“Lomasa said, ’Hear with attention, O king! how the name of Mandhata belonging to that monarch of mighty soul hath come to be celebrated throughout all the worlds.  Yuvanaswa, the ruler of the earth, was sprung from Ikshvaku’s race.  That protector of the earth performed many sacrificial rites noted for magnificent gifts.  And the most excellent of all virtuous men performed a thousand times the ceremony of sacrificing a horse.  And he also performed other sacrifices of the highest order, wherein he made abundant gifts.  But that saintly king had no son.  And he of mighty soul and rigid vows made over to his ministers the duties of the state, and became a constant resident of the woods.  And he of cultured soul devoted himself to the pursuits enjoined in the sacred writ.  And once upon a time, that protector of men, O king! had observed a fast.  And he was suffering from the pangs of hunger and his inner soul seemed parched with thirst.  And (in this state) he entered the hermitage of Bhrigu.  On that very night, O king of kings! the great saint who was the delight of Bhrigu’s race, had officiated in a religious ceremony, with the object that a son might be born to Saudyumni.  O king of kings! at the spot stood a large jar filled with water, consecrated with the recitation of sacred hymns, and which had been previously deposited there.  And the water was endued with the virtue that the wife of Saudyumni would by drinking the same, bring forth a god-like son.  Those mighty saints had deposited the jar on the altar and had gone to sleep, having been fatigued by keeping up the night.  And as Saudyumni passed them by, his palate was dry, and he was suffering greatly from thirst.  And the king was very much in need of water to drink.  And he entered that hermitage and asked for drink.  And becoming fatigued, he cried in feeble voice, proceeding from a parched throat, which resembled the weak inarticulate utterance of a bird.  And his voice reached nobody’s ears.  Then the king beheld the jar filled with water.  And he quickly ran towards it, and having drunk the water, put the jar down.  And as the water was cool, and as the king had been suffering greatly from thirst, the draught of water relieved the sagacious monarch and appeased his thirst.  Then those saints together with him of ascetic wealth, awoke from sleep; and all of them observed that the water of the jar had gone.  Thereupon they met together and began to enquire as to who might have done it.  Then Yuvanaswa truthfully admitted that it was his act.  Then the revered son of Bhrigu spoke unto him, saying.  ’It was not proper.  This water had an occult virtue infused into it, and had been placed there with the object that a son might be born to thee.  Having performed severe austerities, I infused the virtue of my religious acts in this water, that a son might be born to thee.  O saintly king of mighty valour and physical strength! a son would have been born to thee of exceeding strength and valour, and