03.127
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
O best among speakers, I wish to truly hear of what prowess the king Somaka was, and his deeds and power. (03-127-1)
Lomaśa said;
Yudhiṣṭhira, a righteous king named Somaka, had at that time a hundred wives, all of equal status, O king. (03-127-2)
He indeed, even with great effort and over a long period of time, the king did not obtain any son among them. (03-127-3)
Once, to that old man who was earnestly striving, a son named 'Jantu' was born to him, among a hundred wives. (03-127-4)
When he was born, all the mothers sat around him, keeping desires and pleasures always at the back, O lord of men. (03-127-5)
Then, an ant bit the boy at some point on his buttock. Bitten, the boy cried out in pain, O king. (03-127-6)
Then all the mothers, deeply aggrieved, cried out together as they surrounded the creature; their uproar became tumultuous. (03-127-7)
The king, while seated with the priests in the midst of his ministers, suddenly heard that cry of distress. (03-127-8)
Then the king sent someone to ask, 'What is this?' and to him, the chamberlain explained all that had happened concerning the son. (03-127-9)
Being hasty, Somaka rose up with his ministers; after entering the inner apartments, the subduer of foes consoled his son. (03-127-10)
But having consoled his son, when the king had come out of the inner chambers, he sat down with the priests and his ministers. (03-127-11)
Somaka said.
Let having only one son be condemned here; having no son at all is better. Because, due to the constant distress of living beings, having only one son is indeed nothing but sorrow. (03-127-12)
O Brahman, I, desiring a son, have married this hundred wives after careful selection, O lord, but none of them has produced offspring. (03-127-13)
This single son, somehow born—this being of mine— what greater pain is there than this for one who strives in every way? (03-127-14)
O best of the twice-born, my age together with that of my wife has completely passed. The lives of these women and mine are dependent here on this only son. (03-127-15)
There may indeed be such a deed, properly performed, by which one may obtain a hundred sons; whether by a great deed, or by a small one, or even by a difficult deed. (03-127-16)
The priest said.
There is indeed such a way by which you may have a hundred sons; if you are capable of doing that, then I will tell you, O Somaka. (03-127-17)
Somaka said.
Whether it is an act that should or should not be done, by which a hundred sons might result, consider that as already accomplished; O revered one, let (him) declare that to me. (03-127-18)
The priest said.
O king, perform the sacrifice with this being performed by me. Then, very soon, a hundred illustrious sons will be born to you. (03-127-19)
When the offering is being made, after the mothers have smelled the smoke, they will then give birth to your very powerful sons. (03-127-20)
But in her, a son, your offspring, will be born again; on his northern side there will be a golden mark. (03-127-21)
