“Vyasa said, ’There was a king of the name of Switya.  He had a son who was called Srinjaya.  The Rishis Narada and Parvata were his friends.  One day, the two ascetics, for paying Srinjaya a visit, came to his palace.  Duly worshipped by Srinjaya, they became pleased with him, and continued to live with him happily.  Once on a time as Srinjaya was seated at his case with the two ascetics, his beautiful daughter of sweet smiles came to him.  Saluted with reverence by his daughter, Srinjaya delighted that girl standing by his side with proper benedictions of the kind she desired.  Beholding that maiden, Parvata smilingly asked Srinjaya, saying, ’Whose daughter is this damsel of restless glances and possessed of every auspicious mark?  Is she the splendour of Surya, or the flame of Agni?  Or, is she any of these, viz., Sri, Hri, Kirti, Dhriti, Pushti, Siddhi, and the splendour of Soma?’ After the celestial Rishi (Parvata) said these words, king Srinjaya answered, saying, ’O illustrious one, this girl is my daughter.  She beggeth my blessings.’  Then Narada addressed king Srinjaya and said.  ’If, O monarch, thou wishest for great good (to thyself), then give this daughter of thine unto me for a wife.’  Delighted (with the Rishi’s proposal), Srinjaya addressed Narada, saying, ’I give her unto thee.’  At this, the other Rishi, viz., Parvata, indignantly addressed Narada, saying, ’Chosen before this by me, within my heart, thou hast taken this damsel as thy wife.  And since thou hast done this, thou, O Brahmana, shalt not go to heaven as thy will.’  Thus addressed by him, Narada answered him, saying, ’The husband’s heart and speech (directed thereto), (the giver’s) consent, the speeches (of both), the actual gift made by sprinkling water, and the (recital of the mantras) ordained for the seizure of the (bride’s hand),—­these have been declared to be indications by which one is constituted a husband.  Even this ceremonial is not all.  That which (above all) is essential is the walk for seven paces (by the bride in circumambulating the bridegroom).[88] Without these thy purpose (about marriage) have been unaccomplished.  Thou hast cursed.  Therefore, thou also shalt not go to heaven without me.’  Having cursed each other those two Rishis continued to live there.  Meanwhile, king Srinjaya, desirous of (obtaining) a son, began, with cleansed soul, to carefully entertain the Brahmanas, to the utmost of his power, with food and robes.  After a certain time, those foremost of Brahmanas devoted to the study of the Vedas and fully conversant with those scriptures and their branches became gratified with that monarch, desirous of getting a son.  Together they came to Narada and said unto him, ’Give this king a son of the kind he desires.’—­Thus addressed by the Brahmanas, Narada replied unto them, saying, ’So be it.’—­and then the celestial Rishi addressed Srinjaya saying, ’O royal sage, the Brahmanas have been pleased and they wish thee a son!  Solicit thou the boon, blessed