Page:The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa (Volume 1).pdf/413

Rh O thou of great good fortune, whatever thou demandest of me. O foremost of eloquent men, I will confer on thee, however difficult it may be for me!-Thus addressed by Suryya, the Rishi of great ascetic merit, bowing unto the god of light, replied, saying.- Vibhavasu, this thy daughter Tapati, the younger sister of Savitri. I ask of thee for Samvarana ! That monarch is of inighty achievements, conversant with virtue, and of high soul. O firmament-ranger, Samvarana will make a worthy husband for thy daughter 1-Thus addressed by the Rishi Vibhakata, resolved upon bestowing his daughter upon Samvarana. saluted the Rishi, and replied unto him, saying-Oh, Samvarana is the best of monarches, thou are the best of Rishis, Tapati is the best of women. What should we do therefore but bestow her on Samvarana ? -Saying this, the god Tapana made over his daughter Tapati of every feature perfectly faultless unto the illustrious Vasistha to bestow her upon Samvarana. And the great Rishi then accepted the girl Tapati and taking leave of Suryya, came back to the spot, where that buil amongst the Kurus, of celestial achievements, was. King Samvarana, possessed by Kama and with his heart fixed on Tapati, beholding that celestial maiden of sweet smiles led by Vasistba, became exceedingly glad. And Tapati of fair eyebrows came down from the firmament like lightning from the clouds, dazzling the ten points of the heavens. And the illustrious Rishi Vasistha of pure soul approached the monarch after the latter's twelve night's vow was over. It was thus that king Samvarana obtained a wife after having worshipped with ascetic penances the propitious lord Vivaswat, by the help of Vasistha's (ascetic power). And Samvarana, that bull among men with due. rites took Tapati's hand on that mountain-breast which was resorted to by the celestials and the Gandharvas. The royal sage, with the permission of Vasistha, desired to sport with his wife on that mountain, And the king caused Vasistha to b2 proclaimed his regent in his capital and kingdom, in the woods and gardens. And bidding farewell unto the monarch, Vasistha left him and went away. Samvarana, who sported on that mountain-like a celestial, sported with his wife in the woods and the under-woods on that mountain for twelve full years. And, O best of the Bharatas, the god of a thousand eyes poured no rain for twelve years on the capital and on the kingdom of that monarch, Then. O chastiset of enemies. when that season of drought broken out, the people of that kingdom, as also the trees and lower animals began to die fast. And during the continuance of that dreadful drought, not even a drop of dew fell from the skies and no corn grew. And the inhabitants in despair, and afflicted with the fear of hunger, left their homes and fled away in all directions. And the famished people of the