Rishi then began to think of perpetuating his race.  But he saw not a wife worthy of him on whom he himself could take his birth in the form of a son.  The Rishi accordingly, taking those parts that were regarded as highly beautiful, from creatures possessing them, created therewith an excellent woman.  And the Muni, endued with great ascetic merit, thereupon gave that girl created for himself to the king of the Vidharbhas who was then undergoing ascetic penances for obtaining offspring.  And that blessed girl of sweet face (thus disposed of) then took her birth (in Vidarbha’s royal line) and, beautiful as the effulgent lightning, her limbs began to grow day by day.  And as soon as that lord of earth—­the ruler of the Vidarbhas—­saw her ushered into life, he joyfully communicated the intelligence, O Bharata, unto the Brahmanas.  And the Brahmanas thereupon, O lord of earth, blessed the girl and they bestowed upon her the name Lopamudra.  And possessed of great beauty, she began, O monarch, to grow quickly like unto a lotus in the midst of water or the effulgent flame of a fire.  And when the girl grew and attained to puberty, a hundred virgins decked in ornaments and a hundred maids waited in obedience upon her blessed self.  And surrounded by those hundred maids and virgins, she shone in their midst, endued as she was with bright effulgence, like Rohini in the firmament amid an inferior multitude of stars.  And possessed as she was of good behaviour and excellent manners, none dared ask for her hand even when she attained to puberty, through fear of her father, the king of the Vidharbhas.  And Lopamudra, devoted to truth, surpassing the Apsaras even in beauty, gratified her father and relatives by means of her conduct.  And her father, beholding his daughter—­the princess of Vidharbha—­attain to puberty, began to reflect in his mind, saying, “To whom should I give this daughter of mine?"’”

SECTION XCVII

“Lomasa continued, ’When Agastya thought that girl to be competent for the duties of domesticity, he approached that lord of earth—­the ruler of Vidharbhas—­and addressing him, said, “I solicit thee, O king, to bestow thy daughter Lopamudra on me.”  Thus addressed by the Muni, the king of the Vidharbhas swooned away.  And though unwilling to give the Muni his daughter, he dared not refuse.  And that lord of earth then, approaching his queen, said, “This Rishi is endued with great energy.  If angry, he may consume me with the fire of his curse.  O thou of sweet face, tell me what is thy wish.”  Hearing these words of the king, she uttered not a word.  And beholding the king along with the queen afflicted with sorrow, Lopamudra approached them in due time and said, “O monarch, it behoveth thee not to grieve on my account.  Bestow me on Agastya, and, O father, save thyself, by giving me away.”  And at these words of his daughter, O monarch, the king gave away Lopamudra unto the illustrious Agastya