May the water of Siva's sweat, fresh from the embrace of Gauri, [113] which the G.o.d of love when afraid of the fire of Siva's eye, employs as his aqueous weapon, protect you.

Listen to the following tale of the Vidyadharas, which the excellent Gana Pushpadanta heard on mount Kailasa from the G.o.d of the matted locks, and which Kanabhuti heard on the earth from the same Pushpadanta after he had become Vararuchi, and which Gunadhya heard from Kanabhuti, and Satavahana heard from Gunadhya.

Story of Udayana king of Vatsa.

There is a land famous under the name of Vatsa, that appears as if it had been made by the Creator as an earthly rival to dash the pride of heaven. In the centre of it is a great city named Kausambi, the favourite dwelling-place of the G.o.ddess of prosperity; the ear-ornament, so to speak, of the earth. In it dwelt a king named Satanika, sprung from the Pandava family, he was the son of Janamejaya, and the grandson of king Pariks.h.i.t, who was the great-grandson of Abhimanyu. The first progenitor of his race was Arjuna, the might of whose strong arms was tested in a struggle with the mighty arms of Siva; [114] his wife was the earth, and also Vishnumati his queen; the first produced jewels, but the second did not produce a son. Once on a time, as that king was roaming about in his pa.s.sion for the chase, he made acquaintance in the forest with the hermit Sandilya. That worthy sage finding out that the king desired a son, came to Kausambi and administered to his queen an artfully prepared oblation [115] consecrated with mystic verses. Then he had a son born to him called Sahasranika. And his father was adorned by him as excellence is by modesty. Then in course of time Satanika made that son crown-prince and though he still enjoyed kingly pleasures, ceased to trouble himself about the cares of government. Then a war arose between the G.o.ds and Asuras, and Indra sent Matali as a messenger to that king begging for aid. Then he committed his son and his kingdom to the care of his princ.i.p.al minister, who was called Yogandhara, and his Commander-in-chief, whose name was Supratika, and went to Indra with Matali to slay the Asuras in fight. That king, having slain many Asuras, of whom Yamadanshtra was the chief, under the eyes of Indra, met death in that very battle. The king's body was brought back by Matali, and the queen burnt herself with it, and the royal dignity descended to his son Sahasranika. Wonderful to say, when that king ascended his father's throne, the heads of the kings on every side of his dominions were bent down with the weight. Then Indra sent Matali, and brought to heaven that Sahasranika, as being the son of his friend, that he might be present at the great feast which he was holding to celebrate his victory over his foes. There the king saw the G.o.ds, attended by their fair ones, sporting in the garden of Nandana, and desiring for himself a suitable wife, fell into low spirits. Then Indra, perceiving this desire of his, said to him; "King, away with despondency, this desire of thine shall be accomplished. For there has been born upon the earth one, who was long ago ordained a suitable match for thee. For listen to the following history, which I now proceed to relate to thee.

"Long ago I went to the court of Brahma in order to visit him, and a certain Vasu named Vidhuma followed me. While we were there, an Apsaras [116] named Alambusha came to see Brahma, and her robe was blown aside by the wind. And the Vasu, when he beheld her, was overpowered by love, and the Apsaras too had her eyes immediately attracted by his form. The lotus-sprung G.o.d, [117] when he beheld that, looked me full in the face, and I, knowing his meaning, in wrath cursed those two, 'Be born, you two, shameless creatures, into the world of mortals, and there become man and wife.' That Vasu has been born as thou, Sahasranika, the son of Satanika, an ornament to the race of the moon. And that Apsaras too has been born in Ayodhya as the daughter of king Kritavarman, Mrigavati by name, she shall be thy wife." By these words of Indra the flame of love was fanned in the pa.s.sionate [118] heart of the king and burst out into full blaze; as a fire when fanned by the wind. Indra then dismissed the king from heaven with all due honour in his own chariot, and he set out with Matali [119]

for his capital. But as he was starting, the Apsaras Tilottama said to him out of affection, "King I have somewhat to say to thee, wait a moment." But he, thinking on Mrigavati, went off without hearing what she said, then Tilottama in her rage cursed him; "King, thou shalt be separated for fourteen years from her who has so engrossed thy mind that thou dost not hear my speech." Now Matali heard that curse, but the king, yearning for his beloved, did not. In the chariot he went to Kausambi but in spirit he went to Ayodhya. Then the king told with longing heart, all that he had heard from Indra with reference to Mrigavati, to his ministers, Yogandhara and the others: and not being able to endure delay, he sent an amba.s.sador to Ayodhya to ask her father Kritavarman for the hand of that maiden. And Kritavarman having heard from the amba.s.sador his commission, told in his joy the queen Kalavati, and then she said to him--"King we ought certainly to give Mrigavati to Sahasranika, and, I remember, a certain Brahman told me this very thing in a dream"; then in his delight the king showed to the amba.s.sador Mrigavati's wonderful skill in dancing, singing, and other accomplishments, and her matchless beauty; so the king Kritavarman gave to Sahasranika that daughter of his who was unequalled as a mine of graceful arts, and who shone like an incarnation of the moon; that marriage of Sahasranika and Mrigavati was one in which the good qualities of either party supplemented those of the other, and might be compared to the union of learning and intelligence.

Not long after sons were born to the king's ministers; Yogandhara had a son born to him named Yaugandharayana; and Supratika had a son born to him named Rumanvat. And to the king's master of the revels was born a son named Vasantaka. Then in a few days Mrigavati became slightly pale and promised to bear a child to king Sahasranika. And then she asked the king, who was never tired of looking at her, to gratify her longing by filling a tank full of blood for her to bathe in. Accordingly the king, who was a righteous man, in order to gratify her desire, had a tank filled with the juice of lac and other red extracts, so that it seemed to be full of blood. [120] And while she was bathing in that lake, and covered with red dye, a bird of the race of Garuda [121]

suddenly pounced upon her and carried her off thinking she was raw flesh. As soon as she was carried away in some unknown direction by the bird, the king became distracted, and his self-command forsook him as if in order to go in search of her. His heart was so attached to his beloved that it was in very truth carried off by that bird, and thus he fell senseless upon the earth. As soon as he had recovered his senses, Matali, who had discovered all by his divine power, descended through the air and came where the king was. He consoled the king, and told him the curse of Tilottama with its destined end, as he had heard it long ago, and then he took his departure. Then the king tormented with grief lamented on this wise; "Alas my beloved, that wicked Tilottama has accomplished her desire." But having learned the facts about the curse, and having received advice from his ministers, he managed, though with difficulty, to retain his life through hope of a future reunion.

