houghts of all men, entertained that
auspicious ascetic of noble soul. The pure-souled ascetic born in the
fire-sticks, observant without scruples of any kind of his duties, having
all his senses under complete control, and a thorough master of his
wrath, was neither pleased nor angered at all this. Then those foremost
of beautiful women gave him an excellent seat. Washing his feet and other
limbs, Suka said his evening prayers, sat on that excellent seat, and
began to think of the object for which he had come there. In the first
part of the night, he devoted himself to Yoga. The puissant ascetic,
passed the middle portion of the night in sleep. Very soon waking up from
his slumber, he went through the necessary rites of cleansing his body,
and though surrounded by those beautiful women, he once again devoted
himself to Yoga. It was in this way, O Bharata, that the son of the
Island-born Krishna passed the latter part of that day and the whole of
that night in the palace of king Janaka."'"

SECTION CCCXXVII

"'Bhishma said, "The next morning, king Janaka, O Bharata, accompanied by
his minister and the whole household, came to Suka, placing his priest in
the van. Bringing with him costly seats and diverse kinds of jewels and
gems, and bearing the ingredients of the Arghya on his own head, the
monarch approached the son of his reverend preceptor. The king, taking
with his own hands, from the hands of his priest, that seat adorned with
many gems, overlaid with an excellent sheet, beautiful in all its parts,
and exceedingly costly, presented it with great reverence to his
preceptor's son Suka. After the son of (the Island-born) Krishna had
taken his seat on it, the king worshipped him according to prescribed
rites. At first offering him water to wash his feet, he then presented
him the Arghya and kine. The ascetic accepted that worship offered with
due rites and mantras. That foremost of regenerate persons, having thus
accepted the worship offered by the king, and taking the kine also that
were presented to him, then saluted the monarch. Possessed of great
energy, he next enquired after the king's welfare and prosperity. Indeed,
O king, Suka embraced in his enquiry the welfare of the monarch's
followers and officers also. Receiving Suka's permission, Janaka sat down
with all his followers. Endued with a high soul and possessed of high
birth, the monarch, with joined hands, sat down on the bare ground and
enquired after