home and thou understandest nothing."
Virochana said, "Staking all the gold, kine, horses, and every other kind
of wealth that we have among the Asuras, let us, O Sudhanwan, ask them
this question that are able to answer." Sudhanwan said,"'Let alone your
gold, kine, and heroes, O Virochana. Making our lives forfeited, we will
ask them this question that are competent." Virochana said, "Wagering our
lives where shall we go? I will not appear before any of the gods and
never before any among men." Sudhanwan said, "Having wagered our lives,
we will approach thy father, for he, Prahlada, will never say an untruth
even for the sake of his son."

"Vidura continued, 'Having thus laid a wager, Virochana and Sudhanwan,
both moved by rage, proceeded to that place where Prahlada was. And
beholding them together, Prahlada said, "These two who had never before
been companions, are now seen together coming hither by the same road,
like two angry snakes. Have ye now become companions,--ye who were never
companions before? I ask thee, O Virochana, has there been friendship
between thee and Sudhanwan?" Virochana said, "There is no friendship
between me and Sudhanwan. On the other hand, we have both wagered our
lives. O chief of the Asuras, I shall ask thee a question, do not answer
it untruly!" Prahlada said, "Let water, and honey and curds, be brought
for Sudhanwan. Thou deservest our worship, O Brahmana. A white and fat
cow is ready for thee." Sudhanwan said, "Water and honey and curds, have
been presented to me on my way hither. I shall ask thee a question,
Prahlada, answer it truly! are Brahmanas superior, or is Virochana
superior?" Prahlada said, "O Brahmana, this one is my only son. Thou also
art present here in person. How can one like us answer a question about
which ye two have quarrelled?" Sudhanwan said, "Give unto thy son thy kine
and other precious wealth that thou mayst have, but, O wise one, thou
shouldst declare the truth when we two are disputing about it." Prahlada
said, "How doth that misuser of his tongue suffer, O Sudhanwan, who
answereth not truly but falsely, a question that is put to him? I ask
thee this." Sudhanwan said, "The person that misuseth his tongue suffers
like the deserted wife, who pineth, at night, beholding her husband
sleeping in the arms of a co-wife; like a person who hath lost at dice,
or who is weighed down with an unbearable load of anxieties. Such a man
hath also to stay, starving outside the