मार्कण्डेय उवाच इदमन्य यतां ययाति हुषो राजा राज्यस्थः पौरजनावृत आसांचक्रे गुर्वथीं ब्राह्मण उपेत्याब्रवीद् भो राजन् गुर्वर्थं भिक्षेयं समयादिति॥
Markandeya said : Now hear another story. One day when the king Yayati, the son of Nahusa, was sitting on his throne surrounded by the citizens, a Brahmana came there for the purpose of begging) wealth for his preceptor. And he thus spoke, "O king, I beg wealth for my preceptor according to the pledge (I gave him).
राजोवाच ब्रवीतु भगवान् समयमिति॥
The king said: O exalted one, tell me what was your pledge.
ब्राह्मण उवाच विद्वेषणं परमं जीवलोके कुर्यान्नरः पार्थिव याच्यमानः। तं त्वां पृच्छामि कथं तु राजन् दद्याद् भवान् दयितं च मेऽद्य॥
The Brahmana said: O king, in this world when a man asks for alms, men the him who asks for it. I ask you therefore (to tell me) with what feelings you will give me what I ask and on which I have set my heart.
राजोवाच न चानुकीर्तयेदद्य दत्त्वा अयाच्यमर्थं न च संशृणोमि। प्राप्यमर्थं च संश्रुत्य तं चापि दत्त्वा सुसुखी भवामि॥
The king said: Having given away anything, I never boast of it; I never also listen to the prayers for things which cannot be given. But I (always) hear the prayers for things that can be given. Giving away, I always become happy.
ददामि ते रोहिणीनां सहस्रं प्रियो हि मे ब्राह्मणो याचमानः। न मे मनः कुप्यति याचमाने दत्तं न शोचामि कदाचिदर्थम्॥
I shall give you one thousand kine; the Brahmana who asks me for a gift is always very dear to me. I am never angry with a man who asks of me and I am never sorry for having given away.
इत्युक्त्वा ब्राह्मणाय राजा गोसहस्रं ददौ। प्राप्तवांश्च गवां सहस्रं ब्राह्मण इति॥
Markandeya said : Having said this. the king gave one thousand kine to the Brahmanas and the Brahmana also obtained one thousand kine.