Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c9.4977

c9.4977

iii) Birth of son. Seeing this, the paternity instinct in him was aroused. He understood that love of children was merely for the sake of love, that this love was pure and simple. Moreover there is the maxim that a man without a son has no right to aspire for heaven. Sad and silent, thinking of these things he walked on unwillingly and reached the vicinity of the Himālayas. Still, he was doubtful. He began to consider about the deity, before whom he had to do penance for the fulfilment of his wish. He could not decide. As he was sitting in thought, Nārada came there. From the talk of Vyāsa, Nārada knew that childlessness was the cause of his sorrow. Nārada advised him that for the attainment of Puruṣārthas (objects of life) penance was to be done before Devī. Accepting that advice, Vyāsa went to a place near Mahāmeru to do penance.