Rambha, Manorama, Asita, Suvahu, Supriya, Suvapuh, Pundarika, Sugandha, Surasa, Pramathini, Kamya and Saradwati, all danced there together.  And Menaka, Sahajanya, Karnika, Punjikasthala, Ritusthala, Ghritachi, Viswachi, Purvachiti, the celebrated Umlocha, Pramlocha the tenth and Urvasi the eleventh,—­these large-eyed dancing girls of heaven,—­came there and sang in chorus.  And Dharti and Aryaman and Mitra and Varuna, Bhaga and Indra, Vivaswat, Pushan, Tvastri and Parjanya or Vishnu, these twelve Adityas came there to glorify Pandu’s son.  And, O king, Mrigavyadha, Sarpa, the celebrated Niriti, Ajaikapada, Ahivradhna, Pinakin, Dahana, Iswara, Kapalin, Sthanu and the illustrious Bhaga—­these eleven Rudras,—­also came there.  And the twin Aswins, the eight Vasus, the mighty Maruts, the Viswedevas, and the Sadhyas, also came there.  And Karkotaka, Vasuki, Kachchhapa, Kunda and the great Naga Takshaka,—­these mighty and wrathful snakes possessed of high ascetic merit also came there.  And Tarkshya, Arishtanemi, Garuda, Asitadvaja,—­these and many other Nagas, came there, so also Aruna and Aruni of Vinata’s race also came there.  And only great Rishis crowned with ascetic success and not others saw those celestials and other beings seated in their cars or waiting on the mountain peaks.  Those best of Munis beholding that wonderful sight, became amazed, and their love and affection for the children of Pandu was in consequence enhanced.

“The celebrated Pandu, tempted by the desire of having more children wished to speak again unto his wedded wife (for invoking some other god).  But Kunti addressed him, saying, ’The wise do not sanction a fourth delivery even in a season of distress.  The woman having intercourse with four different men is called a Swairini (heanton), while she having intercourse with five becometh a harlot.  Therefore, O learned one, as thou art well-acquainted with the scripture on this subject, why dost thou, beguiled by desire of offspring, tell me so in seeming forgetfulness of the ordinance?’”

SECTION CXXIV

(Sambhava Parva continued)

“Vaisampayana said, ’After the birth of Kunti’s sons and also of the hundred sons of Dhritarashtra the daughter of the king of the Madras privately addressed Pandu, saying, ’O slayer of foes, I have no complaint even if thou beest unpropitious to me.  I have, O sinless one, also no complaint that though by birth I am superior to Kunti yet I am inferior to her in station.  I do not grieve, O thou of Kuru’s race, that Gandhari hath obtained a hundred sons.  This, however, is my great grief that while Kunti and I are equal, I should be childless, while it should so chance that thou shouldst have offspring by Kunti alone.  If the daughter of Kuntibhoja should so provide that I should have offspring, she would then be really doing me a great favour and benefiting thee likewise.  She being my rival, I feel a delicacy in soliciting any favour of her.  If thou beest, O king, propitiously disposed to me, then ask her to grant my desire.’