May Ganesa, who at night seems with the spray blown forth from his hissing trunk uplifted in the tumultuous dance, to be feeding the stars, dispel your darkness!

Then, as the emperor Naravahanadatta was in his hall of audience on the mountain Govindakuta, a Vidyadhara named Amritaprabha came to him through the air, the same who had before saved him, when he was flung down by his enemy on the Mountain of Fire. That Vidyadhara came and humbly made himself known, and having been lovingly entertained by that emperor, said to him, "There is a great mountain named Malaya in the southern region; and in a hermitage on it lives a great hermit named Vamadeva. He, my liege, invites you to come to him alone for the sake of some important affair, and on this account he has sent me to you to-day. Moreover you are my sovereign, won by previous merits; and therefore have I come; so come along with me; let us quickly go to that hermit in order to ensure your success!"

When that Vidyadhara had said this, Naravahanadatta left his wives and forces there, and himself flew up into the air with that Vidyadhara, and in that way quickly reached the Malaya mountain, and approached the hermit Vamadeva. And he beheld that hermit white with age, tall of stature, with eye-b.a.l.l.s sparkling like bright jewels in the fleshless sockets of his eyes, the depository of the jewels of the emperor of the Vidyadharas, with his matted hair waving like creepers, looking like the Himalaya range accompanying the prince, to a.s.sist him in attaining success. Then the prince worshipped the feet of that sage, and he entertained him, and said to him, "You are the G.o.d of Love consumed long ago by Siva, and appointed by him emperor of all the Vidyadhara chiefs, because he was pleased with Rati. [571] Now, I have in this my hermitage, within the deep recess of an inner cave, certain jewels, which I will point out to you, and you must seize them. For you will find Mandaradeva easy enough to conquer, after you have obtained the jewels; and it was with this object that I invited you hither by the command of Siva."

When the hermit had said this to him, and had instructed him in the right method of procedure, Naravahanadatta joyfully entered that cave. In it the hero overcame many and various obstacles, and then he beheld a huge furious elephant charging him with a deep guttural roar. The king smote it on the forehead with his fist, and placed his feet on its tusks, and actively mounted that furious elephant. And a bodiless voice came from the cave, "Bravo, emperor! thou hast won the jewel of the mighty elephant." Then he saw a sword looking like a mighty snake, and he fell upon it, and seized it, as if it were the locks of the Fortune of Empire. Again a bodiless voice sounded in the cave, "Bravo, conqueror of thy foes! thou hast obtained the victorious sword-jewel." Then he obtained the moonlight-jewel and the wife-jewel, and the jewel of charms, named the destroying charm. And thus having achieved in all seven jewels (useful in time of need, and bestowers of majesty), taking into account the two first, the lake and the sandal-wood tree, he went out from that cave and told the hermit Vamadeva that he had succeeded in accomplishing all his objects. [572]

Then the hermit said lovingly to that emperor, "Go, my son, now that you have obtained the jewels of a great emperor, and conquer Mandaradeva on the north side of Kailasa, and enjoy the glorious fortune of the sovereignty of both sides of that mountain." When the hermit had said this to him, the successful emperor bowed before him, and went off through the air with Amritaprabha. And in a moment he reached his camp on Govindakuta guarded by his mighty mother-in-law Dhanavati. Then those kings of the Vidyadharas, that had sided with him, and his wives and his ministers, who were all watching for him, saw him, and welcomed him with delight. Then he sat down and they questioned him, and he told them how he had seen the hermit Vamadeva, and how he had entered the cave, and how he had obtained the jewels. Then a great festival took place there, in which celestial drums were joyfully beaten, and the Vidyadharas danced, and people generally were drunk with wine.

And the next day, in a moment in which a malignant planet stood in the house of his foe, and one which argued his own success [573] as a planet benignant to him, predominated over his enemy's house, and which was fraught with every other kind of prosperity, Naravahanadatta performed the ceremonies for good fortune, and ascended that car made by Brahma, which Siva had bestowed on him, and set out with his army through the air, accompanied by his wives, to conquer Mandaradeva. And various heroes, his followers, marched surrounding him, and kings of the Gandharvas and chiefs of the Vidyadharas, fearless and faithful, obedient to the orders of the general Harisikha, and Chandasinha, with his mother the wise Dhanavati, and the brave Pingalagandhara, and Vayupatha the strong, and Vidyutpunja and Amitagati, and the lord of Kalakuta, and Mandara, and Mahadanshtra and his own friend Amritaprabha, and the hero Chitrangada with Sagaradatta,--all these, and others who were there of the party of the slain Gaurimunda, pressed eagerly after him, with their hosts, as he advanced intent on victory. Then the sky was obscured by his army, and the sun hid his face, as if for shame, somewhere or other, his brightness being eclipsed by the splendour of the monarch.

