Narada said:—"O hero, I have been worshipped by you with rites sanctioned by Holy Writs. Listen now to a word of mine and accept it (48). I had repaired to the golden mountain Meru, the abode of the gods. On the summit of that mountain Sumeru a meeting of the gods was held. I heard them hold counsels regarding the highly dreadful destruction of yourself along with all your followers (49-50). I heard there, that the eighth son of Devaki, Vishnu, worshipped of all, would bring about Kansa’s death (51). He is all in all of the gods, the support of the celestial region, the great mystery of the gods. He will be your Death (52). O king, one should not disregard his enemy, even he may be weak or his own kinsman. Be careful to put Devaki’s children to death (53). O you of great power, Ugrasena is not your father. The energetic and dreadful Drumila, the king of Soubha,²⁶¹ is your father (54)." Hearing his words I was filled with anger a little and accosted him again saying "O Brahman, how could Dānava Drumila become my father (55)? How could he know my mother, O Vipra? I wish to hear all this at length, O great ascetic (56)." Narada said:—"O king, listen, I shall truly relate how your mother was united with Drumila (57). Once on a time your mother, during her menses, went out of curiosity to see the mountain Suyāman along with her female companions. She was ranging in the beautiful summits of the mountain abounding in charming trees and table-lands, and in the caves and on the banks of the rivers (58–59). Hearing again and again the lust-exciting words, sweet as the songs of the Kinnaras, pleasant to the ears; and echoing on all sides, the notes of the peacocks and other birds her mind was worked up with desire the usual habit of women (60–61). In the meantime there blew the wind carrying the fragrance of flowers of the forest that awakes Manmatha (the god of love) (62). Driven by the wind the Kadamva flowers, closed by continual showers and adorned with black bees, began to pour down fragrance profusely (63). With the downpour of flowers and filaments the Neepa trees shone there like lamps (64). Covered with new grass and adorned with Indragopa insects the earth appeared to have her menstrual flow, like a youthful damsel (65). At that time, O Kansa, as if you urged on by destiny the beautiful Dānava Drumila, capable of coursing at-will, the king of Soubha, came there by the etherial way in a quick-coursing car, going everywhere at will, and effulgent like the new sun, to see mount Suyāmana. Reaching that foremost of mountains, descending from his car, and keeping his chariot, that is capable of destroying other cars, in the garden on the mountain he began to walk on the summit along with his charioteer (66–69). They saw there many forests and gardens endued with characteristics of various seasons and resembling the celestial garden of Nandana, various jewels of golden, silvery and collyrium-like hues, summits covered with