67.15

every tree, and yet other gifts and provisions besides. Those who know the myths of old sing that all that wise Ranti·deva owned was gold. Men said that Ranti·deva’s treasuries dwarfed even Kubera’s. Could such enormous and awesome wealth be found in the vaults of Vasv·okasara? Any guest who stayed with Ranti·deva at the palace of Sankriti left with herds of cattle, one for every night he had been there. With polished jewels glinting in their ears the cooks would bring a guest rich broths to drink rather than the dry meat that he had known elsewhere.

Whatever things of worth that Ranti·deva possessed he gave to the brahmins in sacrifice. The gods came and received their share, the departed fathers took theirs and in the fullness of time the best of the twiceborn had all that they desired from him.

67.20

O Srinjaya, if even Ranti·deva had to die and he four times more blessed than you and more pious than your son then I say to you do not suffer for your child. Cry not the name of one whose life was so miserly and so profane.

narada spoke:

68.1

O Srinjaya. We hear of a king now gone called Bharata son of Dushyanta whose deeds as a child in the wilderness were like to none. Snowwhite leopards snapped and swiped but were no match for his might and without even a struggle he laid them low and bound them. Crueler and more savage still were the striped tigers red as orpiment under bands of lac. He turned them into pets. He found other beasts of prey, elephants with great curling trunks, and with wild force took them in his jaws until they gasped and lay ________