03.293
Vaiśampāyana said.
But at that very time, Adhiratha the charioteer, friend of Dhṛtarāṣṭra, indeed went to the Jāhnavī river with his wife. (03-293-1)
His wife, O king, was Rādhā, who was unrivaled in beauty on earth and highly fortunate, but she did not have a son. She made considerable effort, especially, for the sake of having a child. (03-293-2)
She then saw a box that, carried by the waves of the Ganges, had been brought to the bank by chance, adorned with a protective amulet, bracelet, and other ornaments. (03-293-3)
She, driven by curiosity, had her presented to the radiant one, and then she caused it to be reported to Sūta Adhiratha. (03-293-4)
He lifted up that box, removed the water nearby, and using devices began to open it. There he saw a child. (03-293-5)
He, resembling a youthful sun, wearing golden armor, and shining with a face adorned with polished earrings, also (stood there). (03-293-6)
He, the charioteer, along with his wife, his eyes widened in amazement, placed the child on his lap and spoke words to his wife. (03-293-7)
O timid one, this is very wonderful; because I have been born, O radiant lady, this divine being has seen (me); I think he has approached us. (03-293-8)
He is the son granted by the gods to the sonless, undoubtedly my own. Saying this, he gave the child to Rādhā, O king. (03-293-9)
Rādhā accepted him as her son according to the proper rite; he was of divine form, lotus-hued, of divine origin, and surrounded by beauty. (03-293-10)
He nourished him as prescribed, and he grew up strong. From then on, other sons born from his own lineage were also born. (03-293-11)
Having seen that boy adorned with Vasu's armor and golden earrings, the twice-born then named him 'Vasuṣeṇa'. (03-293-12)
Thus, he of immeasurable prowess assumed the status of a charioteer's son; he became known as Vasuṣeṇa, and also simply as Vṛṣa, the lord. (03-293-13)
He, the eldest son of the charioteer, grew up powerfully in the kingdom of Aṅga. Through espionage, it became known that he was the one bearing the divine armor of Pṛthā. (03-293-14)
But the charioteer Adhiratha, seeing that his son had grown, then at the appointed time sent him to the city of Vāraṇasāhvaya (Varanasi). (03-293-15)
There, he attended to Droṇa in the practice of archery, and thus, through Duryodhana, he gained friendship, and he was powerful. (03-293-16)
Having obtained the four kinds of missile-weapons from Droṇa, Kṛpa, and Rāma, he became famous in the world, attaining the supreme skill in archery. (03-293-17)
Having made an alliance with Dhṛtarāṣṭra's son, having taken a hostile stand against the sons of Pṛthā, he constantly wishes to fight with the noble-souled Phalguna (Arjuna). (03-293-18)
O lord of men, there was always rivalry felt by him toward Arjuna; and by Arjuna toward Karṇa, because thus he was regarded. (03-293-19)
But seeing him adorned with earrings and armor, and realizing that he was invulnerable in battle, Yudhiṣṭhira became troubled. (03-293-20)
O King, when Karṇa, standing in water with hands joined in reverence, praises the radiant sun at midday, (this happens). (03-293-21)
There, brāhmaṇas motivated by wealth approach him. At that time, there is nothing to be given by him among the twice-born. (03-293-22)
Indra, having assumed the form of a brāhmaṇa, approached him saying 'Give alms.' The son of Radha then addressed him, saying 'Welcome.' (03-293-23)
