doubt, weddeth the wife for offspring.  But it behoveth thee, O Rishi, to show that love to me which I have for thee.  And it behoveth thee, O regenerate one, to approach me on a bed like to that which I had in the palace of my father.  I also desire that thou shouldst be decked in garlands of flowers and other ornaments, and that I should approach thee adorned in those celestial ornaments that I like.  Otherwise, I cannot approach thee, dressed in these rags dyed in red.  Nor, O regenerate Rishi, it is sinful to wear ornaments (on such an occasion).’  Hearing these words of his wife, Agastya replied, ’O blessed girl, O thou of slender waist, I have not wealth like what thy father hath, O Lopamudra!’ She answered saying, ’Thou who art endued with wealth of asceticism, art certainly able to bring hither within a moment, by ascetic power, everything that exists in the world of men.’  Agastya said, ’It is even so as thou hast said.  That, however, would waste my ascetic merit.  O bid me do that which may not loosen my ascetic merit.’  Lopamudra then said, ’O thou endued with wealth of asceticism, my season will not last long, I do not desire, however, to approach thee otherwise.  Nor do I desire to diminish thy (ascetic) merit in any way.  It behoveth thee, however, to do as I desire, without injuring thy virtue.’

“’Agastya then said, ’O blessed girl, if this be the resolve that thou hast settled in thy heart, I will go out in quest of wealth.  Meanwhile, stay thou here as it pleaseth thee.’”

SECTION XCVIII

“Lomasa continued, ’Agastya then, O son of the Kuru race, went to king Srutarvan who was regarded as richer than other kings, to beg for wealth.  And that monarch, learning of the arrival of the pot-born Rishi on the frontiers of his kingdoms, went out with his ministers and received the holy man with respect.  And the king duly offering the Arghya in the first instance, submissively and with joined hands enquired then after the reason of the Rishi’s arrival.  And Agastya answered saying, O lord of the earth, know that I have come to thee, desirous of wealth.  Give me a portion according to thy ability and without doing injury to others.’

“Lomasa continued, ’The king, then, representing unto the Rishi the equality of his expenditure and income, said, ’O learned one, take thou from my possessions the wealth thou pleasest.’  Beholding, however, the equality of that monarch’s expenditure with income, the Rishi who always saw both sides with equal eyes, thought that if he took anything under the circumstances, his act would result in injury to creatures.  Taking, therefore, Srutarvan with him, the Rishi went to Vradhnaswa.  The latter, hearing of their arrival on his frontiers, received them duly.  And Vradhnaswa also offered them the Arghyas and water to wash their feet.  And the monarch, with their permission, then enquired after the reason of their coming.  And Agastya said, ’O lord of earth, know that we have come to thee desirous of wealth.  Give us what thou canst, without doing injury to others.’”