and the Maruts, and the Oceans, and the Rivers and the Aswins, the Deities, the Gandharvas, and Narada and Parvata and the Gandharva Viswavasu, and the Siddhas, and the Apsaras.  There Mahadeva, called also by the name of Rudra, sat, decked with an excellent garland of Karnikara flowers, and blazed with effulgence like the Moon with his rays.  In those delightful and celestial woods populous with deities and heavenly Rishis, the great Rishi remained, engaged in high Yoga-contemplation, from desire of obtaining a son.  His strength suffered no diminution, nor did he feel any pain.  At this the three worlds were much amazed.  While the Rishi, possessed of immeasurable energy, sat in Yoga, his matted locks, in con-sequence of his energy, were seen to blaze like flames of fire.  The illustrious Markandeya it was from whom I heard of this.  He used always to recite to me the acts of the deities.  It is for this that the matted locks of the high-souled and (Island-born) Krishna, thus emblazed by his energy on that occasion, seem to this day to be endued with the complexion of fire.  Gratified with such penances and such devotion, O Bharata, of the Rishi, the great God resolved (to grant him his wish).  The Three-eyed deity, smiling with pleasure, addressed him and said,—­O Island-born one, thou shalt get a son like to what thou wishest!  Possessed of greatness, he shall be as pure as Fire, as Wind, as Earth, as Water, and as Space!  He shall be possessed of the consciousness of his being Brahma’s self; his understanding and soul shall be devoted to Brahma, and he shall completely depend upon Brahma so as to be identifiable with it!’”

SECTION CCCXXV

“Bhishma said.  ’The son of Satyavati having obtained this high boon from the great God, was one day employed in rubbing his sticks for making a fire.  While thus engaged, the illustrious Rishi, O king, beheld the Apsara Ghritachi, who, in consequence of her energy, was then possessed of great beauty.  Beholding the Apsara in those woods, the illustrious Rishi Vyasa, O Yudhishthira, became suddenly smitten with desire.  The Apsara (Ghritachi), seeing the Rishi’s heart troubled by desire, transformed herself into a she-parrot and came to that spot.  Although he beheld the Apsara disguised in another form, the desire that had arisen in the Rishi’s heart (without disappearing) spread itself over every part of his body.  Summoning all his patience, the ascetic endeavoured to suppress that desire; with all his effort, however, Vyasa did not succeed in controlling his agitated mind.  In consequence of the inevitability of what was to happen, the Rishi’s heart was attracted by Ghritachi’s fair form.  He set himself more earnestly to the task of making a fire for suppressing his emotion, but in spite of all his efforts his vital seed came out.  That best of regenerate ones, however, O king, continued to rub his stick without feeling any scruples for