Chapter 195

Vaisampayana said, “The son of Pandu again addressed the Rishi and said,’Speak thou unto us of the high fortune of royal Kshatriyas!’ AndMarkandeya said, ‘There were two kings of the name of Vrishadarbha andSeduka and both of them were conversant with morals and with weapons ofattack and defence. And Seduka knew that Vrishadarbha had from hisboyhood an unuttered vow that he would give no other metal unto Brahmanassave gold and silver. And once on a time a Brahmana having completed hisstudy of the Vedas came unto Seduka and uttering a benediction upon himbegged of him wealth for his preceptor, saying, ‘Give me a thousandsteeds.’ And thus addressed, Seduka said unto him, ‘It is not possiblefor me to give thee this for thy preceptor. Therefore, go thou unto kingVrishadarbha, for, O Brahmana, he is a highly virtuous king. Go and begof him. He will grant thy request. Even this is his unuttered vow.’Hearing these words that Brahmana went to Vrishadarbha and begged of hima thousand steeds, and the king thus solicited, struck the Brahmana witha whip and thereupon the Brahmana said, ‘Innocent as I am, why dost thouattack me thus?’ And the Brahmana was on the point of cursing the king,when the latter said, ‘O Brahmana, dost thou curse him that doth not givethee what thou askest? Or, is this behaviour proper for a Brahmana?’ Andthe Brahmana said, ‘O king of kings, sent unto thee by Seduka, I comebefore thee for this.’ The king said, ‘I will give thee now whatevertribute may come to me before the morning expire. How indeed, can I sendaway the man empty-handed who hath been whipped by me.’ And having saidthis the king gave unto that Brahmana the entire proceeds of that day andthat was more than the value of a thousand horses.'”