They shall then be purified. No women shall ever approach me
without having observed a rigid vow.'
"Satyavati then said, 'O sinless one, it must be as thou sayest. Take such
steps that the ladies may conceive immediately. In a kingdom where there
is no king, the people perish from want of protection; sacrifices and
other holy acts are suspended; the clouds send no showers; and the gods
disappear. How can a kingdom be protected that hath no king? Therefore,
see thou that the ladies conceive. Bhishma will watch over the children as
long as they are in their mother's wombs.
"Vyasa replied, 'If I am to give unto my brother children so unseasonably,
then let the ladies bear my ugliness. That in itself shall, in their case,
be the austerest of penances. If the princess of Kosala can bear my strong
odour, my ugly and grim visage, my attire and body, she shall then
conceive an excellent child.'"
"Vaisampayana continued, 'Having spoken thus unto Satyavati, Vyasa of
great energy addressed her and said, 'Let the princess of Kosala clad in
clean attire and checked with ornaments wait for me in her bed-chamber.'
Saying this, the Rishi disappeared, Satyavati then went to her daughter-in-
law and seeing her in private spoke to her these words of beneficial and
virtuous import, 'O princess of Kosala, listen to what I say. It is
consistent with virtue. The dynasty of the Bharatas hath become extinct
from my misfortune. Beholding my affliction and the extinction of his
paternal line, the wise Bhishma, impelled also by the desire of
perpetuating our race, hath made me a suggestion, which suggestion,
however, for its accomplishment is dependent on thee.
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