I shall appoint thee in a certain matter. Hearing me, it behoveth thee to do my bidding. O thou bull among men, my son and thy brother, endued with energy and dear unto thee, hath gone childless to heaven while still a boy. These wives of thy brother, the amiable daughters of the ruler of Kashi, possessing both beauty and youth, have become desirous of children, Therefore, O thou of mighty arms, at my command raise up offspring in them for the perpetuation of our line. It behoveth thee to guard virtue from loss. Install thyself on the throne and rule the kingdom of the Bharatas. Wed thou duly a wife. Sink not thy ancestors in hell.'"
Vaisampayana continued, "Thus addressed by his mother and friends and relatives, that oppressor of all foes, the virtuous Bhisma gave this reply conformable to the dictates of virtue, 'O mother, what thou sayest is certainly sanctioned by virtue. But thou knowest what my vow is in the matter of begetting children. Thou knowest also all that transpired in connection with thy dower. O Satyavati, I repeat the pledge I once gave,—I would renounce the three worlds, the empire of heaven, or anything that may be greater than that, but truth I would never renounce. Earth may renounce its scent, water may renounce its moisture, light may renounce its attribute of exhibitting forms, the atmosphere may renounce its attribute of being perceivable by the touch, the Sun may renounce his glory, the commet its heat, the Moon his cool rays, space its capacity of generating sound, the slayer of Vitra his prowess, the god of justice his impartiality, but I cannot renounce truth.' Thus addressed by her son endued with wealth of energy, Satyavati then said unto Bhisma, 'O thou whose prowess is truth, I know thy firmness in truth. Thou canst, if so minded, create, by help of thy energy, three worlds other than those that exist. I know what thy vow was on my account. But considering this emergency, bear thou the burden of duty that one oweth to his ancestors. O thou oppressor of the foe, act in such a way that the lineal string may not be broken and our friends and relatives may not grieve!' Thus urged by the miserable and weeping Satyavati speaking such words inconsistent with virtue from
