Thus charged, O slayer of thy foes,

The cow from whom all plenty flows,

Obedient to her saintly lord,

Viands to suit each taste, outpoured.

Honey she gave, and roasted grain,

Mead sweet with flowers, and sugar-cane.

Each beverage of flavour rare,

An food of every sort, were there:

Hills of hot rice, and sweetened cakes,

And curdled milk and soup in lakes.

Vast beakers foaming to the brim

With sugared drink prepared for him,

And dainty sweetmeats, deftly made,

Before the hermit's guests were laid.

So well regaled, so nobly fed,

The mighty army banqueted,

And all the train, from chief to least,

Delighted in Va?ish?ha's feast.

Then Vi?vÁmitra, royal sage,

Surrounded by his vassalage,

Prince, peer, and counsellor, and all

From highest lord to lowest thrall,

Thus feasted, to Va?ish?ha cried

With joy, supremely gratified:

Most honourable lord, have gained:

Now hear, before I journey hence,

My words, O skilled in eloquence.

Bought for a hundred thousand kine,

Let Dapple-skin, O Saint, be mine.

A wondrous jewel is thy cow,

And gems are for the monarch's brow.222

To me her rightful lord resign

The great Va?ish?ha, thus addressed,

Arch-hermit of the holy breast,

To Vi?vÁmitra answer made,

The king whom all the land obeyed:

Not if ten million thou wouldst pay,

With silver heaps the price to swell,—

Will I my cow, O Monarch, sell.

Unmeet for her is such a fate.

That I my friend should alienate.

As glory with the virtuous, she

For ever makes her home with me.

On her mine offerings which ascend

To Gods and spirits all depend:

My very life is due to her,

My guardian, friend, and minister.

The royal sage, his suit denied,

With eloquence more earnest cried:

Each with a golden girth and chain,

Whose goads with gold well fashioned shine—

Of these be twice seven thousand thine.

And four-horse cars with gold made bright,

With steeds most beautifully white,

Whose bells make music as they go,

Eight hundred, Saint, will I bestow.

Eleven thousand mettled steeds

From famous lands, of noble breeds—

These will I gladly give, O thou

Devoted to each holy vow.

Ten million heifers, fair to view,

Whose sides are marked with every hue—

These in exchange will I assign;

But let thy Dapple-skin be mine.

Ask what thou wilt, and piles untold

Of priceless gems and gleaming gold,

O best of BrÁhmans, shall be thine;