ith his counsellors, advanced (for
receiving the sage). Meeting him, the king addressed that foremost of all
persons conversant with duties, saying, 'Tell me, O revered one, the
reason of thy coming. Regard it as already accomplished.' Thus
questioned, that regenerate sage said unto Sudyumna, 'Do thou promise
first that thou wilt achieve it. It will then behove thee, after hearing
me, to accomplish that promise. O bull among men, I ate some fruits that
had not been given me by my elder brother. Do thou, O monarch, punish me
for it without delay.' Sudyumna answered, 'If the king be regarded as
competent to wield the rod of chastisement, he should be regarded, O bull
among Brahmanas, as equally competent to pardon. Purified in respect of
thy act, O thou of high vows, consider thyself as pardoned. Tell me now
what other wishes thou hast. I shall certainly accomplish those commands
of thine!'"

"'Vyasa continued, "Thus honoured by the high-souled king, the regenerate
sage Likhita, however, did not solicit him for any other favour. Then
that ruler of the earth caused the two hands of the high-souled Likhita
to be cut off, whereupon the latter, bearing the punishment, went away.
Returning to his brother Sankha, Likhita, in great affection, said, 'It
behoveth thee now to pardon this wretch that hath been duly punished (for
what he did).' Sankha said, 'I am not angry with thee, nor hast thou
injured me, O foremost of all persons conversant with duties. Thy virtue,
however, had suffered a shock. I have rescued thee from that plight.
Proceed without delay to the river Vahuda and gratify duly, with
oblations of water, the gods, Rishis and the Pitris, and never again set
thy heart on sin.' Hearing these words of Sankha, Likhita performed his
ablutions in the sacred stream and set about for commencing the
water-rite. Upon this, two hands, resembling two lotuses, appeared at the
extremities of his stumps. Filled with wonder he came back to his brother
and showed him the two hands. Sankha said unto him, 'All this has been
accomplished by me through my penances. Do not be surprised at it.
Providence hath been the instrument here.' Likhita answered, 'O thou of
great splendour, why didst thou not purify me at first, when, O best of
regenerate ones, such was the energy of thy penances?' Sankha said, 'I
should not have acted otherwise. I am not thy chastiser. The ruler (who
has punished thee) has been himself purified, as also thyself, alon