Bhishma said Formerly, king Saudasa born of Ikshvaku's race, that foremost of eloquent men, on one occasion approached his family priest, viz., Vashishtha, that foremost of Rishis, crowned with ascetic success, capable of passing through every region, the receptacle of Brahma, and gifted with eternal life, and put to him the following question.
भीष्म उवाच एतस्मिन्नेव काले तु वसिष्ठमृषिसत्तमम्। इक्ष्वाकुवंशजो राजा सौदासो वदतां वरः॥ सर्वलोकचरं सिद्धं ब्रह्मकोशं सनातनम्। पुरोहितमभिप्रष्टुमभिवाद्योपचक्रमे॥