t feeling any scruples for what had happened. From the
seed that fell, was born a son unto him, called Suka. In consequence of
his circumstance attending his birth, he came to be called by name of
Suka. Indeed, it was thus that great ascetic that foremost of Rishis and
highest of Yogins, took birth from the two sticks (his father had for
making fire). As in a sacrifice a blazing fire shed its effulgence all
around when libations of clarified butter are poured upon it, after the
same manner did Suka take his birth, blazing with effulgence in
consequence of his own energy. Assuming the excellent form and complexion
that were his sire, Suka, O son of Kuru, of cleansed Soul, shone like a
smokeless fire. The foremost of rivers, viz., Ganga, O king, coming to
the breast of Meru, in her own embodied form, bathed Suka (after his
birth) with her waters. There fell from the welkin, O son of Kuru, an
ascetic's stick and a dark deer-skin for the use, O monarch, of the
high-souled Suka. The Gandharvas sang repeatedly and the diverse tribes
of Apsaras danced; and celestial kettledrums of loud sound began to beat.
The Gandharva Viswavasu, and Tumvuru and Varada, and those other
Gandharvas called by the names of Haha, and Huhu, eulogised the birth of
Suka. There the regents of the world with Sakra at their head came, as
also the deities and the celestial and the regenerate Rishis. The
Wind-god poured showers of celestial flowers upon the spot. The entire
universe, mobile, and immobile, became filled with joy. The high-souled
Mahadeva of great effulgence, accompanied by the Goddess, and moved by
affection, came there and soon after the birth of the Muni's son invested
him with the sacred-thread. Sakra, the chief of the gods, gave him, from
affection, a celestial Kamandalu of excellent form, and some celestial
robes. Swans and Satapatras and cranes by thousands, and many parrots and
Chasas, O Bharata, wheeled over his head. Endued with great splendour and
intelligence, Suka, having obtained his birth from the two sticks,
continued to live there, engaged the while in the attentive observance of
many vows and fasts. As soon as Suka was born, the Vedas with all their
mysteries and all their abstracts, came for dwelling in him, O king, even
as they dwell in his sire. For all that, Suka selected Vrihaspati, who
was conversant with all the Vedas together with their branches and
commentaries, for his preceptor, remembering the universal
practice.