Page:The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa (Volume 1).pdf/253

Rh Santanu, began to reflect upon this strange phenomenon. He mentally asked why that first of rivers ran out so quickly as before. And while seeking for a cause, the illustrious monarch beheld that a youth of great comeliness, well-built and amiable person, like Indra himself, had, by bis keen celestial weapons, checked the flow of the river. And the king, beholding this extraordinary feat of the river Ganga baving been checked in her course near where that youth stood, became very much surprised. This youth was no other than Santanu's son bimself. But as Santanu had seen his son only once a few moments after his birth, he had not sufficient recollection to identify that infant with the youth before his eyes. The youth, however, seeing his father, knew him at once, but instead of disclosing himself, he clouded the king's perception by his celestial powers of illusion and disappeared in his very sight.

"King Santanu, wondering much at what he saw and imagining the youth to be his own son, then addressed Ganga and said, Show me that child. Ganga thus addressed, assuming a beautiful form, and holding the boy decked with ornaments in her right arm, showed him to Santanu. And Santanu did not recognise that beautiful female bedecked with ornaments and attired in fine robes of white, although he had known her before. And Ganga said-'O tiger among men, that eighth son whom thou hadst sometime before begot upon me is this! Know that this excellent child is conversant with all weapons. O monarch, take him now. I have reared him with care. And go home, O tiger among men, taking him with thee! Endued with superior intelligence, he has studied with Vasishtha the entire Vedas with their branches. Skilled in all weapons and a mighty bowman, he is like Indra in battle. And, 0 Bharata, both the gods and the Asuras look upon him with favour. Whatever branches of knowledge are known to Usanas, this one knoweth completely. And so is he the master of all those Sastras that the son of Angiras (Vrihaspati) adored by the gods and the Asuras knoweth. And all the weapons known to the powerful and invincible Rama, the son of Jamodagni are known to this tby illustrious son of mighty arms! O king of superior courage. take this thy own heroic child given unto thee by me I He is mighty bowman and conversant with the interpretation of all treatises on the duties of a king !' Thus commanded by Ganga, Santanu took his child resembling the Sun himself in glory and returned to his capital. And having reached his city that was like unto the celestial capital, that monarch of Puru's line regarded himself greatly fortunate. And having summoned all the Pauravas together, for the protection of his kingdom he installed his son as his heir-apparent and associated on the