'"
SECTION CLVI
(Hidimva-vadha Parva continued)
"Vaisampayana said, 'Roused from sleep, those tigers among men, with their
mother, beholding the extraordinary beauty of Hidimva, were filled with
wonder. And Kunti, gazing at her with wonder at her beauty, addressed her
sweetly and gave her every assurance. She asked, 'O thou of the splendour
of a daughter of the celestials, whose art thou and who art thou? O thou
of the fairest complexion, on what business hast thou come hither and
whence hast thou come? If thou art the deity of these woods or an Apsara,
tell me all regarding thyself and also why thou stayest here?' Thereupon
Hidimva replied, 'This extensive forest that thou seest, of the hue of
blue cloud, is the abode of a Rakshasa of the name of Hidimva. O handsome
lady, know me as the sister of that chief of the Rakshasa. Revered dame, I
had been sent by that brother of mine to kill thee with all thy children.
But on arriving here at the command of that cruel brother of mine, I
beheld thy mighty son. Then, O blessed lady, I was brought under the
control of thy son by the deity of love who pervadeth the nature of every
being, and I then (mentally) chose that mighty son of thine as my husband.
I tried my best to convey you hence, but I could not (because of thy son's
opposition). Then the cannibal, seeing my delay, came hither to kill all
these thy children. But he hath been dragged hence with force by that
mighty and intelligent son of thine--my husband.
Pages:
600
601
602
603
604
605
606
607
608
609
610
611
612
613
614
615
616
617
618
619
620
621
622
623
624