that best of ascetics, these words, ‘Teach us, O sage!’ Unto them the ascetic replied, saying, ’Become ye my disciples duly!’ The conclave of ascetics answered, ’O son, thou art too young in years!’ Thereupon he answered the ascetics, ’I must act in such a way that my religious merit may not suffer a diminution!  He that teaches improperly, and he that learns improperly, are both lost in no time and come to hate each other!  It is not upon years, or decrepitude, or wealth, or the number of kinsmen, that rishis found their claim to merit!  He amongst us is great who is capable of reading and understanding the Vedas!’

Hearing these words of his, those munis duly became his disciples and obtaining from him their Vedas, once more began to praise their rites. 60,000 munis became disciples of the regenerate rishi Sarasvata for the sake of acquiring their Vedas from him.  Owning obedience to that agreeable rishi, though a boy, the munis each brought a handful of grass and offered it to him for his seat.  The mighty son of Rohini, and elder brother of Keshava, having given away wealth in that tirtha, then joyfully proceeded to another place where lived (in days of yore) an old lady without having passed through the ceremony of marriage.”

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Janamejaya said, “Why, O regenerate one, did that maiden betake herself to ascetic penances, in days of old?  For what reason did she practise penances, and what was her vow?  Unrivalled and fraught with mystery is the discourse that I have already heard from thee!  Tell me (now) all the particulars in detail regarding how that maid engaged herself in penances.”

Vaishampayana said, “There was a rishi of abundant energy and great fame, named Kuni-Garga.  That foremost of ascetics, having practised the austerest of penances, O king, created a fair-browed daughter by a fiat of his will.  Beholding her, the celebrated ascetic Kuni-Garga became filled with joy.  He abandoned his body, O king, and then went to heaven.  That faultless and amiable and fair-browed maiden, meanwhile, of eyes like lotus petals continued to practise severe and very rigid penances.  She worshipped the pitris and the gods with fasts.  In the practice of such severe penances a long period elapsed.  Though her sire had been for giving her away to a husband, she yet did not wish for marriage, for she did not see a husband that could be worthy of her.

Continuing to emaciate her body with austere penances, she devoted herself to the worship of the pitris and the gods in that solitary forest.  Although engaged in such toil, O monarch, and although she emaciated herself by age and austerities, yet she regarded herself happy.  At last when she (became very old so that she) could no longer move even a single step without being aided by somebody, she set her heart upon departing for the other world.

Beholding her about to cast off her body, Narada said unto her, ’O sinless one, thou hast no regions of blessedness to obtain in consequence of thy not having cleansed thyself by rite of marriage!  O thou of great vows, we have heard this in heaven!  Great hath been thy ascetic austerities, but thou hast no claim to regions of blessedness!’