induced by my request, will, without doubt, give thee as much wealth as thou desirest.’  Thus addressed, O king, Gautama cheerfully set out from that place, eating on the way, to his fill, fruits sweet as ambrosia.  Beholding the sandal and aloe and birch trees that stood along the road, and enjoying their refreshing shade, the Brahmana proceeded quickly.  He then reached the city known by the name of Meruvraja.  It had large porches made of stone, and high walls of the same material.  It was also surrounded on every side with a trench, and large pieces of rock and engines of many kinds were kept ready on the ramparts.  He soon became known to the Rakshasa chief of great intelligence, O king, as a dear guest sent unto him by the chief’s friend (the crane).  The chief received Gautama very gladly.  The king of the Rakshasas then, O Yudhishthira, commanded his attendants, saying, ’Let Gautama be soon brought hither from the gate.’  At the command of the king, certain persons, quick as hawks, issued from the splendid palace of their ruler, and proceeding to the gate accosted Gautama.  The royal messengers, O monarch, said unto that Brahmana, ’Come quickly, the king desires to see thee.  Thou mayst have heard of the king of the Rakshasas, Virupaksha, by name, possessed of great courage.  Even he is impatient of seeing thee.  Come quickly and tarry not.’  Thus addressed, the Brahmana, forgetting his toil in his surprise, ran with the messengers.  Beholding the great affluence of the city, he became filled with wonder.  Soon he entered the king’s palace in the company of the messengers solicitous of obtaining a sight of the king of the Rakshasas.’”

SECTION CLXXI

“Bhishma said, ’Led into a spacious apartment, Gautama was introduced to the king of the Rakshasas.  Worshipped by the latter (with the usual offerings), he took his seat on an excellent seat.  The king asked him about the race of his birth and his practices, his study of the Vedas and his observance of the Brahmacharya vow.  The Brahmana, however, without answering the other queries, only stated his name and race.  The king having ascertained only the name and the race of his guest, and seeing that he was destitute of Brahmanic splendour and Vedic studies, next enquired about the country of his residence.’

“The Rakshasa said, ’Where is thy residence, O blessed one, and to what race does thy wife belong?  Tell us truly, do not fear.  Trust us without anxiety.’

“Gautama said, ’I belong by birth to the Middle country.  I live in a village of hunters.  I have married a Sudra spouse who had been a widow.  All this that I tell you is the truth.’