r's abode after having visited various sacred regions
and asylums. And beholding her father seated with Narada, she worshipped
the feet of both by bending down her head. And Narada then said,
"Whither had this thy daughter gone? And, O king, whence also doth she
come? Why also dost thou not bestow her on a husband, now that she hath
arrived at the age of puberty?" Aswapati answered, saying, "Surely it
was on this very business that she had been sent, and she returneth now
(from her search). Do thou, O celestial sage, listen, even from her as
to the husband she hath chosen herself!"'

"Markandeya continued, 'Then the blessed maid, commanded by her father
with the words,--_Relate everything in detail_,--regarded those words of
her sire as if they were those of a god, and spoke unto him thus, "There
was, amongst the Salwas, a virtuous Kshatriya king known by the name of
Dyumatsena. And it came to pass that in course of time he became blind.
And that blind king possessed of wisdom had an only son. And it so
happened that an old enemy dwelling in the vicinity, taking advantage of
the king's mishap, deprived him of his kingdom. And thereupon the
monarch, accompanied by his wife bearing a child on her breast, went
into the woods. And having retired into the forests, he adopted great
vows and began to practise ascetic austerities. And his son, born in the
city, began to grow in the hermitage. That youth, fit to be my husband,
I have accepted in my heart for my lord!" At these words of hers, Narada
said, "Alas, O king, Savitri hath committed a great wrong, since, not
knowing, she hath accepted for her lord this Satyavan of excellent
qualities! His father speaketh the truth and his mother also is truthful
in her speech. And it is for this that the Brahmanas have named the son
_Satyavan_. In his childhood he took great delight in horses, and used
to make horses of clay. And he used also to draw pictures of horses. And
for this that youth is sometimes called by the name of _Chitraswa_." The
king then asked, "And is prince Satyavan, who is devoted to his father,
endued with energy and intelligence and forgiveness and courage?" Narada
replied, saying, "In energy Satyavan is like unto the sun, and in wisdom
like unto Vrihaspati! And he is brave like unto the lord of the
celestials and forgiving like unto the Earth herself!" Aswapati then
said, "And is the prince Satyavan liberal in gifts and devoted to the
Brahmanas? Is he handsome and