Once, the sage Durvasas came to the capital of Kuntibhoja
He wanted to spend a few days with the king
The princess Kunti had been appointed by her father to attend to the wants of the sage
Indeed, the sage was so pleased with her that he wanted to grant her a boon
He summoned her to his presence and told her that he would teach her a certain incantation
If she recited it, any Deva whom she thought of would come to her
She received the gift with the humility becoming the daughter of a king, and Durvasas went away
The child - she was hardly a girl - did not understand what Durvasas meant when he said that
"the heavenly being whom she invoked would come to her"
She was as excited as a child with a new toy
It was early in the morning
Through the Eastern window she could see the Sun just rising
The East was drenched in the colour of liquid gold
The waters of the river were lapping against the walls of the palace
It was an unforgettable scene
The Sun and his soft beams - beams which had the coolness of the dawn -
And the beautiful river with her path glowing with the red and gold of the rising Sun
The scene touched the heart of the young girl
She lost herself in the beauty of that majestic vision
Kunti thought how wonderful it would be if the Sun could be there by her side
In a flash she remembered the mantra which the great Durvasas had taught her
Why, if she recited it the Sun would come to her
Yes, that was the way he said. He would come to her
The poor child, in blissful ignorance, held her palms together, palms that looked like a lotus bud
And invoked the Sun with the incantation she had learnt
She opened her eyes - a miracle was happening
Along the watery path of the river, the Sun's rays travelled fast
She was blinded by a sudden brilliance
And then Surya, the Sun God, stood by her side
He stood looking at her with a smile of teasing amusement
Kunti was now extremely pleased with the success of her incantation
She smiled a sweet, happy smile
"Sage Durvasas said it would work," she said
"I stood looking at you rising in the East
The scene was so beautiful and you were so beautiful that I wanted you to come here
So I recited the incantation which had taught me by the Sage. You have come - how wonderful!"
The Sun was still smiling. He said "now that I have come, what do you want me to do?"
"Why, nothing," said Kunti
"I just thought of you and imagined how wonderful it would be if you were here beside me, that is all."
"That is not all," said the Deva
"It is evident that you did not find any meaning in the words of the Sage when he taught you the incantation
He said that any God whom you invoked would come to you, is that not so?"
"Yes," said the princess, not following his words at all
"Can you not see" said the God, that it means that
The God will embrace you and give you a son
As beautiful as the God whom you have summoned."
The princess was bewildered
She did not know what to do or what to say
"I did not know it!" she said
"I had no idea that the words meant this!"
Please, forgive me this childishness!
Please, go away and save me from shame!"
"But that is impossible," said the God
"Once I am summoned by you I cannot go back until I take you
You must have me
You cannot escape the power of the mantra which you have used unthinkingly."
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