Page:The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa (1884).djvu/371

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ADI PARVA.
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And at the command of Dhrita-rashtra, people were busy in supplying Pandu in his retirement with every object of pleasure and enjoyment.

"Meanwhile the son of the ocean-going Ganga heard that king Devaka had a daughter endued with youth and beauty and begotten upon a Sudra wife. Bringing her from her father's abode, Bhisma married her to Vidura of great wisdom. And the Kuru prince Vidura begot upon her many children like unto himself in accomplishments."

Thus ends the hundred and fourteenth Section in the Sambhava of the Adi Parva.


Section CXV.

( Sambhava Parva continued. )

Vaisampayana said, "Meanwhile, O Janamejaya, Dhrita-rashtra begat upon Gandhari an hundred sons, and upon a Vaisya wife another besides these hundred. And Pandu had by his two wives Kunti and Madri five sons who were great charioteers and who were all begotten by the celestials for the perpetuation of the Kuru line."

Janamejaya said, "O thou best of Brahmanas, how did Gandhari bring forth these hundred sons and in how many years? What were also the periods of life alloted to each? How did Dhrita-rashtra also beget another son in a Vaisya wife? How did Dhrita-rashtra behave towards his loving, obedient, and virtuous wife Gandhari? How were also begotten the five sons of Pandu—those mighty charioteers—even though Pandu himself laboured under the curse of the great Rishi (he slew)? O thou of ascetic wealth and great learning, tell me all this in detail, for my thirst of hearing everything relating to my own ancestors hath not been slaked."

Vaisampayana said, "One day Gandhari entertained with respectful attention the great Dwaipayana who came to her abode exhausted with hunger and fatigue. Gratified with Gandhari's hospitality, the Rishi gave her the boon she asked, viz, that she should have a century of sons each equal unto her lord in strength and accomplishments. Sometime after,

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