anas."

Janamejaya said, "Why did the sage Sarasvata, O thou of ascetic merit,
teach the Vedas unto the Rishis during a twelve years' drought?"

Vaishampayana continued, "In days of yore, O monarch, there was an
intelligent sage of great ascetic merit. He was celebrated by the name of
Dadhica. Possessing a complete control over his senses, he led the life
of a brahmacari. In consequence of his excessive ascetic austerities
Shakra was afflicted with a great fear. The sage could not be turned
(away from his penance) by the offer of even diverse kinds of rewards. At
last the chastiser of Paka, for tempting the sage, despatched unto him
the exceedingly beautiful and celestial apsara, by name Alambusa. Thither
where on the banks of the Sarasvati the high-souled sage was engaged in
the act of gratifying the gods, the celestial damsel named above, O
monarch, made her appearance. Beholding that damsel of beautiful limbs,
the vital seed of that ascetic of cleansed soul came out. It fell into
the Sarasvati, and the latter held it with care. Indeed, O bull among
men, the River, beholding that seed, held it in her womb. In time the
seed developed into a foetus and the great river held it so that it might
be inspired with life as a child. When the time came, the foremost of
rivers brought forth that child and then went, O lord, taking it with
her, to that rishi.

"Beholding that best of Rishis in a conclave, Sarasvati, O monarch, while
making over the child, said these words, 'O regenerate rishi, this is thy
son whom I held through devotion for thee! That seed of thine which fell
at sight of the apsara Alambusa, had been held by me in my womb, O
regenerate rishi, through devotion for thee, well knowing that that
energy of thine would never suffer destruction! Given by me, accept this
faultless child of thy own!' Thus addressed by her, the rishi accepted
the child and felt great joy. Through affection, that foremost of
Brahmanas then smelt the head of his son and held him in a close embrace,
O foremost one of Bharata's race, for some time. Gratified with the
River, the great ascetic Dadhica then gave a boon to her, saying, 'The
Vishvadevas, the Rishis, and all the tribes of the Gandharvas and the
Apsaras, will henceforth, O blessed one, derive great happiness when
oblations of thy water are presented unto them!'

"Having said so unto that great river, the sage, gratified and filled with
joy, then praised her in these words. Listen