Then the emperor pa.s.sed the Manasa lake haunted by troops of divine hermits, and left behind him Gandasaila the pleasure-garden of the nymphs of heaven, and reached the foot of mount Kailasa gleaming white like crystal, resembling a ma.s.s of his own glory. [574] There he encamped on the bank of the Mandakini, and while he was sitting there, the wise chief of the Vidyadharas, named Mandara, came up to him, and addressed to him the following pleasing speech, "Let your army halt here, king, on the bank of the river of the G.o.ds! It is not fitting that you should advance over this mountain Kailasa. For all sciences are destroyed by crossing this dwelling-place of Siva. So you must pa.s.s to the other side of the mountain by the cave of Trisirsha. And it is guarded by a king named Devamaya, who is exceedingly haughty; so how can you advance further without conquering him?" When Mandara said this, Dhanavati approved it, and Naravahanadatta waited there for a day.

While he was there, he sent an amba.s.sador to Devamaya with a conciliatory message, but he did not receive the order it conveyed in a conciliatory spirit. So the next day the emperor moved out against Devamaya with all the allied kings prepared for battle. And Devamaya too, when he heard it, marched out towards him to give battle, accompanied by numerous kings, Varaha, Vajramushti and others, and followed by his army. Then there took place on Kailasa a battle between those two armies, and while it was going on, the sky was obscured by the chariots of the G.o.ds who came to look on. Terrible was that thunder-cloud of war, awful with the dense hailstorm of many severed heads, and loud with the shouting of heroes. That Chandasinha slew Varaha the general of Devamaya, as he fought in the front rank, was in truth by no means wonderful; but it was strange that Naravahanadatta, without employing any magic power, took captive Devamaya himself, when exhausted by the wounds he received from him in the combat. And when he was captured, his army was broken, and fled, together with the great champions Vajramushti, Mahabahu, Tikshnadanshtra and their fellows. Then the G.o.ds in their chariots exclaimed, "Bravo! Bravo!" and all present congratulated the victorious emperor. Then that mighty monarch consoled Devamaya, who was brought before him bound, and welcomed him kindly, and set him at liberty. But he, having been subdued by the emperor's arm, humbly submitted to him, together with Vajramushti and the others.

Then, the battle having come to an end, that day pa.s.sed away, and next morning Devamaya came to the place of audience, and stood by the side of the emperor, and when questioned by him about the cave of Trisirsha, which he wished to enter, related the following true history of it.

History of the cave of Trisirsha.

In old time, my liege, the two sides of mount Kailasa, the north and the south side, formed different kingdoms, having been a.s.signed to distinguished Vidyadharas. Then one, Rishabha by name, propitiated Siva with austerities, and was appointed by that G.o.d emperor over both of them. But one day he was pa.s.sing over Kailasa to go to the northern side, and lost his magic science owing to the anger of Siva, who happened to be below, and so fell from the sky. Rishabha again propitiated Siva with severe asceticism, and the G.o.d again appointed him Supreme Sovereign of both sides; so he thus humbly addressed the G.o.d, "I am not permitted to pa.s.s over Kailasa, so by what path am I to travel in order to be able to exercise my prerogatives on both sides of the mountain?" When Siva, the trident-bearing G.o.d, heard this, he cleft asunder Kailasa, and made this cave-like opening for Rishabha to pa.s.s to the northern side.

