Righteously protecting his subjects as though they were his own sons, always delighting in Ksattriya duties, and punishing the guilty.

20-21. Once, that powerful king, with his army, went hunting. He entered a thick forest, full of various kinds of trees,

Crowded with various species of animals, and resounding with the cries of various birds. In the midst of the forest the king saw a deer in the distance.

22. The deer, severely wounded by his very hard arrow, ran out of sight into the interior of the forest, carrying the arrow with him.

23. The king, following the blood-stains on the grass, pursued the deer and came into another forest.

24. That leader of men, hungry and with parched throat, fainting with the heat and with fatigue, coming to a lake bathed in it with his horse.

25-27. Then, having drunk of that cool water, rendered fragrant by the-pollen of the lotus, Babhruvahana came out of the water refreshed,

And saw a delightful fig-tree, giving cool shade with its large spreading boughs, sounding with many birds,

And standing like a big standard over the whole forest. The king approached and sat at its root.

28. Now he beheld a Departed One, of terrible appearance, humpbacked and fleshless, with hair erect, dirty, and with senses discomposed by hunger and thirst.

29-31. Seeing him deformed and dreadful Babhruvahana wondered. The Departed One, also seeing the king who had come to that dreadful forest,

And becoming filled with curiosity, came near to him. Then, O Tarksya, this king of the Departed spoke thus to the king:

"I have escaped the condition of the Departed and reached the highest condition, by being in touch with you, O Great-Armed one,--I am highly blessed."

32-33. The king said: "O Black-complexioned and Gaping-mouthed, by what bad deeds did you reach this state of the Departed, dreadful to see, and highly unhappy?"

"Tell me in detail the cause of your condition, dear. Who are you, and by what gifts will your condition as Departed pass away?"

34-38. The Departed one said: "I will tell you everything from the beginning, O Best of Kings. You will surely have compassion upon me when you have heard the cause of my condition as Departed,

"There is a town named Vaidas'a, possessed of all prosperity, having many districts, and abounding in precious stones of various kinds,

"Beautiful with palaces and mansions, and in which many religious acts are performed. There, O Reverend Sir, I dwelt, always engaged in worship of the Shining Ones.

"By caste I am a Vaishya, by name Sudeva, please know. By fire-offering I pleased the Shining Ones, and likewise the forefathers by food.

"I gladdened the twice-born by offering various gifts. I gave food of various kinds to the poor, the blind and the wretched.