Section XV

"The blessed Krishna said, 'Bowing my head with great joy unto that mass of energy and effulgence, I said these words unto the great Deity, with a heart filled with gladness,—Firmness in virtue, the slaughter of foes in battle, the highest fame, the greatest might, devotion to Yoga, your adjacence, and hundreds upon hundreds of children, these are the boons I solicit of you,—So be it,—said Sankara repeating the words I had uttered. After this, the mother of the universe, the upholders of all things, who cleanses, all things, viz., the spouse of Sarva, that vast receptacle of penances said with a restrained soul these words unto me,—'The puissant Mahadeva has granted you, O sinless one, a son who shall be named Samva. Do you take from me also eight boons which you choosest. I shall certainly grant them to you.—Bowing unto her with a bend of my head, I said unto her, O son of Pandu,—I solicit from you non-anger against the Brahmanas, grace of my father, a hundred sons, the highest enjoyments, love for my family, the grace of my mother, the attainment of tranquillity and peace, and cleverness in every act!'

"Uma said, 'It shall be even so, O you that art possessed of prowess and puissance equal to that of a celestial. I never say what is untrue. You shalt have sixteen thousand wives. Your love for them and theirs also for you shall be unlimited. From all your kinsmen also, you shalt receive the highest affection. Your body too shall be most beautiful. Seven thousand guests will daily feed at your palace.'

"Vasudeva continued, 'Having thus granted me boons both the god and the goddess, O Bharata, disappeared there and then with their Ganas, O elder brother of Bhima. All those wonderful facts I related fully, O best of kings, to that Brahmana of great energy, viz., Upamanyu (from whom I had obtained the Diksha before adoring Mahadeva). Bowing down unto the great God, Upamanyu said these words to me.'

"Upamanyu said, 'There is no deity like Sarva. There is no end or refuge like Sarva. There is none that can give so many or such high boons. There is none that equal him in battle.'"