But that bird, which had carried off Mrigavati, as soon as it found out that she was alive, abandoned her, and as fate would have it, left her on the mountain where the sun rises. And when the bird let her drop and departed, the queen, distracted with grief and fear, saw that she was left unprotected on the slope of a trackless mountain. While she was weeping in the forest, alone, with one garment only to cover her, an enormous serpent rose up and prepared to swallow her. Then she, for whom prosperity was reserved in the future, was delivered by some heavenly hero that came down and slew the serpent, and disappeared almost as soon as he was seen. Thereupon she, longing for death, flung herself down in front of a wild elephant, but even he spared her as if out of compa.s.sion. Wonderful was it that even a wild beast did not slay her when she fell in his way! Or rather it was not to be wondered at. What cannot the will of Siva effect?

Then the girl tardy with the weight of her womb, desiring to hurl herself down from a precipice, and thinking upon that lord of hers, wept aloud; and a hermit's son, who had wandered there in search of roots and fruits, hearing that, came up, and found her looking like the incarnation of sorrow. And he, after questioning the queen about her adventures, and comforting her as well as he could, with a heart melted with compa.s.sion led her off to the hermitage of Jamadagni. There she beheld Jamadagni, looking like the incarnation of comfort, whose brightness so illumined the eastern mountain that it seemed as if the rising sun ever rested on it. When she fell at his feet, that hermit who was kind to all that came to him for help, and possessed heavenly insight, said to her who was tortured with the pain of separation; "Here there shall be born to thee, my daughter, a son that shall uphold the family of his father, and thou shalt be reunited to thy husband, therefore weep not." When that virtuous woman heard that speech of the hermit's, she took up her abode in that hermitage, and entertained hope of a reunion with her beloved. And some days after, the blameless one gave birth to a charmingly beautiful son, as a.s.sociation with the good produces good manners. At that moment a voice was heard from heaven; "an august king of great renown has been born, Udayana by name, and his son shall be monarch of all the Vidyadharas." That voice restored to the heart of Mrigavati joy which she had long forgotten. Gradually that boy grew up to size and strength in that grove of asceticism, accompanied by his own excellent qualities as playmates. And the heroic child had the sacraments appropriate to a member of the warrior-caste performed for him by Jamadagni, and was instructed by him in the sciences, and the practice of archery. And out of love for him Mrigavati drew off from her own wrist, and placed on his, a bracelet marked with the name of Sahasranika. Then that Udayana roaming about once upon a time in pursuit of deer, beheld in the forest a snake that had been forcibly captured by a Savara. [122] And he, feeling pity for the beautiful snake, said to that Savara, "Let go this snake to please me." Then that Savara said, "My lord, this is my livelihood, for I am a poor man, and I always maintain myself by exhibiting dancing snakes. The snake I previously had having died, I searched through this great wood, and, finding this one, overpowered him by charms and captured him." When he heard this, the generous Udayana gave that Savara the bracelet which his mother had bestowed on him, and persuaded him to set the snake at liberty. The Savara took the bracelet and departed, and then the snake being pleased with Udayana bowed before him and said as follows, "I am the eldest brother of Vasuki, [123] called Vasunemi: receive from me, whom thou hast preserved, this lute, sweet in the sounding of its strings, divided according to the division of the quarter-tones; and betel leaf, together with the art of weaving unfading garlands, and adorning the forehead with marks that never become indistinct." Then Udayana furnished with all these, and dismissed by the snake, returned to the hermitage of Jamadagni, raining nectar, so to speak, into the eyes of his mother.

In the meanwhile that Savara who had lighted on this forest, and while roaming about in it had obtained the bracelet from Udayana by the will of fate, was caught attempting to sell this ornament marked with the king's name in the market, and was arrested by the police, and brought up in court before the king. Then king Sahasranika himself asked him in sorrow whence he had obtained the bracelet. Then that Savara told him the whole story of his obtaining possession of the bracelet, beginning with his capture of the snake upon the eastern mountain. Hearing that from the Savara, and beholding that bracelet of his beloved, king Sahasranika ascended the swing of doubt.

Then a divine voice from heaven delighted the king who was tortured with the fire of separation, as the rain-drops delight the peac.o.c.k when afflicted with the heat, uttering these words--"Thy curse is at an end, O king, and that wife of thine Mrigavati is residing in the hermitage of Jamadagni together with thy son." Then that day at last came to an end, though made long by anxious expectation, and on the morrow that king Sahasranika, making the Savara show him the way, set out with his army for that hermitage on the eastern mountain, in order quickly to recover his beloved wife.

CHAPTER X.

After he had gone a long distance the king encamped that day in a certain forest on the border of a lake. He went to bed weary, and in the evening he said to Sangataka a story-teller who had come to him on account of the pleasure he took in his service; "Tell me some tale that will gladden my heart, for I am longing for the joy of beholding the lotus-face of Mrigavati." Then Sangataka said, King why do you grieve without cause? The union with your queen, which will mark the termination of your curse, is nigh at hand. Human beings experience many unions and separations: and I will tell you a story to ill.u.s.trate this; listen, my lord!

Story of Sridatta and Mrigankavati.

Once on a time there lived in the country of Malava a Brahman named Yajnasoma. And that good man had two sons born to him, beloved by men. One of them was known as Kalanemi and the second was named Vigatabhaya. Now, when their father had gone to heaven, those two brothers, having pa.s.sed through the age of childhood, went to the city of Pataliputra to acquire learning. And when they had completed their studies, their teacher Devasarman gave them his own two daughters, like another couple of sciences incarnate in bodily form.

Then seeing that the householders around him were rich, Kalanemi through envy made a vow and propitiated the G.o.ddess of Fortune with burnt-offerings. And the G.o.ddess being satisfied appeared in bodily form and said to him--"Thou shalt obtain great wealth and a son who shall rule the earth; but at last thou shalt be put to death like a robber, because thou hast offered flesh in the fire with impure motives." When she had said this, the G.o.ddess disappeared; and Kalanemi in course of time became very rich; moreover after some days a son was born to him. So the father, whose desires were now accomplished, called that son Sridatta, [124] because he had been obtained by the favour of the G.o.ddess of Fortune. In course of time Sridatta grew up, and though a Brahman, became matchless upon earth in the use of weapons, and in boxing and wrestling.

Then Kalanemi's brother Vigatabhaya went to a foreign land, having become desirous of visiting places of pilgrimage, through sorrow for his wife, who died of the bite of a snake.

