penance-practising monarch was fatigued and oppressed with hunger. Ignorant of my vow (of silence) he did this. A kingless country always suffereth from evils. The king punisheth offenders, and fear of punishments conduceth to peace; and people do their duties and perform their rites undisturbed. The king establisheth religion (Dharma) and religion establisheth the kingdom of heaven. The king protecteth sacrifices from annoyance, and sacrifices please the gods. The gods cause rain, and rain produceth medicinal herbs, which are always useful to man. Manu sayeth, a ruler of the destinies of men is equal (in dignity) to ten veda-studying priests. Fatigued and oppressed with hunger, that penance-practicing prince hath done this through ignorance of my vow. Why then hast thou rashly done this unrighteous action, through childishness? O son, in no ways doth the king deserve a curse from us.'"
And so ends the forty-first Section in the Astika of the Adi Parva.
Section XLII.
(Astika Parva continued.)
Sauti said, "And Sringi then replied to his father, saying, 'Whether this be an act of rashness, O father, or an improper act that I have done, whether thou likest it or dislikest it, the words spoken by me shall never be vain. O father, I tell thee, this (curse) can never be otherwise. I have never spoken a lie even in jest.'
"And Shamika said, 'Dear child, I know that thou art of great prowess, and truthful in speech. Thou hast never spoken a falsehood before, so that thy curse shall never be falsified. The son, even when he attaineth to age, should yet be always counselled by the father, so that crowned with good qualities he may acquire great renown. A child as thou art, how much more dost thou stand in need of counsel? Thou art ever engaged in ascetic penances. The wrath of even the illustrious ones possessing the six attributes increaseth greatly. O thou foremost of ordinance-observing persons, seeing that thou art
