12. She said to the hermit with a sweet and charming voice in the following manner:—“Mayst thou prosper in obtaining the objects of thy wishes”:— 13. “For any thing which is desirable and difficult of attainment in this world, is surely obtainable when sought after with proper exertion by the great”:— 14. “I am, O Bráhman! a sylvan goddess of this forest, which is so full of creeping plants, and decorated by the beautiful _kadamba_ trees. 15. “Here I strayed to witness the festive mirth of the sylvan goddesses, which always takes place on this thirteenth day of the lunar month of chaitra in this forest. 16. “I saw here my companions enjoying their festival of love, and felt myself sorry to think of my childlessness among them. 17. “Finding thee accomplished in all qualifications, I have resorted hither with my suit of begetting a son by thee. 18. “Please Sir, to procreate a son in me, or else I will put my person in the flames, to get rid of my sorrow of childlessness.” <19.> Hearing the sylvan dame speaking in this manner, the hermit smiled at her, and spoke kindly to her with presenting her a flower with his own hand, and said:— 20. Depart O damsel! and betake thyself to the worship of Siva for a whole month, and then thou shalt like a tender creeper, beget a boy as beautiful as a bud by this time of the year. 21. But that son of thine, whom thou didst desire of me at the sacrifice of thy life, will betake himself to austerities like mine, and become a seer like myself (because he will be born of my blessing to thee). 22. So saying the sage dismissed the suppliant dame now gladdened in her face, and promised to perform the necessary for her blessing’s sake. 23. The lotus-eyed dame then retired from him, and went to her abode; and the hermit passed his months, seasons and years in his holy meditation. 24. After a long time the lotus-eyed dame returned to the sage with her boy, now grown up to the twelfth year of his age. 25. She made her obeisance and sat before him with her boy of the moon bright face; and then uttered her words, sweet as the murmur of the humble bee, to the stately Ámra tree. 26. This sir, is the would be son (bhávya) of both of us, who has been trained up by me in all the branches of learning. (The Veda and its branches. The future _bhávya_—would be, should be the preter _bhávita_—was to be). 27. He is only untaught in the best knowledge, which releases the soul from its return to this world of troubles. (By the best or _subha_ knowledge, is meant the _para_—superior or spiritual learning). 28. Do you now my lord! deign to instruct him in that knowledge, for who is there that should like to keep his own boy in ignorance (of his future and best welfare)? 29. Being thus besought by her, he bespoke to the tender mother, to leave the child there and depart her own way. 30. She being gone, the boy remained submissive to his father, and dwelt by his side as his pupil, like Aruna (Ouranus) waiting upon the sun.