Then mount Kailasa, having been pierced, was despondent, and addressed this pet.i.tion to Siva, "Holy one, this north side of me used to be inaccessible to mortals, but it has now been made accessible to them by this cave-pa.s.sage; so provide that this law of exclusion be not broken." When Siva had been thus supplicated by the mountain, he placed in the cave as guards, elephants of the quarters, mighty basilisks, [575] and Guhyakas; and at its southern opening he placed Mahamaya the Vidyadhara chief, and at its northern opening Kalaratri the invincible Chandika. [576]

When Siva had thus provided for the guarding of the cave, he produced great jewels, and made this decree with regard to the cave, "This cave shall be open at both ends to any one who has obtained the jewels, and is emperor over the Vidyadharas with their wives and their messengers, [577] and to those who may be appointed by him as sovereigns over the northern side of the mountain,--by these, I say, it may be pa.s.sed, but by no one else in the world." When the three-eyed G.o.d had made this decree, Risbabha went on holding sway over the Vidyadharas, but in his pride made war on the G.o.ds and was slain by Indra. This is the history, my liege, of the cave, named the cave of Trisirsha; and the cave cannot be pa.s.sed by any but persons like yourself.

And in course of time I Devamaya was born in the family of Mahamaya the keeper of the entrance of the cave. And at my birth a heavenly voice proclaimed, "There is now born among the Vidyadharas a champion hard for his foes to conquer in fight; and he, who shall conquer him, shall be emperor over them; he shall be the master of this child now born, and shall be followed by him as a lord." I, that Devamaya, have been now conquered by you, and you have obtained the jewels, and are the mighty sole emperor of both sides of mount Kailasa,--the lord of us all here. So, now pa.s.s the cave of Trisirsha, and conquer the rest of your enemies.

When Devamaya had told the story of the cave in these words, the emperor said to him, "We will march now and encamp for the present at the mouth of the cave, and to-morrow morning, after we have performed due ceremonies, we will enter it." When Naravahanadatta had said this, he went and encamped with all those kings at the mouth of the cave. And he saw that underground pa.s.sage with deep rayless cavity, looking like the birthplace of the sunless and moonless darkness of the day of doom.

And the next day he offered worship, and entered it in his chariot, with his followers, a.s.sisted by the glorious jewels, which presented themselves to him, when he thought of them. He dispelled the darkness with the moonlight jewel, the basilisks with the sandal-wood tree, the elephants of the quarters with the elephant-jewel, the Guhyakas with the sword-jewel, and other obstacles with other jewels; and so pa.s.sed that cave with his army, and emerged at its northern mouth. And coming out from the bowels of the cave, he saw before him the northern side of the mountain, looking like another world, entered without a second birth. And then a voice came from the sky, "Bravo, emperor! thou hast pa.s.sed this cave by means of the majesty conferred by the power of the jewels."

Then Dhanavati and Devamaya said to the emperor, "Your Majesty, Kalaratri is always near this opening. She was originally created by Vishnu, when the sea was churned for the nectar, in order that she might tear in pieces the chiefs of the Danavas, who wished to steal that heavenly drink. And now she has been placed here by Siva to guard this cave, in order that none may pa.s.s it, except those beings like yourself, of whom we spoke before. You are our emperor, and you have obtained the jewels, and have pa.s.sed this cave; so, in order to gain the victory, you must worship this G.o.ddess, who is a meet object of worship."

In such words did Dhanavati and Devamaya address Naravahanadatta, and so the day waned for him there. And the northern peaks of Kailasa were reddened with the evening light, and seemed thus to foreshadow the bloodshed of the approaching battle. The darkness, having gained power, obscured the army of that king, as if recollecting its animosity against him for his recent victory over it in its home the cave; an animosity which was still fresh and new. And goblins, vampires, jackals, and the sisterhood [578] of witches roamed about, as it were the first shoots of the anger of Kalaratri enraged on account of Naravahanadatta having omitted to worship her. And in a moment the whole army of Naravahanadatta became insensible, as if with sleep, but he alone remained in full possession of his faculties. Then the emperor perceived that this was a display of power on the part of Kalaratri, angry because she had not been worshipped, and be proceeded to worship her with flowers of speech.

"Thou art the power of life, animating all creatures, of loving nature, skilful in directing the discus to the head of thy foes; thee I adore. Hail! thou, that under the form of Durga dost console the world with thy trident and other weapons streaming with the drops of blood flowing from the throat of the slain Mahisha. Thou art victorious dancing with a skull full of the blood of Ruru in thy agitated hand, as if thou wast holding the vessel of security of the three worlds. G.o.ddess beloved of Siva, with uplifted eyes, though thy name means the night of doom, still, with skull surmounted by a burning candle, and with a skull in thy hand, thou dost shine as if with the sun and moon."

