Hearing those wondrous words of Lakshmana Rāma was greatly delighted and
said "O thou having an auspicious look, thou art gifted with great
intellect and after my heart; a friend like thee is rare at such a time.
But O beautiful Saumitri, do thou, apprised of my intention, carry out
my words. O gentle son of Sumitrā, for not looking to state business for
these four days I have been pierced to the very vitals. Do thou
therefore call here men, or women, priests or councillors who have come
for business. For sooth do a king falls into the dreadful hell where the
wind doth not blow, who does not daily look into his state affairs. I
have heard, O foremost of men, that there lived in the days of yore a
highly illustrious, truthful and pure-minded king, ever devoted unto the
Brāhmanas, by the name of Nriga. Once on a time at the sacred pilgrimage
of Pushpaka that king conferred upon the Brāhmanas one _Koti_ of kine
with calves adorned with golden ornaments. Accidentally on that
occasion, a cow with calf belonging to a poor Brahman, living upon low
means, was given away along with other kine. Undergoing hunger and
thirst, the master of that lost cow travelled for a long time in many
places in search of it. Thereupon having reached the province of
Kanakhal he espied his own cow in the house of a Brāhmana. The cow was
well kept and the young one was grown up. Thereupon the Brahman called
the cow by the name given by him saying ’Savalā, come.’ The cow heard
that and recognizing the voice of the Brahman followed him. And he
preceded her burning like fire. And the Brāhmana, in whose house the cow
so long remained, speedily pursued her and approaching the ascetic said.
’This cow is mine. The king Nriga conferred this upon me.’ So there
arose a great quarrel between the two learned Brāhmanas. And thus
quarreling they both approached him who had given away the cow. And
though they waited for a long time at the gate they did not obtain
permission to enter the palace. Thereat both of them were greatly
engraged and imprecated dreadful curses, saying ’Since thou hast not
granted us an interview though we have been waiting here for a long
time, thou shalt, by our curse, remain invisible, being a lizard. Thou
shalt in this state live in a den for many hundred and thousand years.
When Vishnu assuming a human person shall be born in the Vasudeva family
of Yadavas and enhance their glory he shall liberate thee from the
curse. Immediately before the advent of the Kali Yuga the Rishi Nara
Nārāyana gifted with great prowess shall descend upon earth to relieve
her of the burden.’ Having thus imprecated the curse upon the king the
Rishis became silent. The cow was old and weak so they both, with mutual
consent, conferred that upon another Brahman. O Lakshmana, the king
Nriga is still suffering from that dreadful curse. It is the king’s
folly that is manifest from the mutual disagreement of the workers. Do
thou bring them all speedily to me who have come for business. For,
sooth shall the kings profit by the just administration. Do thou
therefore go in person, O Lakshmana and see who hath come for business."