And it was thus also that many mighty bowmen and great car-
warriors wedded to virtue, sprung in the Kshatriya race from the seed of
Brahmanas. Hearing this, O mother, do as thou likest, as regards the
matter in hand.'"
SECTION CV
(Sambhava Parva continued)
"Bhishma, continued, 'Listen, O mother, to me as I indicate the means by
which the Bharata line may be perpetuated. Let an accomplished Brahmana be
invited by an offer of wealth, and let him raise offspring upon the wives
of Vichitravirya.'
"Vaisampayana continued, 'Satyavati, then, smiling softly and in voice
broken in bashfulness, addressed Bhishma saying, 'O Bharata of mighty arms,
what thou sayest is true. From my confidence in thee I shall now indicate
the means of perpetuating our line. Thou shall not be able to reject it,
being conversant, as thou art, with the practices permitted in seasons of
distress. In our race, thou art Virtue, and thou art Truth, and thou art,
too, our sole refuge. Therefore hearing what I say truly, do what may be
proper.
"My father was a virtuous man. For virtue's sake he had kept a (ferry)
boat. One day, in the prime of my youth, I went to ply that boat. It so
happened that the great and wise Rishi Parasara, that foremost of all
virtuous men, came, and betook himself to my boat for crossing the Yamuna.
As I was rowing him across the river, the Rishi became excited with desire
and began to address me in soft words. The fear of my father was uppermost
in my mind.
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