Page:The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa (1884).djvu/281

Rh king, then spoke unto her father thus:—'O best of all excellent Brahmanas, I am gratified. I shall now enter the Asura capital. I now know that thy science and power of knowledge are not futile.

Vaisampayana continued, "That best of Brahmanas, of great reputation, thus addressed by his daughter, then entered the Asura capital in gladness of heart. And the Danavas worshipped him with great reverence."

And thus ends the eightieth Section in the Sambhava of the Adi Parva.

 

( Sambhava Parva continued. )

Vaisampayana said, "After some length of time, O best of monarchs, of the fairest complexion went into the same woods for purposes of pleasure. And accompanied by Sharmishta with her thousand maids she reached the same spot and began to wander in freedom. And waited upon by all those companions she felt herself supremely happy. And sporting with light hearts, they began drinking the honey of flowers, eating various kinds of fruits and biting some. And just at this time, king Yayati the son of Nahusha, again came there in course of his wanderings, tired and thirsty, in search of deer. And the king saw  and Sharmishta, and those other maidens also, all decked with celestial ornaments and full of voluptuous langour in consequence of the flowery honey they drank. And  of sweet smiles, unrivalled in beauty and possessing the fairest complexion amongst them all, was reclining at her ease. And she was waited upon by Sharmishta gently pressing her feet.

"And Yayati seeing all this, said, 'O amiable ones, I would ask ye both your names and parentage. It seems that these two thousand maids wait on ye two.' Hearing the monarch, then answered, 'Listen to me, O best of men. Know thou that I am the daughter of Sukra the spiritual guide of the Asuras. This my companion is my waiting-woman. She