bull among men–Santanu. And truly there was never a king like Santanu. All the kings of the Earth, beholding bim devoted to virtue, bestowed upon that foremost of vit tuous men the title of King of kings. And all the kings of the Earth during the time of that lord-protector of the Bharata race, were without woe and fear and anxiety of any kind. And they all slept in peace. rising from bed every morning after happy dreams. And owiog to that monarch of splendid achieve. ments resembling Indra himself in energy, all the kings of the Earth became virtuous and devoted to liberality, religious acts and sacrifices. And when the Earth was ruled by Santanu and other monarchs like him, the religious merits of every order increased very greatly. The Kshattriyas served the Brahmans: the Vaisyas waited upon the Kshattriyas, and the Sudras adoring the Brahmanas and the Kshattriyas, waited upon the Vaisyas, And Santanu residing in Hastinapura, the delightful capital of the Kurus, ruled the whole Earth bounded by seas. He was truthful and guileless, and like the king of the celestials himself conversant with the dictates of virtue. And from the combination in bim of liberality, religion and asceticism. he acquired a great good fortune. He was free from anger and malice, and was handsome in person like Soma himself. In splendour he was like the Sun and in impetuosity of valour like Vayu. In wrath he was like Yama, and in patience like the Earth. And, O king, while Santanu ruled the Earth, no deer, boars, birds, or other animals were needlessly slain. In his dominions the great virtue of kindness to all creatures prevailed, and the king himself, with the soul of mercy, and void of desire and wrath, extended equal protection unto all creatures. Then sacrifices in honour of the gods, the Rishis, and Pitris commenced, and no creature was deprived of life sinfully. And Santanu was the king and father of all of those that were miserable and those that had no protectors, of birds and beasts, in fact, of every created thing, And during the rule of the best of Kurus-of that king of kings-speech became united with truth, and the minds of men were directed towards liberality and virtue. And Santanu, having enjoyed domestic felicity for six and thirty years, retired into the woods.
"And Santanu's son, the Vasu born of Ganga, named Devavrata resembled Santanu himself in personal beauty, in babits and behaviour, and in learning. And in all branches of knowledge worldly or spiritual his skill was very great. His strength and energy were extraordinary. He became a mighty cat-warrior. In fact he was a great king.
One day, while pursuing along the banks of the Ganges a deer that he had struck with his arrow, king Santanu observed that the river had become shallow. On observing this, that bull among men, viz.,
