Lomasha said: -
1. When Agastya thought that she had become fit for leading a domestic life, he went to the ruler of the earth, the king of Vidarbha and spoke to him thus.
2. O king, I have a mind to lead a domestic life for the sake of begetting offspring. O ruler of earth, therefore bestow on me Lopamudra; I solicit her.
3. Having been thus addressed by the Rishi, that king fainted away. He was unable to refuse, though he was unwilling to give.
4. That ruler of earth then, going to his wife, said, “The great Rishi possesses great power. If angry, he can consume us by the fire of his curse.
6. Seeing the king with his wife afflicted with sorrow, Lopamudra coming to them at that time spoke these words.
7. “O ruler of earth, you should not grieve on my account. O father, bestow me on Agastya and save yourself by giving me away.”
8. O king, at the request of his daughter that king then bestowed Lopamudra on the illustrious Agastya with all due rites.
9. Having received Lopamudra at his wife, Agastya thus spoke to her. “Throw away these costly robes and ornaments.”
10. Thereupon that large-eyed damsel of Rambha-like thighs threw away her costly and handsome robes of fine texture.
11. That large-eyed lady then dressing herself in bark, skin and rags, became equal to her husband in vows and acts.
12. Coming to the source of the Ganges that exalted one, that foremost of Rishis, began to perform severe austerities with his helpful wife.
13. She being much pleased began to serve her husband with great respect and the exalted Agastya also showed great love towards his wife.
14. After a long time, O king, the illustrious Rishi one day saw Lopamudra, blazing in ascetic splendour, coming after a bath in her season.
15. Being pleased with her service, with her purity, with her self-control, with her grace and beauty, he summoned her for the purpose of living with her.
16. Thereupon that lady in love and bashfulness spoke thus with joined hands to the exalted one.
17. “The husband certainly marries a wife for the purpose of offspring. But O Rishi, you should show towards me that love which I bear for you.
18. O Brahmana, you should come to me on a bed like the one in which I used to lie in my father’s house, his palace.
19. I desire that you should be adorned with garlands of flowers and I too should be adorned with those celestials ornaments that I like.
20. O foremost of Brahmanas, I cannot go to you with these rags dyed in red; to wear ornaments is never unholy.
Agastya said: -
21. O Lopamudra, O blessed girl, O slender-waisted maiden, I have not wealth like what your father possesses.
Lopamudra said: -
22. O great ascetic, by your ascetic prowess you can in a moment bring here all the wealth that exists in the world of men.
Agastya said: -
23. It is true what you say. But it would (simply) waste my ascetic merit. Bid me so do that which may not waste my ascetic merit.
Lopamudra said: -
24. O great ascetic, my season will not last long. I do not desire to live with you at any other time.
25. I never also desire to diminish your virtue in any way. You should therefore do what I desire without injuring your virtue.
Agastya said: -
26. O blessed girl, O fortunate one, if you make this resolve in your mind, then I will go out in search of wealth. Mean-while here as you like.
Thus ends the ninety-seventh chapter, the history of Agasthya in the Tirthayatra of Vana Parva.