Then the Great Steward went to the six aristocrats and said, “King Disampati is old, elderly and senior, advanced in years, and has reached the final stage of life. Who knows how long he has to live? It’s likely that when he passes away the king-makers will anoint Prince Reṇu as king. Come, sirs, go to Prince Reṇu and say, ‘Prince Reṇu, we are your friends, dear, beloved, and cherished. We have shared your joys and sorrows. King Disampati is old, elderly and senior, advanced in years, and has reached the final stage of life. Who knows how long he has to live? It’s likely that when he passes away the king-makers will anoint you as king. If you should gain kingship, share it with us.’”

“Yes, sir,” replied the six aristocrats. They went to Prince Reṇu and put the proposal to him.

The prince replied, “Who else, sirs, in my realm ought to prosper if not you? If I gain kingship, I will share it with you all.”

In due course King Disampati passed away. At his passing, the king-makers anointed Prince Reṇu as king. But after being anointed, King Reṇu amused himself, supplied and provided with the five kinds of sensual stimulation.

Then the Great Steward went to the six aristocrats and said, “King Disampati has passed away. But after being anointed, King Reṇu amused himself, supplied and provided with the five kinds of sensual stimulation. Who knows the intoxicating power of sensual pleasures? Come, sirs, go to Prince Reṇu and say, ‘Sir, King Disampati has passed away, and you have been anointed as king. Do you remember what you said?’”

“Yes, sir,” replied the six aristocrats. They went to Prince Reṇu and said, “Sir, King Disampati has passed away, and you have been anointed as king. Do you remember what you said?”

“I remember, sirs. Who is able to neatly divide into seven equal parts this great land, so broad in the north and narrow as the front of a cart in the south?”

“Who else, sir, if not the Great Steward?”

So King Reṇu addressed one of his men, “Please, mister, go to the brahmin Great Steward and say that King Reṇu summons him.”

“Yes, Your Majesty,” replied that man, and did as he was asked. Then the Great Steward went to the king and exchanged greetings with him.

When the greetings and polite conversation were over, he sat down to one side, and the king said to him, “Come, let the good Steward neatly divide into seven equal parts this great land, so broad in the north and narrow as the front of a cart in the south.”

“Yes, sir,” replied the Great Steward, and did as he was asked. All were set up like the fronts of carts, with King Reṇu’s nation in the center.

Dantapura for the Kaliṅgas;
Potana for the Assakas;
Mahissati for the Avantis;
Roruka for the Sovīras;

Mithila for the Videhas;
Campā was made for the Aṅgas;
and Varanasi for the Kāsīs:
these were laid out by the Steward.

Then those six aristocrats were delighted with their respective gains, having achieved all they wished for, “We have received exactly what we wanted, what we wished for, what we desired, what we yearned for.”

Sattabhū and Brahmadatta,
Vessabhū and Bharata,
Reṇu and the two Dhataraṭṭhas:
these are the seven Bhāratas.

The first recitation section is finished.