Yama and Varuna. Let the ladies then duly observe for one full year the vow I indicate. They shall then be purified. No woman shall ever approach me without having observed a rigid vow.'
"Satyavati then said, 'O thou sinless one, it must not be as you say. On the other hand, take such steps that the ladies may conceive immediately. In a kingdom where there is no king, the people perish from want of protection; sacrifices and other holy acts are suspended; the clouds give no showers, and the gods disappear. How can, O lord, a kingdom be protected that hath no king? Therefore, see thou that the ladies conceive. Bhisma will watch over the children as long as they may be in their mother's wobms.'
"Vyasa replied, 'If I am to give unto my brother children so unseasonably, then let the ladies bear my ugliness. That of itself shall, in their case, be the austerest of penances. If the princess of Koshala can bear my strong odor, my ugly and grim visage, my attire and body, she shall then conceive an excellent child.'"
Vaismpayana continued, "Having spoken thus to Satyavati, Vyasa of great energy again addressed her and said, 'Let the princess of Koshala in clean attire and decked in ornaments wait for me in her sleeping apartments.' And saying this the Rishi disappeared. Satyavati then went to her daughter-in-law, and seeing her in private spoke to her these words of beneficial and virtuous import: 'O princess of Koshala, listen to what I say. It is consistent with virtue. The dynasty of the Bharatas hath become extinct from my misfortune. Beholding my affliction and the extinction of bis paternal line, the wise Bhisma, impelled also by the desire of perpetuating our race, hath made me a suggestion. That suggestion, however, for its accomplishment, is dependent on thee. Accomplish it, O daughter, and restore the lost line of the Bharatas! O thou of fair hips, bring thou forth a child equal in splendour unto the chief of the celestials! He shall bear the onerous burden of this our hereditary kingdom.'
"Satyavati having succeeded with great difficulty in procuring the assent of her virtuous daughter-in-law to her propo-
