"Heron, peacock, heavenly geese,
Charms of cuckoo like to these,
Such on earth are none to see:
Why wouldst thou a hermit be?

"'Mango, sal, and tilak grown,
Cassia , trumpet-flower full-blown,
Such on earth are none to see:
Why wouldst thou a hermit be?

"See the lakes! and wafted o'er
Scents divine on every shore:
Such on earth are none to see:
Why wouldst thou a hermit be?"

"'Not for life or sons or pelf
Do I wrestle with myself;
'Tis my craving, if I can,
To be born again as Man."

To this answer the king replied:

"Bravely drest, eyes red and bleared,
Broad-shouldered, shaven head, and beard,
Like an angel-King addressing
All the world, with sandal smeared.

"Great in might, in power divine,
Lord of all desires, incline,
Serpent-King, to rede my question--
How our world surpasses thine?"

[467] This was answered by the Serpent-King as follows:

"Comes control and cleansing when
One is in the world of men,
Only there: once man, I'll never
See nor birth nor death again."

The, king listened, and thus replied:

"Surely 'tis good to venerate the wise
In whom deep wisdom and high thoughts arise .
When thee and all these maids I behold,
I will do virtuous actions manifold."

To him the Serpent-King said:

"Surely 'tis good to venerate the wise
In whom deep wisdom and high thoughts arise.
When me and all these maids thou dost behold,
Then do thou virtuous actions manifold."

After this speech, Uggasena wished to go, and he took leave, saying, "Serpent King, I have stayed long here, and I must go." The Great Being pointed to his treasure, and offered him whatever he wished to take, saying this,

"I renounce it, gold untold,
Tree-high silver-heaps, behold!
Take and make you walls of silver,
Take and houses make of gold.

[468] "Pearls, five thousand loads, I ween,
Coral blushing in between,
Take and spread them in thy palace
Till nor earth nor dirt be seen.

"Such a mansion as I tell
Build, and there, O monarch! dwell:
Rich will be Benares city:
Rule it wisely, rule it well."

The king agreed to this suggestion. Then the Great Being sent proclamation about the city by beat of drum: "Let all the attendants of the king take what they will of my wealth, gold and fine gold!" And he sent the treasure to the king loaded in several hundred carts. After this the king left the serpent world with great pomp, and returned to Benares. From that time, they say, the ground was all golden throughout India.