Page:The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa (1884).djvu/276

242 " then answered, 'I am the daughter of Sukra who brings back into life the Asuras that are slain by the gods. He doth not know what hath befallen me. This is my right hand, O king, with nails bright as burnished copper. Thou art well-descended; I ask thee, take it and raise me up therefore! I know thou art of good behaviour, of great prowess, and wide fame! I behoveth thee, therefore to raise me from this well!

Vaisampayana continued, "King Yayati, learning that she was a Brahmana's daughter, then raised her from that well catching hold of her right hand. And the monarch promptly raising her from the put and speaking to her who was of tapering thighs, sweetly and courteously, returned to his capital.

"And when the son of Nahusha had gone away, of faultless features, afflicted with grief, then spoke unto maid, Ghurnika by name, who met her at the time. And she said, 'O Ghurnika  [sic]hie thou soon and speak to my father without loss of time of everything as it hath happened. I shall not now enter the city of.

Vaisampayana continued, "And Ghurnika, thus commanded, repaired quickly to the mansion of the Asura chief. And there she saw Kavya and spoke unto him with her perception dimmed by anger. And she said, 'I tell thee, O great Brahmana, that hat been ill-used, O fortunate one, in the forest by Sharmishta the daughter of Vrishaparva!' And Kavya, hearing that his daughter had been ill-used by Sharmishta, speedily wen out with a heavy heart, seeking for her in the woods. And when he found her in the woods he clasped her with affection and spoke unto her with voice choked with grief. 'O daughter, the weal or woe that befalleth people is always due to their own faults. Thou hast, therefore, some fault, I ween, which hath been expiated thus!' Hearing this,  replied, 'Be it a penalty or not, listen thou to me with attention! O hear all that Sharmishta, the daughter of Vrishaparva, hath said unto me! Really hath she said that thou art only the hired chaunter of the praises of the Asura king. Even thus hath she—that Sharmishta, Vrishaparva's daughter,—spoken to me, with red eyes, these piercing and cruel