I was on the point of falling into hell, but was extricated
by thee. It was destined to be so, for thou didst (unexpectedly) come in
my way. And, O great man, as the fallen King Yayati was saved by his
virtuous grandsons (daughter's sons), so have I know been saved by thee.
According to thy advice, I shall honour my father and my mother; for a
man with an impure heart can never expound the mysteries of sin and
righteousness. As it is very difficult for a person born in the Sudra
class to learn the mysteries of the eternal religion, I do not consider
thee to be a Sudra. There must surely be some mystery in connection with
this matter. Thou must have attained the Sudra's estate by reason of the
fruition of thine own past _karma_. O magnanimous man, I long to know
the truth about this matter. Do thou tell it to me with attention and
according to thy own inclination."
"'The fowler replied, "O good Brahmana, Brahmanas are worthy of all
respect from me. Listen, O sinless one, to this story of a previous
existence of mine. O son of an excellent Brahmana, I was formerly a
Brahmana, well-read in the _Vedas_, and an accomplished student of the
_Vedangas_. Through my own fault I have been degraded to my present
state. A certain king, accomplished in the science of _dhanurveda_
(science of archery), was my friend; and from his companionship, O
Brahmana, I, too became skilled in archery; and one day the king, in
company with his ministers and followed by his best warriors, went out
on a hunting expedition.
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