Page:The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa (Volume 1).pdf/286

272 divide it into parts. And as it was being divided into parts, the nurse began to take them up and put them one by one into those pots filled with clarified butter. While this process was going on, the beautiful and chaste Gandhari of rigid vows, realising the affection that one feeleth for a daughter, began to think in her mind."There is no doubt that I shall have a hundred sons, the Muni having said so. It can never be otherwise. But I should be very happy if a daughter were born of me and above these hundred sons and junior to them all. My husband then may attain to those worlds that the possession of a daughter's sons conferreth. Then again, the affection the women feel for their sons-inlaw is great. If, therefore, I obtain a daughter over and above my hundred sons, then, surrounded by sons and daughter's sons, I may feel supremely blest. If I have ever practised ascetic austerities, if I have ever given anything in charity, if I have ever performed the homa (through Brahmanas), if I have over gratified my superiors by respectful attentions, then (as the fruit of those acts) let a daughter be born unto me l' All this while that illustrious and best of Rishis, Krishna-Dwaipayana himself was dividing the ball of flesh; and counting a full hundred of the parts, he said unto the daughter of Suvala. Here are thy hundred sons. I did not speak aught unto thee that was false. Here, however, is one part in excess of hundred intended for giving thee a daughter's son. This part shall develop into an amiable and fortunate daughter, as thou hast desired. Then that great ascetic brought another pot full of clarified butter, and put the part intended for a daughter into it.

"Thus have I, O Bharata, narrated unto thee all about the birth of Dussala. Tell me, O sinless one, what more I am now to narrate."

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

Janamejaya said.--"Recite, if you please, the names of Dhritarashtra's son according to the order of their birth.

Vaisampayana said :-"Their names, O king, according to the order of birth, are Dury yodhana, Yuyutsu, Dussasana, Dussaha, Dussala, Jalasandha. Sama, Saha, Vinda and Anuvinda ; Durdharsha, Suvahu, Dush-pradhar-shana, Durmacshana and Durmukha ; Dushktana, and Karna : Vivingsati and Vikarna, Sala, Satwa, Sulochana, Chitra and Upachitra, Chitraksha, Charuchitra, Sarasana, Durmada and Durvigaha, Vivitsu, Vikatanana: Urnanabha and Sunabha, then Nandaka