Moreover the king of the land, Vallabhasakti, who appreciated good qualities, made Sridatta the companion of his son Vikramasakti. So he had to live with a haughty prince, as the impetuous Bhima lived in his youth with Duryodhana. Then two Kshatriyas, natives of Avanti, Bahusalin and Vajramushti became friends of that Brahman's. And some other men from the Deccan, sons of ministers, having been conquered by him in wrestling, resorted to him out of spontaneous friendship, as they knew how to value merit. Mahabala and Vyaghrabhata and also Upendrabala and a man named Nishthuraka became his friends. One day, as years rolled on, Sridatta, being in attendance on the prince, went with him and those friends to sport on the bank of the Ganges; then the prince's own servants made him king, and at the same time Sridatta was chosen king by his friends. This made the prince angry, and in over-weening confidence he at once challenged that Brahman hero to fight. Then being conquered by him in wrestling, and so disgraced, he made up his mind that this rising hero should be put to death. But Sridatta found out that intention of the prince's, and withdrew in alarm with those friends of his from his presence. And as he was going along, he saw in the middle of the Ganges a woman being dragged under by the stream, looking like the G.o.ddess of Fortune in the middle of the sea. And then he plunged in to pull her out of the water, leaving Bahusalin and his five other friends on the bank. Then that woman, though he seized her by the hair, sank deep in the water; and he dived as deep in order to follow her. And after he had dived a long way, he suddenly saw a splendid temple of Siva, but no water and no woman. [125] After beholding that wonderful sight, being wearied out he paid his adorations to the G.o.d whose emblem is a bull, and spent that night in a beautiful garden attached to the temple. And in the morning that lady was seen by him having come to worship the G.o.d Siva, like the incarnate splendour of beauty attended by all womanly perfections. And after she had worshipped the G.o.d, the moon-faced one departed to her own house, and Sridatta for his part followed her. And he saw that palace of hers resembling the city of the G.o.ds, which the haughty beauty entered hurriedly in a contemptuous manner. And without deigning to address him, the graceful lady sat down on a sofa in the inner part of the house, waited upon by thousands of women. And Sridatta also took a seat near her; then suddenly that virtuous lady began to weep. The tear-drops fell in an unceasing shower on her bosom, and that moment pity entered into the heart of Sridatta. And then he said to her, "Who art thou, and what is thy sorrow? Tell me, fair one, for I am able to remove it." Then she said reluctantly, "We are the thousand granddaughters of Bali [126] the king of the Daityas, and I am the eldest of all, and my name is Vidyutprabha. That grandfather of ours was carried off by Vishnu to long imprisonment, and the same hero slew our father in a wrestling-match. And after he had slain him, he excluded us from our own city, and he placed a lion in it to prevent us from entering. The lion occupies that place, and grief our hearts. It is a Yaksha that was made a lion by the curse of Kuvera, and long ago it was predicted that the Yaksha's curse should end when he was conquered by some mortal; so Vishnu deigned to inform us on our humbly asking him how we might be enabled to enter our city. Therefore subdue that lion our enemy; it was for that reason, O hero, that I enticed you hither. And when you have overcome him you will obtain from him a sword named Mriganka, by the virtue of which you shall conquer the world and become a king." When he heard that, Sridatta agreed to undertake the adventure, and after that day had pa.s.sed, on the morrow he took those Daitya maidens with him as guides, and went to that city, and there he overcame in wrestling that haughty lion. [127] He being freed from his curse a.s.sumed a human form, and out of grat.i.tude gave his sword to the man who had put an end to his curse, and then disappeared together with the burden of the sorrow of the great Asura's daughter. Then that Sridatta, together with the Daitya's daughter, who was accompanied by her younger sisters, entered that splendid city which looked like the serpent Ananta [128]

having emerged from the earth. And that Daitya maiden gave him a ring that destroyed the effect of poison. Then that young man remaining there fell in love with her. And she cunningly said to him, "Bathe in this tank, and when you dive in, take with you this sword [129]

to keep off the danger of crocodiles." He consented, and diving into the tank, rose upon that very bank of the Ganges from which he first plunged in. Then he, seeing the ring and the sword, felt astonishment at having emerged from the lower regions, and despondency at having been tricked by the Asura maid. Then he went towards his own house to look for his friends, and as he was going he saw on the way his friend Nishthuraka. Nishthuraka came up to him and saluted him, and quickly took him aside into a lonely place, and when asked by him for news of his relations, gave him this answer; "On that occasion when you plunged into the Ganges we searched for you many days, and out of grief we were preparing to cut off our heads, but a voice from heaven forbade that attempt of ours saying, 'My sons, do no rash act, your friend shall return alive.' And then we were returning into the presence of your father, when on the way a man hurriedly advanced to meet us and said this--'You must not enter this city at present, for the king of it Vallabhasakti is dead, and the ministers have with one accord conferred the royal dignity on Vikramasakti;' now the day after he was made king he went to the house of Kalanemi, and full of wrath asked him where his son Sridatta was, and he replied--'I do not know.' Then the king in a rage, supposing he had concealed his son, had him put to death by impalement as a thief. When his wife saw that, her heart broke. Men of cruel deeds must always pile one evil action upon another in long succession; and so Vikramasakti is searching for Sridatta to slay him, and you are his friends, therefore leave this place.' When the man had given us this warning, Bahusalin and his four companions being grieved went by common consent to their own home in Ujjayini. And they left me here in concealment, my friend, for your sake. So come, let us go to that very place to meet our friends." Having heard this from Nishthuraka, and having bewailed his parents, Sridatta cast many a look at his sword, as if reposing in that his hope of vengeance; then the hero, biding his time, set out accompanied by Nishthuraka for that city of Ujjayini in order to meet his friends.

And as he was relating to his friend his adventures from the time of his plunging into the stream, Sridatta beheld a woman weeping in the road; when she said, "I am a woman going to Ujjayini and I have lost my way," Sridatta out of pity made her journey along with him. He and Nishthuraka, together with that woman, whom he kept with him out of compa.s.sion, halted that day in a certain deserted town. There he suddenly woke up in the night and beheld that the woman had slain Nishthuraka, and was devouring his flesh with the utmost delight. Then he rose up drawing his sword Mriganka, and that woman a.s.sumed her own terrible form, that of a Rakshasi, [130] and he seized that night-wanderer by her hair, to slay her. That moment she a.s.sumed a heavenly shape and said to him, "Slay me not, mighty hero, let me go, I am not a Rakshasi; the hermit Visvamitra imposed this condition on me by a curse. For once when he was performing austerities from a desire to attain the position of the G.o.d of wealth, I was sent by the G.o.d to impede him. Then finding that I was not able to seduce him with my alluring form, being abashed, I a.s.sumed in order to terrify him a formidable shape. When he saw this, that hermit laid on me a curse suitable to my offence, exclaiming--'Wicked one, become a Rakshasi and slay men.' And he appointed that my curse should end when you took hold of my hair; accordingly I a.s.sumed this detestable condition of a Rakshasi, and I have devoured all the inhabitants of this town: now to-day after a long time you have brought my curse to an end in the manner foretold; therefore receive now some boon." When he heard that speech of hers, Sridatta said respectfully, "Mother grant that my friend may be restored to life. What need have I of any other boon?" "So be it," said she, and after granting the boon disappeared. And Nishthuraka rose up again alive without a scratch on his body. Then Sridatta set out the next morning with him, delighted and astonished, and at last reached Ujjayini. There he revived by his appearance the spirits of his friends, who were anxiously expecting him, as the arrival of the cloud revives the peac.o.c.ks. And after he had told all the wonders of his adventures, Bahusalin went through the usual formalities of hospitality, taking him to his own home. There Sridatta was taken care of by the parents of Bahusalin, and lived with his friends as comfortably as if he were in his own house.

