sals not inconsistent with virtue, then fed Brahmanas and Rishis and numberless guests who arrived on the occasion."
Thus ends the hundred and the fifth Section in the Sambhava of the Adi Parva.
( Sambhava Parva continued. )
Vaisampayana said, "Soon after when the princess of Koshala had her season, Satyavati purifying her daughter-in-law with a bath led her to her sleeping apartments. There seating her upon a luxurious bed, she addressed her, saying, 'O princess of Koshala, thy husband hath an elder brother who shall this day enter thy womb as thy child. Wait for him tonight without sinking into sleep.' Hearing these words of her mother-in-law, the amiable princess, as she lay on her bed, began to think of Bhisma 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, his blazing eyes, his grim beard, closed her eyes in fear. The Rishi, however, from desire of accomplishing his mother's wishes, united himself with 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. And she asked him, 'Shall the princess have an accomplished son?' Hearing her he replied, "The son the princess shall bring forth will 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 But from the fault of his mother in time a century of sons. 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.
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