through many delightful gardens and planes and many sacred waters.  Before much time had passed he reached the country of the Videhas that was protected by the virtuous and high-souled Janaka.  There he beheld many populous villages, and many kinds of food and drink and viands and habitations of cowherds swelling with men and many herds of cattle.  He beheld many fields abounding with paddy and barley and other grain, and many lakes and waters inhabited by swans and cranes and adorned with beautiful lotuses.  Passing through the Videha country teeming with well-to-do people, he arrived at the delightful gardens of Mithila rich with many species of trees.  Abounding with elephants and horses and cars, and peopled by men and women, he passed through them without waiting to observe any of the things that were presented to his eye.  Bearing that burthen in his mind and ceaselessly dwelling upon it (viz., the desire of mastering the religion of Emancipation), Suka of cheerful soul and taking delight in internal survey only, reached Mithila at last.  Arrived at the gate, he sent word through the keepers.  Endued with tranquillity of mind, devoted to contemplation and Yoga, he entered the city, having obtained permission.  Proceeding along the principal street abounding with well-to-do men, he reached the king’s palace and entered it without any scruples.  The porters forbade him with rough words.  Thereat, Suka, without any anger, stopped and waited.  Neither the sun nor the long distance he had walked had fatigued him in the least.  Neither hunger, nor thirst, nor the exertion he had made, had weakened him.  The heat of the Sun had not scorched or pained or distressed him in any degree.  Among those porters there was one who felt compassion for him, beholding him staying there like the midday Sun in his effulgence.  Worshipping him in due form and saluting him properly, with joined hands he led him to the first chamber of the palace.  Seated there, Suka, O son, began to think of Emancipation only.  Possessed of equable splendour he looked with an equal eye upon a shaded spot and one exposed to the Sun’s rays.  Very soon after, the king’s minister, coming to that place with joined hands, led him to the second chamber of the palace.  That chamber led to a spacious garden which formed a portion of the inner apartments of the palace.  It looked like a second Chaitraratha.  Beautiful pieces of water occurred here and there at regular intervals.  Delightful trees, all of which were in their flowering season, stood in that garden.  Bevies of damsels, of transcendent beauty, were in attendance.  The minister led Suka from the second chamber to that delightful spot.  Ordering those damsels to give the ascetic a seat, the minister left him there.  Those well-dressed damsels were of beautiful features, possessed of excellent hips, young in years, clad in red robes of fine texture, and decked with many ornaments of burnished gold.  They were well-skilled in agreeable conversation and