proverb, O thou best of the Kurus, that is sung by all reciters of the Puranas, in connection with that first of all men—the illustrious Vyushitaswa: Having conquered the whole earth to the shores of the sea, Vyushitaswa protected every class of his subjects like a father cherishing his own begotten sons. Performing many great sacrifices he presented much wealth to the Brahmanas. And collecting jewels and precious stones without limit, he made arrangements for performing still greater ones. And he performed also the Agni-shtoma, and other special Vedic sacrifices, extracting great quantities of Soma juice. And, O king, Vyushitaswa had for his dear wife Vadrā, the daughter of Kskshivana and unrivalled on earth for beauty. And it hath been heard by us that the couple loved each other deeply. King Vyushitaswa was seldom separated from his wife. Sensual indulgence, however, brought on an attack of pthisis and the king died within a few days, sinking like the sun in his glory. Then Vadra, his beautiful queen was plunged in woe, and sonless as she was, O tiger among men, she wept in great affliction. Listen to me, O king, as I narrate to you all that Vadra said with bitter tears trickling down her cheeks,—O virtuous one, she said, women serve no purpose when their husbands are dead! She who liveth after her husband is dead, draggeth on a miserable existence that can hardly be called life! O thou bull of the Kshatriya order, death is a blessing to women without husbands. I wish to follow the way thou hast gone! Be kind, and take me with thee! In thy absence, I am unable to bear life even for a moment! Be kind to me, O king, and take me hence soon enough! O tiger among men, I shall follow thee over even and uneven ground. Thou hast gone away, O lord, never more to return! I shall follow thee, O king, as thy own shadow! O tiger among men, I will be obedient to thee (as thy slave) and will ever do what is agreeable to thee and what is for thy good! O thou of eyes like lotus-leaves, without thee, from this day, mental agonies will overwhelm me and eat into my heart! Wretch that I am, some loving couple had doubtless been separated by me in former life for which in this I am made to suffer the pangs
