e famous and highly blessed maiden of faultless limbs, observing
diverse vows, underwent the severest austerities from the desire of
obtaining Utathya for her lord. After a while, Soma's father Atri,
inviting Utathya to his house, bestowed upon him the famous maiden.
Utathya, who used to give away sacrificial presents in copious measure,
duly received the girl for his wife. It so happened, however, that the
handsome Varuna had, from a long time before, coveted the girl. Coming to
the woods where Utathya dwelt, Varuna stole away the girl when she had
plunged into the Yamuna for a bath. Abducting her thus, the Lord of the
waters took her to his own abode. That mansion was of a wonderful aspect.
It was adorned with six hundred thousand lakes. There is no mansion that
can be regarded more beautiful than that palace of Varuna. It was adorned
with many palaces and by the presence of diverse tribes of Apsaras and of
diverse excellent articles of enjoyment. There, within that palace, the
Lord of waters, O king, sported with the damsel. A little while after,
the fact of the ravishment of his wife was reported to Utathya. Indeed,
having heard all the facts from Narada, Utathya addressed the celestial
Rishi, saying, "Go, O Narada, unto Varuna and speak with due severity
unto him. Ask him as to why he has abducted my wife, and, indeed, tell
him in my name that he should yield her up. Thou mayst say to him
further, 'Thou are a protector of the worlds, O Varuna, and not a
destroyer! Why then hast thou abducted Utathya's wife bestowed upon him
by Soma?'" Thus requested by Utathya, the celestial Rishi Narada repaired
to where Varuna was and addressing him, said, "Do thou set free the wife
of Utathya. Indeed, why hast thou abducted her?" Hearing these words of
Narada, Varuna replied unto him, saying, "This timid girl is exceedingly
dear to me. I dare not let her go!" Receiving this reply, Narada repaired
to Utathya and cheerlessly said, "O great ascetic, Varuna has driven me
out from his house, seizing me by the throat. He is unwilling to restore
to thee thy spouse. Do thou act as thou pleasest." Hearing these words of
Narada, Angiras became inflamed with wrath. Endued with wealth of
penances, he solidified the waters and drank them off, aided by his
energy. When all the waters were thus drunk off, the Lord of that element
became very cheerless with all his friends and kinsfolk. For all that, he
did not still give up Utathya's wife. Then U