Chapter 301

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

Vaisampayana said, “I will, O monarch, tell thee that secret which wasnot revealed by the deity possessed of the wealth of effulgence. I willalso describe unto thee those ear-rings and that coat of mail. Once on atime, O king, there appeared before Kuntibhoja a Brahmana of fierceenergy and tall stature, bearing a beard and matted locks, and carrying astaff in his hand. And, he was agreeable to the eye and of faultlesslimbs, and seemed to blaze forth in splendour. And he was possessed of ayellow-blue complexion like that of honey. And his speech wasmellifluous, and he was adorned with ascetic merit and a knowledge of theVedas. And that person of great ascetic merit, addressing kingKuntibhoja, said, ‘O thou that are free from pride, I wish to live as aguest in thy house feeding on the food obtained as alms from thee!Neither thy followers, nor thou thyself, shall ever act in such a way asto produce my displeasure! If, O sinless one, it liketh thee, I wouldthen live in thy house thus! I shall leave thy abode when I wish, andcome back when I please. And, O king, no one shall offend me in respectof my food or bed.’–Then Kuntibhoja spake unto him these wordscheerfully, ‘Be it so, and more.’ And he again said unto him, ‘O thou ofgreat wisdom, I have an illustrious daughter named Pritha. And shebeareth an excellent character, is observant of vow, chaste, and ofsubdued senses. And she shall attend on thee and minister unto thee withreverence. And thou wilt be pleased with her disposition!’ And havingsaid this to that Brahmana and duly paid him homage, the king went to hisdaughter Pritha of large eyes, and spake thus unto her, ‘O child, thiseminently pious Brahmana is desirous of dwelling in my house! I haveaccepted his proposal, saying,–So be it, relying, O child, on thyaptitude and skill in ministering unto Brahmanas. It, therefore, behoveththee to act in such a manner that my words may not be untrue. Do thougive him with alacrity whatever this reverend Brahmana possessed ofascetic merit and engaged in the study of the Vedas, may want. Leteverything that this Brahmana asketh for be giver to him cheerfully. ABrahmana is the embodiment of pre-eminent energy: he is also theembodiment of the highest ascetic merit. It is in consequence of thevirtuous practices of Brahmanas that the sun shineth in the heavens. Itwas for their disregard of Brahmanas that were deserving of honour thatthe mighty Asura Vatapi, as also Talajangha, was destroyed by the curseof the Brahmanas. For the present, O child, it is a highly virtuous oneof that order that is entrusted to thy keep. Thou shouldst always tendthis Brahmana with concentrated mind. O daughter, I know that, fromchildhood upwards, thou hast ever been attentive to Brahmanas, andsuperiors, and relatives, and servants, and friends, to thy mothers andmyself. I know thou bearest thyself well, bestowing proper regard uponeveryone. And, O thou of faultless limbs, in the city of the interior ofmy palace, on account of thy gentle behaviour, there is not one, evenamong the servants, that is dissatisfied with thee. I have, therefore,thought thee fit to wait upon all Brahmanas of wrathful temper. Thou art,O Pritha, a girl and has been adopted as my daughter. Thou art born inthe race of the Vrishnis, and art the favourite daughter of Sura. Thouwert, O girl, given to me gladly by thy father himself. The sister ofVasudeva by birth, thou art (by adoption) the foremost of my children.Having promised me in these words,–I will give my first born,–thyfather gladly gave thee to me while thou wert yet in thy infancy. It isfor this reason that thou art my daughter. Born in such a race and rearedin such a race, thou hast come from one happy state to another like alotus transferred from one lake to another. O auspicious girl, women,specially they that are of mean extraction, although they may withdifficulty be kept under restraint, become in consequence of their unripeage, generally deformed in character. But thou, O Pritha, art born in aroyal race, and thy beauty also is extraordinary. And then, O girl, thouart endued with every accomplishment. Do thou, therefore, O damsel,renouncing pride and haughtiness and a sense of self-importance, waitupon and worship the boon-giving Brahmana, and thereby attain, O Pritha,to an auspicious state! By acting thus, O auspicious and sinless girl,thou wilt surely attain to auspiciousness! But if on the contrary, thoustirest up the anger of this best of the twice-born ones, my entire racewill be consumed by him!'”