“Bhishma said, ’Then, O chief of the Bharatas, approaching my mother, that daughter of the Dasa clan, and saluting that parent of heroes, I said these words,—­Having vanquished all the kings, these daughters of the ruler of Kasi, having beauty alone for their dowry, have been abducted by me for the sake of Vichitravirya!—­Then, O king, Satyavati with eyes bathed in tears, smelt my head, and joyously said, ’By good luck it is, O child, that thou hast triumphed!’ When next, with Satyavati’s acquiescence, the nuptials approached, the eldest daughter of the ruler of Kasi said these words in great bashfulness,—­O Bhishma, thou art conversant with morality, and art well-versed in all our scriptures!  Hearing my words, it behoveth thee to do towards me that which is consistent with morality.  The ruler of the Salwas was before this mentally chosen by me as my lord.  By him also, without my father’s knowledge, I was privately solicited.  How wouldst thou, O Bhishma, born especially as thou art in Kuru’s race, transgress the laws of morality and cause one that longeth for another to live in thy abode?  Knowing this, O bull of Bharata’s race, and deliberating in thy mind, it behoveth thee, O mighty-armed one, to accomplish what is proper.  O monarch, it is clear that the ruler of the Salwas waiteth (for me).  It behoveth thee, therefore, O best of the Kurus’ to permit me to depart.  O mighty-armed one, be merciful to me, O foremost of righteous persons!  Thou, O hero, art devoted to truth, it is well-known all over the earth!’”

SECTION CLXXVI

“Bhishma said, ’I then placed the matter before (my mother) Kali, otherwise called Gandhavati, as also all our counsellors, and also before our special and ordinary priests and then permitted, O king, the eldest of those maidens, Amva, to depart.  Permitted by me, that maiden then went to the city of the ruler of the Salwas.  And she had for her escort a number of old Brahmanas and was also accompanied by her own nurse.  And having travelled the whole distance (between Hastinapura and Salwa’s city), she approached king Salwa and said these words, ’I come, O thou of mighty arms, expectant of thee, O high-souled one!  Unto her, however, O king, the lord of the Salwas said with a laughter, ’O thou of the fairest complexion, I no longer desire to make a wife of thee who wast to be wedded to another.  Therefore, O blessed one, go back thither unto Bhishma’s presence.  I no longer desire thee that was forcibly ravished by Bhishma.  Indeed, when Bhishma, having vanquished the kings, took thee away, thou didst go with him cheerfully.  When having humiliated and vanquished all the kings of the earth, Bhishma took thee away, I no longer desire thee, O thou of the fairest complexion, for a wife,—­thee that was to have been wedded to another!  How can a king like myself, who is acquainted with all branches of knowledge and who lays down laws for the guidance