Section CCCI

Janamejaya said, "What was that secret which was not revealed to Karna by the deity of warm rays? Of what kind also were those ear-rings and of what sort was that coat of mail? Whence, too, was that mail and those ear-rings? All this, O best of men. I wish to hear! O you possessed of the wealth of asceticism, do tell me all this!"

Vaisampayana said, "I will, O monarch, tell you that secret which was not revealed by the deity possessed of the wealth of effulgence. I will also describe unto you those ear-rings and that coat of mail. Once on a time, O king, there appeared before Kuntibhoja a Brahmana of fierce energy and tall stature, bearing a beard and matted locks, and carrying a staff in his hand. And, he was agreeable to the eye and of faultless limbs, and seemed to blaze forth in splendour. And he was possessed of a yellow-blue complexion like that of honey. And his speech was mellifluous, and he was adorned with ascetic merit and a knowledge of the Vedas.

And that person of great ascetic merit, addressing king Kuntibhoja, said,

'O you that are free from pride, I wish to live as a guest in your house feeding on the food obtained as alms from you! Neither your followers, nor you thyself, shall ever act in such a way as to produce my displeasure! If, O sinless one, it likes you, I would then live in your house thus! I shall leave your abode when I wish, and come back when I please. And, O king, no one shall offend me in respect of my food or bed.'

—Then Kuntibhoja spake unto him these words cheerfully, 'Be it so, and more.' And he again said unto him,

'O you of great wisdom, I have an illustrious daughter named Pritha. And she bears an excellent character, is observant of vow, chaste, and of subdued senses. And she shall attend on you and minister unto you with reverence. And you will be pleased with her disposition!'

And having said this to that Brahmana and duly paid him homage, the king went to his daughter Pritha of large eyes, and spake thus unto her,

'O child, this eminently pious Brahmana is desirous of dwelling in my house! I have accepted his proposal, saying,—So be it, relying, O child, on your aptitude and skill in ministering unto Brahmanas. It, therefore, behoves you to act in such a manner that my words may not be untrue.

Do you give him with alacrity whatever this reverend Brahmana possessed of ascetic merit and engaged in the study of the Vedas, may want. Let everything that this Brahmana asks for be giver to him cheerfully. A Brahmana is the embodiment of pre-eminent energy: he is also the embodiment of the highest ascetic merit.

It is in consequence of the virtuous practices of Brahmanas that the sun shines in the heavens. It was for their disregard of Brahmanas that were deserving of honour that the mighty Asura Vatapi, as also Talajangha, was destroyed by the curse of the Brahmanas. For the present, O child, it is a highly virtuous one of that order that is entrusted to your keep.

You should always tend this Brahmana with concentrated mind. O daughter, I know that, from childhood upwards, you have ever been attentive to Brahmanas, and superiors, and relatives, and servants, and friends, to your mothers and myself. I know you bearest thyself well, bestowing proper regard upon everyone.

And, O you of faultless limbs, in the city of the interior of my palace, on account of your gentle behaviour, there is not one, even among the servants, that is dissatisfied with you. I have, therefore, thought you fit to wait upon all Brahmanas of wrathful temper. You are, O Pritha, a girl and has been adopted as my daughter. You are born in the race of the Vrishnis, and art the favourite daughter of Sura.

You were, O girl, given to me gladly by your father himself. The sister of Vasudeva by birth, you are (by adoption) the foremost of my children. Having promised me in these words,—I will give my first born,—your father gladly gave you to me while you were yet in your infancy. It is for this reason that you are my daughter. Born in such a race and reared in such a race, you have come from one happy state to another like a lotus transferred from one lake to another.

O auspicious girl, women, specially they that are of mean extraction, although they may with difficulty be kept under restraint, become in consequence of their unripe age, generally deformed in character. But you, O Pritha, art born in a royal race, and your beauty also is extraordinary.

And then, O girl, you are endued with every accomplishment. Do you, therefore, O damsel, renouncing pride and haughtiness and a sense of self-importance, wait upon and worship the boon-giving Brahmana, and thereby attain, O Pritha, to an auspicious state! By acting thus, O auspicious and sinless girl, you will surely attain to auspiciousness! But if on the contrary, you stirest up the anger of this best of the twice-born ones, my entire race will be consumed by him!'"