Page:The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa (Volume 1).pdf/283

Rh Thus ends the hundred and fourteenth section in the Sambhava Parva of the Adi Parva.

Vaisampayana said, "Meanwhile, O Janamejaya, Dhritarashtra begat upon Gandhari a hundred sons, and upon a Vaisya wife another besides those hundred. And Pandu bad, by his two wives Kunti and Madri, five sons who were great charioteers and who were all begotten by the celestials for the perpetuation of Kuru line."

Janamejaya said, "O best of Brahmanas, how did Gandhari bring forth those hundred sons and in how many years? What were also the periods of life alloted to each ? How did Dhritarashtra also beget another son in a Vaisya wife? How did Dhrittrashtra behave towards his loving obident, and virtuous wife Gandhari? How were also begotten the five sons of Pandu, chose mighty charioteers, even though Pandu himselt laboured under the curse of the great Rishi (he slew)? O thou for ascetic wealth and great learning, tell me all these in detail, for my thirst for hearing everything relating to my own ancestor hath not been slaked !!

Vaisampayana said, -"One day Gandhari entertained with respectful attention the great Dwaipayana who came to her abode, exbausted with hunger and fatigue. Gratified with Gandhari's hospitality, the Rishi gave her the boon she asked-viz., that she should have a century of sons each equal unto her lord in strength and accomplishments. Some time after Gandhari conceived and she bore the burden in her womb for two long years without being delivered. And she was greatly afflicted at this. It was then that she heard that Kunti had brought forth a son whose splendout was like onto the morning son. Impatient of the period of gestation which had prolonged so long, her own case, and deprived of reason by grief. she struck her womb with great violence without the knowledge of her husband. And thereupon came out of her womb, after two years' growth, a hard mass of flesh like unto an iron ball. When she was about to throw it away, Dwaipayana, learning everything by his spritual powers, promptly came there, and that first of ascetics beholding that ball of flesh, addressed the daughter of Suvala thus,-'What has thou done?' Gandhari without endeavouring to disguise her feelings addressed the Rishi and said, 'Having heard that Kunti had brought forth a son like unto Surya, the son god himself in Splendour, I struck in grief at my womb. Thou badst, O Rishi granted me