Though he praised Kalaratri in these words, she was not propitiated, and then he made up his mind to appease her by the sacrifice of his head; and he drew his sword for that purpose. Then the G.o.ddess said to him, "Do not act rashly my son. Lo! I have been won over by thee, thou hero. Let this thy army be as it was before, and be thou victorious!" And immediately his army awoke as it were from sleep. Then his wives, and his companions, and all the Vidyadharas praised the might of that emperor. And the hero, having eaten and drunk and performed the necessary duties, spent that night, which seemed as long as if it consisted of a hundred watches instead of three.

And the next morning he worshipped Kalaratri, and marched thence to engage Dhumasikha, who had barred his further advance with an army of Vidyadharas. Then the emperor had a fight with that king, who was the princ.i.p.al champion of Mandaradeva, of such a desperate character, that the air was full of swords, the earth covered with the heads of warriors, and the only speech heard was the terrible cry of heroes shouting, "Slay! slay!" Then the emperor took Dhumasikha captive in that battle by force, and afterwards treated him with deference; and made him submit to his sway. And he quartered his army that night in his city, and the host seemed like fuel consumed with fire, as it had seen the extinction of Dhumasikha's [579] pride.

And the next day, hearing from the scouts that Mandaradeva, having found out what had taken place, was advancing to meet him in fight, Naravahanadatta marched out against him with the chiefs of the Vidyadharas, determined to conquer him. And after he had gone some distance, he beheld in front of him the army of Mandaradeva, accompanied by many kings, attacking in order of battle. Then Naravahanadatta, with the allied kings at his side, drew up his forces in an arrangement fitted to encounter the formation of his enemies, and fell upon his army.

Then a battle took place between those two armies, which imitated the disturbed flood of the ocean overflowing its banks at the day of doom. On one side were fighting Chandasinha and other great champions, and on the other Kanchanadanshtra and other mighty kings. And the battle waxed sore, resembling the rising of the wind at the day of doom, for it made the three worlds tremble, and shook the mountains. Mount Kailasa, red on one side with the blood of heroes, as with saffron paint, and on the other of ashy whiteness, resembled the husband of Gauri. That great battle was truly the day of doom for heroes, being grimly illuminated by innumerable orbs of the sun arisen in flashing sword-blades. Such was the battle that even Narada and other heavenly beings, who came to gaze at it, were astonished, though they had witnessed the fights between the G.o.ds and the Asuras.

In this fight, which was thus terrible, Kanchanadanshtra rushed on Chandasinha, and smote him on the head with a formidable mace. When Dhanavati saw that her son had fallen under the stroke of the mace, she cursed and paralysed both armies by means of her magic power. And Naravahanadatta on one side, in virtue of his imperial might, [580]

and on the other side, Mandaradeva were the only two that remained conscious. Then even the G.o.ds in the air fled in all directions, seeing that Dhanavati, if angry, had power to destroy a world.

But Mandaradeva, seeing that the emperor Naravahanadatta was left alone, ran upon him with uplifted weapon. Naravahanadatta, for his part, descended from his chariot, and drawing the sword which was one of his imperial jewels, quickly met him. Then Mandaradeva, wishing to gain the victory by magic arts, a.s.sumed by his science the form of a furious elephant maddened with pa.s.sion. When Naravahanadatta, who was endowed with pre-eminent skill in magic, saw this, he a.s.sumed by his supernatural power the form of a lion. Then Mandaradeva flung off the body of an elephant, and Naravahanadatta abandoned that of a lion, and fought with him openly in his own shape. [581] Armed with sabres, and skilled in every elaborate trick and att.i.tude of fence, they appeared like two actors skilled in gesticulation, engaged in acting a pantomime. Then Naravahanadatta by a dexterous sleight forced from the grasp of Mandaradeva his sword the material symbol of victory. And Mandaradeva, having been thus deprived of his sword, drew his dagger, but the emperor quickly made him relinquish that in the same way. Then Mandaradeva, being disarmed, began to wrestle with the emperor, but he seized him by the ancles, and laid him on the earth.

