O bull of Bharata's
race, when the prince questioned the minister, the latter told him about
the boon that was demanded by the chief of the fishermen in respect of his
daughter Gandhavati. Then Devavrata, accompanied by many Kshatriya chiefs
of venerable age, personally repaired to the chief of the fishermen and
begged of him his daughter on behalf of the king. The chief of the
fishermen received him with due adorations, and, O thou of Bharata's race,
when the prince took his seat in the court of the chief, the latter
addressed him and said, 'O bull among the Bharatas, thou art the first of
all wielders of weapons and the only son of Santanu. Thy power is great.
But I have something to tell thee. If the bride's father was Indra himself,
even then he would have to repent of rejecting such an exceedingly
honourable and desirable proposal of marriage. The great man of whose seed
this celebrated maiden named Satyavati was born, is, indeed, equal to you
in virtue. He hath spoken to me on many occasions of the virtues of thy
father and told me that, the king alone is worthy of (marrying) Satyavati.
Let me tell you that I have even rejected the solicitations of that best
of Brahmarshis--the celestial sage Asita--who, too, had often asked for
Satyavati's hand in marriage. I have only one word to say on the part of
this maiden. In the matter of the proposed marriage there is one great
objection founded on the fact of a rival in the person of a co-wife's son.
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