13. Once upon a time the clear sighted Suka finding his father the sage Krishna-Dwaipáyana—Vyása, sitting quietly alone by himself, he asked him with reverence; saying:— 14. Tell me, O sage! whence this commotion of the world had its rise, and how it may subside. What is its cause, how far is it to extend, and where is it to end? 15. The sage Vyása who knew the nature of the soul, being thus asked by his son, explained to him clearly all that was to be said (on the subject). 16. Suka thought that he already knew all this by his good understanding, and did not therefore think much of his father’s instructions. 17. Vyása understanding the thoughts of his son, replied to him saying that, he knew no better the true nature of these things. 18. But that there was a prince named Janaka in this land, who well knew the knowledge of the knowable, and from whom Suka could learn every thing. 19. Suka being thus directed by his father, repaired to the city of Videha at the foot of mount Sumeru, which was under the rule of Janaka. 20. The club-bearer (door keeper) informed the high minded Janaka of his coming, telling him that Suka the son of Vyása was waiting at the gate. 21. Janaka who understood that Suka had come to learn from him, gave no heed to the informant, but held his silence for seven days afterwards. 22. The prince then ordered him to be brought in the outer compound, where he had to remain in the vexation of his spirit for seven days more as before. 23. Suka was then commanded to enter the inner apartment, where he continued a week more without seeing the prince. 24. Here Janaka entertained the moon-faced Suka with abundance of eatables, perfumeries and lusty damsels. 25. But neither those vexations nor these entertainments could affect the tenor of Suka’s mind, which remained firm as a rock at the blasts of wind. 26. He remained there as the full moon (without any wane or increase), tranquil in his desires, silent and contented in his mind. 27. The prince Janaka having thus known the (unalterable) disposition of Suka’s mind, had him introduced to his presence, where seeing the complacency of his soul, he rose up and bowed down to him. 28. Janaka said: “You have accomplished to the full all your duties in this world, and obtained the object of your heart’s desire to its utmost extent; what is it that you now desire for which you are welcome at mine”. 29. Suka said: “Tell me my guide whence sprang all this bustle (of worldly life); and tell me also how it may soon come to its subsidence.” 30. Viswámitra said: Being thus asked by Suka, Janaka spoke to him the same things which he had learned from his great souled father. 31. Suka then said: “All this I have come to know long before by my own intuition, and then from the speech of my father in answer to my query. 32. “You sir, who are the most eloquent of all, have spoken to the same purport, and the same is found to be the true sense of the Sástras.