The four stages of life are, the life of a religious student, the life of a householder, the life of a hermit, and the life of a Sunyasi or devotee.] [Footnote 6: Bali was a demon who had conquered Indra and gained his throne, but was afterwards overcome by Vishnu at the time of his fifth incarnation.] [Footnote 7: Dandakya is said to have abducted from the forest the daughter of a Brahman, named Bhargava, and being cursed by the Brahman, was buried with his kingdom under a shower of dust.

The place was called after his name the Dandaka forest, celebrated in the Ramayana, but now unknown.] [Footnote 8: Ahalya was the wife of the sage Gautama.

Indra caused her to believe that he was Gautama, and thus enjoyed her.

He was cursed by Gautama and subsequently afflicted with a thousand ulcers on his body.] [Footnote 9: Kichaka was the brother-in-law of King Virata, with whom the Pandavas had taken refuge for one year.

Kichaka was killed by Bhima, who assumed the disguise of Draupadi.