Page:The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa (Volume 1).pdf/294

280 humane and inoffensive life. I have justly discharged my obligations to the Rishis, the gods, and other men. But those others than these three are sure to perish with the dissolution of my body ! Ye ascetics, I am not yet freed from the debt I owe to my (deceased) ancestors ! The best of men are born in this world to beget children for discharging that debt. I would ask you, should children be begotten in my soil (upon my wives) as I myself was begotten in the soil of my father by the eminent Rishi ?"

The Rishis said, "O king of virtuous soul, there is progeny in store for thee, that is sinless and blest with good fortune and like unto the gods! We behold it all with our prophetic eyes ! Therefore, O tiger among men, accomplish by your own acts that which destiny pointeth at. Men of intelligence, acting with deliberation, always obtain good fruits; it behoveth thee. therefore, o king, to exert thyself. The fruits thou wouldst obtain are distinctly visible. Thou wouldst really obtain accomplished and agreeable progeny i

Vaisampayana continued. "Hearing these words of the ascetics, Pando, remembering the loss of his procreative powers owing to the curse of the deer, began to reflect deeply. And calling his wedded wife the excellent Kuoti, unto him, he told her in private.-'Strive thou to raise offspring at this time of distress! The wise expounders of the eternal religion declare that a son, O Kunti, is the cause of virtuous fame in the three worlds. It is said that sacrifices, charitable gifts, ascetic penances, and vows observed most carefully, do not confer religious merit on a sonless man ! O thou of sweet smiles, knowing all this, I am certain that as I am sonless, I shall not obtain regions of true felicity 1 O timid one, wretch that I was and addicted to cruel deeds, as a consequence of the polluted life I led, my power of procreation hath been destroyed by the curse of the deer. The religious institutes mention six kinds of sons that are heirs and kinsmen, and six other kinds that are not heirs but kinsmen. I shall speak of them presently. O Pritha, listen to me! Tbey are:-1st, the son begotten by one's own self upon his wedded wife : 2nd the son begotten upon one's wife by an accomplished person from motives of kindness ; 3rd, the son begotten upon one's wife by a person for pecuniary consideration : 4th, the son begotten upon the wife after the husband's death : 5th. the maiden-born son: 6th the son born of an unchaste wite: 7th, the son giveo ; 8ch, the son bought for a consideration: 9th, the son self-given : 10th, the son received with a pregnant bride ; 11th, the brother's son, and 12th, the son begotten upon a wife of lower caste. On failure of offspring of a prior class, the mother should desire to have offspring of the next class. In times of distress,