“O thou bull of Bharata’s race, the illustrious Rishi Apava thus cursed the Vasus in wrath.  And having cursed them, the illustrious one set his heart once more on ascetic meditation.  And after that Brahmarshi of great power and ascetic wealth had thus in wrath cursed the Vasus, the latter, O king, coming to know of it, speedily came into his asylum.  And addressing the Rishi, O bull among kings, they endeavoured to pacify him.  But they failed, O tiger among men, to obtain grace from Apava—­that Rishi conversant, with all rules of virtue.  The virtuous Apava, however, said, ’Ye Vasus, with Dhava and others, ye have been cursed by me.  But ye shall be freed from my curse within a year of your birth among men.  But he for whose deed ye have been cursed by me he, viz., Dyu, shall for his sinful act, have to dwell on earth for a length of time.  I shall not make futile the words I have uttered in wrath.  Dyu, though dwelling on Earth, shall not beget children.  He shall, however, be virtuous and conversant with the scriptures.  He shall be an obedient son to his father, but he shall have to abstain from the pleasure of female companionship.’

“Thus addressing the Vasus, the great Rishi went away.  The Vasus then together came to me.  And, O king, the begged of me the boon that as soon as they would be born, I should throw them into the water.  And, O best of kings, I did as they desired, in order to free them from their earthly life.  And O best of kings, from the Rishi’s curse, this one only, viz., Dyu, himself, is to live on earth for some time.’

“Vaisampayana continued, ’Having said this, the goddess disappeared then and there.  And taking with her the child, she went away to the region she chose.  And that child of Santanu was named both Gangeya and Devavrata and excelled his father in all accomplishments.

“Santanu, after the disappearance of his wife, returned to his capital with a sorrowful heart.  I shall now recount to thee the many virtues and the great good fortune of the illustrious king Santanu of the Bharata race.  Indeed, it is this splendid history that is called the Mahabharata.’”

SECTION C

(Sambhava Parva continued )

“Vaisampayana said, ’The monarch Santanu, the most adored of the gods and royal sages, was known in all the worlds for his wisdom, virtues, and truthfulness (of speech).  The qualities of self-control, liberality, forgiveness, intelligence, modesty, patience and superior energy ever dwelt in that bull among men, viz., Santanu, that great being endued with these accomplishments and conversant with both religion and profit, the monarch was at once the protector of the Bharata race and all human beings.  His neck was marked with (three) lines, like a conch-shell; his shoulders were broad, and he resembled in prowess an infuriated elephant.  It would seem that all the auspicious signs of royalty