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Tuen next morning Janaka skilled in speech, having in company with the Maharshis performed his daily duties, addressed the priest Satananda, saying,—My highly energetic, puissant and eminently righteous brother known by the name of Ku¢adhwaja dwelleth in the auspicious city, Sanka- ¢y4, whose ramparts are ranged round with pointed weapons, and which is laved by the river Ikshumati, and which resembles the celestial regions or the aerial car, Pushpaka. I wish to see him, and he is in charge of my sacrifice. And that highly energetic one will partake with me the joy of this occasion.” This having been said unto Satananda, some competent persons presented themselves ; and Janaka commanded them (to set out) for Sankagy&. And commanded by the monarch, off they went, mounting on fleet coursers, with the view of bringing over that best among men, like Vishnu at the mandate of Indra. And arriving at Sank&cya, they presented themselves before Kugadhwaja, and faithfully delivered unto him the intention of Janaka. And hearing the tidings conveyed by those foremost of envoys endowed with great fleetness, Ku¢adhwaja set out at the mandate of the monarch. And on coming to Videha, he appeared before the high-souled Janaka addicted to righteousness. And saluting Satananda as well as the eminently virtuous Janaka, he sat down on an excellent and superb seat worthy of aking. And having been seated, both the heroic brothers of immeasurable splendour addressed that foremost of counsellors, Sudamana, saying,—'‘Go, foremost of counsellors, and speedily bring over the irrepressible Ikshw&ku of immeasurable splendour along with his sons and ministers.” Thereupon, repairing to the camp he saw that enhancer of the race of the Raghus, and saluting him with bended head, addressed him,—"O heroic lord of Ayodhy&, Vaideha,

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the master of Mithila, hath wished to see thee along with thy priests.” Hearing the words of that best of .counsellors, the king accompanied by the saints and his adherents came to Janaka. And in company with his counsellors, and preists and adherents, the king--foremost of those skilled in speech—spoke unto Vaideha, saying,—“O mighty king, thow knowest that the worshipful saint Vasishtha is the spiritual guide of our race ; and in every ceremony that we undestake, he it is who serves the function of a spokesman. And permitled by Vigwamitra along with all the M4- harshis, even this one of a righteous soul will -relate my genealogy.” And on Dagaratha resuming silence, the worshipful saint Vasishtha, versed in speech, spoke unto Vaideha in company with his priests, saying—‘The perpetual, everlasting, and undeteriorating Brahm4 sprang from the Unmanifest (Brahma). From him sprang Maricha; and Kagyapa is son unto Maricha. And from Ka¢yapa sprung Vivaswat; and Manu is son unto Vivaswat.* This Manu is otherwise called Prajapati ; and Ikshwaku is Manu’s son. And this Ikshwa&ku, thou must understand, was the first king of Ayodhya. And Ikshwaku’s son, it is well known, was the graceful Kukshi. And Kukshi’s son was the graceful Vikukshi tf And Vikukshi’s son was the exceedingly energetic and powerful Vana. And V&na’s son was the highly energetic and powerful Anaranya. From Anaranya sprang Prithu; and from Prithu, Trisanku. And Trisanku’s son was the highly famous Dhundumara. And from Dhundum&ra sprung the Mah&ratha, Yuvanacgya. aAnd from Yuvanacya sprung Mandhatd, lord of earth. And MAandhat&@’s son was the graceful Susandhi. And Susandhi’s two sons were Dhruvasandhi and Prasenajit. And * The Bengal Text reads: From Maricha sprang Angiras; and his son was Prachetas ;and Manu is Prachetas’ son.—T. + The Bengal Text: From Ikshmaku sprung Vikukshi.—T

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Trom Dhruvasandhi sprung the famous Bharata. And from Bharata sprung Asita ; to fight whom were born as hostile kings, those heroes, the MHaihayas, the Talajanghas, and the Sasavindas. And engaged in conflict with them, that king fled (from his kingdom); and repairing to the Himavat in company with his two consorts, the feeble Asita there paid his debt to Nature. The story runs that his two wives were in the family-way ; and that with the intention of destroying the embryo of the other, one of them administered poison unto the former mixed in her food. And it came tq pass that at this time, Bhrigu’s son, the ascetic Chyavana, had become addicted to the romantic Himavat— foremost of mountains. And here one of these exalted dames with eyes resembling lotus-petals, saluting Bhrigu’s son shining like a celestial, desired of him an excellent som. And drawing near unto that sage, K4lindi saluted him. And that Vipra said unto her, who was desiring of having ason born of her,—“In thy womb, O exalted one, will be speedily bora an excellent son mixed up with poison, highly powerful, and exceedingly energetic, and possessed of mighty strength, and graceful. Therefore, do thou not grieve, O thou of lotus-eyes.” And having paid reverence unto Chyavana, that chaste and worshipful princess, although bereft of her husband, gave birth to a son. And since intending to destroy her foetus she that was co-wife with her had administered poison unto her, Sagara* was bora together with the poison. And Sagara’s son was Asamanja,and Asamanja’s Ancumat. And Dilipa was son unto Angumat, and Bhagiratha unto Dilipa. And from Bhagiratha sprang Kakutstha, and from Kakutstha, Raghu. And Raghu’s son was the puissant Pravridha, feeding on human flesh; and he came finally * Gara, poison, Sagara means, with poison, i.e. here, one born with poison.—T,

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to be known by the name of Kalmashapada.* And from him sprung Sankhana. And Sudargana was Sankhana’s, and Agnivarna was Sudargana’s son. And Sighraga was Agnivarna’s, and Maru was Sighraga’s sou. And Maru’s son was Pragucruka, and from Pragucruka sprung Amvarisha. And Anvvarisha’s son was Nahusha, lord of earth. And Nuhusha’s son was Yay&ti, and Yayati’s was Nabhaga. And Nabhaga’s son was Aja, and from Aja sprung Dagaratha. And from this Dagaratha have come the brothers Rama and Lakshmana. And it is in the interests of Rama and Lakshmana belonging to the heroic and truthful and pious Sovereigns sprung in the Ikshwaku line, and possessing purity of race even from the time of their founder, that, O king, we solicit the hands of thy daughters. And, O foremost of men, it behoveth thee to confer like brides upon like bridegrooms.”