Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c9.4972

c9.4972

Once the hermit Parāśara came by that way to go to the other side of the river. At that time, the fisherman who has been taking people across the river, was sitting on the bank of the river and having his meals. As soon as Parāśara came, the innocent fisherman—the foster-father of Matsyagandhā—called her, who was standing close by and asked her to take the hermit across the river. The hermit got into the boat. Matsyagandhā began to row the boat. The beauty of the damsel sitting in front of him and the little waves of the river, combined together had the effect of arousing passion in the hermit. He became sexually excited and sat close to her. Discerning his intention she moved away from him and prayed to him humbly not to violate her chastity. She repeated her prayer. The hermit Parāśara created an artificial fog around the boat. The smell of fish was gone from her and the fragrance of Musk took its place. The hermit created an artificial island in the middle of the river. They got down on the island and acted a love drama. She became pregnant. Parāśara said to her. “Beautiful girl! Even after your confinement you shall remain a virgin. A son, who will be a portion of Viṣṇu, a man of purity, famous throughout the three worlds, highly learned, the teacher-priest of the whole world, shall be born to you. He will divide the Vedas and will be exalted by the people of the world.”