SECTION CIII
(Sambhava Parva continued)
"Vaisampayana said, 'The unfortunate
Satyavati then became plunged in grief on account of her son. And after
performing with her daughters-in-law the funeral rites of the deceased,
consoled, as best she could, her weeping daughters-in-law and Bhishma, that
foremost of all wielders of weapons. And turning her eyes to religion, and to
the paternal and maternal lines (of the Kurus), she addressed Bhishma and said
'The funeral cake, the achievements, and the perpetuation of the line of the
virtuous and celebrated Santanu of Kuru's race, all now depend on thee. As the
attainment of heaven is inseparable from good deeds, as long life is
inseparable from truth and faith, so is virtue inseparable from thee. O
virtuous one, thou art well-acquainted, in detail and in the abstract, with the
dictates of virtue, with various Srutis, and with all the branches of the
Vedas; know very well that thou art equal unto Sukra and Angiras as regards
firmness in virtue, knowledge of the particular customs of families, and
readiness of inventions under difficulties. Therefore, O foremost of virtuous
men, relying on thee greatly, I shall appoint thee in a certain matter. Hearing
me, it behoveth thee to do my bidding. O bull among men, my son and thy
brother, endued with energy and dear unto thee, hath gone childless to heaven
while still a boy. These wives of thy brother, the amiable daughters of the
ruler of Kasi, possessing beauty and youth, have become desirous of children.
Therefore, O thou of mighty arms, at my command, raise offspring on them for
the perpetuation of our line. It behoveth thee to guard virtue against loss.
Install thyself on the throne and rule the kingdom of the Bharatas. Wed thou
duly a wife. Plunge not thy ancestors into hell.'
"Vaisampayana continued, 'Thus addressed by
his mother and friends and relatives, that oppressor of foes, the virtuous
Bhishma, gave this reply conformable to the dictates of virtue, 'O mother, what
thou sayest is certainly sanctioned by virtue. But thou knowest what my vow is
in the matter of begetting children. Thou knowest also all that transpired in
connection with thy dower. O Satyavati, I repeat the pledge I once gave, viz.,
I would renounce three worlds, the empire of heaven, anything that may be
greater than that, but truth I would never renounce. The earth may renounce its
scent, water may renounce its moisture, light may renounce its attribute of
exhibiting forms, air may renounce its attribute of touch, the sun may renounce
his glory, fire, its heat, the moon, his cooling rays, space, its capacity of
generating sound, the slayer of Vritra, his prowess, the god of justice, his
impartiality; but I cannot renounce truth.' Thus addressed by her son endued
with wealth of energy, Satyavati said unto Bhishma, 'O thou whose prowess is
truth, I know of thy firmness in truth. Thou canst, if so minded, create, by
the help of thy energy, three worlds other than those that exist. I know what
thy vow was on my account. But considering this emergency, bear thou the burden
of the duty that one oweth to his ancestors. O punisher of foes, act in such a
way that the lineal link may not be broken and our friends and relatives may
not grieve.' Thus urged by the miserable and weeping Satyavati speaking such
words inconsistent with virtue from grief at the loss of her son, Bhishma
addressed her again and said, 'O Queen, turn not thy eyes away from virtue. O,
destroy us not. Breach of truth by a Kshatriya is never applauded in our
treatises on religion. I shall soon tell thee, O Queen, what the established
Kshatriya usage is to which recourse may be had to prevent Santanu's line
becoming extinct on earth. Hearing me, reflect on what should be done in consultation
with learned priests and those that are acquainted with practices allowable in
times of emergency and distress, forgetting not at the same time what the
ordinary course of social conduct is.'"
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