Page:The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa (Volume 1).pdf/78

64 outcame the progeny. But the twins of Vinata did not appear. Vinata was jealous, and therefore she broke one of the eggs and found in it an embryo with the upper part developed but the lower one undeveloped. At this, the child in the egg became angry and cursed his mother, saying, -since thou hast prematurely broken this egg, thou shalc serve as a slave. Shouldst thou wait five hundred years and not destroy, or render the other egg balf-developed, by breaking it through impatience, then the illustrious child within it will deliver thee from slavery 1 And if thou wouldst have the child strong. thou must take tender care of the egg for all this time I' Tous cursing his mother, the child rose to the sky. O Brahmana, even he is the charioteer of Surya, always seen in the hour of morning!

"Then at the expiration of the five hundred years, bursting open the other egg, out came Galura, the serpent-eater. O tiger of Bhrigu's race, immediately on seeing the light, that son of Vinata left his mother, And the lord of birds, feeling hungry, cook wing in quest of the food assigned to him by the Great Ordainer of all.

So ends the sixteenth section in the Astika Parva of the Adi Parva.

 

Sauti said.--"O ascetic, about this time the two sisters saw approach ing near, that steed of complacent appearance named Uchchaistavas who was worshipped by the gods, that gem of steeds, who arose at the churning of the Ocean for nectar. Divine, graceful, perpetually young, creation's master-piece, and of irresistible vigour, it was blest with every auspicious mark."

Saunaka asked.-'Why did the gods churn the Ocean for nectar, and under what circumstances, when, as you say, sprang chat best of steeds so powerful and resplendent ?"

Sauti said, "There is mountain named Meru, of blazing appearance, and looking like a heap of effulgence. The rays of the Sun falling on its peaks of golden lustre are dispersed by them. Decked with gold and exceedingly beautiful, that mountain is the haunt of the gods and the Gandharvas. It is immeasurable and unapproachable by men of manifold sins. Dreadful beasts of prey wander over its breasts, and it is illuminated by many divine life-giving herbs. It stands kissing the heavens by its height and is the first of mountains. Ordinary people cannot even think of ascending it. It is graced with trees and streams, and resounds with the charming melody of winged choirs. Once the celestials sat on 