Once on a time, when the great feast of spring-tide [131] had arrived, he went with his friends to behold some festal rejoicings in a garden. There he beheld a maiden, the daughter of king Bimbaki, who had come to see the show, looking like the G.o.ddess of the Splendour of Spring present in bodily form. She, by name Mrigankavati, that moment penetrated into his heart, as if through the openings left by the expansion of his eye. Her pa.s.sionate look too, indicative of the beginning of love, fixed on him, went and returned like a confidante. When she entered a thicket of trees, Sridatta not beholding her, suddenly felt his heart so empty that he did not know where he was. His friend Bahusalin, who thoroughly understood the language of gestures, said to him, "My friend, I know your heart, do not deny your pa.s.sion, therefore, come, let us go to that part of the garden where the king's daughter is." He consented and went near her accompanied by his friend. That moment a cry was heard there, which gave great pain to the heart of Sridatta, "Alas the princess has been bitten by a snake!" Bahusalin then went and said to the chamberlain--"My friend here possesses a ring that counteracts the effects of poison, and also healing spells." Immediately the chamberlain came, and bowing at his feet, quickly led Sridatta to the princess. He placed the ring on her finger, and then muttered his spells so that she revived. Then all the attendants were delighted, and loud in praise of Sridatta, and the king Bimbaki hearing the circ.u.mstances came to the place. Accordingly Sridatta returned with his friends to the house of Bahusalin without taking back the ring. And all the gold and other presents, which the delighted king sent to him there, he handed over to the father of Bahusalin. Then, thinking upon that fair one, he was so much afflicted, that his friends became utterly bewildered as to what to do with him. Then a dear friend of the princess, Bhavanika, by name, came to him on pretence of returning the ring; and said to him, "That friend of mine, ill.u.s.trious Sir, has made up her mind, that either you must save her life by becoming her husband, or she will be married to her grave." When Bhavanika had said this, Sridatta and Bahusalin and the others quickly put their heads together and came to the following resolution, "We will carry off this princess secretly by a stratagem, and will go unperceived from here to Mathura and live there." The plan having been thoroughly talked over, and the conspirators having agreed with one another what each was to do in order to carry it out, Bhavanika then departed. And the next day Bahusalin, accompanied by three of his friends, went to Mathura on pretext of trafficking, and as he went he posted in concealment at intervals swift horses for the conveyance of the princess. But Sridatta then brought at eventide a woman with her daughter into the palace of the princess, after making them both drink spirits, and then Bhavanika, on pretence of lighting up the palace, set fire to it, and secretly conveyed the princess out of it; and that moment Sridatta, who was remaining outside, received her, and sent her on to Bahusalin, who had started in the morning, and directed two of his friends to attend on her and also Bhavanika. Now that drunken woman and her daughter were burnt in the palace of the princess, and people supposed that the princess had been burnt with her friend. But Sridatta took care to show himself in the morning as before, in the city; then on the second night, taking with him his sword Mriganka, he started to follow his beloved, who had set out before him. And in his eagerness he accomplished a great distance that night, and when the morning watch [132] had pa.s.sed, he reached the Vindhya forest. There he first beheld unlucky omens, and afterwards he saw all those friends of his together with Bhavanika lying in the road gashed with wounds. And when he came up all distracted, they said to him, "We were robbed to-day by a large troop of hors.e.m.e.n that set upon us. And after we were reduced to this state, one of the hors.e.m.e.n threw the terrified princess on his horse and carried her off. So before she has been carried to a great distance, go in this direction, do not remain near us, she is certainly of more importance than we." Being urged on with these words by his friends, Sridatta rapidly followed after the princess, but could not help frequently turning round to look at them. And after he had gone a considerable distance, he caught up that troop of cavalry, and he saw a young man of the warrior caste in the midst of it. And he beheld that princess held by him upon his horse. So he slowly approached that young warrior; and when soft words would not induce him to let the princess go, he hurled him from his horse with a blow of his foot, and dashed him to pieces on a rock. And after he had slain him, he mounted on his horse and slew a great number of the other hors.e.m.e.n who charged him in anger. And then those who remained alive, seeing that the might which the hero displayed was more than human, fled away in terror; and Sridatta mounted on the horse with the princess Mrigankavati and set out to find those friends of his. And after he had gone a little way, he and his wife got off the horse which had been severely wounded in the fight, and soon after it fell down and died. And then his beloved Mrigankavati, exhausted with fear and exertion, became very thirsty. And leaving her there, he roamed a long distance hither and thither, and while he was looking for water the sun set. Then he discovered that, though he had found water, he had lost his way, and he pa.s.sed that night in the wood roaming about, moaning aloud like a Chakravaka. [133] And in the morning he reached that place, which was easy to recognise by the carca.s.s of the horse. And nowhere there did he behold his beloved princess. Then in his distraction he placed his sword Mriganka on the ground, and climbed to the top of a tree, in order to cast his eye in all directions for her. That very moment a certain Savara chieftain pa.s.sed that way; and he came up and took the sword from the foot of the tree. Beholding that Savara chieftain, Sridatta came down from the top of the tree, and in great grief asked him for news of his beloved. The Savara chieftain said--"Leave this place and come to my village; I have no doubt she whom you seek has gone there; and I shall come there and return you this sword." When the Savara chieftain urged him to go with these words, Sridatta, being himself all eagerness, went to that village with the chief's men. And there those men said to him,--"Sleep off your fatigue,"--and when he reached the house of the chief of the village, being tired he went to sleep in an instant. And when he woke up he saw his two feet fastened with fetters, like the two efforts he had made in order to obtain his beloved, which failed to reach their object. Then he remained there weeping for his darling, who, like the course of destiny, had for a moment brought him joy, and the next moment blasted his hopes.

