Chapter 303

Vaisampayana said, “And that maiden of rigid vows. O mighty monarch, byserving with a pure heart, that Brahmana of rigid vows, succeeded ingratifying him. And, O foremost of kings, saying, ‘I will come back inthe morning,’ that best of Brahmanas sometimes came in the evening or innight. Him, however, the maiden worshipped at all hours with sumptuousfood and drink and bed. And as day after day passed away, her attentionsto him, in respect of food and seat and bed, increased instead ofundergoing any diminution. And, O king, even when the Brahmana reprovedher, finding fault with any of her arrangements, or addressed her inharsh words, Pritha did not do anything that was disagreeable to him. Andon many occasions the Brahmana came back after the appointed hour hadlong passed away. And on many occasions (such as the depth of night) whenfood was hard to procure, he said, ‘Give me food!’ But on all thoseoccasions saying, ‘All is ready,’–Pritha held before him the fare. Andeven like a disciple, daughter, or a sister, that blameless gem of a girlwith a devoted heart, O king, gratified that foremost of Brahmanas. Andthat best of Brahmanas became well-pleased with her conduct andministrations. And he received those attentions of hers, valuing themrightly. And, O Bharata, her father asked her every morning and eveningsaying, “O daughter, is the Brahmana satisfied with thy ministrations?And that illustrious maiden used to reply, ‘Exceedingly well!’ Andthereupon, the high-souled Kuntibhoja experienced the greatest delight.And when after a full year that best of ascetics was unable to find anyfault whatever in Pritha, who was engaged in ministering unto him,well-pleased he said unto her, ‘O gentle maid, I have been well-pleasedwith thy attentions, O beautiful girl! Do thou, O blessed girl, ask evenfor such boons as are difficult of being obtained by men in this world,and obtaining which, thou mayst surpass in fame all the women in thisworld’. At these words of his, Kunti said, ‘Everything hath already beendone in my behalf since thou, O chief of those that are versed in theVedas, and my father also, have been pleased with me! As regards theboons, I consider them as already obtained by me, O Brahmana!’ TheBrahmana thereupon said, ‘If, O gentle maid, thou dost not, O thou ofsweet smiles, wish to obtain boons from me, do thou then take this mantrafrom me for invoking the celestials! Any one amongst the celestials whomthou mayst invoke by uttering this mantra, will appear before thee and beunder thy power. Willing or not, by virtue of this mantra, that deity ingentle guise, and assuming the obedient attitude of slave, will becomesubject to thy power!'”

Vaisampayana continued, “Thus addressed, that faultless maiden could-not,O king, from fear of a curse, refuse tor the second time compliance withthe wishes of that best of the twice-born ones. Then, O king, thatBrahmana imparted unto that girl of faultless limbs those mantras whichare recited in the beginning of the Atharvan Veda. And, O king, havingimparted unto her those mantras, he said unto Kuntibhoja. ‘I have, Omonarch, dwelt happily in thy house, always worshipped with due regardand gratified by thy daughter. I shall now depart.’ And saying this, hevanished there and then. And beholding that Brahmana vanish there andthen, the king was struck with amazement. And the monarch then treatedhis daughter Pritha with proper regard.”