The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa Translated into English Prose: Adi Parva
Religion
The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa Translated into English Prose: Adi Parva
Epic literature, Sanskrit
"Vaisampayana said, 'After Dushmanta had left the asylum having made those
promises unto Sakuntala, the latter of tapering thighs brought forth a boy
of immeasurable energy. And when the child was three years old, he became
in splendour like the blazing fire. And, O Janamejaya, he was possessed of
beauty and magnanimity and every accomplishment. And that first of
virtuous men, Kanwa, caused all the rites of religion to be performed in
respect of that intelligent child thriving day by day. And the boy gifted
with pearly teeth and shining locks, capable of slaying lions even then,
with all auspicious signs on his palm, and broad expansive forehead, grew
up in beauty and strength. And like unto a celestial child in splendour,
he began to grow up rapidly. And when he was only six years of age, endued
with great strength he used to seize and bind to the trees that stood
around that asylum, lions and tigers and bears and buffaloes and elephants.
And he rode on some animals, and pursued others in sportive mood. The
dwellers at Kanwa's asylum thereupon bestowed on him a name. And they said,
because he seizes and restrains an animals however strong, let him be
called Sarvadamana (the subduer of all). And it was thus that the boy came
to be named Sarvadamana, endued as he was with prowess, and energy and
strength. And the Rishi seeing the boy and marking also his extraordinary
acts, told Sakuntala that the time had come for his installation as the
heir-apparent. And beholding the strength of the boy, Kanwa commanded his
disciples, saying, "Bear ye without delay this Sakuntala with her son from
this abode to that of her husband, blessed with every auspicious sign.
Women should not live long in the houses of their paternal or maternal
relations. Such residence is destructive of their reputation, their good
conduct, their virtue. Therefore, delay not in bearing her hence." These
disciples of the Rishi thereupon, saying "So be it," went towards the city
named after an elephant (Hastinapura) with Sakuntala and her son ahead of
them. And then she of fair eye-brows, taking with her that boy of
celestial beauty, endued with eyes like lotus petals, left the woods where
she had been first known by Dushmanta. And having approached the king, she
with her boy resembling in splendour the rising sun was introduced to him.
And the disciples of the Rishi having introduced her, returned to the
asylum. And Sakuntala having worshipped the king according to proper form,
told him, "This is thy son, O king! Let him be installed as thy heir-
apparent. O king, this child, like unto a celestial, hath been begotten by
thee upon me. Therefore, O best of men, fulfil now the promise thou gavest
me. Call to mind, O thou of great good fortune, the agreement thou hadst
made on the occasion of thy union with me in the asylum of Kanwa."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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