One day a serving maid of the name of Mochanika came to him and said,--Ill.u.s.trious Sir, unwittingly you have come hither to your death? For the Savara chieftain has gone somewhither to accomplish certain weighty affairs, and when he returns, he will offer you to Chandika. [134] For with that object he decoyed you here by a stratagem from this slope of the wild Vindhya hill, and immediately threw you into the chains in which you now are. And it is because you are intended to be offered as a victim to the G.o.ddess, that you are continually served with garments and food. But I know of only one expedient for delivering you, if you agree to it. This Savara chieftain has a daughter named Sundari, and she having seen you is becoming exceedingly love-sick; marry her who is my friend, then you will obtain deliverance. [135] When she said this to him, Sridatta consented, desiring to be set at liberty, and secretly made that Sundari his wife by the Gandharva form of marriage. And every night she removed his chains and in a short time Sundari became pregnant. Then her mother, having heard the whole story from the mouth of Mochanika, out of love for her son-in-law Sridatta, went and of her own accord said to him--"My son, Srichanda the father of Sundari is a wrathful man, and will show thee no mercy. Therefore depart, but thou must not forget Sundari." When his mother-in-law had said this, she set him at liberty, and Sridatta departed after telling Sundari that the sword, which was in her father's possession, really belonged to himself.

So he again entered full of anxiety that forest, in which he had before wandered about, in order again to search for traces of Mrigavati. And having seen an auspicious omen he came to that same place, where that horse of his died before, and whence his wife was carried off. And there he saw near [136] him a hunter coming towards him, and when he saw him he asked him for news of that gazelle-eyed lady. Then the hunter asked him "Are you Sridatta?" and he sighing replied "I am that unfortunate man." Then that hunter said, "Listen, friend, I have somewhat to tell you. I saw that wife of yours wandering hither and thither lamenting your absence, and having asked her her story, and consoled her, moved with compa.s.sion I took her out of this wood to my own village. But when I saw the young Pulindas [137] there, I was afraid, and I took her to a village named Nagasthala near Mathura. [138] And then I placed her in the house of an old Brahman named Visvadatta commending her with all due respect to his care. And thence I came here having learnt your name from her lips. Therefore you had better go quickly to Nagasthala to search for her." When the hunter had told him this, Sridatta quickly set out, and he reached Nagasthala in the evening of the second day. Then he entered the house of Visvadatta and when he saw him said, "Give me my wife who was placed here by the hunter." Visvadatta when he heard that, answered him, "I have a friend in Mathura a Brahman, dear to all virtuous men, the spiritual preceptor and minister of the king Surasena. In his care I placed your wife. For this village is an out-of-the-way place and would not afford her protection. So go to that city to-morrow morning, but to-day rest here." When Visvadatta said this, he spent that night there, and the next morning he set off, and reached Mathura on the second day. Being weary and dusty with the long journey, he bathed outside that city in the pellucid water of a lake. And he drew out of the middle of the lake a garment placed there by some robbers, not suspecting any harm. But in one corner of the garment, which was knotted up, a necklace was concealed. [139] Then Sridatta took that garment, and in his eagerness to meet his wife did not notice the necklace, and so entered the city of Mathura. Then the city police recognized the garment, and finding the necklace, arrested Sridatta as a thief, and carried him off, and brought him before the chief magistrate exactly as he was found, with the garment in his possession; by him he was handed up to the king, and the king ordered him to be put to death.

Then, as he was being led off to the place of execution with the drum being beaten behind him, [140] his wife Mrigankavati saw him in the distance. She went in a state of the utmost distraction and said to the chief minister, in whose house she was residing, "Yonder is my husband being led off to execution." Then that minister went and ordered the executioners to desist, and, by making a representation to the king, got Sridatta pardoned, and had him brought to his house. And when Sridatta reached his house, and saw that minister, he recognised him and fell at his feet, exclaiming, "What! is this my uncle Vigatabhaya, who long ago went to a foreign country, and do I now by good luck find him established in the position of a minister?" He too recognised to his astonishment Sridatta as his brother's son, and embraced him, and questioned him about all his adventures. Then Sridatta related to his uncle his whole history beginning with the execution of his father. And he, after weeping, said to his nephew in private, "Do not despond, my son, for I once brought a female Yaksha into subjection by means of magic; and she gave me, though I have no son, five thousand horses and seventy millions of gold pieces: and all that wealth is at your disposal." After telling him this, his uncle brought him his beloved, and he, having obtained wealth, married her on the spot. And then he remained there in joy, united with that beloved Mrigankavati as a bed of white lotuses [141] with the night. But even when his happiness was at its full, anxiety for Bahusalin and his companions clouded his heart, as a spot of darkness does the full moon. Now one day his uncle said secretly to Sridatta: "my son, the king Surasena has a maiden daughter, and in accordance with his orders I have to take her to the land of Avanti to give her away in marriage; so I will take her away on that very pretext, and marry her to you. Then, when you have got possession of the force that follows her, with mine already at your disposal, you will soon gain the kingdom that was promised you by the G.o.ddess Sri." Having resolved on this, and having taken that maiden, Sridatta and his uncle set out with their army and their attendants. But as soon as they had reached the Vindhya forest, before they were aware of the danger, a large army of brigands set upon them showering arrows. After routing Sridatta's force, and seizing all the wealth, they bound Sridatta himself, who had fainted from his wounds, and carried him off to their village. And they took him to the awful temple of Durga, in order to offer him up in sacrifice, and, as it were, summoned Death with the sound of their gongs. There Sundari saw him, one of his wives, the daughter of the chief of the village, who had come with her young son to visit the shrine of the G.o.ddess. Full of joy she ordered the brigands, who were between her and her husband, to stand aside, and then Sridatta entered her palace with her. Immediately Sridatta obtained the sovereignty of that village, which Sundari's father, having no son, bequeathed to her when he went to heaven. So Sridatta recovered his wife and his sword Mriganka, and also his uncle and his followers, who had been overpowered by the robbers. And, while he was in that town, he married the daughter of Surasena, and became a great king there. And from that place he sent amba.s.sadors to his two fathers-in-law, to Bimbaki, and king Surasena. And they, being very fond of their daughters, gladly recognised him as a connection, and came to him accompanied by the whole of their armies. And his friends Bahusalin and the others, who had been separated from him, when they heard what had happened, came to him with their wounds healed and in good health. Then the hero marched, united with his fathers-in-law, and made that Vikramasakti, who had put his father to death, a burnt-offering in the flame of his wrath. And then Sridatta, having gained dominion over the sea-encircled earth, and deliverance from the sorrow of separation, joyed in the society of Mrigankavati. Even so, my king, do men of firm resolution cross the calamitous sea of separation and obtain prosperity.

