O son of Vinata, it is said that there is no act more sinful than that of saying, ’I have nothing’—­and thus destroying the hope of one that cometh, saying, ‘Give.’  The disappointed man whose hopes have been killed and his object not accomplished, can destroy the sons and grandsons of the person that faileth to do him good.  Therefore, O Galava, take thou this daughter of mine, this perpetrator of four families.  In beauty, she resembleth a daughter of the celestials.  She is capable of prompting every virtue.  Indeed, owing to her beauty, she is always solicited (at my hands) by gods and men, and Asuras.  Let alone twice four hundred steeds each with a black ear, the kings of the earth will give away their whole kingdoms as her dower.  Take thou, therefore, this daughter of mine, named Madhavi.  My sole desire is that I may have a daughter’s son by her.  Accepting that daughter in gift, Galava then, with Garuda, went away, saying, ‘We will again see thee’.  And they took that maiden with them.  And Galava’s oviparous friend addressed him, saying, ’The means have at last been obtained whereby the steeds may be obtained.’  And saying this, Garuda went away to his own abode, having obtained Galava’s permission.  And after the prince of birds had gone, Galava, with that maiden in his company, began to think of going to some one among the kings who would be able to give (fit) dower for the maiden.  And he first thought of that best of kings, Haryyaswa of Ikshaku’s race, who ruled at Ayodhya, was endued with great energy, possessed of a large army consisting of four kinds of forces, had a well-filled treasury and abundance of corn, and who was dearly loved by his subjects, and who loved the Brahmanas well.  Desirous of offspring, he was living in quiet and peace, and engaged in excellent austerities.  And the Brahmana Galava, repairing unto Haryyaswa, said, ’This maiden, O king of kings, will increase the family of her husband by bringing forth offspring.  Accept her from me, O Haryyaswa, as thy wife, by giving me a dower.  I will tell thee what dower thou shalt have to give.  Hearing it, settle what thou shalt do.’”

SECTION CXVI

“Narada said, ’That best of monarchs, king Haryyaswa, after reflecting for a long while and breathing a long and hot sigh about the birth of a son, at last said, ’Those six limbs[16] that ought to be high are high in this maiden.  Those seven, again, that ought to be slender are slender in her.  Those three, again, which ought to be deep are deep in her.  And lastly, those five that ought to be red are red in her.  It seems that she is worth being looked at by even the gods and the Asuras, and is accomplished in all the arts and sciences.  Possessed of all auspicious signs, she will certainly bring forth many children.  She is even capable of bringing forth a son who may become an emperor.  Having regard to my wealth, tell me, O foremost of Brahmanas, what should be her dower.’  Galava said, ’Give me eight hundred steeds, born in a good country, of lunar whiteness, and each with one ear black in hue.  This auspicious and large-eyed maiden will then become the mother of thy sons, like the fire-stick becoming the genetrix of fire.’”