attentive to what was agreeable and beneficial to her lord, then replied unto him, saying, 'In my girlhood, O lord, I was in my father's home engaged in attending upon all guests. I used to wait respectfully upon Brahmanas of rigid vows and great ascetic merit. One day I gratified with my attentions that, Brahraana whom people call Durvasa, of mind under full control and possessing knowledge of all the mysteries of religion. Pleased with my services, that Brahmana gave me a boon in the form of a mantra (formula of invocation) for calling to my presence any one of the celestials I liked. And the Rishi addressing me said,—Any one among the celestials whom thou callest by this, shall, O girl, approach thee and be obedient to thy will, whether he liketh it or not. And, O princess, thou shalt also have offspring, by his grace.—O Bharata, that Brahmana told me this when I was in my father's home. The words uttered by the Brahmana could never be false. The time also hath come when they may yield fruit. Commanded by thee, O royal sage, I can by that mantra summon any of the celestials, so that we may have good children. O thou foremost of all truthful men, tell me which of the celestials I shall summon. Know that as regards this matter I await your commands.'
"Hearing this, Pandu replied, 'O thou handsome one, strive thou duly this very day to gratify our wishes! Fortunate one, summon thou the god of Justice! He is the most virtuous of the celestials. The god of justice and virtue will never be able to pollute us with sin. The world also, O beautiful princess, will then think that what we do can never be unholy. The son also that we shall obtain from him shall in virtue be certainly the foremost among the Kurus. Begotten by the god of justice and morality, he would never set his heart upon anything that is sinful or unholy. Therefore, O thou of sweet smiles, steadily keeping virtue before thy eyes, and duly observing holy vows, summon thou the god of justice and virtue by the -help of thy solicitations and incantations!'"
Vaisampayana continued, "Then Kunti, that best of women, thus addressed by her lord, said, 'So be it.' And
