if he loses it he acquires it again (56–57). O king, thus I have described the families of the five heroic sons of Yayāti, celebrated in the world. They are like the five elements preserving the mobile and immobile creation (58). A king, well read in the Vedas and other religious scriptures, becomes the master of five senses and god-like and obtains the five boons which it is difficult to get in this world, if he listens to the various creations of those five kings. By listening to an account of the families of these five kings Ayu acquired renown, riches, sons, power and prosperity (59–60). Hear, O king, now of the most excellent and powerful family of the pious Krousthu, the head of the Yadu family who performed Yajnas. In his family the lord of the Vrishni race, Vishu was born as Krishna. By hearing of an account of Krousthu’s family a man is freed from all his sins (61–63.) ⁵⁸ The Nagas were evidently an aboriginal race amongst whom many powerful kings flourished. CHAPTER XXXIV. KROUSTHU’S FAMILY. Vaishampayana said:–Krousthu had two wives Gāndhri and Madri; of them Gāndhari gave birth to the highly powerful Anamitra and Mādri to Yudhājit and Devamidusha. There came into being three offshoots of the Vrishni race, (1-2). Mādri’s son begat two sons Vrishni and Andhaka. Vrishni’s sons were Shaphalka and Chitraka (3). Wherever, O king, the virtuous souled Shaphalka lived there existed no fear of disease or of draught (4). O foremost Bharatas, once on a time Indra, the god of rain, poured no showers in the territories of the king of Kāshi for three years (5). The king accordingly brought the reverend Shaphalka to his kingdom. In consequence of his living there Indra showered rain (6). Shaphalka obtained as his wife Gāndini the daughter of the king of Kāshi. She every day used to distribute kine amongst the Brāhmanas (7). She lived in her mother’s womb for many years. For her living in her mother’s womb for many years, her father said to her:—"Be born very soon. May you farewell, why do you live there?" The daughter from the womb replied "I shall daily give away a cow. If you agree to this I shall take my birth." The father, saying "So be it," satisfied the wishes of his daughter (8-10). Shaphalka begat on Gāndini the heroic and liberal Akrura, who was well read in Shastras, celebrated many Yajnas, gave away many presents and was fond of guests (11). Upāsanja, Shadgu, Mridara, Arimejaya, Arikshipta, Upeksha, Shatrughna, Arimarddana, Dharmadhrik, Yatidharmā, Gidhramoja, Andhaka, Avāhu, and Prativahu were Akrura’s brothers. And the beautiful Sundari was his sister (12–13).