Chapter 305

Vaisampayana said, “Although that noble girl addressed him in varioussweet words, yet she was unable to dissuade that deity of a thousandrays. And when she failed to dissuade the dispeller of darkness, at lastfrom fear of a curse, she reflected, O king, for a long time!–‘How maymy innocent father, and that Brahmana also, escape the angry Surya’scurse for my sake? Although energy and asceticism are capable ofdestroying sins, yet even honest persons, if they be of unripe age,should not foolishly court them. By foolishly acting in that way I havetoday been placed in a frightful situation. Indeed, I have been placedentirely within the grasp of this deity. Ye how can I do what is sinfulby taking it on myself to surrender my person to him?’

Vaisampayana continued, afflicted with fear of a curse, and thinking muchwithin herself, an utter stupefaction of the senses came upon her. Andshe was so confounded that she could not settle what to do. Afraid, onthe one hand, O king, of the reproach of friends if she obeyed the deity,and, on the other, of his curse if she disobeyed him, the damsel at last,O foremost of kings, said these words unto that god, in accents tremulouswith bashfulness, ‘O god, as my father and mother and friends are stillliving, this violation of duty on my part should not take place. If; Ogod, I commit this unlawful act with thee, the reputation of this raceshall be sacrificed in this world on my account. If thou, however, O thouforemost of those that impart heat, deem this to be a meritorious act, Ishall then fulfil thy desire even though my relatives may not havebestowed me on thee! May I remain chaste after having surrendered myperson to thee! Surely, the virtue, the reputation, the fame, and thelife of every creature are established in thee!’ Hearing these words ofhers, Surya replied, ‘O thou of sweet smiles, neither thy father, nor thymother, nor any other superior of thine, is competent to give thee away!May good betide thee, O beauteous damsel! Do thou listen to my words! Itis because a virgin desireth the company of every one, that she hathreceived the appellation of Kanya, from the root kama meaning to desire.Therefore, O thou of excellent hips and the fairest complexion, a virginis, by nature, free in this world. Thou shalt not, O lady, by any means,be guilty of any sin by complying with my request. And how can I, who amdesirous of the welfare of all creatures, commit an unrighteous act? Thatall men and women should be bound by no restraints, is the law of nature.The opposite condition is the perversion of the natural state. Thou shaltremain a virgin after having gratified me. And thy son shall also bemighty-armed and illustrious.’ Thereupon Kunti said, ‘If, O dispeller ofdarkness, I obtain a son from thee, may he be furnished with a coat ofmail and ear-rings, and may he be mighty-armed and endued with greatstrength!’ Hearing these words of hers, Surya answered, ‘O gentle maiden,thy son shall be mighty-armed and decked with ear-rings and a celestialcoat of mail. And both his ear-rings and coat of mail will be made ofAmrita, and his coat will also be invulnerable.’ Kunti then said, ‘If theexcellent mail and ear-rings of the son thou wilt beget on me, be,indeed, made of Amrita, then, O god, O worshipful deity, let thy purposebe fulfilled! May he be powerful, strong, energetic, and handsome, evenlike thee, and may he also be endued with virtue!’ Surya then said, ‘Oprincess, O excellent damsel, these ear-rings had been given to me byAditi. O timid lady, I will bestow them, as also this excellent mail, onthy son!’ Kunti then said, ‘Very well, O worshipful one! If my son, Olord of light, become so, I will, as thou sayest, gratify thee!'”

Vaisampayana continued, “Hearing these words of hers Surya said, ‘So beit!’ And that ranger of the skies, that enemy of Swarbhanu, with soulabsorbed in Yoga, entered into Kunti, and touched her on the navel. Atthis, that damsel, on account of Surya’s energy, became stupefied. Andthat reverend lady then fell down on her bed, deprived of her senses.Surya then addressed her, saying, ‘I will now depart, O thou of gracefulhips! Thou shalt bring forth a son who will become the foremost of allwielders of weapons. At the same time thou shalt remain a virgin.'”

Vaisampayana continued, “Then, O foremost of kings, as the highlyeffulgent Surya was about to depart, that girl bashfully said unto him,’So be it!’ And it was thus that the daughter of king Kuntibhoja,importuned by Surya, had after soliciting a son from him, fallen downstupefied on that excellent bed, like a broken creeper. And it was thusthat deity of fierce rays, stupefying her, entered into her by virtue ofYoga power, and placed his own self within her womb. The deity, however,did not sully her by deflowering her in the flesh. And after Surya hadgone away, that girl regained her consciousness.”