by thee let me practise the highest virtue in this world. It is said, O king, that a wife, a slave, and a son, cam never earn wealth for themselves. That which they earn always belongeth to him who owneth them. I am, indeed, the slave of of Deva-yani. Thou art Deva-yani's master and lord. Thou art, therefore, O king, my master and lord as much as Deva-yani's. I solicit thee. O fill my wishes!'"
Vaisampayana continued, "Thus addressed by Sharmishta, the monarch was persuaded that all she spoke was true. He, therefore, honored Sharmishta by protecting her virtue. And they passed some time together. And taking an affectionate farewell of each other they then separated, each returning to whence he or she had come.
"And it came to pass that Sharmishta of sweet smiles and fair eye-brows conceived in consequence of that connection of hers with that best of monarchs. And, O king, that lotus-eyed lady then in due time brought forth a son of the splendour of a celestial child and of eyes like lotus leaves."
And thus ends the eighty-second Section in the Sambhava of the Adi Parva.
Section LXXXIII.
( Sambhava Parva continued. )
Vaisampayana said, "When Deva-yani of sweet smiles heard of the birth of this child, she became jealous, and, O Bharata, Sharmishta became an object of her unpleasant reflections. And Deva-yani repairing to her addressed her thus:—'O thou of fair eye-brows what sin is this thou hast committed by yeilding to the influence of lust?' Sharmishta replied, 'A certain Rishi of virtuous soul and fully conversant with the Vedas came to me. Capable of granting boons, he was solicited by me to grant my wishes that were based on considerations of virtue. O thou of sweet smiles, I would not seek the sinful fulfilment of my desires. I tell thee truly that this child of mine is by that Rishi. Deva-yani answered, 'It is all right if that is the case, O timid one! But if the lineage, name, and family of that Brahmana be known to thee, I should like to
