That king of Kánchí, Báhubala, whom I mentioned to you, had a rich

door-keeper, rightly named Arthalobha. [618] He had a beautiful wife

named Mánapará. That Arthalobha, being by profession a merchant, and on

account of his avarice distrusting his servants, appointed that wife of

his to look after his business in preference to them. She, though she

did not like it, being obedient to him, made bargains with merchants

and captivated all men by her sweet form and speech. And Arthalobha,

seeing that all the sales of elephants, horses, jewels, and garments

that she made, brought in a profit, rejoiced exceedingly. And once on

a time there came there from a distant foreign land a merchant, named

Sukhadhana, having a large stock of horses and other commodities. The

moment Arthalobha heard that he had come, he said to his wife--"My

dear, a merchant named Sukhadhana has arrived from a foreign land,

he has brought twenty thousand horses, and innumerable pairs of

excellent garments made in China, so please, go and purchase from

him five thousand horses and ten thousand pairs of garments, in order

that with the thousands of horses I already possess and those other

five, I may pay a visit to the king, and carry on my commerce. When

commissioned in these words by that villain Arthalobha, Mánapará

went to Sukhadhana; whose eyes were captivated by her beauty, and who

welcomed her gladly. And she demanded from him for a price those horses

and garments. The merchant, overpowered with love, took her aside

and said to her--"I will not give you one horse or garment for money,

but if you will remain one night with me, I will give you five hundred

horses and five thousand garments." After saying this, he solicited

that fair one with even a larger amount; who does not fall in love with

women, who are allowed to go about without restraint? Then she answered

him--"I will ask my husband about this, for I know he will send me here

out of excessive cupidity. [619]" After saying this, she went home,

and told her husband what the merchant Sukhadhana had said to her

secretly. And that wicked covetous husband Arthalobha said to her;

"My dear, if you obtain five hundred horses and five thousand pairs

of garments for one night, what is the harm in it. So go to him now;

you shall return quickly in the morning." When Mánapará heard this

speech of her mean-spirited husband's, she began to debate in her

heart, and thus reflected--"Out on this base spiritless husband

of mine that sells his honour! By continually meditating on gain

he has become all made up of the desire of gain. It is better that

the generous man, who buys me for one night with hundreds of horses

and thousands of pieces of China silk, should be my husband." Thus

reflecting, she took leave of her base husband, saying; "It is not

my fault," and went to the house of that Sukhadhana. And he, when he

saw that she had come, after questioning her and hearing the whole

story from her, was astonished, and considered himself fortunate in

obtaining her. And he sent off immediately to her husband Arthalobha

the horses and garments that were to purchase her, as agreed upon. And

he remained that night with her, having all his wishes attained, for

she seemed like the fortune which was the fruit of his own wealth,

incarnate in bodily form, at last obtained by him. And in the morning

the base Arthalobha sent, in his shamelessness, servants to summon

her, whereupon Mánapará said to them, "How can I again return to be

the wife of that man who sold me to another? I am not as shameless as

he is. Tell me yourselves if this would be becoming now. So depart,

the man that bought me is my husband." When the servants were thus

addressed by her, they went and repeated her words to Arthalobha with

downcast faces. The mean fellow, when he heard it, wanted to recover

her by force; then a friend of the name of Harabala said to him;

"You cannot recover her from that Sukhadhana, for he is a hero, and I

do not behold in you manliness corresponding to his. For he is moved

to heroism by a woman that loves him on account of his generosity,

and he is mighty, and surrounded with other mighty men that have come

with him. But you have been deserted by your wife, who separated from

you because you sold her out of meanness, and scorn makes you timid,

and being reproached you have become effeminate. Moreover you are not

mighty, and you are not surrounded by mighty friends, so how can you

possibly be capable of vanquishing that rival? And the king will be

angry with you, when he hears of your crime of selling your wife; so

keep quiet, and do not make a ridiculous blunder." Though his friend

tried to dissuade him with these words, Arthalobha went and beset,

in his anger, the house of Sukhadhana with his retainers. While he was

thus engaged, Sukhadhana sallied out with his friends and retainers,

and in a moment easily defeated the whole of Arthalobha's force.

Then Arthalobha fled, and went into the presence of the king. And

concealing his own wicked conduct, he said to the king,--"O king, the

merchant Sukhadhana has carried off my wife by force." And the king,

in his rage, wished to arrest that Sukhadhana. Then a minister of the

name of Sandhána said to the king--"In any case, my lord, you cannot

arrest him, for when his force is increased by that of the eleven

friends who have come with him, he will be found to have more than

a hundred thousand excellent horses. And you have not discovered

the truth about the matter, for his conduct will turn out to be

not altogether without cause. So you had better send a messenger,

and ask what it is that this fellow here is chattering about." When

king Báhubala heard this, he sent a messenger to Sukhadhana to

ask about the matter. The messenger went, and asked about the

matter by the king's order, and thereupon Mánapará told him her

story. When Báhubala heard that wonderful tale, he came to the house

of Sukhadhana to behold the beauty of Mánapará, being filled with

excessive curiosity. There he beheld, while Sukhadhana bent before

him, Mánapará, who with the wealth of her beauty would astonish even

the Creator. She prostrated herself at his feet, and he questioned

her, and heard from her own mouth how the whole thing happened,

Arthalobha being present and listening. When he heard it, he thought

it was true, because Arthalobha was speechless, and he asked that

fair one what was to be done now. Then she said decidedly, "How can I

return to that spiritless avaricious man, who sold me to another man

without the excuse of distress?" When the king heard this, he said,

"Well said," and then Arthalobha bewildered with desire, wrath, and

shame, exclaimed,--"King, let him and me fight with our own retainers,

without any auxiliary forces; then let it be seen who is spirited and

who is spiritless." When Sukhadhana heard this, he said--"Then let

us fight in single combat, what need is there of retainers? Mánapará

shall be the prize of the victor." When the king heard this, he said,

"Good! so let it be!" Then, before the eyes of Mánapará and the king,

they both entered the lists mounted. And in the course of the combat,

Sukhadhana laid Arthalobha on the plain, by his horse's rearing on

account of a lance-wound. Then Arthalobha fell three times more on the

earth, on account of his horse being killed, but Sukhadhana, who was a

fair fighter, restrained himself and would not slay him. But the fifth

time Arthalobha's horse fell upon him, and bruised him, and he was

carried off by his servants motionless. Then Sukhadhana was cheered

by all the spectators with shouts of applause, and the king Báhubala

honoured him as he deserved. And he immediately bestowed a gift of

honour upon the lady, and he confiscated the property of Arthalobha,

which had been acquired by unlawful means; and appointing another to

his office, he departed pleased to his palace. For good men derive

satisfaction from breaking off their connection with the bad. And

Sukhadhana, having maintained his claim by force, remained enjoying

himself in the society of Mánapará his loving wife.

"Thus wives and wealth leave the mean-spirited man, and of their own

accord come to the high-spirited man from every quarter. So dismiss

anxiety! Go to sleep! in a short time, my lord, you will obtain that

princess Karpúriká." When Naraváhanadatta heard that sound advice of

Rájyadhara's, he and Gomukha went off to sleep.

