________________
884
The god felt a profound respect for the lady. In order to share in her joy and grief, he said,
"My dear sister. You take these 32 pills. Take one at a time whenever you please, and these 32 pills will give you 32 sons. Thus your desire will be fulfilled. This apart, if you ever stand in need of any assistance from me, please do not forget to remember me".
Sulasā accepted the pills and the god disappeared.
Sulas a thought that 32 sons would be too many for her. To brighten a childless home, one meritorious son was enough. She felt that perhaps this purpose would be served if, instead of taking the pills one by one, she took all the 32 at a time, so that she would give birth to a son possessing all the (32) qualities. So she took all the pills at a time. After some time, (when the 32 pills turned into 32 embryos), she felt a severe pain in her abdomen. She became extremely restless and found no means of getting any relief. So at last, she remembered the god who appeared before her at once. When Sulasā had narrated all that she had done with the pills, the god said to her,
"Worthy lady ! You have committed the greatest mistake. Since you have taken 32 pills at a time, you have acquired 32 embryos. Now, the position is that at appropriate time, 32 sons will be born to you; but if perchance anyone of them dies, then, all the other 31 will follow him. This is inevitable.
Sulasā - "Divine sir ! Ultimately it is Destiny that is the final arbiter of a man's life. But I was wondering if you could do something with your divine power to relieve me of my present suffering".
The god took pity on her, and by the application of his divine power, he alleviated a good part of her suffering at that very instant. At suitable time, Sulasā gaye birth to 32 sons. All the 32 were identical in features and similar in behaviour. Their loveliness, brilliance and grace attracted everybody. Henceforth, the home of char