on all those women.  And, O monarch of the earth!  Jantu became the eldest and was born of his former mother and he became the most beloved to the women,—­not so were their own sons.  And on his back there was that mark of gold and of that century of sons, he was also superior in merit.  Then that family priest of Somaka departed this life as also Somaka after a certain time.  Now he beheld that the priest was being grilled in a terrible hell.  And thereupon he questioned him, “Why art thou, O Brahmana! being grilled in this hell?” Then the family priest exceedingly scorched with fire, spake to him saying, “This is the outcome of my having officiated in that sacrifice of thine.”  O king, hearing this, the saintly king thus spake to the god who meteth out punishments to departed souls, “I shall enter here.  Set free my officiating priest; this reverend man is being grilled by hell-fire on my account only.”

“’Dharmaraja thereat answered thus, “One cannot enjoy or suffer for another person’s acts.  O best of speakers! these are the fruits of thy acts; see it here.”

“’Somaka said, “Without this Brahmana here, I desire not go to the blessed regions.  My desire is to dwell in company with this very man, either in the abode of the gods, or in hell, for, O Dharmaraja! my deed is identical with what hath been done by him and the fruit of our virtuous or evil deed must be the same for both of us.”

“’Dharmaraja said, “O king!  If this is thy wish, then taste with him the fruit of that act, for the same period that he must do.  After that thou shall go to the blessed regions."’

“Lomasa said, ’The lotus-eyed king did all that exactly in the way prescribed to him.  And when his sins were worked off, he was set free together with the priest.  O king!  Fond of the priest as he was, he won all those blessings to which he had entitled himself by his meritorious acts and shared everything with the family priest.  This is his hermitage which looketh lovely before our eyes.  Any one would attain the blessed regions, if he should spend six nights here controlling his passions.  O king of kings!  O leader of the tribe of Kurus!  Here, free from excitement and self-controlled, we must spend six nights.  Be thou ready therefor.’”

SECTION CXXIX

“Lomasa said, ’Here, O king!  The lord of born beings himself performed a sacrifice in former times,—­the ceremony called Ishtikrita, which occupied one thousand years.  And Amvarisha, son of Nabhaga, sacrificed near the Yamuna river.  And having sacrificed there, he gave away ten Padmas (of gold coins) to the attendant priests, and he obtained the highest success by his sacrifices and austerities.  And, O Kunti’s son!  This is the spot where that sovereign of the entire earth, Nahusha’s son, Yayati, of unmeasured force, and who led a holy life, performed his sacrificial rites.  He competed with Indra and performed his sacrifice here.