questioned by the guardians of the peace, the ascetic, O king, said not a word, good or bad, in reply. The officers of the king, however, in searching that asylum soon discovered the thieves concealed thereabouts together with the plunder. Upon this their suspicions fell upon the Muni, and accordingly they seized him with the thieves and brought him before the king. The king sentenced him to be executed along with his supposed associates. And the officers, acting in ignorance, carried out the sentence by impaling the celebrated Rishi. And having impaled him, they went to the king with the booty they had recovered. But the virtuous Rishi, though impaled and kept without food, remained in that state for a long time without dying. And the Rishi by his ascetic power not only preserved his life but summoned other Rishis to the scene. And they came there in the night in the form of birds, and beholding him engaged in ascetic meditation though fixed on that stake, they became plunged in grief. And telling that best of Brahmanas who they were, they asked him saying, 'O Brahmana, we desire to know what hath been thy sin for which thou hast thus been made to suffer the tortures of impalement.'"
Thus ends the hundred and seventh Section in the Sambhava of the Adi Parva.
( Sambhava Parva continued. )
Vaisampayana said, "Thus asked, that tiger among Munis then answered those Rishis of ascetic wealth, 'Whom shall I blame for this? In fact, none else (than my own self) hath offended against me!' After this, O monarch, the officers of justice seeing him alive informed the king of it. The latter hearing what they said, and having consulted with his advisers, came to the place and began to pacify the Rishi fixed on the stake. And the king said, 'O thou best of Rishis, I have offended against thee in ignorance. I beseech thee, pardon me for the same. It behoveth thee not to be angry with me.' Thus addressed by the king, the Muni was pacified. And beholding him free from wrath, the king took him up with the stake and endea-
