Page:The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa (1884).djvu/268

234 began to conciliate regardfully both his preceptor and (his preceptor's daughter). And he began to conciliate both. And young as he was, by singing and dancing and playing on different kinds of instruments, he soon gratified who was herself in her youth. And, O Bharata, with his whole heart set upon it, he soon gratified that maiden —already arrived in her youth, by presents of flowers and fruits and services rendered with alacrity. And also by her songs and sweetness of manners used, while they were alone, to attend upon that youth carrying out his vow. And when five hundred years had thus passed of Kacha's vow, the Danavas came to learn of his intention. And having no compunctions about slaying a Brahmana, they became very angry with him. And one day they saw Kacha engaged in a solitary part of the woods in tending (his preceptor's) kine. And they then slew Kacha from their hated of Vrihaspati an from their desire also of protecting the knowledge of reviving the dead from being taken away by him. And having slain him they hacked his body into picespieces [sic] and gave these to be devoured by jackals and wolves. And (when twilight came) the kine returned to their fold without him who tended them. And, seeing the kine return from the woods without Kacha, spoke, O Bharata, unto her father thus:—

'Thy Evening fire hath been kindled: the Sun also hath set, O father! The kine have returned without him who tendeth them. Indeed, Kacha is not to be seen! It is plain that Kacha hath been lost or dead. Truly do I say, O father, that without him I would not live.'

"And Sukra hearing this said, 'I will revive him by saying—Let this one come.' Then having recourse to the science of reviving the dead, Sukra summoned Kacha. And summoned by his preceptor, Kacha appeared before him in gladness of heart, tearing by virtue of his preceptor's science the bodies of the wolves (that had devoured him.) And asked about the cause of his delay, he thus spoke unto Bhargava's (Sukra's) daughter. Indeed, asked by that Brahmana's daughter, he told her, 'I was dead. O thou of pure manners, bearing the