characterised by exceeding pride, will be born in one of thy two wives (here).  But they all, O ruler of the earth, shall perish together.  In the other wife, (however), will be born a single valiant son, who will perpetuate thy race.”  Having said this to him, the god Rudra (Siva) vanished from sight at that very spot, and that same king Sagara now came (back) to his own abode accompanied by his two wives, exceedingly delighted at heart (for what had happened) then.  And, O most praiseworthy of the sons of Manu! (i.e., men), there the two lotus-eyed wives of him—­the princess of Vidarbha and the princess of Sivi—­came (erelong) to be with child.  And afterwards, on the due day, the princess of Vidarbha brought forth (something) of the shape of a gourd and the princess of Sivi gave birth to a boy as beautiful as a god.  Then the ruler of the earth made up his mind to throw away the gourd,—­when he heard (proceeding) from the sky a speech (uttered) in a grave and solemn voice, “O king! do thou not be guilty of this hasty act; thou shouldst not abandon thy sons.  Take out the seeds from the gourd and let them be preserved with care in steaming vessels partly filled with clarified butter.  Then thou wilt get, O scion of Bharata’s race! sixty thousand sons.  O ruler of men! the great god (Siva) hath spoken that thy sons are to be born in this manner.  Let not therefore thy mind be turned away therefrom."’”

SECTION CVII

“Lomasa said, ’O most righteous of kings!  When he heard these words (proceeding) from the sky, he had faith therein, and did all that he was directed to do, O chief of the men of Bharata’s race!  Then the ruler of men took separately each of the seeds and then placed these divisions (of the gourd) in vessels filled with clarified butter.  And intent on the preservation of his sons, he provided a nurse for every (receptacle).  Then after a long time there arose sixty thousand exceedingly powerful sons of that same king—­gifted with unmeasured strength, they were born, O ruler of earth! to that saint-like king, by Rudra’s favour.  And they were terrible; and their acts were ruthless.  And they were able to ascend and roam about in the sky; and being numerous themselves, despised everybody, including the gods.  And they would chase even the gods, the Gandharvas, and the Rakshasas and all the born beings, being themselves valiant and addicted to fighting.  Then all people, harassed by the dull-headed sons of Sagara, united with all the gods, went to Brahma as their refuge.  And then addressed the blessed grandfather of all beings (Brahma), “Go ye your way, ye gods, together with all these men.  In a not very long space of time, there will come about, O gods! a great and exceedingly terrible destruction of Sagara’s sons, caused by the deed perpetrated by them.”  Thus addressed, those same gods, and men, O lord of the sons of Manu! bade adieu to the grandfather, and went back to whence they had