And in the morning, while the prince was waiting awhile after his

meal, the wise Gomukha addressed Rájyadhara as follows: "Make such

an ingenious chariot for my master, as that he shall be able by

means of it to reach the city of Karpúrasambhava, and obtain his

beloved." When thus supplicated, that carpenter offered Naraváhanadatta

the chariot with a pneumatic contrivance, that he had made before. He

ascended that sky-travelling chariot, swift as thought, together with

Gomukha, and crossed the deep, the home of monsters, that agitated

its waves as if exulting to behold his valour, and reached the city

of Karpúrasambhava on its shore. There the chariot descended from the

sky, and he and Gomukha left it, and out of curiosity wandered about

inside the town. And by questioning the people he found out that he

had indeed without doubt reached the desired city, and delighted he

went to the neighbourhood of the palace. There he found a splendid

house occupied by an old woman, and he entered it to stay there,

and she received him with respect. And eager to hit upon an artifice,

he immediately asked that woman, "Noble lady, what is the name of the

king here, and what children has he? And tell us of their appearance,

for we are foreigners." When he said this to the old woman, she, seeing

that he was of excessively noble form, answered--"Listen, illustrious

sir, I will tell you all. In this city of Karpúrasambhava there is a

king named Karpúraka. And he, having no children, performed penance,

with his wife Buddhikárí, fasting, in honour of Siva, in order to

obtain offspring. After he had fasted for three nights, the god Siva

commanded him in a dream--'Rise up, a daughter shall be born to you,

who shall be superior to a son, and whose husband shall obtain the

sovereignty of the Vidyádharas.' After receiving this order from

Siva, the king woke up in the morning; and, after communicating this

dream to his wife Buddhikárí, he rose up and went off delighted,

and with his queen broke his fast. And then in a short time that

queen conceived by the king, and when the period was completed, she

brought forth a daughter beautiful in all her limbs. She surpassed

in splendour the lights in the lying-in chamber, [620] and they,

as it were, heaved sighs by discharging lamp-black. And her father

made great rejoicings, and gave her the name of Karpúriká, which

is his own name made feminine. And gradually that moonlight of the

eyes of the people, the princess Karpúriká, has grown up, and is now

in the full bloom of youth. And her father, the king here, desires

to have her married, but the haughty girl detests men, and will not

consent. And when my daughter, who is her friend, put this question

to her 'My dear, why do you not desire marriage, the only fruit of a

daughter's birth?' she answered, 'My dear, I remember my former birth,

and the cause is something which happened then; hear it."

Story of the princess Karpúriká in her birth as a swan.

On the shore of the ocean there is a great sandal-wood tree. Near it

there is a lake adorned with full-blown lotuses. I was a female swan

on that lake on account of my actions in a previous birth. Once on a

time, out of fear of the sea, I made a nest in that sandal-wood tree

with my husband, who was a male swan. When I was dwelling in that nest,

I had male offspring born to me, and suddenly a great wave of the sea

came and carried them off. When the flood carried away my children,

out of grief I wept and took no food; and remained in front of a linga

of Siva on the shore of the sea. Then that male swan, my husband,

came to me and said--"Rise up, why do you lament your children that

are dead, we shall get other ones. [621] As long as life is preserved,

everything can be obtained." His speech pierced my heart like an arrow,

and I reflected--"Alas! males are thus wickedly regardless of their

youthful offspring, and show no affection to, or compassion for their

females, though they are attached to them. So of what comfort is this

husband to me? Of what use is this body that brings only pain?" Thus

reflecting, I prostrated myself before Siva, and devoutly placed him

in my heart, and then in front of his symbol, before the eyes of the

swan, my husband, I uttered this prayer; "May I become in the next

birth a princess remembering my former state,"--and thereupon I flung

myself into the sea. Consequently, I have been born in this life such

as you see. And because I remember the cruelty of that husband in a

former birth, my mind does not feel inclined to any suitor. So I do

not desire to be married; the rest is in the hands of Destiny. "This

is what the princess said then in private to my daughter, and that

daughter of mine came and told it to me."

"So, my son, I have told you what you asked me. And that princess

is undoubtedly destined to be your wife. For she was long ago

designated by the god Siva as the wife of the future emperor

of the Vidyádharas. And I see that you are marked with all the

distinguishing signs of an emperor, such as the peculiar freckle, and

other marks. Perhaps you are some distinguished person brought here by

Providence for that very purpose. Rise up, for the present we will see

what there is in my house in the way of provision." After the old lady

had told him this, she brought him food, and he and Gomukha spent the

night there. And in the morning, the prince deliberated in private with

Gomukha as to the steps to be taken, and then he assumed the dress of

a Pásupata ascetic, and accompanied by Gomukha, he went to the king's

gate, and roamed about in front of it, crying out again and again--"Ah

my female swan! Ah my female swan!" And the people gazed at him. And

when the maids beheld him thus employed, they went in astonishment

and said to the princess Karpúriká; "Your Highness! we have seen at

the royal gate a Pásupata ascetic who, though he has a fellow, is

unfellowed in beauty, [622] and he continually utters these words,

'Ah my female swan! Ah my female swan!' which bewilders the minds of

the women." When the princess heard this, she, as having been a swan

in a former birth, was filled with curiosity, and had him, just as

he was, conducted by her maids into her presence. And she saw that

he was adorned with infinite beauty, like a new god of Love that had

taken a vow to propitiate Siva. And she said to him, when he looked

at her with an eye expanded by curiosity, "What is this that you are

continually saying, 'Ah! my female swan! Ah! my female swan?'" Though

she said this to him, he went on to say--"Ah! my female swan!" Then his

companion Gomukha answered her; "I will explain this in a few words,

listen, Your Highness.

"In a former birth he was a swan on account of his actions in an

anterior state of existence. Then he built himself a nest in a

sandal-wood tree, on the bank of a great lake near the shore of

the sea, and lived there with his female. And as it happened, their

offspring in that nest were swept away by a wave, and his female,

distracted with grief, threw herself into the sea. Then he, being

grieved at separation from her, and disgusted with his bird-nature,

desirous of leaving that body, made a pious wish in his heart--'May

I be in a future life a prince remembering my former state, and may

this virtuous female swan be my wife, remembering her former existence

also.' Then he thought on Siva, and scorched with the fire of grief,

flung that body into the water of the sea. So he has been now born,

my fair lady, as Naraváhanadatta, the son of the king of Vatsa in

Kausámbí, with the power of recollecting his former existence. When he

was born, a voice said distinctly from heaven; 'This prince shall be

the emperor of all the kings of the Vidyádharas.' In course of time,

when he had become crown-prince, he was married by his father to the

goddess Madanamanchuká of heavenly appearance, who had been born for

a certain reason as a woman. And then the daughter of a king of the

Vidyádharas named Hemaprabha, the maiden Ratnaprabhá, came of her own

accord, and chose him for a husband. Nevertheless, thinking on that

female swan, he does not enjoy tranquillity; and he told this to me,

who have been his servant from my childhood. Then, while he was out

hunting, it happened that he and I had a meeting in the forest with a

holy female hermit. And in the course of conversation she said to him

with favouring condescension--'Owing to the effect of his actions the

god of Love, my son, became a swan. And a heavenly female, that had

fallen through a curse, became his dear wife, when he was dwelling,

as a swan, in a sandal-wood tree on the bank of the sea. But she

threw herself into the sea, through grief at her offspring having been

carried away by the tide, and then the male swan flung himself into the

sea also. He has now by the favour of Siva been born as yourself, the

son of the king of Vatsa, and you know of that former birth of yours,

my son, for you remember your former existence. And that female swan

has been now born in Karpúrasambhava, a city on the shore of the sea,

as a princess, Karpúriká by name. Therefore, go there, my son, and

win her to wife.' When the holy female hermit had said this, she flew

up into the sky and disappeared. And this lord of mine, having heard

this information, immediately set out with me to come here. And being

attracted by love for you, he risked his life, and after traversing

a hundred difficulties, he reached the shore of the sea. There we

had an interview with the carpenter, named Rájyadhara, who dwells in

Hemapura, and who gave us an ingenious chariot. We have mounted on this

terrible machine, as if it were our courage having taken shape, [623]

