Page:The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa (1884).djvu/235

Rh penetrated the impenetrable Vuha shall range within it fearlessly and send a fourth part of the hostile force, in course of half a day, unto the regions of the king of the dead. Then numberless heroes and mighty charioteers returning to the charge towards the close of the day, shall my boy of mighty arms re-appear before me. And he shall beget one heroic son in his line who shall continue the almost extinct Bharata race.' Hearing these words of Shoma, the dwellers of heaven replied, 'So be it.' And they then all together applauded and worshipped (Shoma) the king of the stars. Thus, O king, have I recited to thee the (particulars of the) birth of thy father's father!

"Know thou also, O monarch, the mighty charioteer Drishtadyumna was a portion of Agni. And know also that Shikhandi, who was at first a female, was (the incarnation of) a Rakshasa. And, O thou bull of the Bharata race, they who had become the five sons of Draupadi—those bulls amongst the Bharata princes—were the celestials known as the Viswas. Their names were Pritivindhya,, , the son of Nakula, and  endued with mighty energy.

"Shura—the first of the Yadus—was the father of Vasudeva. He had a daughter called Prithā who in beauty was unrivalled on earth. And Shura, having promised in the presence of fire that he would give his first-born child to the son of his paternal aunt who was without offspring, gave his daughter unto that monarch in expectation of his favors. And  thereupon made her his daughter. And she was thenceforth, in the house of her (adoptive) father, engaged in attending upon Brahmanas and guests. One day she had to attend upon the wrathful ascetic of rigid vows—Durvasha by name—acquainted with truth and fully conversant with the mysteries of religion. And Prithā with all possible care gratified the wrathful Rishi of soul under complete control. And the worshipful one gratified with the attentions bestowed on him by the maiden told her, 'I am satisfied, O fortunate one, with thee! By this mantra (that I am about to give thee, thou shalt be able to summon (to thy side) what- 26