Markandeya said:—One of (those ganders) Vaibhrāja, an ascetic and
anchorite as he was, was born as the son of Brahmadatta by name
Viswaksena (1). Once on a time Brahmadatta was sporting delightedly in a
forest in the company of his wife like Indra in the company of Sachi
(2). Thereupon the king heard the noise made by an ant who was
soliciting a female-ant and displaying his displeasure (3). Hearing that
the poor female ant was expressing her disgust at the request of her
husband Brahmadatta laughed aloud (4). Thereat his wife Saunati was
stricken with sorrow and shame. That beautiful damsel had been
abstaining from food for a long time (5). When her husband attempted to
please her, that one of pure smiles said "O king, while you laughed at
me I do not like to live" (6). The king however communicated to her the
cause of his laughter but she placed no confidence in his words but
rather said in anger "This is not within the power of a man (7). What
man can decipher the sound of an ant save by the favour of the
Providence or by the good deeds of his pristine birth (8)? O king, if by
virtue of _Tapas_ or any other knowledge you have acquired the power of
understanding the sound of animals, then by some means create confidence
in me by which I may know it. Otherwise, O king, I shall renounce my
life. I do swear truly" (9-10).
Hearing those harsh words of the queen the highly illustrious king
Brahmadatta was greatly distressed. He then reverentially sought the
protection of the Omnipotent Nārāyana, the lord of all the worlds.
Having controlled his senses and abstaining from food the highly
illustrious king, within six nights, saw the Omnipotent Deity Nārāyana.
The Lord, compassionate unto all creatures, said to him (11-13). "O
Brahmadatta, after the night has passed away you will attain to
well-being." Having said this the lord disappeared there from (#4).
Having learnt a Sloka from his sons the father, of those four
high-souled Brāhmanas, considered himself blessed (15). He then desired
to go to the King and his Minister. Going there, he however found no
opportunity of reciting the sloka to them (16).
Thereupon having bathed in the tank and obtained the boon from Nārāyana,
he, delightedly ascending a golden chariot, entered the city (17).
Kandarikā, the foremost of the twice-born, acted as his charioteer and
Pānchala held the chowries (18). Considering that to be a favourable
moment the Brāhmana recited the sloka before the King and the two
ministers (19).
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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