and have crossed the perilous gulf of the sea, and arrived at this

town. For this reason, queen, my master wandered about, exclaiming,

'Ah my female swan!' until he came into your presence. Now, from

the pleasing sight of the noble moon of your countenance, he enjoys

the removal of the darkness caused by the presence of innumerable

woes. Now, honour your noble guest with the blue lotus garland of

your look." When Karpúriká heard this feigned speech of Gomukha's,

she thought it was true, relying on the fact that it harmonized with

her own recollections. And she melted in her soul with love, and she

thought, "After all this husband of mine was attached to me, and my

despondency was causeless." And she said--"I am in truth that very

female swan, and I am fortunate in that my husband has for my sake

endured suffering in two births. So now I am your slave, overcome

by love;" and saying this, she honoured Naraváhanadatta with baths

and other hospitalities. Then she informed her father of all this

by the mouth of her attendants, and he, the moment he heard it,

came to her. Then the king thought himself fortunate, having seen

that his daughter had conceived a desire to be married, and that an

appropriate suitor for her had at length arrived in Naraváhanadatta,

who was marked with all the signs of a great emperor. And he gave, with

all due honour, his daughter Karpúriká to Naraváhanadatta according

to the prescribed form. And he gave to that son-in-law of his, at

every circumambulation from left to right of the sacred fire, thirty

millions of gold-pieces, and as many lumps of camphor, the heaps of

which appeared like the peaks of Meru and Kailása that had witnessed

the marriage of Párvatí, come to behold his magnificence. Moreover

the king Karpúraka, who had attained his wish, gave Naraváhanadatta a

hundred millions of excellent garments and three hundred female slaves

well adorned. And Naraváhanadatta, after his marriage, remained with

that Karpúriká, as if with affection incarnate in bodily form. Whose

mind was not delighted at the union of that couple, which resembled

the marriage of the spring-creeper and the spring-festival?

And on the next day Naraváhanadatta, who had attained his object,

said to his beloved Karpúriká, "Come, let us go to Kausámbí." Then

she answered him--"If it is to be so, why should we not go there

immediately in this chariot of yours that flies through the air? If

it is too small, I will furnish another large one, for there is

living here a mechanic who makes ingenious chariots, who has come

from a foreign land, Pránadhara by name; I will cause him quickly to

make such a chariot." After saying this, she called the warder that

kept the door, and said to him--"Go and order that chariot-maker

Pránadhara to prepare a large chariot, that will travel through the

air, for us to start in." Then the queen Karpúriká, having dismissed

the warder, informed her father by the mouth of a slave of her desire

to depart. And while the king, on hearing it, was coming thither,

Naraváhanadatta thus reflected; "This Pránadhara is certainly the

brother of Rájyadhara, whom he described as having run away from his

native land through fear of his king." While he was thus thinking,

the king quickly arrived, and that mechanic Pránadhara came with the

warder, and said--"I have ready-made a very large chariot, which will

easily carry at this instant thousands of men." When the mechanic

said this, Naraváhanadatta said "Bravo!" and asked him courteously;

