For ten thousand years they refused to inhale even air (i.e., held their breath) and remained standing on one leg. Beholding their great penance BrahmŒ, Hari and Hara repeatedly called on Manu and tempted him in many ways, saying “Ask for a boon.” But the king and queen were most resolute and did not swerve in spite of the deities’ efforts to deflect them from their course. Although their frame had been reduced to a mere skeleton there was not the least anguish in their heart. The omniscient Lord now recognized the king and queen as His own servants. The ascetic couple solely depended on Him. In the meantime a most deep voice thundered from heaven, “Ask, ask for a boon.” The voice was steeped in the nectar of compassion and was so charming that it infused life into the dead. Entering through the cavity of the ears when it reached their very heart, they found their body attractive, animated and robust as before, as if they had just returned from home. (1—4)