became amazed, and their love and affection for the children of Pandu were in consequence enhanced.
"The celebrated Pandu, tempted by the desire of having more children, wished to speak again unto his wedded wife (for invoking some other god). But Kunti addressed him, saying, 'The wise do not sanction a fourth delivery even in a season of distress. The woman having intercourse with four different men is called a Shairini, while she having intercourse with five becometh a harlot. Therefore, O learned one, well acquainted as thou art with the scripture on this subject, why dost thou, beguiled by the desire of offspring, tell me so in seeming forgetfulness of the ordinance?'"
Thus ends the hundred and twenty-third Section in the Sambhava of the Adi Parva.
( Sambhava Parva continued. )
Vaisampayana said, "After the birth of Kunti's sons and after the hundred sons also of Dhrita-rashtra were born, the daughter of the king of Madra privately addressed Pandu, saying, 'O thou slayer of all foes, I have no complaint even if thou art unpropitious to me! I have, O sinless one, also no complaint that though by birth I am superior to Kunti yet I am inferior to her in station! I do not grieve, O thou of the Kuru race, that Ghandhari hath obtained an hundred sons! This, however, is my great grief that while I and Kunti are equal, I should be childless while it should so chance that thou shouldst have offspring by Kunti! If the daughter of Kunti-bhoja should so provide that I should have offspring, she would then be really doing me a great favor and benefiting thee likewise. She is my rival. Therefore am I ashamed of soliciting any favor of her. If thou art, O king, be propitiously inclined to me, then ask thou her to grant my desire!'
"Hearing her, Pandu replied, 'O Madri, I do revolve this matter often in my own mind. But I had hitherto hesitated to tell thee anything, not knowing how you would receive