"Are you the elder brother of Rájyadhara, skilled in various very great

mechanical contrivances?" And Pránadhara answered him, bowing before

him--"I am that very brother of his, but how does Your Highness know

about us?" Then Naraváhanadatta told him what Rájyadhara had told him,

and how he had seen him. Then Pránadhara joyfully brought him the

chariot, and he mounted it with Gomukha, after having been politely

dismissed by his father-in-law the king, and after bidding farewell

to him; but first he placed in it the slaves, camphor and gold. And

he took with him Pránadhara, whom the king permitted to depart, and

that head-warder, and his recently married wife Karpúriká; and his

mother-in-law uttered a solemn prayer for a blessing on his journey,

and from those stores of splendid garments he bestowed gifts on the

Bráhmans; and he said to Pránadhara--"First let us go to Rájyadhara on

the shore of the sea, and then home." Then the chariot was driven on

by Pránadhara, and the king and his wife flew up into the air quickly

by means of it, as if by his accomplished wish. [624] In a moment

he crossed the sea, and reached again that city of Hemapura on its

shore, the abode of that Rájyadhara. There Rájyadhara bowed before

him, delighted at beholding his brother, and as he had no female

slaves, the prince honoured him with the gift of some, at which he

greatly rejoiced. And after taking leave of Rájyadhara, whose tears

flowed fast, as he could hardly bear to part from his elder brother,

the prince reached Kausámbí in that same chariot. Then the people,

on beholding the prince unexpectedly descend from heaven, riding in

that splendid chariot, followed by his retainers, and accompanied by

his new bride, were much astonished. And his father, the king of Vatsa,

having gathered from the exultations of the citizens that his son had

arrived, was delighted, and went out to meet him, accompanied by the

queen, the ministers, his daughter-in-law, and other persons. And

the king, beholding that son prostrate at his feet with his wife,

received him gladly, and thought that the fact, that he was to be

the future emperor of the aerial spirits, was clearly revealed by his

coming in a flying chariot. His mother Vásavadattá, with Padmávatí,

embraced him, and she shed a tear, which dropped like the knot of pain

loosened by seeing him. And his wife Ratnaprabhá was delighted, and

Madanamanchuká also, and their jealousy being overcome by love for him,

they embraced his feet, and won his heart at the same time. And the

prince delighted his father's ministers, headed by Yaugandharáyana,

and his own, headed by Marubhúti, when they bowed before him, by

rewarding them as they severally deserved. And they all, with the

king of Vatsa at their head, welcomed that new wife Karpúriká, who

bowed becomingly before them, like the goddess of Fortune arrived

surrounded by a hundred immortal nymphs, even the sister-shape of

Amrita, [625] openly brought by her husband, having crossed the sea

adorned with its shore as a garment with a beautiful fringe. And the

king of Vatsa honoured that warder of her father's, giving him many

crores of gold-pieces, garments and lumps of camphor, which had been

brought in the chariot. And the king then honoured Pránadhara as the

benefactor of his son Naraváhanadatta, who had pointed him out as the

maker of the chariot. And then the king honoured Gomukha, and asked

him joyfully, "How did you obtain this princess? And how did you start

from this place?" And then Gomukha deftly told the king of Vatsa,

with his wives and ministers, in private, the whole adventure, as it

took place, beginning with their going to the forest to hunt,----how

they met the female hermit, and how they crossed the sea by means of

the chariot provided by Rájyadhara, and how Karpúriká was obtained

with her female attendants, though she was averse to marriage, and how

they returned by the way by which they went, in a chariot which they

obtained by finding Pránadhara. Then all of them, shaking their heads

in astonishment and joy, said--"To think of the concurrence of all

these circumstances, the chase, and the female ascetic, the carpenter

Rájyadhara skilled in mechanical contrivances found on the shore of

the sea, the crossing the ocean in the chariot that he made, and that

another maker of these chariots should have previously reached the

other side of the ocean! The truth is, Destiny takes trouble to provide

the fortunate with the means of obtaining prosperous success." Then

all respectfully commended Gomukha for his devotion to his lord. And

they praised queen Ratnaprabhá, who by her knowledge protected her

lord on his journey, for she produced general satisfaction by acting

like a woman devoted to her husband. Then Naraváhanadatta, having made

his party of air-travellers forget the fatigues of their journey,

entered his palace with his father, and mother, his wives and other

relations. Then his treasury was filled with heaps of gold by the

friends and relations who came to see him, and whom he honoured, and

he loaded Pránadhara and his father-in-law's warder with wealth. And

Pránadhara, immediately after he had taken food, respectfully addressed

this petition to him--"Prince, king Karpúriká gave us the following

order--'You must come back quickly as soon as my daughter has reached

her husband's palace, in order that I may have early news of her

arrival.' So we must certainly go there quickly this very moment; give

us a letter from Karpúriká to the king written with her own hand. For

otherwise the heart of the king, which is attached to his daughter,

will not take comfort. For he, never having mounted an air-chariot,

fears that we may have fallen from it. So give me the letter, and

permit this head-warder, who is desirous of ascending the chariot,

to depart with me. But I will return here, crown-prince, and will

bring my family, for I cannot abandon the two ambrosial lotuses of

your feet." When Pránadhara said this firmly, the son of the king of

Vatsa immediately made Karpúriká sit down to write that letter. It

ran as follows, "My father, you must not feel anxious about me,

since I share the happiness and possess the love of a good husband;

was the goddess Lakshmí an object of anxiety to the ocean after she

had betaken herself to the Supreme Bridegroom?" When she had written

the above letter with her own hand, and given it, the son of the king

of Vatsa dismissed the warder and Pránadhara with honour. And they

ascended the chariot, and produced astonishment in the minds of all,

as they were seen going through the air, and crossing the sea they

went to the city of Karpúrasambhava. There they delighted the king

Karpúraka by reading out his daughter's letter, which told that she had

reached her husband's palace. The next day Pránadhara took leave of the

king, and after visiting Rájyadhara, repaired with his family into the

presence of Naraváhanadatta. Naraváhanadatta, when he had returned thus

quickly after accomplishing his mission, gave him a dwelling near his

palace and an ample allowance. And he amused himself, and his wives,

by going about in the flying chariots made by him, as if rehearsing

future journeyings in the skies as emperor of the Vidyádharas.

Thus, having delighted his friends, followers and wives, and obtained

a third wife Karpúriká in addition to Ratnaprabhá and Madanamanchuká,

the son of the king of Vatsa spent those days in happiness.

BOOK VIII.

CHAPTER XLIV.

Victory to the elephant-headed god, [626] who, reddening the sky

with the vermilion dye shaken off by the wind of his flapping ears,

seems to create sunset, even when it is not due.

Thus Naraváhanadatta, the son of the king of Vatsa, dwelt happily in

his father's house, after he had won those wives. And one day, when he

was in his father's assembly-hall, he saw a man of heavenly appearance

come there, descending from heaven. And after he and his father had

welcomed the man, who bowed before him, he immediately asked him,

"Who are you and why have you come?" Then he answered--"There is a

city in this earth on the ridge of Himavat, called Vajrakúta, [627]

and rightly so called, as being all made of diamond. There I dwelt,

as a king of the Vidyádharas named Vajraprabha, and my name too was

rightly given me, because my body is framed of diamond. And I received

this command from Siva, (who was pleased with my austerities,) "If thou

remainest loyal at the appointed time to the emperor created by me,

thou shalt become by my favour invincible to thy enemies." Accordingly

I have come here without delay to pay my respects to my sovereign:

for I have already perceived by means of my science that the son of

the king of Vatsa, (who is born of a portion of the god of Love, and

appointed by the god who wears a digit of the moon,) though a mortal,

shall be sole emperor over both divisions of our territory. [628]

And though, by the favour of Siva, a prince of the name of Súryaprabha

was ruler over us for a kalpa of the gods, still he was only lord in

the southern division, but in the northern division a prince called

Srutasarman was emperor; but your majesty, being destined for great

good fortune, shall be sole emperor here over the wanderers of the air,

and your dominion shall endure for a kalpa."

When the Vidyádhara said this, Naraváhanadatta, in the presence

of the king of Vatsa, said to him again out of curiosity: "How did

Súryaprabha, being a man, obtain of old time the sovereignty over

the Vidyádharas? Tell us." Then in private, that is to say, in the

presence of the queens and ministers, the king Vajraprabha began to

tell that tale.

Story of Súryaprabha, and how he attained sovereignty over the

Vidyádharas.

Of old there was in the country of the people of Madra a town named

Sákala; [629] Chandraprabha, the son of Angáraprabha, was king of it,

whose name expressed his nature, as he delighted the whole world,

but he was like fire in that he scorched his enemies. By his wife,

named Kírtimatí, there was born to that king a son, whose future glory

was indicated by his exceedingly auspicious marks. And when he was

born, a clear voice sounded from heaven, which rained nectar into the

ears of king Chandraprabha, "This king, now born, named Súryaprabha,

is appointed by Siva as the future emperor over the kings of the

Vidyádharas. Then that prince Súryaprabha grew up in the house of

his father, who was distinguished by the delightful favour of the

enemy of Pura, [630] and he being very clever, gradually acquired,

while still a child, all knowledge and all the accomplishments by

sitting at the feet of a teacher; and then, when he was sixteen

years old, and captivated the subjects by his virtues, his father

Chandraprabha appointed him crown-prince, and he gave him the sons

of his own ministers, many in number, Bhása, Prabhása, Siddhártha,

Prahasta and others. And while he was bearing with them the burden of

a crown-prince's duty, one day a great Asura of the name of Maya came

there, and Maya went up in the assembly-hall to king Chandraprabha,

who welcomed him, and said to him in the presence of Súryaprabha,

"King, this son of yours, Súryaprabha, has been appointed as the

future emperor of the kings of the Vidyádharas by Siva; so why does

he not acquire the magic sciences that will put him in possession of

the dignity? For this reason I am sent here by the god Siva. Permit

me to take him, and teach him the right method of employing the

sciences, which will be the cause of his obtaining the sovereignty

of the Vidyádharas. For he has a rival in this business, a lord

of the sky-goers named Srutasarman; he too has been appointed by

Siva. But this prince, after acquiring the power of the sciences,

shall conquer him with our help, and become emperor over the lords of

the Vidyádharas." When Maya said this, king Chandraprabha said--"We

are fortunate; let this auspicious one be taken by you wherever you

wish." Then Maya took leave of the king, and quickly carried off

to Pátála Súryaprabha and his ministers, whom the king permitted to

depart. There he taught the prince ascetic practices of such a kind,

that by means of them the prince and his ministers quickly acquired

the sciences. And he taught him also the art of providing himself with

magic chariots, so that he acquired a chariot named Bhútásana. Then

Maya brought Súryaprabha, mounted on that chariot, with his ministers,

having acquired the sciences, back to his own city from Pátála. And

after he had led him into the presence of his parents, he said to

him, "Now I depart, enjoy here all the enjoyments given by your magic

knowledge until I return." After saying this, the Asura Maya departed,

after having been duly honoured, and king Chandraprabha rejoiced in

his son's having acquired the sciences.