And then the sovereign set his foot on his enemy's breast, and laying hold of his hair, was preparing to cut off his head with his sword, when the maiden Mandaradevi, the sister of Mandaradeva, rushed up to him, and in order to prevent him, said, "When I saw you long ago in the wood of ascetics, I marked you for my future husband, so do not, my sovereign, kill this brother of mine, who is your brother-in-law." When the resolute king had been thus addressed by that fair-eyed one, he let go Mandaradeva, who was ashamed at having been conquered, and said to him, "I set you at liberty; do not be ashamed on that account, Vidyadhara chief; victory and defeat in war bestow themselves on heroes with varying caprice." When the king said this, Mandaradeva answered him, "Of what profit is my life to me, now that I have been saved in war by a woman? So I will go to my father in the wood where he is, and perform asceticism; you have been appointed emperor over both divisions of our territory here. Indeed this occurrence was foretold long ago to me by my father as sure to take place." When the proud hero had said this, he repaired to his father in the grove of ascetics.

Then the G.o.ds, that were present in the air on that occasion, exclaimed, "Bravo! great emperor, you have completely conquered your enemies, and obtained sovereign sway." When Mandaradeva had gone, Dhanavati by her power restored her own son and both armies with him to consciousness. So Naravahanadatta's followers, ministers and all, arose as it were from sleep, and finding out that the foe had been conquered, congratulated Naravahanadatta their victorious master. And the kings of Mandaradeva's party, Kanchanadanshtra, Asokaka, Raktaksha, Kalajihva and the others, submitted to the sway of Naravahanadatta. And Chandasinha, when he saw Kanchanadanshtra, remembered the blow of the mace, which he received from him in fight, and was wroth with him, brandishing his good sword firmly grasped in his strong hand. But Dhanavati said to him, "Enough of wrath, my beloved son! Who could conquer you in the van of battle? But I myself produced that momentary glamour, in order to prevent the destruction of both armies." With these words she pacified her son and made him cease from wrath, and she delighted the whole army and the emperor Naravahanadatta [582]

by her magic skill. And Naravahanadatta was exceedingly joyful, having obtained the sovereignty of the north side of Kailasa, the mountain of Siva, a territory now free from the scourge of war, since the heroes, who opposed him, had been conquered, or had submitted, or fled, and that too with all his friends unharmed. Then shrill kettle-drums were beaten for the great festival of his victory over his enemies, [583]

and the triumphant monarch, accompanied by his wives and ministers, and girt with mighty kings, spent that day, which was honoured by the splendid dances and songs of the Vidyadhara ladies, in drinking wine, as it were the fiery valour of his enemies.

CHAPTER CX.

Then, the next day, the emperor Naravahanadatta, with his army, left that plateau of Kailasa, and by the advice of king Kanchanadanshtra, who shewed him the way, went to that city of Mandaradeva named Vimala. And he reached that city, which was adorned with lofty ramparts of gold, and looked like mount Sumeru come to adore Kailasa, and entering it, found that it resembled the sea in all but the presence of water, being very deep, characterized by unfailing prosperity, [584] and an inexhaustible mine of jewels.

And as the emperor was sitting in the hall of audience in that city surrounded by Vidyadhara kings, an old woman of the royal harem came and said to him, "Since Mandaradeva has gone to the forest, having been conquered by you, his wives desire to enter the fire; your Highness has now been informed and will decide upon the proper course." When this had been announced, the emperor sent those kings to them, and dissuaded them from suicide, and bestowed upon them dwelling-houses and other gifts, treating them like sisters. By that step he caused the whole race of the Vidyadhara chiefs to be bound to him with bonds of affection.

And then the grateful monarch anointed Amitagati, who had been designated beforehand by Siva, king over the realm of Mandaradeva, since he was loyal and could be trusted not to fall away, and he placed under him the princes who had followed Mandaradeva, namely, Kanchanadanshtra and his fellows. And he diverted himself there in splendid gardens for seven days, being caressed by the fortune of the northern side of Kailasa, as by a newly-married bride.

And then, though he had acquired the imperial authority over the Vidyadhara kings of both divisions, he began to long for more. He set out, though his ministers tried to dissuade him, to conquer the inaccessible fields of Meru situated in the northern region, the home of the G.o.ds. For high-spirited men, though abundantly loaded with possessions, cannot rest without acquiring something still more glorious, advancing like blazing forest-fires.

