(Sambhava Parva continued)
" continued, 'There was amongst the Yadavas a chief named Sura. He was the father of . And he had a daughter called , who was unrivalled for beauty on earth. And, O thou you of Bharata's race, Sura, always truthful in speech, gave from friendship this his firstborn daughter unto to his childless cousin and friend, the illustrious --the son of his paternal aunt--pursuant to a former promise. And in the house of her adoptive father was engaged in looking after the duties of hospitality to Brahmanas and other guests. Once she gratified by her attentions the terrible Brahmana of rigid vows, who was known by the name of and was well-acquainted with the hidden truths of morality. Gratified with her respectful attentions, the sage, anticipating by his spiritual power the future (season of) distress (consequent upon the curse to be pronounced upon for his unrighteous act of slaying a deer while serving its mate) imparted to her a formula of invocation for summoning any of the celestials she liked to give her children. And the Rishi said, 'Those celestials that thou you shall summon by this Mantra shall certainly approach thee you and give thee you children.' 'Thus addressed by the Brahmana, the amiable () became curious, and in her maidenhood summoned the god Arka (Sun). And as soon as he pronounced the Mantra, she beheld that effulgent deity--that beholder of everything in the world--approaching her. And beholding that extraordinary sight, the maiden of faultless features was overcome with surprise. But the god (Sun) approaching her, said, 'Here I am, O black-eyed girl! Tell me what I am to do for thee you.'
"Hearing this, said, 'O slayer of foes, a certain Brahamana gave me this formula of invocation as a boon, and, O lord, I have summoned thee you only to test its efficacy. For this offence I bow to thee you. A woman, whatever be her offence, always deserveth deserves pardon.' (Sun) replied, 'I know that hath has granted this boon. But cast off thy your fears, timid maiden, and grant me thy your embraces. Amiable one, my approach cannot be futile; it must bear fruit. Thou you hast have summoned me, and if it be for nothing, it shall certainly be regarded as thy your transgression.'
" continued, ' thus spoke unto to her many things with a view to allay her fears, but, O Bharata, the amiable maiden, from modesty and fear of her relatives, consented not to grant his request. And, O bull of Bharata's race, Arka addressed her again and said, 'O princess, for my sake, it shall not be sinful for thee you to grant my wish.' Thus speaking unto to the daughter of , the illustrious Tapana--the illuminator of the universe--gratified his wish. And of this connection there was immediately born a son known all over the world as accountred with natural armour and with face brightened by ear-rings. And the heroic was the first of all wielders of weapons, blessed with good fortune, and endued with the beauty of a celestial child. And after the birth of this child, the illustrious Tapana granted unto to her maidenhood and ascended to heaven. And the princess of the Vrishni race beholding with sorrow that son born of her, reflected intently upon what was then the best for her to do. And from fear of her relatives she resolved to conceal that evidence of her folly. And she cast her offspring endued with great physical strength into the water. Then the well-known husband of Radha, of the Suta caste, took up the child thus cast into the water, and he and his wife brought him up as their own son. And Radha and her husband bestowed on him the name of (born with wealth) because he was born with a natural armour and ear-rings. And endued as he was born with great strength, as he grew up, he became skilled in all weapons. Possessed of great energy, he used to adore until his back was heated by his rays (i.e., from dawn to midday), and during the hours of worship, there was nothing on earth that the heroic and intelligent would not give unto to the Brahmanas. And desirous of benefiting his own son Phalguni (), assuming the form of a Brahmana, approached on one occasion and begged of him his natural armour. Thus asked took off his natural armour, and joining his hands in reverence gave it unto to in the guise of a Brahmana. And the chief of the celestials accepted the gift and was exceedingly gratified with 's liberality. He therefore, gave unto to him a fine dart, saying, 'That one (and one only) among the celestials, the Asuras, men, the Gandharvas, the Nagas, and the Rakshasas, whom thou you desirest to conquer, shall be certainly slain with this dart.'
"The son of was before this known by the name of . But since he cut off his natural armour, he came to be called (the cutter or peeler of his own cover).'"
(Sambhava Parva continued)
" said. 'The large-eyed daughter of , by name, was endued with beauty and every accomplishment. Of rigid vows, she was devoted to virtue and possessed of every good quality. But though endued with beauty and youth and every womanly attribute, yet it so happened that no king asked-for her hand. Her father seeing this, invited, O best of monarchs, the princes and kings of other countries and desired his daughter to select her husband from among her guests. The intelligent , entering the amphitheatre, beheld --the foremost of the Bharatas--that tiger among kings--in that concourse of crowned heads. Proud as the lion, broad-chested, bull-eyed, endued with great strength, and outshining all other monarchs in splendour, he looked like another in that royal assemblage. The amiable daughter of , of faultless features, beholding --that best of men--in that assembly, became very much agitated. And advancing with modesty, all the while quivering with emotion, she placed the nuptial garland about 's neck. The other monarchs, seeing choose for her lord, returned to their respective kingdoms on elephants, horses and cars, as they had come. Then, O king, the bride's father caused the nuptial rites to be performed duly. The Kuru prince blessed with great good fortune and the daughter of formed a couple like and Paulomi (the king and queen of the celestials). And, O best of Kuru monarchs, king , after the nuptials were over, presented his son-in-law with much wealth and sent him back to his capital. Then the Kuru prince , accompanied by a large force bearing various kinds of banners and pennons, and eulogised by Brahmanas and great Rishis pronouncing benedictions, reached his capital. And after arriving at his own palace, he established his queen therein.'"
