the Ganges, he came upon a region frequented by Siddhas and Charanas.  And there he saw a lovely maiden of blazing beauty and like unto another Sri herself; of faultless and pearly teeth and decked with celestial ornaments, and attired in garments of fine texture that resembled in splendour the filaments of the lotus.  And the monarch, on beholding that damsel, became surprised, and his raptures produced instant horripilation.  With steadfast gaze he seemed to be drinking her charms, but repeated draughts failed to quench his thirst.  The damsel also beholding the monarch of blazing splendour moving about in great agitation, was moved herself and experienced an affection for him.  She gazed and gazed and longed to gaze on him evermore.  The monarch then in soft words addressed her and said, ’O slender-waisted one, be thou a goddess or the daughter of a Danava, be thou of the race of the Gandharvas, or Apsaras, be thou of the Yakshas or the Nagas, or be thou of human origin, O thou of celestial beauty, I solicit thee to be my wife!’”

SECTION XCVIII

(Sambhava Parva continued)

“Vaisampayana said, ’The maiden then, hearing those soft and sweet words of the smiling monarch, and remembering her promise to the Vasus, addressed the king in reply.  Of faultless features, the damsel sending a thrill of pleasure into the heart by every word she uttered, said, ’O king, I shall become thy wife and obey thy commands.  But, O monarch, thou must not interfere with me in anything I do, be it agreeable or disagreeable.  Nor shall thou ever address me unkindly.  As long as thou shalt behave kindly I promise to live with thee.  But I shall certainly leave thee the moment thou interferest with me or speakest to me an unkind word.’  The king answered, ‘Be it so.’  And thereupon the damsel obtaining that excellent monarch, that foremost one of the Bharata race for her husband, became highly pleased.  And king Santanu also, obtaining her for his wife, enjoyed to the full the pleasure of her company.  And adhering to his promise, he refrained from asking her anything.  And the lord of earth, Santanu, became exceedingly gratified with her conduct, beauty, magnanimity, and attention to his comforts.  And the goddess Ganga also, of three courses (celestial, terrestrial, and subterranean) assuming a human form of superior complexion and endued with celestial beauty, lived happily as the wife of Santanu, having as the fruit of her virtuous acts, obtained for her husband, that tiger among kings equal unto Indra himself in splendour.  And she gratified the king by her attractiveness and affection, by her wiles and love, by her music and dance, and became herself gratified.  And the monarch was so enraptured with his beautiful wife that months, seasons, and years rolled on without his being conscious of them.  And the king, while thus enjoying himself with his wife, had eight children born unto him who