not feel any more amiably disposed towards Vishnu; so he sealed up some ashes in a parcel and told Vishnu to take them to Śaturdamana, the King of Vidiśâ. Vishnu immediately started on his mission and gave the parcel to King Śaturdamana, without knowing what it contained. The king opened the parcel, and when he found what was inside it, he was exceedingly angry. So it seemed as if Vishnu were placed in a somewhat critical position, but he was a very prudent man, and seeing how angry the King of Vidiśâ was, he said:—
"Sir! My lord has been offering the Aśvamedha sacrifice, and to do your majesty honour, he has sent you some of the ashes from the sacrificial mound. They spring from the union of the three fires: they bring purification, prosperity, protection from evil. It has been said—
"'Elephants are a noble offering; horses are a noble offering;
But in what kingdom will you find a nobler offering than the ashes of the holy sacrifice?'"
So saying he took the ashes up in his hand and presented them to the King of Vidiśâ. His majesty was so pleased with the offering, and the speech, that he loaded Vishnu with riches and honour, and sent him back to his own country.
