The king beheld a wondrous sight: two apsaras, radiant and serene, were seated before him on twin thrones, appearing as if two full moons had ascended and merged atop the twin peaks of Meru. Amazed and bewildered, the king paused for a moment, his mind astonished at this vision. Then, like Vishnu himself—wielder of discus and mace—rising from slumber, he rose from his bed. Ensuring his garland, necklace, and splendid garments were properly adorned, he took in hand a cluster of freshly blossomed flowers, their beauty radiant like new blooms. Approaching respectfully, he sat upon the ground in the lotus posture, near his cushion, having drawn his cloth from his waist as a mark of humility. With deep reverence, he bowed and addressed the divine beings: “Victory to you, O goddesses, radiant as the moon! You dispel the faults of birth, instability, and burning pain. Shining brilliantly, your presence thunders forth, driving away both inner and outer darkness.” Having spoken, the king placed the handful of flowers at their feet, as though a blossoming tree on the riverbank offered its lotuses to the twin lotuses before him. At that moment, for the sake of revealing the story of the king’s birth to Lila, the goddess Sarasvati, by her own divine will, awakened the minister who was standing nearby. Stirred from his rest, the minister too beheld the two apsaras. With great reverence, he gathered a handful of flowers, offered them at their feet, and then approached, bowing deeply before them. The goddess addressed the king: “O king, who are you? Whose son are you, and when were you born here?” To this, the minister replied with humility, “O goddesses, by your grace I am able to speak openly before you. Please listen as I recount the birth of my lord.” He began: “There was a king of the Ikshvaku lineage, with eyes like lotuses, named Kundaratha, whose realm was overshadowed by faults. His son was Bhadraratha, whose face shone like the moon. Bhadraratha’s son was Vishvaratha; Vishvaratha’s son was Brihadratha; Brihadratha’s son was Sindhuratha; Sindhuratha’s son was Shailaratha; Shailaratha’s son was Kamaratha; Kamaratha’s son was Maharatha. Maharatha’s son was Vishnuratha; Vishnuratha’s son was Kalaratha; Kalaratha’s son was Suryaratha; Suryaratha’s son was Nabhoratha. This lord of mine is the son of Nabhoratha, radiant with complete purity, his chariot filled with nectar, like the moon rising from the ocean of milk. He is known as Viduratha, born from the accumulation of great merit, from his mother Sumitra, fair as Gauri—just as Guha was born from another. When Viduratha was ten years old, his father bestowed upon him the kingdom and departed for the forest. Since that time, he has ruled the royal throne with righteousness. Today, when the tree of good deeds has borne fruit, you two queens—who have long endured the hardships of severe austerities—have become visible to us. Thus, this lord of the earth is known as Viduratha; and today, by your grace, he has attained supreme purity.” Having spoken, the king and minister sat in silence, palms joined, heads bowed, seated in the lotus posture upon the ground. Then Sarasvati spoke gently, “O King, recall with discernment your previous birth yourself.” As she said this, she touched his head with her hand. Instantly, the darkness of ignorance in his heart faded away. From the touch of knowledge, his heart blossomed fully. Suddenly, memories of his past arose within him, as if stirring from deep within. He remembered his sovereignty in another body, accompanied by playful acts. As the account of his previous existence unfolded through the play of knowledge and effort, he felt as if swept away in the ocean of his own story. He exclaimed, “Alas, this world of transmigration is indeed spread out by illusion! By the grace of the goddesses, I have now recognized it here. O goddesses, what is this? Has only a single day passed since my death? Yet today, seventy years of my life have gone by here. I remember many activities, my great-grandfather, my childhood, youth, and the company of friends and relatives.” Sarasvati explained, “O King, immediately after the great delusion and fainting of death, in that other world that passed, all of it occurred in that very instant. In that very house, or in this one—whether you know it or not, I will tell you—the interior space of that house is said to be situated right here. Within the house of a brahmin in a mountain village, there is the king’s hall; within it, this appears, and within each, the house of the world. By my boon, your soul remains within the brahmin’s house; there itself is his royal seat, and within that, his own hall. And within that very house is this circle of worldly existence; there, your own house stands, slow to begin. In that very mind of yours, pure as the clear sky, this appearance of worldly confusion is spread out.” The king continued, “Just as this is said to be my birth, so too is the Ikshvaku lineage mine; these are my names, and these were my ancestors in times past. I was born, became a child, and when I was ten years old, my father, having become a renunciant, went to the forest after installing me on the throne. Then, having conquered all directions and made the kingdom free of obstacles, I rule the earth with these ministers and citizens. While performing sacrifices and upholding righteousness, protecting my subjects, seventy years of my life have passed. Now this hostile force has come, fierce in form; after fighting them, I have returned home as before. These two goddesses, upon my return home, I worship; for when worshipped, deities indeed grant their desired boons. Of these two, one is mine—she grants knowledge and the memory of past births; here, the goddess has given the blossoming of the lotus of the heart.