1875.] Ram Narayan — Translation of the Ayodh/a-Mahatmya. 149 



raj, the Muni was sorry, thought it improper to ask him for anything, and 

 very unreasonable to put a man of such liberality to shame. He gently ad- 

 dressed the Maharaja and said, " O Raja, you have given all, it is useless for 

 me to tell you what I have promised to pay my spiritual guide. What do 

 you say to this ?" Hearing this, Maharaja Raghu became thoughtful, and 

 requested the Muni with folded hands, to stop a day at his house, so that 

 he might make some arrangement. The Muni did as requested. Raghu 

 thought that as all the Rajas had paid their tribute, it was not right to 

 exact more from them ; he might therefore take something from Kuvera 

 who had inexhaustible treasures. Accordingly he went to him. Kuvera, 

 hearing of this through his messengers, was happy, and showered down 

 gold in such quantities, that a mine of gold was formed. The messengers 

 then went to the Maharaja and reported to him what had been done, upon 

 which he was pleased, showed the Muni the mine, and told him to take 

 all the gold that was in it. The Muni took as much as he required, and 

 left the remainder. Kauto then said, " O Raja, you shall get a son who 

 will increase the influence and dignity of your family ; this Suvarna-khanah 

 will be the bestower of every one's wishes. Bathing and giving alms here 

 will bestow riches upon men. The pilgrimage is to be performed on the 12th 

 day of the lunar half of Baisakh, and those who perform it will gain numer- 

 ous advantages. A pilgrimage to it on the tenth day of the lunar half of 

 Kartika will also bestow great blessings upon them. Having given this pro- 

 mise, the Muni went away. After this, the Raja went to the house of the 

 spiritual guide, and, to obtain his wishes, distributed among the Brahmans 

 the o-old that was left, and continued to protect his subjects. Goddess, 

 thus did the mine derive its dignity from the Muni's boon." 



Parvati asked to tell her the cause why the spiritual guide had become 

 so anory with Kauto Muni as to demand so large a fee from him. Maha- 

 deva said, " O goddess, listen to what I am about to relate. Vis'va- 

 mitra Muni is a sage, and knows the past, the future, and the present. Once 

 he performed a great devotion at his house, when Durbasa Muni came to 

 him. He was very hungry and called out, " Muni, I am hungry, give 

 me something to eat, I want rice-milk." Vis'vamitra immediately brought 

 a hot vessel full of rice-milk. Seeing him come with it, Durbasa asked him 

 1b o-entle terms to hold it till he had bathed. Having said this, Durbasa 

 -vent home, and Vis'vamitra, without feeling angry, stood firm like a peg, 

 with the vessel in his hand for a thousand years, during which Kauto Muni 

 remained in his service. At the expiration of the said period, Durbasa 

 returned, found both happy, ate the rice-milk, and went home satisfied and 

 praisino 1 them. Then VisVamitra, pleased with the services of Kauto 

 Muni, taught him all the sciences and told him to go home. Kauto Muni 

 requested Vis'vamitra to ask a fee; but he answered that his services, 