Then the hermit Narada came and said to the king, "Prince, what means this striving after things out of your reach, though you know policy? For one who out of overweening self-confidence attempts the impossible, is disgraced like Ravana, who, in his pride, endeavoured to uproot Kailasa. For even the sun and moon find Meru hard to overstep; moreover, Siva has not bestowed on you the sway over the G.o.ds, but the sway over the Vidyadharas. You have already conquered the Himalayas, the home of the Vidyadharas, so what need have you of Meru the home of the G.o.ds? Dismiss from your mind this chimerical scheme. Moreover, if you desire good fortune, you must go and visit the father of Mandaradeva, Akampana by name, in the forest, where he is residing." When the hermit Narada had said this, the emperor consented to do as he directed, and so he took leave of him, and returned whence he came.

And the politic emperor, having been advised by Narada to relinquish his enterprise, [585] and remembering the destruction of Rishabha, of which he had heard from Devamaya, and having reflected over the matter in his own mind, gave up the idea, and went to visit the kingly sage Akampana in the grove of ascetics. And when he reached that ascetic grove, it was crowded with great sages, engaged in contemplation, sitting in the posture called padmasana, and so resembled the world of Brahma. There he saw that aged Akampana, wearing matted hair and a deerskin, looking like a great tree resorted to by hermits. So he went and worshipped the feet of that ascetic, and that royal sage welcomed him and said to him, "You have done well, king, in coming to this hermitage, for if you had pa.s.sed on neglectful of it, these hermits here would have cursed you."

While the royal sage was saying this to the emperor, Mandaradeva, who was staying in that grove of ascetics, having taken the vows of a hermit, came to his father, accompanied by his sister, the princess Mandaradevi. And Naravahanadatta, when he saw him, embraced him, for it is fitting that truly brave men should show kindness to foes when conquered and pacified.

Then the royal sage Akampana, seeing Mandaradevi come with her brother, said to that emperor, "Here, king, is my daughter, Mandaradevi by name; and a heavenly voice said that she should be the consort of an emperor; so marry her, emperor, for I give her to you."

When the royal sage said this, his daughter said, "I have four companions here, of like age, n.o.ble maidens; one is a maiden called Kanakavati, the daughter of Kanchanadanshtra; the second is the daughter of Kalajihva, Kalavati by name; the third is the offspring of Dirghadanshtra named Sruta; the fourth is the daughter of the king of Paundra, named Ambaraprabha; and I am the fifth of those Vidyadhara maidens. We five, when roaming about, saw previously in a grove of ascetics this my destined husband, and setting our hearts on him, we made an agreement together that we would all, at one and the same time, take him for our husband, but that, if any single one married him alone, the others should enter the fire, and lay the guilt at her door. So it is not fitting that I should marry without those friends of mine; for how could persons like myself commit the outrageous crime of breaking plighted faith?"

When that self-possessed lady had said this, her father Akampana summoned those four Vidyadhara chiefs, who were the fathers of the four maidens, and told them exactly what had occurred, and they immediately thought themselves very fortunate, and brought those maidens their daughters. Then Naravahanadatta married the five in order, beginning with Mandaradevi. And he remained there with them many days, worshipping the hermits three times a day, at dawn, noon, and sunset, while his attendants held high festival.

And Akampana said to him, "King, you must now go to the Rishabha mountain for the great ceremony of your coronation," and thereupon Devamaya also said to him, "King, you must indeed do so, for the emperors of old time, Rishabhaka and others, were anointed [586]

on that mountain." When Harisikha heard that, he spoke in favour of Naravahanadatta's being anointed emperor on the splendid mountain of Mandara, which was near; but then a voice came from heaven, "King, all former emperors went through the ceremony of their coronation on the Rishabha mountain; do you also go there, for it is a holy place." [587] When the heavenly voice said this, Naravahanadatta bowed before the hermits and Akampana, and set out thence for that mountain on an auspicious day. And he reached that northern opening of the cave of Trisirsha, with many great chiefs of the Vidyadharas headed by Amitagati. There the emperor worshipped that Kalaratri, and entered the cave by that opening, and came out by the southern opening. And after he had come out with his forces, he rested, at Devamaya's request, in his palace for that day, together with his attendants.