After hearing this tale from Sangataka, the king Sahasranika, though longing for the sight of his beloved one, managed to get through that night on the journey. Then, engrossed with his desire, sending his thoughts on before, in the morning Sahasranika set out to meet his darling. And in a few days he reached that peaceful hermitage of Jamadagni, in which even the deer laid aside their wantonness. And there he beheld with reverence that Jamadagni, the sight of whom was sanctifying, like the incarnate form of penance, who received him hospitably. And the hermit handed over to him that queen Mrigavati with her son, regained by the king after long separation, like tranquillity accompanied with joy. And that sight which the husband and wife obtained of one another, now that the curse had ceased, rained, as it were, nectar into their eyes, which were filled with tears of joy. And the king embracing that son Udayana, whom he now beheld for the first time, could with difficulty let him go, as he was, so to speak, riveted to his body with his own hairs that stood erect from joy. [142] Then king Sahasranika took his queen Mrigavati with Udayana, and, bidding adieu to Jamadagni, set out from that tranquil hermitage for his own city, and even the deer followed him as far as the border of the hermitage with tearful eyes. Beguiling the way by listening to the adventures of his beloved wife during the period of separation, and by relating his own, he at length reached the city of Kausambi, in which triumphal arches were erected and banners displayed. And he entered that city in company with his wife and child, being, so to speak, devoured [143] by the eyes of the citizens, that had the fringe of their lashes elevated. And immediately the king appointed his son Udayana crown-prince, being incited to it by his excellent qualities. And he a.s.signed to him as advisers the sons of his own ministers, Vasantaka and Rumanvat and Yaugandharayana. Then a rain of flowers fell, and a celestial voice was heard--"By the help of these excellent ministers, the prince shall obtain dominion over the whole earth." Then the king devolved on his son the cares of empire, and enjoyed in the society of Mrigavati the long-desired pleasures of the world. At last the desire of earthly enjoyment, beholding suddenly that old age, the harbinger of composure had reached the root of the king's ear, [144] became enraged and fled far from him. Then that king Sahasranika established in his throne his excellent son Udayana, [145]

whom the subjects loved so well, to ensure the world's prosperity, and accompanied by his ministers, and his beloved wife, ascended the Himalaya to prepare for the last great journey.

CHAPTER XI.

Then Udayana took the kingdom of Vatsa, which his father had bequeathed to him, and, establishing himself in Kausambi, ruled his subjects well. But gradually he began to devolve the cares of empire upon his ministers, Yaugandharayana and others, and gave himself up entirely to pleasures. He was continually engaged in the chase, and day and night he played on the melodious lute which Vasuki [146]

gave him long ago; and he subdued evermore infuriated wild elephants, overpowered by the fascinating spell of its strings' dulcet sound, and, taming them, brought them home. That king of Vatsa drank wine adorned by the reflection of the moon-faces of fair women, and at the same time robbed his minister's faces of their cheerful hue. [147]

Only one anxiety had he to bear, he kept thinking, "Nowhere is a wife found equal to me in birth and personal appearance, the maiden named Vasavadatta alone has a liking for me, but how is she to be obtained?" Chandamahasena also in Ujjayini thought; "There is no suitable husband to be found for my daughter in the world, except one Udayana by name, and he has ever been my enemy. Then how can I make him my son-in-law and my submissive ally? There is only one device which can effect it. He wanders about alone in the forest capturing elephants, for he is a king addicted to the vice of hunting; I will make use of this failing of his to entrap him and bring him here by a stratagem: and, as he is acquainted with music, I will make this daughter of mine his pupil, and then his eye will without doubt be charmed with her, and he will certainly became my son-in-law, and my obedient ally. No other artifice seems applicable in this case for making him submissive to my will." Having thus reflected, he went to the temple of Durga, in order that his scheme might be blessed with success, and, after worship and praise, offered a prayer to the G.o.ddess. And there he heard a bodiless voice saying, "This desire of thine, O king, shall shortly be accomplished." Then he returned satisfied, and deliberated over that very matter with the minister Buddhadatta [148] saying--"That prince is elated with pride, he is free from avarice, his subjects are attached to him, and he is of great power, therefore he cannot be reached by any of the four usual expedients beginning with negotiation, nevertheless let negotiation be tried first." [149] Having thus deliberated, the king gave this order to an amba.s.sador, "Go and give the king of Vatsa this message from me; 'My daughter desires to be thy pupil in music, if thou love us, come here and teach her.'" When sent off by the king with this message, the amba.s.sador went and repeated it to the king of Vatsa in Kausambi exactly as it was delivered; and the king of Vatsa, after hearing this uncourteous message from the amba.s.sador, repeated it in private to the minister Yaugandharayana, saying "Why did that monarch send me that insolent message? What can be the villain's object in making such a proposal?" When the king asked him this question, the great minister Yaugandharayana, who was stern to his master for his good, thus answered him; "Your reputation for vice [150] has shot up in the earth like a creeper, and this, O king, is its biting bitter fruit. For that king Chandamahasena, thinking that you are the slave of your pa.s.sions, intends to ensnare you by means of his beautiful daughter, throw you into prison, and so make you his unresisting instrument. Therefore abandon kingly vices, for kings that fall into them are easily captured by their enemies, even as elephants are taken in pits." When his minister had said this to him, the resolute king of Vatsa sent in return an amba.s.sador to Chandamahasena with the following reply, "If thy daughter desires to become my pupil, then send her here." When he had sent this reply, that king of Vatsa said to his ministers--"I will march and bring Chandamahasena here in chains." When he heard that, the head minister Yaugandharayana said--"That is not a fitting thing to do, my king, nor is it in thy power to do it. For Chandamahasena is a mighty monarch, and not to be subdued by thee. And in proof of this, hear his whole history, which I now proceed to relate to thee."

Story of king Chandamahasena.

