गदायुद्ध पर्व — वृद्ध कन्याको कथा

Janamejaya said "Why, O Rishi did that maiden practise ascetic penances in day of yore. Why did she practise penances and what was her vow?” Matchless and mysterious is the topic that I have already heard from you. Describe particularly how that maid practised penances."

Vaishampayana said "There a highly illustrious and energetic Rishi, named Kuni-Garga. Having practised the austerest of penances, O king, that best of ascetics, created a fair browed daughter by his desire. Secing her, the celebrated ascetic Kuni-Garga was filled with joy. He renounced his body, O king and then went to heaven.

Meanwhile, that faultless and amiable and fair-browed maider, having eyes like lotus petals, continued to prectise severe and very rigid penances. She adored the Pitris and the gods with fasts.

She passed a long time in the practice of such severe penances. Though her father had been for giving her away in marriage, yet she did not wish for it, for she was no husband worthy of her.

Emaciating her body with austere penances, she began to worship the Pitris and the gods in that solitary forest.

Although engaged in such a hard task, O king and although she cmaciated herself by age and austeritics, yet she thought herself happy.

At last when she became very old and physically incapable to move even a single step without being helped by any one, she made up her mind to depart to the other world.

Seeing her about to relinquish her body, Narada said to her,"O sinless one, you cannot attain any blissful region since you have not cleansed yourself by the rite of marriage.

O you of great vows, we have heard this in heaven. Great has been your ascetic merit, but you have no claim to blissful regions.

Hearing these words of Narada, the old lady went to an assemblage of Rishis and said, 'I shall give him half my penances who will marry ine.'

After she had said these words. the Galava's son, a Rishi known by the name of Shringavai married her on on the following condition. 'On this term, O fair one, I shall marry you, viz., that you, shall live with me for only one night!' Having agreed to that term, she gave him her hand,

According to the rites, and having duly poured libations on the fire, Galava's son accepted her hand and married her.

On the night, she became a handsome young lady robed in celestial dress, decked in celestial ornaments, and smeared with celestial ungucnts and perfumes.

Sceing her beauty, Galava's son became very happy and passed one night in her company. In the morning she said to him—the agreement, O Brahmana, I had made with you, has been satisfied, O best of ascetic! Blessed be you, I shall now leave you.

After getting his permission, she once more said 'He who will with attention, pass one night in this Tirtha after having satisfied the celestials it oblations of water, shall obtain that inerit which one, observing the Vow of Brahmacharya for eight and fifty years, reaps.'

Having said these words, that chaste lady left for heaven. Her husband the Rishi, became very disspiiited by thinking of her beauty.

On account of the agreement he had made, he accepted with difficulty half her penances. Casting off his body he soon followed her, O Bharata's chief, drawn by sorrow and her beauty.

This is the illustrious history of the old maid that I have narrated. This is the account of her Brahmacharya and her sacred departure for the celestial regions.

While there, Baladeva heard of the destruction of Shalya. Having made presents to the Brahmanas there, he bewailed, O destroyer of foes, for Shalya, who had been killed by the Pandavas in battle.

Then having come out of Samantapanchaka, Baladeva enquired at of the Rishis about the results of the battle at Kurukshetra.

Asked by that Yadu's chief about the results of the battle at Kurukshetra, those great ones told him everything as it had taken place.