joyfully performed the usual ceremonies on her behalf.  And as she had been bestowed with delight by the goddess Savitri by virtue of the oblations offered in honour of that goddess, both her father, and the Brahmanas named her Savitri.  And the king’s daughter grew like unto Sree herself in an embodied form.  And in due time, that damsel attained her puberty.  And beholding that graceful maiden of slender waist and ample hips, and resembling a golden image, people thought, ‘We have received a goddess.’  And overpowered by her energy, none could wed that girl of eyes like lotus-leaves, and possessed of a burning splendour.’

’And it came to pass that once on the occasion of a parva, having fasted and bathed her head, she presented herself before the (family) deity and caused the Brahmanas to offer oblations with due rites to the sacrificial fire.  And taking the flowers that had been offered to the god, that lady, beautiful as Sree herself, went to her high-souled sire.  And having reverenced the feet of her father and offering him the flowers she had brought, that maiden of exceeding grace, with joined hands, stood at the side of the king.  And seeing his own daughter resembling a celestial damsel arrived at puberty, and unsought by people, the king became sad.  And the king said, ’Daughter, the time for bestowing thee is come!  Yet none asketh thee.  Do thou (therefore) thyself seek for a husband equal to thee in qualities!  That person who may be desired by thee should be notified to me.  Do thou choose for thy husband as thou listest.  I shall bestow thee with deliberation.  Do thou, O auspicious one, listen to me as I tell thee the words which I heard recited by the twice-born ones.  The father that doth not bestow his daughter cometh by disgrace.  And the husband that knoweth not his wife in her season meeteth with disgrace.  And the son that doth not protect his mother when her husband is dead, also suffereth disgrace.  Hearing these words of mine, do thou engage thyself in search of a husband.  Do thou act in such a way that we may not be censured by the gods!’

“Markandeya said, ’Having said these words to his daughter and his old counsellors, he instructed the attendants to follow her, saying,—­Go!  Thereat, bashfully bowing down unto her father’s feet, the meek maid went out without hesitation, in compliance with the words of her sire.  And ascending a golden car, she went to the delightful asylum of the royal sages, accompanied by her father’s aged counsellors.  There, O son, worshipping the feet of the aged ones, she gradually began to roam over all the woods.  Thus the king’s daughter distributing wealth in all sacred regions, ranged the various places belonging to the foremost of the twice-born ones.’”

SECTION CCLXLII