And while he was there, he reflected that Siva was near him on that mountain of Kailasa, and he went of his own accord, with Gomukha, to visit the G.o.d. And when he reached his hermitage, he saw and adored the cow Surabhi and the sacred bull, and approached Nandin the door-keeper. And Nandin was pleased when the king circ.u.mambulated him, and opened the door to him, and then he entered and beheld Siva accompanied by Devi. The G.o.d diffused gladness afar by the streams of rays from the moon on his crest, that seemed to dart hither and thither as if conquered by the splendour of Gauri's face. He was playing with his beloved with dice, that, like eyes, were allowed at will to pursue their objects independently,--that, though under his command, were ever restlessly rolling. And when Naravahanadatta saw that giver of boons, and that G.o.ddess the daughter of the Mountain, he fell at their feet, and circ.u.mambulated them three times. The G.o.d said to him, "It is well, my son, that thou hast come hither; for otherwise thou mightest have suffered loss. But now all thy magic powers shall ever be unfailing. So go thou to the Rishabha mountain, that holy place, and obtain there at once in fitting time thy great inauguration." When the emperor had received this command from the G.o.d, he hastened to obey it, exclaiming "I will do thy will,"

and bowed before him and his wife, and returned to that palace of Devamaya. The queen Madanamanchuka playfully said to him on his return, "Where have you been, my husband? You appear to be pleased. Have you managed to pick up here another set of five maidens?" When she made use of these playful taunts, the prince gladdened her by telling her the real state of affairs, and remained with her in happiness.

And the next day, Naravahanadatta, accompanied by a host of Gandharvas and Vidyadharas, making, as it were, a second sun in the heavens by his glorious presence, ascended his splendid car, with his wives and his ministers, and made for the Rishabha mountain. And when he reached that heavenly hill, the trees, like hermits, with their creepers like matted hair waving in the wind, shed their flowers before him by way of a respectful offering. And there various kings of the Vidyadharas brought the preparations for the coronation on a scale suited to the might of their master. And the Vidyadharas came to his coronation from all quarters, with presents in their hands, all loyal, terrified, vanquished or respectful.

Then the Vidyadharas said to him, "Tell us, king; who is to occupy half your throne, and to be anointed as queen consort?" The king answered, "The queen Madanamanchuka is to be anointed together with me;" and this at once set the Vidyadharas thinking. Then a bodiless voice came from the air, "Hearken, Vidyadharas! This Madanamanchuka is not a mortal; for she is Rati become incarnate, in order to be the wife of this your master, who is the G.o.d of Love. She was not born to Madanavega by Kalingasena, but, being of superhuman origin, was immediately subst.i.tuted by the G.o.ds, who employed their deluding power, for the infant to which Kalingasena gave birth. [588] But the infant to which she gave birth, was named Ityaka, and remained at the side of Madanavega, having been a.s.signed to him by the Creator. So this Madanamanchuka is worthy to share the throne of her husband, for Siva long ago granted her this honour as a boon, having been pleased with her asceticism." When the voice had said so much, it ceased, and the Vidyadharas were pleased, and praised the queen Madanamanchuka.

Then, on an auspicious day, the great hermits sprinkled with water from many sacred bathing-places, brought in pitchers of gold, Naravahanadatta seated on the imperial throne, while Madanamanchuka occupied the left half of it. And during the ceremony Santisoma the domestic chaplain was busily occupied, and the a.s.sembled cymbals of the heavenly nymphs resounded aloud, and the murmur made by Brahmans reciting prayers filled the ten points of the sky. Strange to say! when the water, made more purifying by holy texts, fell on his head, the secret defilement [589] of enmity was washed out from the minds of his foes. The G.o.ddess of fortune seemed to accompany in visible presence that water of consecration, under the impression that it came from the sea, and so was a connexion of her own, and to join with it in covering the body of that king. A series of flower-garlands flung by the hands of the nymphs of heaven, falling on him, appeared like the Ganges spontaneously descending on his body with a full stream. Adorned with red unguent and valour, he appeared like the sun in the glory of rising, washed in the water of the sea. [590]