Page:The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa (1884).djvu/326

292 his passions by ascetic penances. And the best of Kurus, Shantanu, knowing that regions of indestructible bliss can be acquired by one's deeds alone, became devoted to virtue. And when Shantanu grew up a youth, Pratipa addressed him and said, 'Sometime, before, O Shantanu, a celestial damsel came to me for thy good. If thou meetest that fair-complexioned one in secret and if she solicit thee for children, accept her as thy wife. And, O sinless one, judge not of the propriety or impropriety of anything she does, and ask not who she is and whose or whence, but accept thou her as thy wife at my command.

Vaisampayana continued, "And Pratipa, having thus commanded his son Shantanu and installing him on his throne, then retired into the woods. And king Shantanu endued with great intelligence and equal unto Indra himself in splendour became addicted to hunting and passed much of his time in the woods. And the best of monarchs always slew deer and buffaloes. And one day as he was wandering along the banks of the Ganges he came upon a region frequented by the shiddhas (ascetics crowned with success) and charanas. And there he saw a lovely maiden of blazing beauty and like unto another Sree herself. Of faultless and pearly teeth, and decked with celestial ornaments, she was attired in garments of fine texture and resembled in splendour the filaments of the lotus. And the monarch beholding that damsel became surprised, and his raptures produced instant [sic]horripilation. With steadfast gaze he seemed to be drinking her charms, but repeated draughts failed to quench his thirst. The damsel also, beholding the monarch of blazing splendour moving about in great agitation, was moved herself and experienced an affection for him. She gazed and gazed and longed to gaze at him evermore. The monarch then in soft,words addressed her and said, 'O thou slender-waisted one, beest thou a goddess or the daughter of a Danava, beest thou of the race of the Gandharvas or Apsarãs, beest thou of the Yakshas or of the Nagas, or beest thou of human origin, O thou of celestial beauty, I solicit thee to be my wife.