The famine conditions created by the lack of any rains drove all the sages and mendicants to desert their places and go in search for water and food and the only place where these things could be procured was Gautama’s ashram. So gradually all the sages flocked to this place and Gautama found himself engrossed in the task of feeding these hungry souls. lie could hardly find time for his daily rituals even. All his time was consumed by the task of sowing the rice seed,, and harvesting the ready crops. He was kept busy through Varuna’s favour because the land had gone so fertile that Whatever he sowed in the morning he had to reap in the evening’ The number of his guests’ was already quite large. Amongst these learned people one shone forth by his brilliance and eloquence. A flowing white beard and confident manner stood him in good stead. Soon he was the leader of them all.