There is in this land a city named Ujjayini, the ornament of the earth, that, so to speak, laughs to scorn with its palaces of enamelled whiteness [151] Amaravati, the city of the G.o.ds. In that city dwells Siva himself, the lord of existence, under the form of Mahakala, [152] when he desists from the kingly vice of absenting himself on the heights of mount Kailasa. In that city lived a king named Mahendravarman, best of monarchs, and he had a son like himself, named Jayasena. Then to that Jayasena was born a son named Mahasena, matchless in strength of arm, an elephant among monarchs. And that king, while cherishing his realm, reflected, "I have not a sword worthy of me, [153] nor a wife of good family." Thus reflecting that monarch went to the temple of Durga, and there he remained without food, propitiating for a long time the G.o.ddess. Then he cut off pieces of his own flesh, and offered a burnt-offering with them, whereupon the G.o.ddess Durga being pleased appeared in visible shape and said to him, "I am pleased with thee, receive from me this excellent sword, by means of its magic power thou shalt be invincible to all thy enemies. Moreover thou shalt soon obtain as a wife Angaravati, the daughter of the Asura Angaraka, the most beautiful maiden in the three worlds. And since thou didst here perform this very cruel penance, therefore thy name shall be Chandamahasena." Having said this and given him the sword, the G.o.ddess disappeared. But in the king there appeared joy at the fulfilment of his desire. He now possessed, O king, two jewels, his sword and a furious elephant named Nadagiri, which were to him what the thunderbolt and Airavana are to Indra. Then that king, delighting in the power of these two, one day went to a great forest to hunt; and there he beheld an enormous and terrible wild boar; like the darkness of the night suddenly condensed into a solid ma.s.s in the day time. That boar was not wounded by the king's arrows, in spite of their sharpness, but after breaking the king's chariot [154] fled and entered a cavern. The king, leaving that car of his, in revengeful pursuit of the boar, entered into that cavern with only his bow to aid him. And after he had gone a long distance, he beheld a great and splendid capital, and astonished he sat down inside the city on the bank of a lake. While there, he beheld a maiden moving along, surrounded by hundreds of women, like the arrow of love that cleaves the armour of self-restraint. She slowly approached the king, bathing him, so to speak, again and again in a look, that rained in showers the nectar of love. [155] She said, "who art thou, ill.u.s.trious sir, and for what reason hast thou entered our home on this occasion?" The king, being thus questioned by her, told her the whole truth; hearing which, she let fall from her eyes a pa.s.sionate flood of tears, and from her heart all self-control. The king said, "Who art thou, and why dost thou weep?" When he asked her this question, she, being a prisoner to love at his will, answered him, "The boar that entered here is the Daitya Angaraka by name. And I am his daughter, O king, and my name is Angaravati. And he is of adamantine frame, and has carried off these hundred princesses from the palaces of kings and appointed them to attend on me. Moreover this great Asura has become a Rakshasa owing to a curse, but to-day as he was exhausted with thirst and fatigue, even when he found you, he spared you. At present he has put off the form of a boar and is resting in his own proper shape, but when he wakes up from his sleep, he will without fail do you an injury. It is for this reason that I see no hope of a happy issue for you, and so these tear-drops fall from my eyes like my vital spirits boiled with the fire of grief." When he heard this speech of Angaravati's the king said to her,--"If you love me, do this which I ask you. When your father awakes, go and weep in front of him, and then he will certainly ask you the cause of your agitation; then you must say--If some one were to slay thee, what would become of me? [156] This is the cause of my grief. If you do this, there will be a happy issue both for you and me." When the king said this to her, she promised him that she would do what he wished. And that Asura maiden, apprehending misfortune, placed the king in concealment, and went near her sleeping father. Then the Daitya woke up, and she began to weep. And then he said to her, "Why do you weep, my daughter?" She with affected grief said to him, "If some one were to slay thee, what would become of me?" Then he burst out laughing and said;--"Who could possibly slay me, my daughter, for I am cased in adamant all over, only in my left hand is there an unguarded place, but that is protected by the bow." In these words the Daitya consoled his daughter, and all this was heard by the king in his concealment. Immediately afterwards the Danava rose up and took his bath, and proceeded in devout silence to worship the G.o.d Siva; at that moment the king appeared with his bow bent, and rushing up impetuously towards the Daitya, challenged him to fight. He, without interrupting his devout silence, lifted his left hand towards the king and made a sign that he must wait for a moment. The king for his part, being very quick of hand, immediately smote him with an arrow in that hand which was his vital part. And that great Asura Angaraka, being pierced in a vital spot, immediately uttered a terrible cry and fell on the ground, and exclaimed, as his life departed,--"If that man, who has slain me when thirsty, does not offer water to my manes every year, then his five ministers shall perish." After he had said this, that Daitya died, and the king, taking his daughter Angaravati as a prize, returned to Ujjayini. There the king Chandamahasena married that Daitya maiden, and two sons were born to him, the first named Gopalaka, and the second Palaka; and when they were born, he held a feast in honour of Indra on their account. Then Indra, being pleased, said to that king in a dream, "By my favour thou shalt obtain a matchless daughter." Then in course of time a graceful daughter was born to that king, like a second and more wonderful shape of the moon made by the Creator. And on that occasion a voice was heard from heaven;--"She shall give birth to a son, who shall be a very incarnation of the G.o.d of love, and king of the Vidyadharas." Then the king gave that daughter the name of Vasavadatta, because she was given by Indra being pleased with him. And that maiden still remains unmarried in the house of her father, like the G.o.ddess of prosperity in the hollow cavity of the ocean before it was churned. That king Chandamahasena cannot indeed be conquered by you, O king, in the first place because he is so powerful, and in the next place because his realm is situated in a difficult country. Moreover he is ever longing to give you that daughter of his in marriage, but being a proud monarch, he desires the triumph of himself and his adherents. But, I think, you must certainly marry that Vasavadatta. When he heard this, that king of Vatsa immediately lost his heart to Vasavadatta.

CHAPTER XII.

In the meanwhile the amba.s.sador, sent by the king of Vatsa in answer to Chandamahasena's emba.s.sy, went and told that monarch his master's reply. Chandamahasena for his part, on hearing it, began to reflect--"It is certain that that proud king of Vatsa will not come here. And I cannot send my daughter to his court, such conduct would be unbecoming; so I must capture him by some stratagem and bring him here as a prisoner." Having thus reflected and deliberated with his ministers, the king had made a large artificial elephant like his own, and, after filling it with concealed warriors, he placed it in the Vindhya forest. There the scouts kept in his pay by the king of Vatsa, who was pa.s.sionately fond of the sport of elephant-catching, discerned it from a distance; [157] and they came with speed and informed the king of Vatsa in these words: "O king, we have seen a single elephant roaming in the Vindhya forest, such that nowhere else in this wide world is his equal to be found, filling the sky with his stature, like a moving peak of the Vindhya range."

Then the king rejoiced on hearing this report from the scouts, and he gave them a hundred thousand gold pieces by way of reward. The king spent that night in thinking; "If I obtain that mighty elephant, a fit match for Nadagiri, then that Chandamahasena will certainly be in my power, and then he will of his own accord give me his daughter Vasavadatta." So in the morning he started for the Vindhya forest, making these scouts shew him the way, disregarding, in his ardent desire to capture the elephant, the advice of his ministers. He did not pay any attention to the fact, that the astrologers said, that the position of the heavenly bodies at the moment of his departure portended the acquisition of a maiden together with imprisonment. When the king of Vatsa reached the Vindhya forest, he made his troops halt at a distance through fear of alarming that elephant, and accompanied by the scouts only, holding in his hand his melodious lute, he entered that great forest boundless as his own kingly vice. The king saw on the southern slope of the Vindhya range that elephant looking like a real one, pointed out to him by his scouts from a distance. He slowly approached it, alone, playing on his lute, thinking how he should bind it, and singing in melodious tones. As his mind was fixed on his music, and the shades of evening were setting in, that king did not perceive that the supposed wild elephant was an artificial one. The elephant too for its part, lifting up its ears and flapping them, as if through delight in the music, kept advancing and then retiring, and so drew the king to a great distance. And then, suddenly issuing from that artificial elephant, a body of soldiers in full armour surrounded that king of Vatsa. When he beheld them, the king in a rage drew his hunting knife, but while he was fighting with those in front of him, he was seized by others coming up behind. And those warriors with the help of others, who appeared at a concerted signal, carried that king of Vatsa into the presence of Chandamahasena. Chandamahasena for his part came out to meet him with the utmost respect, and entered with him the city of Ujjayini. Then the newly arrived king of Vatsa was beheld by the citizens, like the moon, pleasing to the eyes, though spotted with humiliation. Then all the citizens, suspecting that he was to be put to death, through regard for his virtues a.s.sembled and determined to commit suicide. [158] Then the king Chandamahasena put a stop to the agitation of the citizens, by informing them that he did not intend to put the monarch of Vatsa to death, but to win him over. So the king made over his daughter Vasavadatta on the spot to the king of Vatsa, to be taught music, and said to him--"Prince, teach this lady music; in this way you will obtain a happy issue to your adventure, do not despond." But when he beheld that fair lady, the mind of the king of Vatsa was so steeped in love that he put out of sight his anger: and her heart and mind turned towards him together; her eye was then averted through modesty, but her mind not at all. So the king of Vatsa dwelt in the concert-room of Chandamahasena's palace, teaching Vasavadatta to sing, with his eyes ever fixed on her. In his lap was his lute, in his throat the quarter-tone of vocal music, and in front of him stood Vasavadatta delighting his heart. And that princess Vasavadatta was devoted in her attentions to him, resembling the G.o.ddess of Fortune in that she was firmly attached to him, and did not leave him though he was a captive.

