approached Mamatā. The latter, however, told her husband's younger brother—that first of eloquent men—that she had conceived from her connection with his elder brother and that therefore he should not seek then for the consummation of his wishes. She continued,—O thou illustrious Vrihaspati, the child that I have conceived, hath studied in his mother's womb the Vedas with the six Angas. Semen tuum frustra perdi non potest. How shall then this womb of mine afford room for two children at the same time? Therefore it behoveth thee not to seek for the consummation of thy desire at such a time.—Thus addressed by her, Vrihaspati though possessed of great wisdom succeeded not in suppressing his desire. Quum autem jam jam cum illá coiturus esset, the child in the womb then addressed him and said,—O father, cease in thy attempt! There is not space here for two. O thou illustrious one, the room is small. I have occupied it before. Semen tuum perdi non potest. It behoveth thee not to afflict me!—But Vrihaspati without listening to what that child in the womb said, sought the embraces of Mamatā possessing the most beautiful pair of eyes. Ille tamen Muni, qui in ventre erat, id punctum temporis quo humor vitalis jam emissum iret providens, viam per quam semen intrare posset pedibus obstruxit. Semen, ita exlusum, excidit et in terram projectum est. And the illustrious Vrihaspati beholding this became indignant, and reproaching Utathya's child cursed him, saying,—Because thou hast spoken to me in the way thou hast, at a time of pleasure that is sought after by all creatures, perpetual darkness shall overtake thee.—And from this curse of the illustrious Vrihaspati, Utathya's child who was equal unto Vrihaspati in energy, was born blind and came to be called Dirghatama (enveloped in perpetual darkness.) And the wise Dirghatama possessing a knowledge of the Vedas, though born blind, succeeded yet, for the sake of his learning, in obtaining for wife a young and handsome Brahmini maiden of name Pradweshi. And having married her, the illustrious Dirghatama, for the expansion of Utathya's race, begat upon her several children with Gautama as their eldest. These children, however, were all wedded to