Then Súryaprabha, by virtue of the sciences, was continually roaming

through many countries in his chariot, with his ministers, to amuse

himself. And wherever any princess beheld him, she was immediately

bewildered by love, and chose him for her husband. The first was the

virgin daughter of the king of Támraliptí, who was called Vírabhata;

her name was Madanasená, and she was the first beauty of the world. The

second was Chandrikávatí the daughter of Subhata, the emperor of

the western border, who had been carried off by the Siddhas and left

somewhere else. And the third was the famous daughter of Kumbhíra,

the king of the city of Kánchí, Varunasená by name, remarkable

for her beauty. And the fourth was the daughter of king Paurava,

sovereign of Lávánaka, Sulochaná by name, with lovely eyes. And

the fifth was the daughter of king Suroha, the lord of the land of

China, Vidyunmálá with charming limbs, yellow as gold. And the sixth

was the daughter of king Kántisena, ruler in the land of Sríkantha,

surpassing in beauty the Apsarases. And the seventh was Parapushtá,

the daughter of king Janamejaya, the lord of the city of Kausámbí,

a sweet-voiced maid. And though the relations of these maidens,

who were carried off by a surprise, found out what had happened,

still, as the prince was confident in the might of his supernatural

science, they were pliant as canes. These wives also acquired the

sciences, and Súryaprabha associated with them all at the same time,

taking many bodies by his magic skill. Then he amused himself,

in the company of these wives, and of the ministers Prahasta and

others, with roaming in the air, with concerts, drinking-parties and

other amusements. Possessing heavenly skill in painting, he drew the

Vidyádhara females, and in that way, and by making sportive sarcastic

speeches, he enraged those charmers, and he was amused at their faces,

furrowed with frowns, and with reddened eyes, and at their speeches,

the syllables of which faltered on their trembling lips. And that

prince went with his wives to Támraliptí, and roaming through the

air sported in the gardens with Madanasená. And having left his

wives there, he went in the chariot Bhútásana, and accompanied by

Prahasta only, visited the city called Vajrarátra. There he carried

off the daughter of king Rambha before his eyes, Tárávalí by name,

who was enamoured of him, and burning with the fire of love. And he

came back to Támraliptí, and there carried off again another maiden

princess, by name Vilásiní. And when her haughty brother Sahasráyudha

was annoyed at it, he paralyzed him by his supernatural power. And he

also stupefied Sahasráyudha's mother's brother, who came with him,

and all his retainers, and made his head shorn of hair, because

he wished to carry off his beloved ones. But though he was angry,

he spared to slay them both, because they were his wife's relatives,

but he taunted them, who were downcast on account of the overthrow of

their pride, and let them go. Then Súryaprabha, surrounded by nine

wives, having been summoned by his father, returned in his chariot

to his city Sákala.

And then king Vírabhata sent from Támraliptí an ambassador to

Súryaprabha's father, king Chandraprabha, and gave him the following

message to deliver--"Your son has carried off my two daughters,

but let that be, for he is a desirable husband for them, as he

is a master of supernatural sciences, but, if you love us, come

here now, in order that we may make a friendship based upon the

due performance of marriage rites and hospitality." Thereupon king

Chandraprabha rewarded the messenger, and determined that he would

quickly start for that place on the morrow. But he sent Prahasta, as

an ambassador to Vírabhata, in order to make sure of his sincerity,

and gave him Bhútásana to travel in. Prahasta went quickly and had an

interview with king Vírabhata, and questioned him about the business,

and was informed and highly honoured by him, [631] and promised him,

who smiled graciously, that his masters would come early next morning,

and then he returned in a moment to Chandraprabha through the air. And

he told that king that Vírabhata was ready to receive him. The king,

for his part, being pleased, shewed honour to that minister of his

son's. Then king Chandraprabha with queen Kírtimatí, and Súryaprabha

with Vilásiní and Madanasená, mounted that chariot Bhútásana, and

went off early next day with retinue and ministers. In one watch only

of the day they reached Támraliptí, being beheld, as they passed

through the air, by the people with eyes the lashes of which were

upraised through wonder. And descending from the sky, they entered

the city side by side with king Vírabhata, who came out to meet them;

the beautiful streets of the town were irrigated at every step with

sandal-wood water, and seemed to be strewed with blue lotuses by

means of the sidelong glances of the city ladies. There Vírabhata

honoured his connexion and his son-in-law, and duly performed the

marriage ceremony of his daughters. And king Vírabhata gave at the

marriage-altar of those daughters, a thousand loads of pure gold,

and a hundred camels laden with burdens of ornaments made of jewels;

and five hundred camels laden with loads of various garments, and

fifty thousand horses, and five thousand elephants, and a thousand

lovely women adorned with beauty and jewels. And moreover he gratified

his son-in-law Súryaprabha and his parents with valuable jewels and

territories. And he duly honoured his ministers, Prahasta and others,

and he made a feast at which all the people of the city rejoiced. And

Súryaprabha remained there in the company of his parents, and his

beloved wives, enjoying delights, consisting of various dainties,

wines, and music.

In the meanwhile an ambassador arrived from Rambha in Vajrarátra,

and in the hall of assembly delivered this message from his master:

