03.291
Vaiśampāyana said.
But though the maiden, noble-minded, spoke sweet words in many ways, she was not able to conciliate the Sun. (03-291-1)
O King, when the girl was not able to reject the dispeller of darkness, being afraid of the curse, she then pondered for a long interval. (03-291-2)
How could the curse of my sinless father or the brāhmaṇa, caused by me, not arise from the anger of this Agni? (03-291-3)
Energies and austerities should never be closely approached—greatly, they are to be entirely avoided, even by a virtuous person or a mere child, out of delusion. (03-291-4)
Today, being she who is intensely frightened and seized tightly by the hand, how indeed should I commit such an improper act as giving myself by myself? (03-291-5)
Thus, she, frightened by the curse, was deeply contemplating at that time; her body overtaken by delusion, she kept smiling again and again. (03-291-6)
Frightened for her relatives and terrified by the curse, she addressed that god with a voice overcome by shame, O best among kings, O lord of the people. (03-291-7)
Kunti said;
O god, my father, mother and other relatives are maintained (by me); in supporting them, no omission of prescribed rule occurs by this. (03-291-8)
O lord, if there were union between you and me, devoid of proper rule, then for my sake the fame of this family in the world would therefore be destroyed. (03-291-9)
But if you think this is virtue, O best of ascetics, then without giving (anything) to your relatives, I will do your wish. (03-291-10)
Having offered myself to you, O irresistible one, I, being a chaste wife, indeed (declare): in you dwell righteousness, fame, renown, and the very life of all embodied beings. (03-291-11)
The Sun said.
Neither your father, nor your mother, nor preceptors, O pure-smiling one, can do this for you. O beautiful-hipped lady, may good befall you; listen to my words. (03-291-12)
Because the root 'kana' means 'to desire all', O beautiful lady, therefore the maiden is here considered independent, O lady of beautiful hips and excellent complexion. (03-291-13)
No unrighteous act has been done by you, O beautiful one. How, then, would I perform an unrighteous deed just for the sake of public approval? (03-291-14)
O woman of excellent complexion, all women and men are unveiled; this is considered the natural disposition of people, and another is called a deviation. (03-291-15)
She, joining with me, will be born again as a girl. And your son will be of mighty arms and great renown. (03-291-16)
Kunti said.
If a son born to me from you were to be the remover of all darkness, adorned with earrings, clad in armor, heroic, with mighty arms and great strength. (03-291-17)
The Sun said.
He will be mighty-armed, wearing earrings and divine armor. Both will be made of immortal substance for him, O auspicious one. (03-291-18)
Kunti said.
If these—the earrings and excellent armor that originate from nectar—which you will indeed obtain from me for my son, exist. (03-291-19)
Let the union take place for me, O god, as you have declared, O revered one. May he possess your strength, form, vitality, and energy, and be endowed with righteousness. (03-291-20)
The Sun said.
O queen with intoxicated eyes, these earrings of Aditi that were given to me—I will indeed give them to you, timid one, and also this excellent armor. (03-291-21)
Pṛtha said.
O supreme Lord, O god, I will unite with you if, as you say, O lord of cows, a son will be born as such. (03-291-22)
Vaiśampāyana said.
Having thus spoken, the bird—enemy of Svarbhānu, possessed of mystical power—entered Kuntī and touched her by the navel. (03-291-23)
Then, overcome by the sun's brilliance, the maiden was as if bewildered. The goddess with a confused mind fell onto the bed. (03-291-24)
The Sun said.
O beautiful-hipped lady, I will accomplish this: you will give birth to a son, who will be the best among all wielders of weapons, and you will also become the mother of a daughter. (03-291-25)
Vaiśampāyana said.
Then that ashamed girl spoke to the Sun at that moment. "So let it be," she said, O king, when the one of great splendour was about to depart. (03-291-26)
Having thus spoken, the daughter of King Kunti, bashful, begged Vivasvant; then, overcome by delusion, she fell on that holy couch, being broken like a creeper. (03-291-27)
The sun, having bewildered her with his brilliance, by union entered her own self. Yet the sun did not defile her; then the girl regained consciousness. (03-291-28)
