“Satyavati having succeeded with great difficulty in procuring the assent of her virtuous daughter-in-law to her proposal which was not inconsistent with virtue, then fed Brahmanas and Rishis and numberless guests who arrived on die occasion.’”

SECTION CVI

(Sambhava Parva continued)

“Vaisampayana said, ’Soon after the monthly season of the princess of Kosala had been over, Satyavati, purifying her daughter-in-law with a bath, led her into the sleeping apartment.  There seating her upon a luxurious bed, she addressed her, saying, ’O Princess of Kosala, thy husband hath an elder brother who shall this day enter thy womb as thy child.  Wait for him tonight without dropping off to sleep.’  Hearing these words of her mother-in-law, the amiable princess, as she lay on her bed, began to think of Bhishma and the other elders of the Kuru race.  Then the Rishi of truthful speech, who had given his promise in respect of Amvika (the eldest of the princesses) in the first instance, entered her chamber while the lamp was burning.  The princess, seeing his dark visage, his matted locks of copper hue, blazing eyes, his grim beard, closed her eyes in fear.  The Rishi, from desire of accomplishing his mother’s wishes, however knew her.  But the latter, struck with fear, opened not her eyes even once to look at him.  And when Vyasa came out, he was met by his mother, who asked him, ‘Shall the princess have an accomplished son?’ Hearing her, he replied, ’The son of the princess she will bring forth shall be equal in might unto ten thousand elephants.  He will be an illustrious royal sage, possessed of great learning and intelligence and energy.  The high-souled one shall have in his time a century of sons.  But from the fault of his mother he shall be blind ’At these words of her son, Satyavati said, ’O thou of ascetic wealth, how can one that is blind become a monarch worthy of the Kurus?  How can one that is blind become the protector of his relatives and family, and the glory of his father’s race?  It behoveth thee to give another king unto the Kurus.’  Saying, ’So be it,’ Vyasa went away.  And the first princess of Kosala in due time brought forth a blind son.

“Soon after Satyavati, O chastiser of foes, summoned Vyasa, after having secured the assent of her daughter-in-law.  Vyasa came according to his promise, and approached, as before, the second wife of his brother.  And Ambalika beholding the Rishi, became pale with fear And, O Bharata, beholding her so afflicted and pale with fear, Vyasa addressed her and said, ’Because thou hast been pale with fear at the sight of my grim visage, therefore, thy child shall be pale in complexion.  O thou of handsome face, the name also thy child shall bear will be Pandu (the pale).’  ’Saying this, the illustrious and best of Rishis came out of her chamber.  And as he came out, he was met by his mother who asked him about the would-be-child.