Page:The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa (1884).djvu/172

138 quake with terror, and she spake unto him, saying, 'O Brahmana, I have not waked thee from desire of insult; but I have done it so that thy daily rites may not be passed over unperformed.'

"And the Rishi Jaratkaru, great in ascetic merit, possessed with anger and desirous of forsaking his spouse, thus addressed, spake unto his wife, saying, 'O thou fair one, never have I spoken a falsehood. Therefore, go I shall. This was also the appointment between ourselves made by me with thee. Amiable one, I have passed the time happily with thee. And, O fair one, tell thy brother when I am gone that I have left thee. And upon my going away, it behoveth thee not to grieve for me.'

"Thus addressed, Jaratkaru, the fair sister of Vasuki, of faultless features, steeped in anxiety and sorrow, having mustered sufficient courage and patience, though her heart was quaking yet, then spake unto the Rishi Jaratkaru. And her words were obstructed with tears and her face was hueless with fear. And the palms of her hands were joined together, and her eyes were bathed in tears. And she said, 'It behoveth thee not to leave me without fault. Thou art ever in virtue's ways? I too have been in the same path, with heart fixed on the good of my relatives. And, O best of Brahmanas, the purpose for which I have been bestowed on thee hath not been accomplished yet. Unfortunate as I am, what shall Vasuki say unto me? And, O excellent one, the offspring desired of thee by my relatives afflicted by a mother's curse, doth not yet appear! The welfare of my relatives dependeth on the acquisition of an offspring from thee! And in order that my connection with thee may not be fruitless, O illustrious Brahmana, moved by the desire of doing good to my race do I entreat thee! And, O excellent one, high-souled as thou art, why shalt thou leave me who am faultless? This conception of mine is as yet indistinct.'

"Thus addressed, the Muni of ascetic merit then spake unto his wife, Jaratkaru, these words that were proper and suitable to the occasion. And he said, 'O thou fortunate one, the being thou hast conceived, even like unto Agni himself,