62 25. Literally, "the hairs of his body stood on end," a stereotyped concomitant of great happiness in Sanskrit literature. 26. Great ascetics acquire, among other miraculous powers, the ability to read thoughts and to be omniscient in general. 27. yajyas , those for whom a given priest offers sacrifice. 28. Brhaspati is, of course, seated on a mat as befits a teacher; Kavya, the newcomer here, is standing. 29. See Note 9. 30. The reference is to the story of the Vamanavatara. Visnu is so impressed with Bal^s wholehearted liberality that he makes this promise to him. Cf. Bhagavatapupana 8 where the story is related in extenso. (The promise is made at 8.22. 31). 31. The device is rather amusing. Sukra now claims to have known the outcome all along but to have been prevented from telling it. 32. This obscure pair, sometimes taken to be associated with Sukra, are reckoned in the Brdhmanas to be the priests of the Asuras in many passages. Cf. Taitt. S. 6.4. 10; Satapatha Br. 4. 2. 1.5., etc. 33. yuvam bha^isyamah, or, "we will share (the sacrifice) with you." This latter interpretation would be more in line with the story or its versions as found in the Brahnana literature, where the priests are bribed with a share in the ya^a.