Having thus made up his mind, the Great Being took on himself the majestic figure of a Brâhman. His colour shone like pure gold; he wore his hair matted and twisted up, which gave him a rather stern appearance; he had his body covered with the bark-garment and the deer-skin[130]. A jar of moderate size, filled with surâ, was hanging down from his left side. In this shape, standing in the air he showed himself to king Sarvamitra, while he was sitting with his company in his audience-hall, and their conversation had turned to be such as attends drinking surâ, âsava, maireya[131], rum, and honeyed liquor. On seeing him, the assembly, moved by surprise and veneration, rose from their seats, and reverentially folded their hands to him. After which, he began to speak in a loud voice, resembling the deep noise of a cloud big with rain: [130] The matted hair, the bark-garment, and the deer-skin are the attributes of an anchorite or muni. Cp. Dhammapada, verses 393, 394. [131] All of them names of different kinds of spirituous liquor. 5. 'See, 'tis fill'd up to its neck, Flowers laugh around its neck; Well 'tis dress'd, a splendid jar; Who will buy from me this jar? 6. 'I have here a jar adorned with this bracelet-like wide wreath of flowers, fluttering in the wind. See how proud it looks, decorated as it is by tender foliage. Which of you desires to possess it by purchase?' Upon which, that king, whose curiosity was excited by astonishment, reverentially fixing his eyes on him and raising his folded hands, spoke these words: 7. 'Like the morning-sun thou appearest to us by thy lustre, like the moon by thy gracefulness, and by thy figure like some Muni. Deign to tell us, then, by what name thou art known in the world. Thy different illustrious qualities make us uncertain about thee.' _S_akra said: 8. 'Afterwards you will know me, who I am, but now be intent on purchasing this jar from me--at least if you are not afraid of the sufferings in the next world or heavy calamities to be expected still in this.' The king replied: 'Verily, such an introduction to a bargain as is made by Thy Reverence, I never saw before. 9, 10. 'The ordinary mode of offering objects for sale among men is to extol their good qualities and conceal their faults. Surely, that manner practised by thee is becoming such men as thou, who abhor falsehood. For the virtuous will never forsake veracity, even when in distress! 11. 'Tell us then, Eminent One, with what this jar is filled. And what is it, that such a mighty being as thou may desire from our side by the barter?' _S_akra said: 'Hear, mighty sovereign.