The king, filled with wonder, turned to the vulture and said, “O wise bird, I have listened to your astonishing words. But how do you know the previous history of these two souls? If you truly know, then please, best of birds, tell me everything in detail.” The vulture replied, “O King, listen well. In the Dvāpara age, there lived two outcastes named Garasaṅgara, sons of Satyaghoṣa. At the same time, both of them died in their own homes. Then, O King, the fierce, fanged servants of Yama arrived to seize them. Countless thousands, holding nooses, bound the two, who were proud and intoxicated with their own importance, with leather cords. They were dragged along a most torturous path to the abode of Death. There, Dharmarāja addressed Citragupta, saying, ‘Citragupta, examine in detail the entire conduct of these two.’ At Yama’s command, Citragupta thoroughly investigated all their deeds, both good and evil. After a careful inquiry, he reported to Antaka, ‘It is true, O mighty-armed one, that these two were devoted to virtue and had noble intentions. If there was any evil in their actions, it has been examined. They gave gifts of their own accord, but not to a twice-born.’ Because of this, O King, these two were destined for hell. For whoever gives charity but withholds it from the twice-born falls into a dreadful hell, terrifying to all beings. A donor should not recall his gift, nor should the recipient ask for it. Both, if they err, dwell in hell as long as the sun and moon endure. Thus, O Lord, these two were deemed great sinners, thieves of Brahman property. Yama commanded his servants, ‘Quickly cast them into the most dreadful hell.’ By Yama’s order, the messengers, their lips clenched in anger, hurled the two into that terrible hell, O King. On that very day, I myself, along with my wife, was also seized by Yama’s messengers and taken to his abode. Now, O King, hear the deed that led to my fate; I will recount everything from the beginning, for it is astonishing to hear. In a former birth, I was a Brahmin named Sarvaga, born into a noble lineage in the land of Saurāṣṭra. I was accomplished in the Vedas and Vedāṅgas. My wife, this renowned woman named Mañjūkaṣā, was devoted to me, greatly fortunate, and born in a pure family. Yet, O fortunate one, in my youth, confident in my knowledge and abilities, I became careless and once disrespected my parents in my mind. Though praised in assemblies, skilled in all duties, dwelling in the forest, wealthy, handsome, wise, and intent on supporting my kin, my own parents were devoted to sinful ways. They were harsh of speech, lacking compassion, greedy for the company of heretics. Because of them, all my virtues—manliness, life, wealth, family, learning, fame, and possessions—became fruitless. Reflecting on this again and again, I abandoned the service of my parents, which brings auspiciousness, out of contempt. For this deed, O King, I and my wife were cast into hell by Yama’s messengers, where those two sinners, too, had been taken. Together with those two and my wife, I dwelled in that terrible hell, O King—listen to how long. For thousands of crores of ages and hundreds of crores of ages, I endured great suffering there. At the end of our time in hell, I and my beloved were born among the race of vultures, feeding on dead flesh. Those two, after leaving hell and seeking rebirth, were born in the lineage of moths, to reap the fruits of their actions. Now hear, O King, what happened to them as moths, for it is truly wondrous. Once, a mighty wind arose and swept them into the pure waters of the Ganga. As soon as their delicate bodies touched the sacred river, they perished, and all their accumulated sins were washed away. Then, messengers with beautiful eyes arrived to take them, and celestial chariots endowed with every enjoyment appeared. Freed from all sin, adorned with garlands of tulasi, they ascended the divine chariot and set out for the city of Vishnu. For a time, O King, they dwelled in the realm of Brahma, the unmanifest-born; then, by Brahma’s command, they went to the city of Indra. There, they enjoyed happiness rare even for the gods, and after some time, they were born again on earth to enjoy its pleasures. They were born in your own pure and illustrious lineage. Because they gave up their bodies in the Ganga, they were freed from the cycle of rebirth. Yet, to enjoy the earth, they were born again as the most virtuous, and after long enjoying the world, surrounded by sons and grandsons, they attained a rare death in the Ganga, which even yogis find difficult to achieve. Thus, O King, these two will attain union with Nārāyaṇa. All this I have spoken, recounting the former lives of these two, by the power of remembering past births, O foremost among kings. Having reached death at the Ganga, these two have attained this blessed state. But who will deliver us, as wicked as we are?