpose. When, therefore, thou you hadst had said that you wouldst would confine thyself to one only amongst as, that was a lie thou you hadst had spoken.' replied, 'A king should ever be a model in the eyes of his people. That monarch certainly meets with destruction who speaks an untruth. As for myself, I dare not speak an untruth even if the greatest loss threatens me!' answered, 'O monarch, one may look upon her friend's husband as her own. One's friend's marriage is the same as one's own. Thou you hast have been chosen by my friend as her husband. Thou you art as much my husband, therefore.' then said, 'It is, indeed my vow always to grant what one asketh asks. As thou you askest ask me, tell me then what I am to do.' then said, 'Absolve me, O king, from sin. Protect my virtue. Becoming a mother by thee you, let me practise the highest virtue in this world. It is said, O king, that a wife, a slave, and a son can never earn wealth for themselves. What they earn always belongeth belongs to him who owneth owns them. I am, indeed, the slave of . Thou you art 's master and lord. Thou you art, therefore, O king, my master and lord as much as 's! I solicit thee you! O, fulfil my wishes!'
" continued, 'Thus addressed by , the monarch was persuaded into the truth of all she spoke. He therefore, honoured by protecting her virtue. And they passed some time together. And taking affectionate farewell of each other, they then parted, each returning to whence from where he or she had come.
"And it came to pass that of sweet smiles and fair eyebrows conceived in consequence of that connection of hers with that best of monarchs. And, O king, that lotus-eyed lady then in due course of time brought forth a son of the splendour of a celestial child and of eyes like-lotus-petals.'"
(Sambhava Parva continued)
" said, 'When of sweet smiles heard of the birth of this child, she became jealous, and O Bharata, became an object of her unpleasant reflections. And , repairing to her, addressed her thus, 'O thou you of fair eye-brows, what sin is this thou you hast have committed by yielding to the influence of lust?' replied, 'A certain Rishi of virtuous soul and fully conversant with the Vedas came to me. Capable of granting boons he was solicited by me to grant my wishes that were based on considerations of virtue. O thou you of sweet smiles, I would not seek the sinful fulfilment of my desires. I tell thee you truly that this child of mine is by that Rishi!' answered, 'It is all right if that be the case, O timid one! But if the lineage, name, and family of that Brahmana be known to thee you, I should like to hear them.' replied, 'O thou you of sweet smiles, in asceticism and energy, that Rishi is resplendent like the Sun himself. Beholding him, I had not, any need to make these enquiries--' then said, 'If this is true, if indeed, thou you hast have obtained thy your child from such a superior Brahmana, then, O , I have no cause of anger.'
" continued, 'Having thus talked and laughed with each other, they separated, returning to the palace with the knowledge imparted to her by . And, O king, also begot on two sons called and , who were like and . And , the daughter of , became through the royal sage the mother of three sons in all, named Drahyu, Anu, and .
"And, O king, it so came to pass that one day of sweet smiles, accompanied by , went into a solitary part of the woods, (in the king's extensive park). And there she saw three children of celestial beauty playing with perfect trustfulness. And asked in surprise, 'Whose children are they, O king, who are so handsome and so like unto to the children of the celestials? In splendour and beauty they are like thee you, I should think.'
" continued, 'And without waiting for a reply from the king, asked the children themselves, 'Ye you children, what is your lineage? Who is your father? Answer me truly. I desire to know all.' Those children then pointed at the king (with their forefingers) and spoke of as their mother.
"And having so said, the children approached the king to clasp his knees. But the king dared not caress them in the presence of . The boys then left the place, and made towards their mother, weeping in grief. And the king, at this conduct of the boys, became very much abashed. But , marking the affection of the children for the king learnt the secret and addressing , said, 'How hast have thou you dared to do me an injury, being, as thou you art, dependent on me? Dost do thou you not fear to have recourse once more to that Asura custom of thine yours?'
" said, 'O thou you of sweet smiles, all that I told thee you of a Rishi is perfectly true. I have acted rightly and according to the precepts of virtue, and therefore, do I not fear thee you. When thou you hadst had chosen the king for thy your husband, I, too, chose him as mine. O beautiful one, a friend's husband is, according to usage, one's own husband as well. Thou you art the daughter of a Brahmana and, therefore, deservest deserve my worship and regard. But dost do thou you not know that this royal sage is held by me in greater esteem still?'
" said, ' then, hearing those words of hers, exclaimed, O king, thus, 'Thou you hast have wronged me, O monarch! I shall not live here any longer.' And saying this, she quickly rose, with tearful eyes, to go to her father. And the king was grieved to see her thus, and alarmed greatly, followed in her foot-steps, endeavouring to appease her wrath. But , with eyes red with anger, would not desist. Speaking not a word to the king, with eyes bathed in tears, she soon reached the side of her father , the son of Kavi. And beholding her father, she stood before him, after due salutations. And also, immediately after, saluted and worshipped Bhargava.'
"And said, 'O father, virtue hath has been vanquished by vice. The low have risen, and the high have fallen. I have been offended again by , the daughter of . Three sons have been begotten upon her by this king . But, O father, being luckless I have got only two sons! O son of , this king is renowned for his knowledge of the precepts of religion. But, O , I tell thee you that he hath has deviated from the path of rectitude.'
", hearing all this, said, 'O monarch, since thou you hast have made vice thy your beloved pursuit, though fully acquainted with the precepts of religion, invincible decrepitude shall paralyse thee you!' answered, 'Adorable one, I was solicited by the daughter of the Danava king to fructify her season. I did it from a sense of virtue and not from other motives. That male person, who being solicited by a woman in her season doth does not grant her wishes, is called, O Brahmana, by those conversant with the Vedas, a slayer of the embryo. He who, solicited in secret by a woman full of desire and in season, goeth goes not in unto to her, loseth loses virtue and is called by the learned a killer of the embryo, O son of , for these reasons, and anxious to avoid sin, I went into .' then replied, 'Thou you art dependent on me. Thou you shouldst should have awaited my command. Having acted falsely in the matter of thy your duty, O son of , thou you hast have been guilty of the sin of theft.'
" continued, ', the son of , thus cursed by the angry , was then divested of his youth and immediately overcome by decrepitude. And said, 'O son of , I have not yet been satiated with youth or with . Therefore, O Brahmana, be graceful unto to me so that decrepitude might not touch me.' then answered, 'I never speak an untruth. Even now, O king, art thou you attacked by decrepitude. But if thou you likest like, thou you art competent to transfer this thy your decrepitude to another.' said, 'O Brahmana, let it be commanded by thee you that that son of mine who giveth gives me his youth shall enjoy my kingdom, and shall achieve both virtue and fame.' replied, 'O son of , thinking of me thou you mayst may transfer this thy your decrepitude to whomsoever thou you likest like. That son who shall give thee you his youth shall become thy your successor to the throne. He shall also have long life, wide fame, and numerous progeny!'"