As her dower, however, O thou that art conversant
with every duty, thou shalt have to give me four hundred
steeds of lunar splendour, each having ear black of
hue. This effort of mine for obtaining the steeds
is only on account of my preceptor, otherwise I myself
have nothing to do with them. If thou art able
to accept (my terms), do as I bid thee without any
hesitation. O royal sage, thou art now childless.
Beget, O king, a couple of children. With offspring
so begot as a raft, save they Pitris and thyself also.
O royal sage, he that hath fruit in the shape of offspring
to enjoy, never falleth from heaven. Nor hath
such a person to go to that frightful hell whither
the childless are doomed to go.’ Hearing
these and other words of Galava, king Usinara. replied
unto him, saying, ’I have heard what thou, O
Galava, hast said. My heart also is inclined to
do thy bidding. The Supreme Ordainer, however,
is all-powerful. I have only two hundred steeds
of the kind indicated by thee, O best of Brahmanas.
Of other kinds, I have many thousands moving about
in my dominions. I will, O Galava, beget only
one son upon her, by treading the path that hath been
told by others such as Haryyaswa and Divodasa.
I will act after their manner in the matter of the
dower. O best of Brahmanas, my wealth exists
for only my subjects residing in the city and the country,
and not for my own comforts and enjoyment. That
king, O virtuous one, who giveth away for his own
pleasure the wealth that belongeth to others, can never
earn virtue or fame. Let this maiden, endued
with the radiance of a celestial girl, be presented
to me. I will accept her for begetting only one
child.’ Hearing these and many other words
that Usinara spoke, that best of Brahmanas, Galava,
then applauded the monarch and gave him the maiden.
And making Usinara accept that damsel, Galava went
into the woods. And like a righteous man enjoying
the prosperity (won by his deeds), Usinara began to
sport with and enjoy that damsel in valleys and dales
of mountains by fountains and falls of rivers, in
mansions, delightful chambers, variegated gardens,
forests and woods, agreeable places, and terraces
of houses. And, in due time, was born unto him
a son of the splendour of the morning sun, who afterwards
became an excellent king, celebrated by the name Sivi.
And after the birth of that son, the Brahmana Galava
came to Usinara, and taking back from him the maiden
went, O king, to see the son of Vinata.’”
SECTION CXIX
“Narada said, ’Seeing Galava, Vinata’s son smilingly addressed him, saying, ‘By good luck it is, O Brahmana, that I behold thee successful.’ Galava, however, hearing the words spoken by Garuda informed him that a fourth part of the task was still un-finished.’ Garuda then, that foremost of all speakers, said unto Galava, ’Do not make any endeavour (to obtain the remaining two hundred), for it will not succeed. In days of yore, Richika