Vyasa

Aranyaka Parva›Agastya Marries Lopamudra and Begets a Son

Agastya Seeks Wealth from Kings and Ilvala

Why "Minor"?

Causal ReachTop 100%
Character WeightTop 89%
State ChangeTop 100%
Narrative RecallTop 50%

~1 min read

Agastya, accompanied by his disciple Shrutarvana, approaches King Vadhryashva seeking riches. The king lays bare his accounts: his income exactly matches his expenditure. Agastya refuses to take anything that would cause oppression to others. They try King Trasadasyu next — and find the same balance. The kings look at one another and together suggest a different source: the wealthy danava (demon) Ilvala.

Agastya took Shrutarvana with him and went to King Vadhryashva. The king received them at the borders of his kingdom, in accordance with the prescribed rites. He offered them the gifts due to guests and water for washing the feet. When they were comfortable, he asked the reason for their arrival. Agastya said: "O lord of the earth! Know that we have come to you with a desire for riches. According to your capacity, give us a share, without taking away from others." The king gave them a complete account of his income and expenditure. Then he said: "Now that you know, take whatever is left." The brahmana looked on both sides impartially. He saw that the income was equal to the expenditure. If he took anything away, he thought, he would cause oppression to beings. So he took nothing. Then the three of them — Agastya, Shrutarvana, and King Vadhryashva — went to Trasadasyu, the son of Purukutsa, a possessor of great riches. On hearing of their arrival, Trasadasyu received them together with his mounts at the borders of his kingdom, in the prescribed manner. The supreme of kings from the Ikshvaku lineage showed them his respects in the appropriate fashion. When they were comfortable, he asked them the reason for their arrival. Agastya said the same words: "O lord of the earth! Know that we have come to you with a desire for riches. According to your capacity, give us a share, without taking away from others." The king gave them a complete account of his income and expenditure. Then he said: "Now that you know, take whatever is left." The brahmana looked on both sides impartially. Again, the income was equal to the expenditure. If he took anything away, he would cause oppression to beings. So he took nothing. All the kings looked at one another. Together, they spoke to the great sage: "O brahmana! There is a rich danava (demon) named Ilvala on earth. Let us all go to him now and ask for riches." The thought of asking riches from Ilvala seemed to them to be a proper one. So they went to Ilvala together.

Aranyaka Parva, Chapter 393