Lomasha said: -
1. O descendant of Kuru, then Agastya wept out to beg wealth from the king Shrutarvana who was considered to be richer than other kings.
2. Having learnt of the arrival of the pot-born Rishi on the frontier of his kingdom, the king went out with his ministers and received the holy man with all respects.
3. Having duly offered the Arghya, the king with joined hands, submissively inquired the reason of the Rishi’s arrival.
Agastya said: -
4. O lord of earth, know, I have come to you for wealth. Give me a portion of your wealth according to your ability.
Lomasha said: -
5. Telling him that his income and expenditure were the same, that king said “Take from my wealth whatever you please to take.”
6. Having seen that his income and expenditure are the same, that Rishi who always saw both sides with equal eyes thought that if he took anything (from that king’s wealth), he would injure creatures.
7. Taking therefore Shrutarvana with him, he went to Bradhnashva. Having learnt of their arrival at the frontier of his kingdom he received them duly by offering them Arghya and water to wash their feet. He then with their permission inquired the reason of their coming.
Agastya said: -
9. O ruler of earth, know, I have come to you for wealth. Give me a portion of your wealth according to your ability,
Lomasha said: -
10. Thereupon the king, telling them that his income and the expenditure are the same, said “Knowing this, take from my wealth whatever you please to take.”
11. Having seen that his income and expenditure were the same, the Rishi who always saw both sides with equal eyes thought if he took anything from him he would injure other creatures.
12. Then Agastya, Shrutarvana and the king Bradnashva all went to Purukutsa’s son Trasadasya of great wealth.
13. O great king, having learnt of their arrival at the frontier of his kingdom, the high-minded Trasadasyu went out and received them duly.
14. That foremost of kings of the Ikshvaku race, having duly worshipped them, asked the reason of their coming;
Agastya said: -
15. O ruler of earth, know, that I have come to you for wealth. Give me a portion of your wealth according to your ability.
Lomasha said: -
16. Telling them that his income and expenditure were the same that king said, “knowing this take from my wealth whatever you please to take.”
17. Having seen that his income and expenditure were the same, the Rishi who saw both sides with equal eyes thought that if he took anything, he would injure other creatures.
18. O great king, then all those monarchs looking at one another and speaking all together thus spoke to the great Rishi.
19. O Brahmana, there is a Danava on earth named Ilvala who of all persons possesses the largest wealth. Let us all go to day to him and ask wealth from him.
20. O king, the suggestion to beg wealth from Ilvala appeared to them proper; and they all then went to Ilvala.
Thus ends the ninety eighth chapter, the history of Agasthya in the Tirthayatra of Vana Parva.