Pulastya began his account, saying: In that very city, O king, the chakravaka birds took birth. Remarkably, these birds were the sons of an aged Brahmin—a man wise, steadfast, and deeply learned, who remembered his past births and was devoted to truth and austerity. Though born into poverty, these sons were twice-born, noble in character, and their minds naturally inclined toward asceticism. One day, the best among them declared, “We shall attain the highest perfection.” Hearing this, their father Sudaridra, himself a great ascetic, spoke with distress, “What is this, my sons? This is unrighteous. If you abandon your old, poor, forest-dwelling father, where is righteousness in that? What will become of me once you leave?” The sons replied gently, “Father, we have arranged for your livelihood. Listen to us. There is a vow, once practiced by a king, that will bring you abundant wealth. When you recite in the morning, the king will grant you thousands of villages. The Brahmins at Kurukshetra, the hunters at Dashapura, the animals at Kalanjara, and the chakravaka birds at Manasa—all will support you.” With these words, they departed for the forest, pursuing their ascetic vows and leaving their father behind. Despite his age, the Brahmin resolved to fulfill his own purpose. Around this time, there lived a king named Anuha, lord of the Panchalas. Desiring a son, he worshipped the Lord of the gods, the lotus-born grandsire Brahma, with intense vows and devotion. After a long period, Brahma was pleased and appeared before Anuha, saying, “Choose a boon. Ask for whatever you desire, O king.” Anuha replied, “Grant me a son of great strength and valor, accomplished in all knowledge, righteous, and foremost among yogis—a son who understands the speech of all beings and is a true yogi.” Brahma, the soul of the universe, granted the boon, saying, “So be it.” Before the eyes of all, Brahma vanished, and soon Anuha’s son, Brahmadatta, endowed with great prowess, was born. Brahmadatta was compassionate to all creatures, surpassed all beings in strength, understood the speech of all beings, and became the lord of all lords of beings. United with virtue and yogic power, he once approached a pair of ants who were engaged in enjoyment. Observing them, he smiled in amazement. Sannati, his queen, noticed his laughter and, suspecting something, asked him, “O king, why did you suddenly laugh? I do not know the reason for your laughter at such a moment.” Brahmadatta responded, “O lovely-faced one, my laughter arose from the speech of the ant, which was full of passion and tastelessness. There is no other reason. Nor did the queen say anything false to you. I alone have laughed here, and now I cannot live with you. How can a mortal know the speech of ants unless he is a god?” He felt he had been laughed at and said no more, wishing to understand the meaning of her words. Seeking answers, Brahmadatta observed a vow for seven nights, remaining pure. At the end of his dream, Brahma spoke to him as he wandered the city at dawn, saying, “Your beloved will learn everything from an aged, excellent Brahmin.” After Brahma vanished, Brahmadatta left the city in the morning with his ministers and wife. On their journey, they encountered an old Brahmin approaching and speaking. The Brahmin revealed, “Those foremost Brahmins in Kurujangala, the Dasas in Dashapura, the deer, the seven chakravaka birds in Kalanjara, and the siddhas dwelling in Manasa lake…” Hearing this, Brahmadatta was overcome with grief and fell down. The minister’s sons recalled their past births. Among them, Babhravya, the author of the treatise on love and renowned as Panchala, knower of all scriptures, also remembered his past lives and fell in grief. Pundarika, righteous and a promoter of Vedic knowledge, likewise recalled his previous births and lamented, “Alas, we are fallen from our duties, bound by karma out of desire!” These masters of yoga, versed in many scriptures, praised the greatness of the shraddha ritual again and again. The king bestowed wealth and many villages upon the Brahmin. Setting aside the elderly Brahmin, who was now proud of his wealth, the king appointed his own son, Vishvaksena, as ruler over the kingdoms. Then, all those foremost yogins, in the waters of Manasa lake—Brahmadatta and the others, devoted to their ancestors and free from envy—became bold in their humility, as Pulastya had described. The king rejoiced before them, saying, “All the fruits of royal yoga that are sought after—so it is, just as you have said. All this fruit has been attained by me through your grace alone.” Then all those forest-dwellers, having embraced yoga, attained the supreme state through the Brahmarandhra by the power of their austerity. Thus, when the grandfathers are pleased, they grant men long life, wealth, knowledge, the joys of heaven and liberation, as well as sons and kingdoms. O king, the greatness of the ancestors of Brahmadatta is such that if a learned man recites or hears it read to the twice-born, he is honored in the world of Brahma for a full hundred crores of kalpas.