"The crown-prince Súryaprabha, confiding in the might of his sciences,

has insulted us by carrying off our daughter. But to-day we have come

to know, that he has undertaken to be reconciled to king Vírabhata,

whose misfortune is the same as ours. If in the same way you agree

to be reconciled to us, come here also quickly, if not, we will in

this matter salve our honour by death." When king Chandraprabha

heard that, he honoured the ambassador, and said to him, "Go to

that Rambha and give him this message from me: 'Why do you afflict

yourself without cause? For Súryaprabha is now appointed by Siva the

future emperor of the Vidyádharas; and inspired sages have declared

that your daughter and others are to be his wives. So your daughter

has attained her proper place, but you being stern were not asked for

her. So be appeased, you are our friend, we will come to your residence

also.'" When Prahasta received this message from the king, he went

through the air, and in a single watch he reached Vajrarátra. There he

told his message to Rambha, and having been gladly received by him,

he returned as he came, and reported it to king Chandraprabha. Then

Chandraprabha sent his minister Prabhása, and had king Rambha's

daughter Tárávalí conducted to him from Sákala. Then he departed in

the air-chariot with Súryaprabha, being dismissed with great honour

by king Vírabhata and all others. And he reached Vajrarátra, which

was full of people awaiting his arrival, and was met by Rambha, and

entered his palace. There Rambha, having performed the great feast of

the marriage ceremony, gave his daughter countless stores of gold,

elephants, horses, jewels, and other valuables. And he gratified

so lavishly his son-in-law Súryaprabha, that he forgot all his own

luxuries. And while they were remaining there delighted with feasts,

an ambassador came from the city of Kánchí to Rambha. Rambha having

heard his message, said to king Chandraprabha--"King, the lord of

Kánchí, named Kumbhíra, is my elder brother; he has to-day sent me a

trustworthy messenger to speak this speech; 'Súryaprabha first carried

off my daughter, then yours. And now you have made friendship with

him and his father, as I hear, so bring about my friendship also with

them. Let them come to my house, that I may with my own hand give

my daughter Varunasená to Súryaprabha.' So grant this request of my

brother's." When Rambha made this request, Chandraprabha granted it,

and sent Prahasta and had Varunasená brought quickly from the city of

Sákala to her father Kumbhíra. And the next day, he and Súryaprabha

and Rambha, and Vírabhata and all, with their attendants, went to the

city of Kánchí. And after they had been met by Kumbhíra, they entered

the city of Kánchí, as it were the girdle of the earth, full of many

jewels and adorned with excellences. [632] There Kumbhíra bestowed

his daughter on Súryaprabha with the usual ceremonies, and gave much

wealth to the young couple.

And when the marriage had taken place, Prahasta, after taking food,

said to Chandraprabha, who was all joyfulness, in the presence of all,

"King, in the country of Sríkantha I had an interview with the king

of that land; there king Kántisena whom I thus happened to see, said

to me--'Let Súryaprabha come to my house with that daughter of mine,

whom he has carried off, I will perform the ceremony for him according

to rule. If he refuses, I will abandon the body, distracted by love

for my daughter.' This is what he then said to me, and I have now

mentioned it on the proper occasion." When Prahasta said this, king

Chandraprabha answered, "Go then, take Kántimatí to him, we will go

there also." When the king said this to him, Prahasta went off that

moment through the air, and did as he had commanded. And next morning

Chandraprabha and all, with Kumbhíra, went to the land of Sríkantha in

the air-travelling chariot. There king Kántisena came to meet them,

and making them enter his palace, performed the auspicious ceremony

of his daughter's marriage. Then he gave to Kántimatí and Súryaprabha

an endless quantity of jewels, which excited the wonder of the kings.

While they were all remaining there, enjoying all kinds of pleasures,

a messenger came from Kausámbí and said--"King Janamejaya sends this

message to your honours, 'My daughter, of the name of Parapushtá,

has been carried off by some one lately. And I have found out to-day,

that she has come into the power of Súryaprabha, so let him come with

her to my house without fear. I will perform the marriage ceremony

according to rule, and so dismiss him with his wife, otherwise you

will be my enemies, and I shall be yours.'" Having thus delivered

his master's message, the ambassador remained silent: then king

Chandraprabha said to them apart--"How can we go to the house of that

king who sends such haughty messages?" When the king's minister named

Siddhártha heard that, he said, "Do not entertain wrong notions,

king, for he is justified in using such language. For that king is

very generous, learned and sprung of a noble race, a hero, one who

has offered the Asvamedha sacrifice, ever unconquered by others. How

can he have spoken anything unbecoming in speaking according to

facts? And as for the enmity which he threatens, he does that now

on account of Indra. So you must go to his house, for he is a king

faithful to his engagements. Nevertheless send some one to find out

his intentions." When they heard this speech of Siddhártha's, they all

approved it. Then king Chandraprabha sent Prahasta to sound Janamejaya,

and honoured his messenger. And Prahasta went, and after making an

agreement with the king of Kausámbí, brought a letter from him, and

satisfied Chandraprabha. The king quickly sent that Prahasta, and had

Parapushtá conducted from Sákala to Janamejaya. Then Chandraprabha and

the other kings, preceded by Súryaprabha, [633] with Kántisena, went to

Kausámbí in the chariot. There the king Janamejaya courteously honoured

his son-in-law, and his connexion and all the others, by advancing

to meet them, and other ceremonies. And after he had performed the

ceremony of the marriage-rite, he gave five thousand elephants and

one hundred thousand excellent horses, and also five thousand camels

laden with full burdens of jewels, gold, precious apparel, camphor

and aloes-wood. And he made such a feast, that even the realm of

Pluto was exclusively engaged in dancing and music, a feast in which

excellent Bráhmans were honoured, and all kings gratified.

And in the meanwhile the heaven there suddenly became red, as if

indicating that it would soon be dyed crimson with blood. And the sky

suddenly became full of confused hurtling noises, as if terrified

at beholding a hostile army coming in the air. And a mighty wind

immediately began to blow, as if exciting the inhabitants of earth

to war against the wanderers of the air. And immediately a great

Vidyádhara army was seen in the air, illuminating with brightness

the circle of the horizon, loud-shouting, impetuous. And in the

midst of it Súryaprabha and the others beheld with astonishment a

very handsome heavenly youth. And at that moment the herald of the

Vidyádharas proclaimed with a loud voice in front of that youth,

whose name was Dámodara: "Victory to the crown-prince Dámodara son

of king Áshádha! O mortal, dweller on the earth, Súryaprabha, fall

at his feet. And do homage, O Janamejaya; why have you given your

daughter to an undeserver? Propitiate, both of you, this god at once,

otherwise he will not be appeased." When Súryaprabha heard this,

and saw that army, he was wroth, and seizing his sword and shield,

he flew up into the heaven by his science. And all his ministers

flew up after him, with their weapons in their hands, Prahasta, and

Prabhása, and Bhása, and Siddhártha, and Prajnádhya, and Sarvadamana,

and Vítabhíti and Subhankara. And the Vidyádharas fought a great fight

with them. And on one side Súryaprabha, and on the other Dámodara

advanced, not slaying their enemies with their swords, but receiving

their weapons on their shields. Those men, few in number, and those

air-roamers, a hundred thousand in number, found equality in battle,

fighting with one another. And all sword-blades there flashed red

with blood, falling on the heads of heroes, like the glances of

the god of death. And the Vidyádharas fell on the earth with their

heads and their bodies, in front of Chandraprabha, as if imploring

protection out of fear. Súryaprabha shone in the world with the glory

of the Vidyádharas which he had seen. The sky was red with blood,

as if with vermilion shed abroad. And Súryaprabha at last reached,

and fought face to face with Dámodara, who was armed with a sword and

a shield. And as he fought, he broke through his enemy's guard by a

skilful management of his weapons, and laid him on the earth, having

cleft his shield with his sword. And while he was preparing to cut off

the head of his struggling foe, Vishnu came and made a threatening

sound in the sky. Then Súryaprabha, having heard that sound, and

having beheld Hari, prostrated himself, and out of respect for the god

spared to slay Dámodara. Hari carried him off somewhere as his votary,

and saved him from death, for the adorable one delivers in this world

and the next his faithful followers. And the troops of Dámodara fled

in different directions. Súryaprabha, for his part, descended from

heaven to his father's side. And his father Chandraprabha welcomed

him, on his returning unwounded with his ministers, and the other

kings praised him, now that his valour had been seen.

