Page:The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa (1884).djvu/338

304 marriage, and nothing else. Blest be thou! But this is all I have to say in the matter of bestowal or otherwise.

Vaisampayana continued, "O thou of the Bharata race, having heard these words, and moved by the desire of benefiting his father, thus answered in the hearing of the assembled chiefs. 'O thou foremost of truthful men, listen to the vow I utter. There hath been born no man nor shall be, who would have the courage to take such a vow! I shall accomplish all that thou demandest! The son that may be born of this maiden shall be our king.' Thus addressed, the chief of the fishermen, impelled by desire of sovereignty (on behalf of his daughter's son) to achieve the almost impossible, then said, 'O thou of virtuous soul, thou art come hither as full manager on behalf of thy father Shantanu of immeasurable glory. Be thou also the sole manager on my behalf in the matter of the bestowal of this my daughter. But, O amiable one, there is something else to be said, something else to be reflected upon by thee! O thou suppressor of the foe, those that have daughters, from the very nature of these obligations, must say what I say. O thou devoted to truth, the promise thou hast given in the presence of these chiefs for the benefit of Satyavati hath, indeed, been worthy of thee. O thou of mighty arms, I have not the least doubt of its never being violated by thee. But I have my doubts in respect of the children thou mayst beget.

Vaisampayana continued, "O king, the son of Ganga devoted to truth having ascertained the scruples of the chief of the fishermen, then said, moved thereto by the desire of benefiting his father, 'Chief of the fishermen, thou best of men, listen to what I say in the presence of the assembled kings! Ye kings, I have before long relinquished my right to the throne. I shall now settle the matter of my children. O fisherman, from this day I adopt the vow of Brahmacharya (study and meditation in celebacy.) If I die sonless, 'I shall yet attain to regions of perennial bliss in heaven.

Vaisampayana continued, "Hearing these words of the son of Ganga, all the down of the fisherman's body stood erect in glee, and he replied, 'I bestow my daughter.' Immediately