28. The seasons succeeded each other in due course, rejoicing everybody by their regularity, and like kings newly established, complying with the lawful order of things. Consequently the earth produced the various kinds of corn in abundance, and there was fulness of pure and blue water and lotuses in all water-basins. 29. No epidemics afflicted mankind; the medicinal herbs possessed their efficacious virtues more than ever; the monsoons blew in due time and regularly; the planets moved along in auspicious paths. 30. Nowhere there existed any danger to be feared, either from abroad, or from within, or such as might be caused by derangements of the elements. Continuing in righteousness and self-control, cultivating good behaviour and modesty, the people of that country enjoyed as it were the prerogatives of the K_ri_ta Yuga. By the power, then, of the king performing his sacrifice in this manner in accordance with (the precepts of) the Law, the sufferings of the indigent were put to an end together with the plagues and calamities, and the country abounded in a prosperous and thriving population offering the pleasing aspect of felicity. Accordingly people never wearied of repeating benedictions on their king and extending his renown in all directions. One day one of the highest royal officials, whose heart had been inclined to the (True) Belief, spoke thus to the king: 'This is a true saying, in truth. 31. 'Monarchs, because they always deal with all kinds of business, the highest, the lowest, and the intermediate, by far surpass in their wisdom any wise men. 'For, Your Majesty, you have obtained the happiness of your subjects both in this world and in the next, as the effect of your sacrifice being performed in righteousness, free from the blameable sin of animal-slaughter. The hard times are all over and the sufferings of poverty have ceased, since men have been established in the precepts of good conduct. Why use many words? Your subjects are happy. 32[100]. 'The black antelope's skin which covers your limbs has the resemblance of the spot on the bright moon's surface, nor can the natural loveliness of your demeanour be hindered by the restraint imposed on you by your being a dîkshita[101]. Your head, adorned with such hair-dress as is in compliance with the rites of the dîkshâ, possesses no less lustre than when it was embellished with the splendour of the royal umbrella[102]. And, last not least, by your largesses you have surpassed the renown and abated the pride of the famous performer of a hundred sacrifices[103]. [100] The corruptions of this stanza in the MSS. have been corrected in the edition. In some points, however, I venture to propose some alterations. To gâtre_n_a of the MSS., gâtre na of the ed., I should prefer gâtreshu. For mandodyamâ_h_ of the MSS., mandodyama_h_ of the ed., I substitute mandodyamâ, and in pâda 3, I think ke_s_ara_k_ana_s_obhâ is one word.