to accept the same. Having welcomed and honoured
the learned Brahmana in this way, the king once more
addressed him and said, ’We two await thy orders!
Command us what we are to do for thee, O holy one!
If it is our kingdom or wealth or kine, O thou of
rigid vows, or all articles that are given away in
sacrifices, which thou wantest, tell us the word, and
we shall bestow all upon thee! This palace, the
kingdom, this seat of justice, await thy pleasure.
Thou art the lord of all these! Do thou rule
the earth! As regards myself, I am completely
dependent upon thee.’ Addressed in these
words by the king, Chyavana of Bhrigu’s race,
filled with great delight, said unto Kusika these
words in reply.’
“Chyavana said, ’I do not, O king, covet
thy kingdom, nor thy wealth, nor the damsels thou
hast, nor thy kine, nor thy provinces, nor articles
needed for sacrifice. Do thou listen to me.
If it pleases thee and thy wife, I shall commence
to observe a certain vow. I desire thee and thy
wife to serve me during that period without any scruples.
Thus addressed by the Rishi, the king and the queen
became filled with joy, O Bharata, and answered him,
saving, ‘Be it so, O Rishi!’ Delighted
with the Rishi’s words, the king led him into
an apartment of the palace. It was an excellent
one, agreeable to see. The king showed him everything
in that room. And the king said. ’This,
O holy one, is thy bed. Do thou live here as
thou pleasest! O thou that art endued with wealth
of asceticism, myself and my queen shall strive our
best to give thee every comfort and every pleasure.’
While they were thus conversing with each other, the
sun passed the meridian. The Rishi commanded
the king to bring him food and drink, King Kusika,
bowing unto the Rishi, asked him, saying, ’What
kind of food is agreeable to thee? What food,
indeed, shall be brought for thee?’ Filled with
delight, the Rishi answered that rule of men, O Bharata,
saying, ‘Let food that is proper be given to
me.’ Receiving these words with respect,
the king said, ‘So be it!’ and then offered
unto the Rishi food of the proper kind. Having
finished his meals, the holy Chyavana, conversant
with every duty, addressed the king and the queen,
saying, ’I desire to slumber. O puissant
one, sleep hinders me now.’ Proceeding
thence to a chamber that had been prepared for him,
that best of Rishis then laid himself down upon a
bed. The king and the queen sat themselves down.
The Rishi said to them, ’Do not, while I sleep,
awake me. Do ye keep yourselves awake and continually
press my feet as long as I sleep.’ Without
the least scruple, Kusika, conversant with every duty,
said, ‘So be it!’ Indeed, the king and
the queen kept themselves awake all night, duly engaged
in tending and serving the Rishi in the manner directed.
The royal couple, O monarch accomplished the Rishi’s
bidding with earnestness and attention. Meanwhile
the holy Brahmana, having thus laid his commands upon
the king, slept soundly, without changing his posture
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