“Vaisampayana continued, ’Having said these words, the illustrious Vasudeva began his discourse on the attributes of the high-souled Mahadeva endued with the highest intelligence, after having purified himself by touching water.”

“Vasudeva said, ’Hear, ye foremost of Brahmana’s and thou Yudhishthira also, O sire, and hear thou too, O Ganga’s son, the names that are applied unto Kaparddin.  Hear ye, how in former days, I obtained a sight, so difficult to obtain, (of that great god), for the sake of Samva.  Verily, in those days was the illustrious deity seen by me in consequence of Yoga-abstraction.[36] After twelve years had expired from the time when Pradyumna, the son of Rukmini, who is endued with great intelligence, slew the Asura Samvara in days of yore, my spouse Jamvavati addressed me.  Indeed, beholding Pradyumna and Charudeshna and other sons born of Rukmini, Jamvavati, desirous of a son, said these words unto me, O Yudhishthira,—­Grant me, O thou of unfading glory, a son endued with heroism, the foremost of mighty men, possessed of the most agreeable features, sinless in conduct, and like unto thyself.  And O, let there be no delay on thy part in granting this prayer of mine.  There is nothing in the three worlds that is unattainable by thee, O perpetuator of Yadu’s race, thou canst create other worlds if only thou wishest it.  Observing a vow for twelve years and purifying thyself, thou hadst adored the Lord of all creatures (viz., Mahadeva) and then begot upon Rukmini the sons that she has obtained from thee, viz., Charudeshna and Sucharu and Charuvesa and Yasodhana and Charusravas and Charuyasas and Pradyumna and Sambhu.  O slayer of Madhu, do thou grant to me a son like unto those of great powers whom thou hast begotten upon Rukmini?—­Thus addressed by the princess, I replied unto her of slender waist,—­Let me have thy permission (to leave thee for some time), O queen.  I shall certainly obey thy behest.  She answered me, saying,—­Go, and may success and prosperity always attend thee.  Let Brahma and Siva and Kasyapa, the Rivers, those deities that preside over the mind, the soil, all deciduous herbs, those Chhandas (Rhymes) that are regarded as bearers of the libations poured in sacrifices, the Rishis, Earth, the Oceans, the sacrificial presents, those syllables that are uttered for completing the cadences of Samans, the Rikshas, the Pitris, the Planets, the spouses of the deities, the celestial maidens, the celestial mothers, the great cycles, kine, Chandramas, Savitri, Agni, Savitri, the knowledge of the Vedas, the seasons, the year, small and big divisions of time, e.g., the Kshanas, the Labas, the Muhurtas, the Nimeshas, and the Yugas in succession, protect thee, O Yadava, and keep thee in happiness, wherever thou mayst stay.  Let no danger overtake thee on thy way, and let no heedlessness be thine, O sinless one.—­Thus blessed by her, I took her leave, bidding farewell unto the daughter of the prince of