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
And Vali said, 'O illustrious one, it behoveth thee to raise
upon my wife a few sons that shall be virtuous and wise.' Thus addressed,
the Rishi endued with great energy, expressed his willingness. Thereupon
king Vali sent his wife Sudeshna unto him. But the queen knowing that the
latter was blind and old went not unto him, she sent unto him her nurse.
And upon that Sudra woman the virtuous Rishi of passions under full
control begat eleven children of whom Kakshivat was the eldest. And
beholding those eleven sons with Kakshivat as the eldest, who had studied
all the Vedas and who like Rishis were utterers of Brahma and were
possessed of great power, king Vali one day asked the Rishi saying, 'Are
these children mine?' The Rishi replied, 'No, they are mine. Kakshivat and
others have been begotten by me upon a Sudra woman. Thy unfortunate queen
Sudeshna, seeing me blind and old, insulted me by not coming herself but
sending unto me, instead, her nurse.' The king then pacified that best of
Rishis and sent unto him his queen Sudeshna. The Rishi by merely touching
her person said to her, 'Thou shalt have five children named Anga, Vanga,
Kalinga, Pundra and Suhma, who shall be like unto Surya (Sun) himself in
glory. And after their names as many countries shall be known on earth. It
is after their names that their dominions have come to be called Anga,
Vanga, Kalinga, Pundra and Suhma.'
"'"It was thus that the line of Vali was perpetuated, in days of old, by a
great Rishi. And it was thus also that many mighty bowmen and great car-
warriors wedded to virtue, sprung in the Kshatriya race from the seed of
Brahmanas. Hearing this, O mother, do as thou likest, as regards the
matter in hand."'"
SECTION CV
(Sambhava Parva continued)
"'Bhishma continued, "Listen, O mother, to me as I indicate the means by
which the Bharata line may be perpetuated. Let an accomplished Brahmana be
invited by an offer of wealth, and let him raise offspring upon the wives
of Vichitravirya."'
"Vaisampayana continued, 'Satyavati, then, smiling softly and in voice
broken in bashfulness, addressed Bhishma saying, "O Bharata of mighty arms,
what thou sayest is true. From my confidence in thee I shall now indicate
the means of perpetuating our line. Thou shall not be able to reject it,
being conversant, as thou art, with the practices permitted in seasons of
distress. In our race, thou art Virtue, and thou art Truth, and thou art,
too, our sole refuge. Therefore hearing what I say truly, do what may be
proper.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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