Verse 39
What the sage saw in the river· Verses 39–44
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39Sunk in the water of the Yamuna, doing the highest austerity, he watched the pleasure of the king of the fishes as it mated, 40and longing rose in him. The brahmin asked the king for one daughter, and the king said: Take one as you please, brahmin; a girl chooses for herself. 41He thought: I am nothing women want; I am old, and thought little of, wrinkled and grey and shaking. On that ground I have been turned away. 42I shall make myself such as even the women of the gods would want, let alone the daughters of kings among men. So the master made up his mind. 43The sage was brought in by the guard to the rich inner rooms where the girls were, and all fifty of the king's daughters, as one, chose him for their bridegroom.
44A great quarrel arose among them over him, and they put their affection for each other aside: This one suits me and not you, said they, whose thoughts had all gone to him.