(Sambhava Parva continued)
" continued, 'Some time after, the intelligent set his heart upon getting married to a second wife. Accompanied by an army composed of four kinds of force, and also by aged councillors and Brahmanas and great Rishis, he went to the capital of the king of Madra. And that bull of the Valhikas--the king of Madra--hearing that had arrived, went out to receive him. And having received him with respect, he got him to enter his palace. Arriving there, the king of Madra offered unto to a white carpet for a seat; water to wash his feet with, and usual oblation of various ingredients indicative of respect. And when he was seated at ease, the king asked him about the reason of his visit. Then --the supporter of the dignity of the Kurus--addressed the king of Madra and said, 'O oppressor of all foes, know that I have come for the hand of a maiden. It hath has been heard by us that thou you hast have a sister named celebrated for her beauty and endued with every virtue; I would chose her for . Thou you art, O king, in every respect worthy of an alliance with us, and we also are worthy of thee you. Reflecting upon all this, O king of Madra, accept us duly.' The ruler of Madra, thus addressed by , replied, 'To my mind, there is none else than one of thy your family with whom I can enter into an alliance. But there is a custom in our family observed by our ancestors, which, be it good or bad, I am incapable of transgressing. It is well-known, and therefore is known to thee you as well, I doubt not. Therefore, it is not proper for thee you to say to me,--Bestow thy your sister. The custom to which I allude is our family custom. With us that is a virtue and worthy of observance. It is for this only, O slayer of foes, I cannot give thee you any assurance in the matter of thy your request.' On hearing this, answered the king of Madra, saying, 'O king, this, no doubt,' is a virtue. The self-create himself hath has said it. Thy your ancestors were observant of custom. There is no fault to find with it. It is also well-known, O , that this custom in respect of family dignity hath has the approval of the wise and the good.' Saying this of great energy, gave unto to much gold both coined and uncoined, and precious stones of various colours by thousands, and elephants and horses and cars, and much cloth and many ornaments, and gems and pearls and corals. And accepting with a cheerful heart those precious gifts then gave away his sister decked in ornaments unto to that bull of the Kuru race. Then the wise , the son of the oceangoing , rejoiced at the issue of his mission, took with him, and returned to the Kuru capital named after the elephant.
"Then selecting on auspicious day and moment as indicated by the wise for the ceremony, King was duly united with . And after the nuptials were over, the Kuru king established his beautiful bride in handsome apartments. And, O king of kings, that best of monarchs then gave himself up to enjoyment in the company of his two wives as best he liked and to the limit of his desires. And after thirty days had elapsed, the Kuru king, O monarch, started from his capital for the conquest of the world. And after reverentially saluting and bowing to and the other elders of the Kuru race, and with adieus to and others of the family, and obtaining their leave, he set out on his grand campaign, accompanied by a large force of elephants, horses, and cars, and well-pleased with the blessings uttered by all around and the auspicious rites performed by the citizens for his success. And , accompanied by such a strong force marched against various foes. And that tiger among men--that spreader of the fame of the Kurus--first subjugated the robber tribes of asarna. He next turned his army composed of innumerable elephants, cavalry, infantry, and charioteers, with standards of various colours against Dhirga--the ruler of the kingdom of Maghadha who was proud of his strength, and offended against numerous monarchs. And attacking him in his capital, slew him there, and took everything in his treasury and also vehicles and draught animals without number. He then marched into Mithila and subjugated the Videhas. And then, O bull among men, led his army against Kasi, Sumbha, and Pundra, and by the strength and prowess of his arms spread the fame of the Kurus. And , that oppressor of foes, like unto to a mighty fire whose far-reaching flames were represented by his arrows and splendour by his weapons, began to consume all kings that came in contact with him. These with their forces, vanquished by at the head of his army, were made the vassals of the Kurus. And all kings of the world, thus vanquished by him, regarded him as the one single hero on earth even as the celestials regard in heaven. And the kings of earth with joined palms bowed to him and waited on him with presents of various kinds of gems and wealth, precious stones and pearls and corals, and much gold and silver, and first-class kine and handsome horses and fine cars and elephants, and asses and camels and buffaloes, and goats and sheep, and blankets and beautiful hides, and cloths woven out of furs. And the king of Hastinapura accepting those offerings retraced his steps towards his capital, to the great delight of his subjects. And the citizens and others filled with joy, and kings and ministers, all began to say, 'O, the fame of the achievements of , that tiger among kings, and of the wise , which were about to die, hath has been revived by . They who robbed before the Kurus of both territory and wealth have been subjugated by --the tiger of Hastinapura--and made to pay tribute.' And all the citizens with at their head went out to receive the victorious king. They had not proceeded far when they saw the attendants of the king laden with much wealth, and the train of various conveyances laden with all kinds of wealth, and of elephants, horses, cars, kine, camels and other animals, was so long that they saw not its end. Then , beholding , who was a father to him, worshipped his feet and saluted the citizens and others as each deserved. And , too, embracing as his son who had returned victorious after grinding many hostile kingdoms, wept tears of joy. And , instilling joy into the hearts of his people with a flourish of trumpets and conchs and kettle-drums, entered his capital.'"