these words spoken by the monarch, the illustrious god was gratified, and smilingly said, ’We do not ourselves assist at sacrifices:  but as thou, O king, hast undergone severe penances, desirous of obtaining a boon, I will, O chastiser of foes, assist at thy sacrifice, upon, O king, this condition.’  And Rudra continued, ’If, O king of kings, thou canst, for twelve years, pour without intermission libations of clarified butter into the fire, thyself leading all the while the life of a Brahmacharin with rapt attention, then thou shalt obtain from me what thou askest.’  King Swetaki, thus addressed by Rudra, did all that he was directed to do by the wielder of the trident.  And after twelve years had elapsed, he again came unto Maheswara.  And Sankara, the Creator of the worlds upon seeing Swetaki, that excellent monarch, immediately said, in great gratification, ’I have been gratified by thee, O best of kings, with this thy own act!  But, O chastiser of foes, the duty of assisting at sacrifices properly belongeth to Brahmanas.  Therefore, O oppressor of foes, I will not myself assist at thy sacrifice today.  There is on earth an exalted Brahmana who is even a portion of my own self.  He is known by the name of Durvasa.  Even that Brahmana endued with great energy will assist you in thy sacrifice.  Let, therefore, every preparation be made.’  Hearing these words uttered by Rudra, the king, returning to his own capital, began to collect all that was necessary.  After everything had been collected, the monarch again presented himself before Rudra and said, ’Every necessary article hath been collected, and all my preparations are complete, through thy grace, O god of gods!  Let me, therefore, be installed at the sacrifice tomorrow.’  Having heard these words of that illustrious king, Rudra summoned Durvasa before him and said.  ’This, O Durvasa, is that best of monarchs called Swetaki.  At my command, O best of Brahmanas, assist even this king in his sacrifice.’  And the Rishi Durvasa said unto Rudra, ‘So be it.’  Then the sacrifice for which king Swetaki had made those preparations, took place.  And the illustrious monarch’s sacrifice was performed according to the ordinance and in proper season.  And the gifts, on that occasion, unto the Brahmanas were large.  And after that monarch’s sacrifice had come to an end, all the other priests who had come to assist at it went away with Durvasa’s leave.  All other Sadasyas also of immeasurable energy, who had been installed at that sacrifice, then went away.  That exalted monarch then entered his own palace, worshipped by exalted Brahmanas conversant with the Vedas, eulogised by chanters of panegyrical hymns and congratulated by the citizens.

“Such was the history of that best of monarchs, the royal sage Swetaki, who, when the time came, ascended to heaven, having won great renown on earth, and accompanied by the Ritwiks and the Sadasyas that had helped him in life.’