Page:The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa (Volume 1).pdf/399

Rh Hearing these words of Upayaja, king Drupada, though entertaining a low opinion of Yaja, nevertheless went to his abode. Worshipping Yaja who was (still) worthy of homage, Drupada said unto him.-O master, perform thou spiritual offices for me and I will give thee eighty thousand kine! Enmity with Drona burneth my heart: it behoveth thee therefore to cool that heart of mine. Foremost of those conversant with the Vedas, Drona is also skilled in the Brahma weapon and for this, Drona hath overcome me in a contest arising from (impaired) friendship. Gifted with great intelligence, the son of Bharadwaja is (now) the chief preceptor of the Kurus. There is no Kshatriya in this world superior to him. His bow is full six cubits long and looks formidable, and his shafts are capable of slaying every living being. That great bow. man, the high-souled son of Bharadwaja, habited as a Brahmana, is destroying the Kshatriya power all over the Earth. Indeed, he is like a second Jamadagnya intended for the extermination of the Kshatriya race. There is no man on earth who can overcome the terrible force of his weapons. Like a blazing fire fed with clarified butter, Drona, possessed of Brahma might and uniting it with Kshatriya might, consumeth every antagonist in battle. But (thy) Brahma force is greater in itself tban (Drona's) Brahma force united with Kshatriya might. Therefore, as I am inferior (to 'Drona) in consequence of my possession of Kshatriya might alone, I solicit the aid of thy Brabma force, having obtained the so superior to Drona in knowledge of Brahma. O Yaja, perform that sacrifice by means of which I may obtain a son invincible in battle and capable of slaying Drona ! Ready am I to give thee ten thousand kine ! -Hearing these words of Drupada, Yaja said-So be itYaja then began to recollect the various ceremonies appertaining to the particular sacrifice. And knowing the affair to be a very grave one, he asked the assistance of Upayaja who coveted nothing. Then Yaja promised to perform the sacrifice for the destruction of Drona. Then the great ascetic Upayaja spoke unto king Drupada of everything required for the grand sacrifice (by aid of fire) from which the king was to obtain offspring. And he said-O king, a child shall be born unto thee, endued as then as thou desirest, with great prowess, great energy, and great strength I-'.

"The Brabmana continued, -- "Then king Drupada, impelled by the desire of obtaining a son who was to slay Drona, began, for the success of his wish, to make the necessary preparations. (And when everything was complete) Yaja, after having poured libations of clarified butter on the sacrificial fire, commanded Drupada's queen, saying, Come hither, O queen. O daughter-in-law of Prisbata! A son and a daughter bave arrived for thee !_Hearing this, the queen said, -O Brabmana, my

49