sought at Kanyakuyja Gadhi’s daughter, Satyavati,
for making her his wife.’ Thereupon Gadhi,
O Galava, addressing the Rishi, said, ’O holy
one, let a thousand steeds of lunar brightness, each
with one ear black of hue, be presented to me.’
Thus requested, Richika said, ‘So be it’.
And then wending his way to the great mart of steeds
(Aswatirtha) in Varuna’s abode, the Rishi obtained
what he sought and gave them unto the king. Performing
a sacrifice then of the name of Pundarika, that monarch
gave away those steeds (as Dakshina) unto the Brahmanas.
The three kings to whom thou hadst applied had purchased
those horses from the Brahmanas, each to the number
of two hundred. The remaining four hundred, O
best of Brahmanas, while being transported over the
river, were taken by the Vitasta.[17]Therefore, O Galava,
thou canst never have that which is not to be had.
Do thou then, O virtuous one, present unto Viswamitra
this maiden as an equivalent for two hundred steeds,
along with the six hundred thou hast already obtained.
Thou wilt then, O best of Brahmanas, be freed from
thy grief and crowned with success. Galava then,
saying, ‘So be it,’ and taking with him
both the maiden and the steeds, went with Garuda in
his company unto Viswamitra. And arrived in his
presence, Galava said, ’Here are six hundred
steeds of the kind demanded by thee. And this
maiden is offered as an equivalent for the remaining
two hundred. Let all these be accepted by thee.
Upon this maiden have been begotten three virtuous
sons by three royal sages. Let a fourth, foremost
of all, be begotten upon her by thee. And thus
let the number of steeds, eight hundred, be regarded
by thee as full, and let me also, being freed from
thy debt, go and practise ascetic penances as I list.’
Viswamitra then, beholding Galava in the company of
the bird, and that highly beautiful maiden, said,
’Why, O Galava, didst thou not give me this
maiden before? Four sons then, sanctifiers of
my race, would all have been mine alone. I accept
this maiden of thine for begetting upon her one son.
As regards the steeds, let them graze in my asylum.’
Saying this, Viswamitra of great effulgence began
to pass his time happily with her, And Madhavi bore
him a son of the name of Ashtaka. And as soon
as that son was born, the great Muni Viswamitra addressed
him to both virtue and profit, and gave him those
six hundred steeds. Ashtaka then went to a city,
bright as the city of Soma. And Kusika’s
son Viswamitra also having made over the damsel to
his disciple, himself went into the Woods. And
Galava also, with his friend Suparna, having in this
way succeeded in giving his preceptor the fee he had
demanded, with a cheerful heart addressed that maiden
and said, ’Thou hast borne a son who is exceedingly
charitable, and another who is exceedingly brave, and
a third who is devoted to truth and righteousness,
and yet another who is a performer of great sacrifices.
O beautiful maiden, thou hast, by these sons, saved
not only thy father, but four kings and myself, also.
Go now, O thou of slender waist.’ Saying
this, Galava dismissed Garuda that devourer of snakes,
and returning the maiden unto her father himself went
into the woods.’”