desire.  Therefore, O thou of excellent hips and the fairest complexion, a virgin is, 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 am desirous of the welfare of all creatures, commit an unrighteous act?  That all 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 shalt remain a virgin after having gratified me.  And thy son shall also be mighty-armed and illustrious.’  Thereupon Kunti said, ’If, O dispeller of darkness, I obtain a son from thee, may he be furnished with a coat of mail and ear-rings, and may he be mighty-armed and endued with great strength!’ Hearing these words of hers, Surya answered, ’O gentle maiden, thy son shall be mighty-armed and decked with ear-rings and a celestial coat of mail.  And both his ear-rings and coat of mail will be made of Amrita, and his coat will also be invulnerable.’  Kunti then said, ’If the excellent 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 purpose be fulfilled!  May he be powerful, strong, energetic, and handsome, even like thee, and may he also be endued with virtue!’ Surya then said, ’O princess, O excellent damsel, these ear-rings had been given to me by Aditi.  O timid lady, I will bestow them, as also this excellent mail, on thy son!’ Kunti then said, ’Very well, O worshipful one!  If my son, O lord of light, become so, I will, as thou sayest, gratify thee!’”

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

Vaisampayana continued, “Then, O foremost of kings, as the highly effulgent 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 down stupefied on that excellent bed, like a broken creeper.  And it was thus that deity of fierce rays, stupefying her, entered into her by virtue of Yoga 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 had gone away, that girl regained her consciousness.”

SECTION CCCVI