And while they were all engaged in joyfully talking over the combat,

another ambassador, belonging to Subhata, arrived there. And he

came and delivered a letter in the presence of Chandraprabha; and

Siddhártha, opening it, read it out in the assembly: It ran as follows,

"The august king Chandraprabha, the pearl-jewel of a noble race,

is thus respectfully solicited by king Subhata in the Concan. We

have learnt that our daughter, who was carried off by some being

in the night, has come into the hands of thy son, and we rejoice

thereat. Make an effort, thou and thy son Súryaprabha, to come with

her to our house, without raising any objection, in order that we

may behold our daughter, returned as it were from the other world,

and perform for her at once the ceremony required for marriage." When

this letter was read by Siddhártha, the king Chandraprabha, consenting,

welcomed the messenger and rejoiced. And he quickly sent Prahasta to

the western border, and had Subhata's daughter Chandrikávatí conducted

into her father's presence. And the next morning they all went, with

Súryaprabha in front, and in company with Janamejaya, in the chariot

to the western border. There king Subhata, pleased at recovering

his daughter, shewed them much honour, and celebrated his daughter's

marriage festival. And he bestowed on Chandrikávatí jewels and other

gifts in such liberal profusion, that Vírabhata and the others were

ashamed at what they had given. Then, while Súryaprabha was remaining

there in the house of his father-in-law, there came from Lávánaka also

an ambassador belonging to king Paurava. He delivered to Chandraprabha

this message from his master, "My daughter Sulochaná has been carried

off by the fortunate prince Súryaprabha: that does not grieve me; but

why should he not be brought with her to my house, in order that we may

perform the marriage ceremony?" When king Chandraprabha heard that,

he honoured the messenger in his joy, and had Sulochaná escorted by

Prahasta into the presence of her father. Then they, Subhata and all,

in the company of Súryaprabha, went to Lávánaka in the chariot, that

came as soon as it was thought of. There Paurava performed the joyful

marriage ceremony, and bestowed jewels liberally on Súryaprabha and

Sulochaná, and honoured the kings also. And while they were remaining

there in delight, entertained by the king, Suroha, the king of China,

also sent an ambassador. That king, like the others, requested by the

mouth of the ambassador that, as his daughter had been carried off,

they would come with her to his palace.

Then king Chandraprabha was delighted, and he had the king of China's

daughter, Vidyunmálá, also conducted by Prahasta to her father's

house. And on the next day Chandraprabha and all went, including

Paurava, together with Súryaprabha and his retinue, to the land of

China. There the king came out to meet them, and led them into his

own treasure-chamber, and there performed the marriage ceremony of

his daughter. And he gave to Vidyunmálá and Súryaprabha an immense

quantity of gold, elephants, horses, jewels and silk garments. And

being invited by Suroha, Chandraprabha and the others continued there

for some days in various enjoyments. And Súryaprabha, who was in the

prime of youth, was adorned by that Vidyunmálá, [634] as the rainy

season, when the clouds abound, is adorned by the lightning-garland.

Thus Súryaprabha and his relatives, accompanied by his various

charmers, enjoyed delights here and there in the houses of his

fathers-in-law. Then he took counsel with Siddhártha and his other

ministers, and dismissed one by one to their own lands Vírabhata and

the other kings, with numbers of horses, and then took leave of that

king Suroha, and accompanied by his daughter, with his own parents

and followers ascended that chariot Bhútásana, and went triumphant

to his own city of Sákala. In that city great rejoicing took place

on account of his arrival; in one place there was the occupation of

dancing, in another the delight of music; in one place the amusement of

drinking, in another the toilet-rites of fair-eyed ladies; in another

the voice of bards loud in the praise of him who had obtained what

he desired. Then he had brought his other wives, who had remained in

their fathers' houses, and with the stores of elephants and horses

bestowed by their fathers, that were brought with them, and with the

innumerable camels bowed down with burdens full of various jewels, he

displayed in sport the wealth obtained by the conquest of the world,

and aroused the wonder of his subjects.

Then Sákala, inhabited by that fortunate one, appeared glorious,

as if the chiefs of the gods, of the followers of Kuvera, and of the

snakes, had made in it many deposits of much wealth. Then Súryaprabha

dwelt there with Madanasená, enjoying the pleasures he desired, happy

in that all blessings were fully bestowed upon him, in the society

of his parents, with his ministers, accompanied by his other wives,

expecting every day Maya, who had made a promise to return.

CHAPTER XLV.

Then, one day, when king Chandraprabha was in the hall of assembly,

and Súryaprabha was there accompanied by all his ministers, they

called to mind Maya à propos of a remark made by Siddhártha, and

suddenly the earth cleft open in the middle of the assembly. Then

first a loud-sounding fragrant breeze ascended from the aperture in

the earth, and afterwards the Asura Maya rose up from it, looking

like a mountain in the night, for his hair gleamed upon his black

lofty head like the potent herbs upon the mountain peaks, and his

crimson robe resembled the flowing streams of cinnabar. And the king

of the Dánavas, after having been duly honoured by king Chandraprabha,

spake from his seat on a jewelled throne--"You have enjoyed these

delights of earth, and now it is time for you to enjoy others; set

yourselves now to prepare for acquiring them. Send out ambassadors,

and collect your subordinate kings, and your friends and connexions;

then we will unite with Sumeru, prince of the Vidyádharas, and we will

conquer Srutasarman, and win the sovereignty of the sky-goers. And

Sumeru is our ally, considering us as friends, for he received at the

outset a command from Siva, to support Súryaprabha and give him his

own daughter. When the Asura Maya said this, Chandraprabha sent, as

ambassadors to all the kings, Prahasta and the other ministers that

travelled through the air; and, by the advice of Maya, Súryaprabha

communicated the magic sciences to all his wives and ministers,

on whom they had not been bestowed already.

