Beholding him buried in contemplation, the king
became exceedingly cheerless. In great grief he began to say slowly and
softly, 'What, O celestial Rishi, is unconquerable and what is greater
than hope? O holy one, tell me this if I may hear it without impropriety.'
"The Muni said, 'A holy and great Rishi had been insulted by thy son. He
had done it through ill-luck, moved by his foolish understanding. The
Rishi had asked thy son for a golden jar and vegetable barks. Thy son
contemptuously refused to gratify the ascetic. Thus treated by thy son,
the great sage became disappointed. Thus addressed, the king worshipped
that ascetic who was worshipped by all the world. Of virtuous soul,
Viradyumna sat there, spent with fatigue even as thou, O best of men, now
art. The great Rishi, in return, offered the king according to the rites
observed by the dwellers of the forests water to wash his feet and the
usual ingredients that make up the Arghya. Then all the Rishis, O tiger
among kings, sat there, surrounding that bull among men like the stars of
the constellation of Ursa Major surrounding the Pole star. And they asked
the unvanquished king as to the cause of his arrival at that asylum.'"
SECTION CXXVIII
"The king said, 'I am a king called by the name of Viradyumna. My fame
has spread in all directions. My son Bhuridyumna hath been lost. It is in
quest of him that I have come to this forest. Ye foremost of Brahmanas,
that child was my only son and, ye sinless ones, he is of very tender
years.
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