Page:The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa (Volume 1).pdf/492

478 virtue cannot sustain any diminution (by acceding to my solicitation). Then again, O thou of large eyes, it is a duty to relieve the distressed! Thy virtue suffereth no diminution by relieving me! Or, if (by this act), O Arjuna, thy virtue doth suffer a small diminution, thou wilt acquire great merit by saving my life. Know me for thy worshipper, O Partha ! Therefore, yield thyself up to me! Even this, O lord, is the opinion of the wise, (viz., that one should accept a woman that wooeth). If thou do not act in this way, know that I will destroy myself. O thou of mighty.arms, earn great merit by saving my life! I seek thy shelter, best of men ! Thou protectest always, O son of Kunti, the afflicted and the masterless! I seek thy protection, weeping in sorrow. I woe thee, being filled with desire! Therefore, do what is agreeable to me! It behoveth thee to gratify my wish by yielding thyself up to me!'

Vaisa mpayana said, -"Thus addressed by the daughter of the king of the Nagas, the son of Kunti did everything she desired, making virtue his motive. The mighty Arjuna, spending the night in the mansion of the Naga rose with the sun in the morning. Accompanied by Ulupi he came back from the palace of Kauravya to the region where the Ganges entereth the plains. The chaste Ulupi, taking her leave there, returned to her own abode. And, O Bharata, she granted unto Arjuna a boon making him invincible in water, saying.--"Every amphibious creature shall, without doubt, be vanquishable by thee I"

Thus ends the two hundred and sixteenth section in the Arjunavanavasa Parva of the Adi Parya.

Vaisampayana said.."Then the son of the wielder of the thunder-bold narrated everything unto those Brahmanas (residing with him there), set out for the Breast of Himavat. Arriving at the spot called Agastyavata, he next went to Vashishtha's speak. Thence the son of Kunci proceeded to the peak of Bhrigu. Purifying himself with ablutions and other rites there, that foremost of the Kurus gave away unto Brahmanas many thousands of cows and many houses. Thence that best of men proceeded to the sacred asylum called Hirnyavindu. Performing his ablutions there, that foremost of the sons of Pandu saw many holy regions. Decending from those heights that chief of men, O Bharata, accompanied by the Brahmavas, journeyed towards the east, desiring