Page:The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa (1884).djvu/237

Rh slayer of foes—and the best portion of the maker of day—was the friend and counsellor of Duryodhana. And he called Vāsudeva, endued with great valor, was among men a portion of him called Narayana—the god of gods—eternal! And Valadeva of exceeding strength was a portion of the Naga Shesa. And, O monarch, know thou that Pradyumna (Kama) of great energy was. And in this way the portions of various other dwellers of heaven became exalted men in the race of Vasudeva increasing the glory thereof. And, O king, the portions of the Gana of Apsaras which I have mentioned already, also became incarnate on earth according to Indra's commands. And sixteen thousand portions of those goddesses became, O king, in this world of men the wives of Vāsudeva. And a portion of Sri herself became incarnate on earth, for the gratification of Narayana, in the line of Bhismaka. And she was by name the chaste Rukmini. And the faultless Draupadi, slender-waisted like the wasp, was born of the portion of Shachi (the queen of the celestials) in the line of Drupada. And she was neither low nor tall in stature. And she was of the fragrance of the blue lotus, of eyes large as lotus leaves, of thighs fair and round, of dense masses of black curly hair. And endued with every auspicious feature and of complexion like that of the emerald, she became the charmer of the hearts of five foremost of men. And the two goddesses Siddhi and Dhriti became the mothers of those give and were called Kunti and Madri. And she who was Mati became the daughter (Gandhari) of Suvala.

"Thus, O king, have I recited to thee all about the incarnations, according to their respective portions, of the gods, the Asuras, the Gandharvas, the Apsaras, and of the Rakshasas. They who were born on earth as monarchs invincible in war, those high-souled ones who were born in the wide extended line of the Yadus, they who were born as mighty monarchs in other lines, they who were born as Brahmanas and Kshatrias and Vaisyas, have all been recited by me duly. And this account of the incarnation (of superior being according to their respective portions) capable of bestowing wealth, fame, offspring, long life, and success, should always be heard