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, 'Soon after the monthly season of the princess of
Kosala had been over, Satyavati, purifying her daughter-in-law with a bath,
led her into the sleeping apartment. There seating her upon a luxurious
bed, she addressed her, saying, "O Princess of Kosala, thy husband hath an
elder brother who shall this day enter thy womb as thy child. Wait for him
tonight without dropping off to sleep." Hearing these words of her mother-
in-law, the amiable princess, as she lay on her bed, began to think of
Bhishma and the other elders of the Kuru race. Then the Rishi of truthful
speech, who had given his promise in respect of Amvika (the eldest of the
princesses) in the first instance, entered her chamber while the lamp was
burning. The princess, seeing his dark visage, his matted locks of copper
hue, blazing eyes, his grim beard, closed her eyes in fear. The Rishi,
from desire of accomplishing his mother's wishes, however knew her. But
the latter, struck with fear, opened not her eyes even once to look at him.
And when Vyasa came out, he was met by his mother, who asked him, "Shall
the princess have an accomplished son?" Hearing her, he replied, "The son
of the princess she will bring forth shall be equal in might unto ten
thousand elephants. He will be an illustrious royal sage, possessed of
great learning and intelligence and energy. The high-souled one shall have
in his time a century of sons. But from the fault of his mother he shall
be blind." At these words of her son, Satyavati said, "O thou of ascetic
wealth, how can one that is blind become a monarch worthy of the Kurus?
How can one that is blind become the protector of his relatives and family,
and the glory of his father's race? It behoveth thee to give another king
unto the Kurus." Saying, "So be it," Vyasa went away. And the first
princess of Kosala in due time brought forth a blind son.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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