Note 10 — Chapter CXIII

Then Indra saw by his profound meditation that the world was made to tremble by virtue of the heroic generosity of Mádrí and Tárávaloka. Then he assumed the form of a Bráhman, and went to Tárávaloka’s hermitage, to prove him, and asked him for his only wife Mádrí. And Tárávaloka was preparing to give without hesitation, by the ceremony of pouring water over the hands,10 that lady who had been his companion in the wild forest, when Indra, thus disguised as a Bráhman, said to him, “Royal sage, what object do you mean to attain by giving away a wife like this?” Then Tárávaloka said, “I have no object in view, Bráhman; so much only do I desire, that I may ever give away to Bráhmans even my life.” When Indra heard this, he resumed his proper shape, and said to him, “I have made proof of thee, and I am satisfied with thee; so I say to thee, thou must not again give away thy wife; and soon thou shalt be made emperor over all the Vidyádharas.” When the god had said this, he disappeared.