31. Inured in austerity, the boy continued to receive his best knowledge from the various lectures of his father, and passed a long time with him in that place, under the name of the sage’s son.
<32.> The boy was taught in various narratives and tales, and with many examples and ocular instances; as also in historical accounts and evidences of the Veda and Vedánta (for his best knowledge of spirituality).
33. The boy remained attendant on the lecture of his father, without feeling any anxiety; and formed his right notions of things by means of their antecedents. (The antecedent or preliminary causes of right judgements are, perceptions, inferences, comparisons and testimony or authoritative statements of sástras. (These are originally termed as pratyaksha, anumiti, Upamiti and Sabda or Sabda-bodha)).
34. The magnanimous father thus instilled true knowledge into the mind of his boy, by means (of the quadruple process) of right reasoning and correct diction, rather than regarding the elegance of expression; as the cloud indicates the approaching rain to the peacock by its hoarse sounds. (The quadruple process as mentioned above.)
CHAPTER LII.
GRANDEUR OF THE AIR-BORN KING.
Argument. Description of Dominions of the Air-born King, and the Frailty of Worldly possessions.
Vasishtha continued:—It was on one occasion that I passed by that (Dásúra’s) way in my invisible body, to bathe in the heavenly stream of mandákiní (milky way) in the etherial regions.
2. After my departure from that region by the way of the Pleiades (saptarshi), I arrived to the spot where Dásúra dwelt on his high Kadamba tree.
3. I came to listen to a voice proceeding from the hollow of the tree in the forest, which was as charming as the buzzing of the bee, fluttering about the bud of a lotus.
4. Attend my intelligent son! said he, to a narrative that I will relate unto thee by way of a simile of worldly things, and it is pleasant to hear.