116 - BHAGAVAT-YANA PARVA (Contd)

Narada said: -

1. The king Haryyashwa, the best among rulers of men, having thought in his mind for a long time, said after having drawn a long and hot sigh about the birth of a son.

2. “Those six limbs that ought to be elevated are elevated (in this girl) and the seven ought to be slender are so; the three that ought to be deep are deep and the five that ought to be red are red.

3. She is fit to be looked at by many gods, Asuras and men and by many Gandharvas and she is endued with many auspicious signs and capable of bringing forth many children.

4. I am competent to beget on her a son who will be an emperor; speak about the dowery, O foremost among the twice born, having paid due regard to the state of my wealth.

Galava said: -

5. Give me eight hundred horses, white as the moon born in this country, and with plump bodies each having one ear black.

6. Then will this blessed maiden, with large eyes, be the mother of your children as the fire stick is the mother of fire.

Narada said: -

      7. The king Haryyashwa, that royal sage, hearing these words, senseless with passion, said sorrowfully to that best among the Rishis.

      8. ‘‘The kind of horses that you require, two hundred only I have got; hundreds of other breeds of horses, all worthy of sacrifice, are roaming about (in my kingdom)

      9. Such being the case, I shall beget but one child on this damsel, O Galava; kindly act up to this request of mine.”

      10. Hearing these words, the damsel said to Galava: - “A boon has been granted to me by a certain being conversant with Brahma.

      11. That after giving birth to each child I shall again be a virgin; Therefore, do you offer me to this king accepting these best of horses.

      12. By going to four kings in succession you will get the full complement of eight hundred (horses) and I too shall have four sons.

13. Give me up Therefore, in order that you may be able to redeem the pledge made to your spiritual guide; so do I think with my humble wisdom and you can do as you like.”

14. The Muni Galava, being thus addressed by that girl, then said these words to the lord of the earth, Haryyashwa.

15. “Accept this maiden, O Haryyashwa, O foremost among men, by the offer of a fourth part of her dowery and beget on her but one child.”

16. He, having accepted that girl and having pleased Galava, got the wished for son at the proper time and place.

17. The prince was thereafter named Vasumanas who in wealth was richest and Jived to be a king as wealthy as one of the Vasus himself and a giver of wealth.

18. In proper time, the wise Galava again presented himself there and having approached Haryyashwa said to him whose desire had been satisfied.

19. “O ruler of men, you have begotten this son, a boy similar to the sun in effulgence and it is time for me to go to another ruler of men to ask for alms.”

20. Haryyashwa, who was ever ready to abide by his words and who made manliness the basis of his action, gave back Madhavi as he could not procure all the horses himself.

21. Madhavi, too abandoning that effulgent royal prosperity, became a maiden again of her own will and followed Galava.

22. “Let the horses, remain with you for the present “so said the twice-born one and went, in company with the maiden, to Divodasa, the ruler of men.

Thus ends the one hundred and sixteenth Chapter in the Bhagavat-Yana of the Udyoga Parva.