( Sambhava Parva continued. )
Janamejaya said, "O thou utterer of Brahma, thou hast recited (everything about) the extraordinary births, among men, of the sons of Dhrita-rashtra in consequence of the Rishi's grace, Thou hast also said what their names were, according to the order of birth. O Brahmana, I have heard all these from thee, But tell me now all about the Pandavas, While reciting the incarnations on earth of the celestials, the Asuras, and beings of other classes, thou saidst that the Pandavas were all illustrious and endued with the prowess of gods, and that they were incarnate portions of the celestials themselves, I desire, therefore, to hear all about those beings of extraordinary achievements, beginning from the moment of their births. O Vaisampayana, recite thou their achievements."
Vaisampayana said, "O king, one day Pandu, while roaming in the woods (on the southern slopes of Himavat) that teemed with deer and wild animals of fierce disposition, saw a large deer that seemed to be the leader of a herd coupling with its mate. Beholding the animals, the monarch pierced them both with five of his sharp and swift arrows winged with golden feathers. O monarch, that was no deer that Pandu struck at, but a Rishi's son of great ascetic merit who was coupling with his mate in the form of a deer. Pierced by Pandu while engaged in the act of intercourse, he fell down on the earth uttering cries that were human and began to weep bitterly.
"The deer then addressed Pandu and said, 'O king, even men that are slaves of lust and wrath, and void of reason, and ever sinful, never commit such a cruel act as this! Individual judgment prevaileth not against the ordinance, the ordinance prevaileth against individual judgment. The wise never sanction anything discountenanced by the ordinance. Thou art born, O Bharata, in a race that has ever been virtuous, How is it, therefore, that even thou, suffer-