In the meanwhile the men who had accompanied the king returned to Kausambi, and the country, hearing of the captivity of the monarch, was thrown into a state of great excitement. Then the enraged subjects, out of love for the king of Vatsa, wanted to make a general [159]

a.s.sault on Ujjayini. But Rumanvat checked the impetuous fury of the subjects by telling them that Chandamahasena was not to be overcome by force, for he was a mighty monarch, and besides that an a.s.sault was not advisable, for it might endanger the safety of the king of Vatsa; but their object must be attained by policy. Then the calm and resolute Yaugandharayana, seeing that the country was loyal, and would not swerve from its allegiance, said to Rumanvat and the others; "All of you must remain here, ever on the alert; you must guard this country, and when a fit occasion comes you must display your prowess; but I will go accompanied by Vasantaka only, and will without fail accomplish by my wisdom the deliverance of the king and bring him home. For he is a truly firm and resolute man whose wisdom shines forth in adversity, as the lightning flash is especially brilliant during pelting rain. I know spells for breaking through walls, and for rending fetters, and receipts for becoming invisible, serviceable at need." Having said this, and entrusted to Rumanvat the care of the subjects, Yaugandharayana set out from Kausambi with Vasantaka. And with him he entered the Vindhya forest, full of life [160] like his wisdom, intricate and trackless as his policy. Then he visited the palace of the king of the Pulindas, Pulindaka by name, who dwelt on a peak of the Vindhya range, and was an ally of the king of Vatsa. He first placed him, with a large force at his heels, in readiness to protect the king of Vatsa when he returned that way, and then he went on accompanied by Vasantaka and at last arrived at the burning-ground of Mahakala in Ujjayini, which was densely tenanted by vampires [161] that smelt of carrion, and hovered hither and thither, black as night, rivalling the smoke-wreaths of the funeral pyres. And there a Brahman-Rakshasa of the name of Yogesvara immediately came up to him, delighted to see him, and admitted him into his friendship; then Yaugandharayana by means of a charm, which he taught him, suddenly altered his shape. That charm immediately made him deformed, hunchbacked, and old, and besides gave him the appearance of a madman, so that he produced loud laughter in those who beheld him. And in the same way Yaugandharayana, by means of that very charm, gave Vasantaka a body full of outstanding veins, with a large stomach, and an ugly mouth with projecting teeth; [162] then he sent Vasantaka on in front to the gate of the king's palace, and entered Ujjayini with such an appearance as I have described. There he, singing and dancing, surrounded by Brahman boys, beheld with curiosity by all, made his way to the king's palace. And there he excited by that behaviour the curiosity of the king's wives, and was at last heard of by Vasavadatta. She quickly sent a maid and had him brought to the concert-room. For youth is twin-brother to mirth. And when Yaugandharayana came there and beheld the king of Vatsa in fetters, though he had a.s.sumed the appearance of a madman, he could not help shedding tears. And he made a sign to the king of Vatsa, who quickly recognized him, though he had come in disguise. Then Yaugandharayana by means of his magic power made himself invisible to Vasavadatta and her maids. So the king alone saw him, and they all said with astonishment, "that maniac has suddenly escaped somewhere or other." Then the king of Vatsa hearing them say that, and seeing Yaugandharayana in front of him, understood that this was due to magic, and cunningly said to Vasavadatta; "Go my good girl, and bring the requisites for the worship of Sarasvati." When she heard that, she said, "So I will,"

and went out with her companions. Then Yaugandharayana approached the king and communicated to him, according to the prescribed form, spells for breaking chains; and at the same time he furnished him with other charms for winning the heart of Vasavadatta, which were attached to the strings of the lute; and informed him that Vasantaka had come there and was standing outside the door in a changed form, and recommended him to have that Brahman summoned to him; at the same time he said--"When this lady Vasavadatta shall come to repose confidence in you, then you must do what I tell you, at the present remain quiet." Having said this, Yaugandharayana quickly went out, and immediately Vasavadatta entered with the requisites for the worship of Sarasvati. Then the king said to her, "There is a Brahman standing outside the door, let him be brought in to celebrate this ceremony in honour of Sarasvati, in order that he may obtain a sacrificial fee." Vasavadatta consented, and had Vasantaka, who wore a deformed shape, summoned from the door into the music-hall. And when he was brought and saw the king of Vatsa, he wept for sorrow, and then the king said to him, in order that the secret might not be discovered, "O Brahman, I will remove all this deformity of thine produced by sickness; do not weep, remain here near me." And then Vasantaka said--"It is a great condescension on thy part, O king." And the king seeing how he was deformed could not keep his countenance. And when he saw that, Vasantaka guessed what was in the king's mind, and laughed so that the deformity of his distorted face was increased; and thereupon Vasavadatta, beholding him grinning like a doll, burst out laughing also, and was much delighted; then the young lady asked Vasantaka in fun the following question: "Brahman, what science are you familiar with, tell us?" So he said, "Princess, I am an adept at telling tales." Then she said, "Come, tell me a tale." Then in order to please that princess, Vasantaka told the following tale, which was charming by its comic humour and variety.

Story of Rupinika.

There is in this country a city named Mathura, the birthplace of Krishna, in it there was a hetaera known by the name of Rupinika; she had for a mother an old kuttini named Makaradanshtra, who seemed a lump of poison in the eyes of the young men attracted by her daughter's charms. One day Rupinika went at the time of worship to the temple to perform her duty, [16