Chapter 119

“Narada said, ‘Seeing Galava, Vinata’s son smilingly addressed him,saying, ‘By good luck it is, O Brahmana, that I behold thee successful.’Galava, however, hearing the words spoken by Garuda informed him that afourth part of the task was still un-finished.’ Garuda then, thatforemost of all speakers, said unto Galava, ‘Do not make any endeavour(to obtain the remaining two hundred), for it will not succeed. In daysof yore, Richika sought at Kanyakuyja Gadhi’s daughter, Satyavati, formaking her his wife.’ Thereupon Gadhi, O Galava, addressing the Rishi,said, ‘O holy one, let a thousand steeds of lunar brightness, each withone ear black of hue, be presented to me.’ Thus requested, Richika said,’So be it’. And then wending his way to the great mart of steeds(Aswatirtha) in Varuna’s abode, the Rishi obtained what he sought andgave them unto the king. Performing a sacrifice then of the name ofPundarika, that monarch gave away those steeds (as Dakshina) unto theBrahmanas. The three kings to whom thou hadst applied had purchased thosehorses from the Brahmanas, each to the number of two hundred. Theremaining four hundred, O best of Brahmanas, while being transported overthe river, were taken by the Vitasta.[17]Therefore, O Galava, thou canstnever have that which is not to be had. Do thou then, O virtuous one,present unto Viswamitra this maiden as an equivalent for two hundredsteeds, along with the six hundred thou hast already obtained. Thou wiltthen, O best of Brahmanas, be freed from thy grief and crowned withsuccess. Galava then, saying, ‘So be it,’ and taking with him both themaiden and the steeds, went with Garuda in his company unto Viswamitra.And arrived in his presence, Galava said, ‘Here are six hundred steeds ofthe kind demanded by thee. And this maiden is offered as an equivalentfor the remaining two hundred. Let all these be accepted by thee. Uponthis maiden have been begotten three virtuous sons by three royal sages.Let a fourth, foremost of all, be begotten upon her by thee. And thus letthe number of steeds, eight hundred, be regarded by thee as full, and letme also, being freed from thy debt, go and practise ascetic penances as Ilist.’ Viswamitra then, beholding Galava in the company of the bird, andthat highly beautiful maiden, said, ‘Why, O Galava, didst thou not giveme this maiden before? Four sons then, sanctifiers of my race, would allhave been mine alone. I accept this maiden of thine for begetting uponher one son. As regards the steeds, let them graze in my asylum.’ Sayingthis, Viswamitra of great effulgence began to pass his time happily withher, And Madhavi bore him a son of the name of Ashtaka. And as soon asthat son was born, the great Muni Viswamitra addressed him to both virtueand profit, and gave him those six hundred steeds. Ashtaka then went to acity, bright as the city of Soma. And Kusika’s son Viswamitra also havingmade over the damsel to his disciple, himself went into the Woods. AndGalava also, with his friend Suparna, having in this way succeeded ingiving his preceptor the fee he had demanded, with a cheerful heartaddressed that maiden and said, ‘Thou hast borne a son who is exceedinglycharitable, and another who is exceedingly brave, and a third who isdevoted to truth and righteousness, and yet another who is a performer ofgreat sacrifices. O beautiful maiden, thou hast, by these sons, saved notonly thy father, but four kings and myself, also. Go now, O thou ofslender waist.’ Saying this, Galava dismissed Garuda that devourer ofsnakes, and returning the maiden unto her father himself went into thewoods.'”