emitted by the Asura.  And, O great king, the royal Kuvalaswa, filled with Yoga force, having extinguished those flames by the water that issued from his body, consumed that Daitya of wicked prowess with the celebrated weapon called Brahma for relieving the triple world of its fears, and the royal sage Kuvalaswa, having consumed that great Asura, that foe of the celestials and slayer of all enemies, by means of that weapon became like unto a second chief of the triple world and the high-souled king Kuvalaswa having slain the the Asura Dhundhu, became from that time known by the name of Dhundhumara and from that time he came to be regarded as invincible in battle, and the gods and the great Rishis who had come to witness that encounter were so far gratified with him that they addressed him saying, ‘Ask thou a boon of us!’ And thus solicited by the gods, the king bowed to them and filled with joy, the king said unto them, with joined hands these words, ’Let me be always able to give wealth unto superior Brahmanas!  Let me be invincible as regards all foes!  Let there be friendship between myself and Vishnu!  Let me have no ill-feeling towards any creature!  Let my heart always turn to virtue!  And let me (finally) dwell in heaven for ever!’ And the gods and the Rishis and Utanka, hearing this were exceedingly gratified and all of them said, ‘Let it be as thou wishest!’ And, O king, having also blessed him with many other speeches, the gods and the great Rishis then went away to their respective abodes.  And, O Yudhishthira, after the slaughter of all his sons, king Kuvalaswa had still three sons left, and, O thou of the Bharata race, they were called Dridaswa and Kapilaswa and Chandraswa.  It is from them, O king, that the illustrious line of kings belonging to Ikshvaku’s race, all possessed of immeasurable prowess, hath sprung.

“It was thus, O best of king, that that great Daitya of the name Dhundhu, the son of Madhu and Kaitabha was slain by Kuvalaswa and it was for this also that king came to be called by the name of Dhundhumara.  And indeed, the name he assumed was no empty one but was literally true.

“I have now told thee all that thou hadst asked me, viz., all about that person in consequence of whose act the story of Dhundhu’s death hath become famous.  He that listeneth to this holy history connected with the glory of Vishnu, becometh virtuous and obtaineth children.  By listening to this story on particular lunations, one becometh blessed with long life and great good fortune.  And freed from every anxiety one ceaseth to have any fear of diseases.”

SECTION CCIV