भगवद्यान पर्व — गालवको कथा

Narada said The son of Vinata, seeing Galava, said to him thus laughing. “It is by good luck that I see you successful here, O twice-born one".

Galava too, hearing those words spoken by the son of Vinata, informed him that a fourth part of the work yet remained to be done.

Suparna, the foremost among speakers then said to Galava. “No pains should be taken by you for this for you will not get it.

In days of old, in Kanyakubja, Richika chose the damsel Satyavati, the daughter of Gadhi, for his wife and he was thus spoken to by Gadhi.

You give me a thousand horses white as the moon and black of one ear.

Richika too saying “very-well” went to the abode of Varuna and from there obtaining the horses from the Ashvatirtha gave them to the ruler of the earth.

They were presented to the twice-born one by king Pundarika who performed a sacrificial ceremony; and of them, (the horses) the rulers of the earth (to whom you have applied) obtained two hundred each by purchase from the Brahmanas at the time.

The other four hundred, O best among the twice-born while being led across (the Vitasta river) were robbed by the river.

Such being the case, you will not beadle to obtain what is unobtainable by all means; present, therefore, this damsel as a substitute for the two hundred horses to him,

Namely, Vishvamitra, O virtuous-souled one, along with the six hundred horses; then will you be beyond the reach of grief and your desire will be successful, o best among the twice the twice born."

Galava then saying to him “very well” along with Suparna, taking the horses and the maiden with him, went to Vishvamitra and said.

"Of the horses asked for by you there are six hundred here and this damsel is a substitute for the other two hundred. Let these be accepted by you.

On her by Rishis of royal descent three virtuous sons have been begotten; you too beget the fourth who will be the best among mankind.

Then will you get the full complement of eight hundred horses asked for by you and I too, after having paid off my debt, shall perform asceticism as I please.

Vishvamitra, seeing Galava along with the bird and also that girl with beautiful hips, said these words.

"Why was not this girl presented to me beforehand, OGalava? Then would all the four sons have been mine, every one of whom would have perpetuated a dynasty.

I shall accept this girl from you to beget on her one son and let the horses having been taken to my hermitage roam about at their will in all directions.

Vishvamitra, of great effulgence, then roaming and sporting with her, Madhvi brought forth a male child named Ashtaka.

At the moment he was born, the great Muni Vishvamitra instructed him in both virtue and worldly good and presented to him those horses.

Then did Ashtaka go to the city which was like the city of the moon and the son of Kushika (Vishvamitra) too went to the woods after having returned the damsel to his disciple.

Galava too, along with Suparna, was light of heart having succeeded in making the final present he had promised, and said this to the girl.

"By you has been brought forth a son who is the foremost among the givers of wealth, a second one who is a great hero, another who is ever attached to virtue and another who is ever attached to virtue and truth and the fourth who is a great performer of sacrificial ceremonies.

Therefore do you come, O you of beautiful hips, your father has obtained salvation by your sons and also the four kings (their fathers) and so also have been I, O you of slender waist."

Galava, then having permitted Suparna who subsisted on serpents to go away and returning the damsel to his father, went to the forest.