And while they were thus engaged, the hermit Nárada arrived, descending

from the sky, illuminating the whole horizon with brightness. And after

he had received the argha, he sat down and said to Chandraprabha, "I

am sent here by Indra, and he sends this message to your Highness--'I

have learned that, by the instigation of Siva, you purpose, with the

assistance of the Asura Maya, being all of you deluded by ignorance,

to obtain for this Súryaprabha, of mortal frame, the great dignity of

emperor of all the chiefs of the Vidyádharas: that is improper, for

I have conferred it on Srutasarman, and besides it is the hereditary

right of that moon of the sea of the Vidyádhara race. And as for what

you are doing in a spirit of opposition to me, and contrary to what

is right, it will certainly result in your destruction. Moreover,

before, when your Highness was offering a sacrifice to Rudra, I told

you first to offer an Asvamedha sacrifice, but you did not do it. So

the haughty enterprise you are engaged in, without regard to the gods,

relying upon Siva alone, will not turn out to your happiness.'" When

Nárada had delivered in these words the message of Indra, Maya

laughed and said to him; "Great hermit, the king of gods has not

spoken well. For what he says about the fact of Súryaprabha being

a mortal is beside the point; for who was not aware of that fact,

when he met Dámodara in fight? For mortals who possess courage can

obtain all powers. Did not Nahusha and others of old time obtain the

dignity of Indra? And as for his saying that he bestowed the empire on

Srutasarman, and that it is his hereditary right, that also is absurd,

for where Siva is the giver, who has any authority? Besides, did not

he himself take away the sovereignty of the gods from Hiranyáksha,

though it descended to him as the elder? And as for his other remark

about opposition, and our acting contrary to what is right, that is

false, for he violently puts himself in opposition to us out of selfish

motives, and wherein, pray, are we acting contrary to what is right,

for we are only striving to conquer our rival, we are not carrying off

a hermit's wife, we are not killing Bráhmans? And what he says about

the necessity of first performing an Asvamedha sacrifice, and about

contempt of the gods, is untrue, for when sacrifice to Siva has been

performed, what need is there of other sacrifices? [635] And when Siva

the god of gods is worshipped, what god is not worshipped? And as for

his remark that exclusive attention to Rudra [636] is not becoming,

I answer--Of what importance are the hosts of the other gods, where

Siva is in arms? When the sun has risen, do the other luminaries give

light? So you must tell all this to the king of the gods, O hermit,

and we shall continue to carry out what we are engaged in, let him

do what he can." When the rishi Nárada had been thus addressed by the

Asura Maya, he said "I will do so," and took back to the king of the

gods that answer to his message. When that hermit had departed, the

Asura Maya thus spake to king Chandraprabha, who was apprehensive on

account of the message of Indra, "You must not be afraid of Indra;

even if he is on the side of Srutasarman in fight, with the hosts

of the gods, out of hostility to us, still we Daityas and Dánavas

are countless in number, and under the leadership of Prahláda we are

ranged together on your side. And if the destroyer of Tripura [637]

favours us and is active on our side, what other miserable creature

in the three worlds has any power? So set about this expedition,

heroes." When Maya said this, all those there were pleased, and

considered that it was as he said.

Then in accordance with the messages carried by the ambassadors,

in course of time all the kings, Vírabhata and the others, assembled

there, and all the other friends and relatives of Chandraprabha. When

these kings with their armies had been duly honoured, the Asura

Maya again said to Chandraprabha, "Perform to-night, O king, a

great sacrifice in honour of Siva; afterwards you shall do all as

I direct." When he heard this speech of Maya's, king Chandraprabha

immediately had preparations made for a sacrifice to Siva. Then he went

to the forest at night, and under the instructions of Maya, himself

performed devoutly a sacrifice to Rudra. And while the king was engaged

in the fire-offering, there suddenly appeared there Nandin the prince

of the host of Bhútas. He was honoured duly by the delighted king,

and said--"The god Siva himself sends this command by me, 'Through

my favour thou needst not fear even a hundred Indras; Súryaprabha

shall become emperor of the sky-goers.'" After he had delivered this

message, Nandin received a portion of the offering and disappeared

with the hosts of Bhútas. Then Chandraprabha became confident in

the future elevation of his son, and after completing the sacrifice,

at the end of the fire-offering, re-entered the city with Maya.

And the next morning, when king Chandraprabha was sitting in secret

conclave together with the queen, his son, the kings and his ministers,

the Asura Maya said to him--"Listen, king, I will to-day tell you a

secret long guarded; you are a Dánava, Sunítha by name, my mighty son,

and Súryaprabha is your younger brother, named Sumundíka; after you

were slain in the war of the gods, you were born here as father and

son. That Dánava body of yours has been preserved by me skilfully

embalmed with heavenly drugs and ghee. Therefore you must enter a

cavern and visit Pátála, and then return to your own body by a charm

which I will teach you. And when you have entered that body, you will

be so much superior in spirit and strength, that you will conquer in

fight the wanderers of the air. But Súryaprabha, who is an incarnation

of Sumundíka, with this same beautiful body which he now possesses,

shall soon become lord of the sky-goers. When king Chandraprabha heard

this from Maya, he was delighted and agreed to it, but Siddhártha

said this--"O excellent Dánava, what ground of confidence have we,

if this doubt should arise, 'Why has the king entered another body,

has he then died?' And moreover will he forget us when he enters

another body, like a man gone to the other world? Who is he, and

who are we?" When the Asura Maya heard this speech of Siddhártha's,

he answered--"You yourselves must come and see him with your own

eyes entering another body, of his own free will, by the employment

of a charm. And hear the reason why he will not forget you. A man,

who does not die of his own free will, and is born in another womb,

does not remember anything, as his memory is destroyed by old age and

other afflictions, but whoever of his own free will enters another

body, penetrating by the employment of magic the internal organ and

the senses, without his mind and intellect being impaired, and passes,

as it were, from one house to another, that prince among Yogins has

supernatural knowledge and remembers all. So do not feel doubtful;

so far from there being any reason for it, this king will obtain a

great divine body free from old age and sickness. Moreover you are all

Dánavas, and by merely entering Rasátala, [638] and drinking nectar,

you will obtain divine bodies free from sickness." When the ministers

heard this speech of Maya's, they all said, "So be it," and consented

to his proposal, abandoning their apprehensions out of the confidence

they reposed in him. And by his advice, Chandraprabha, with all the

kings, went on the next day to the confluence of the Chandrabhágá

and the Airávatí. [639] There Chandraprabha left the kings outside,

and committed to their care the wives of Súryaprabha, and then he

entered in company with Súryaprabha, the queen, and the ministers

with Siddhártha at their head, an opening in the water pointed out

by Maya, and after entering he travelled a long distance, and beheld

a heavenly temple, and entered it with all of them.

And in the meanwhile the Vidyádharas descended with troops on those

kings, who were remaining there outside the opening; and paralyzing the

kings by supernatural arts, they carried off the wives of Súryaprabha,

and immediately a voice was heard from the sky--"Wicked Srutasarman,

if you touch these wives of the emperor, you shall immediately perish

with your host. So guard them respectfully, treating them like your

mother; there is a reason for my not immediately slaying you and

setting them free; so let them remain as they are at present." And

when the kings, Vírabhata and the others, saw them carried off, they

prepared to die by fighting with one another. But a voice from heaven

forbade their attempt, saying, "No harm will befall these daughters

of yours, you shall obtain them again, so you must not act rashly,

prosperity befall you!" So the kings remained waiting there. In the

meantime Chandraprabha was in the temple in Pátála surrounded by all

his companions, and there Maya said to him, "King, listen attentively

to this wonderful thing; I will shew you the supernatural art of

entering another body." He said this, and recited the Sánkhya and

the Yoga doctrine with its secrets, and taught him the magic art of

entering another body; and that chief of Yogins said--"This is the

famous supernatural power, and the independence of knowledge, the

dominion over matter that is characterized by lightness and the other

mystic properties. The chief of the gods, possessing this power, do

not long for liberation; in order to obtain this power others endure

the hardship of muttering prayers and performing asceticism. Men of

lofty soul do not love the pleasures of heaven even when attained. And

listen, I will tell you a story in illustration of this."

Story of the Bráhman Kála.

In a former Kalpa [640] there was a certain Bráhman, of the name of

Kála. He went to the holy bathing-place Pushkara and muttered prayers

day and night. While he was muttering, two myriads of years of the

gods passed away. Then there appeared a great light inseparable from

his head, which, streaming forth in the firmament like ten thousand

suns, [641] impeded the movement of the Siddhas and others there, and

set the three worlds on fire. Then Brahmá, Indra and the other gods

came to him and said--"Bráhman, these worlds are on fire with your

brightness. Receive whatever boon you desire." He answered them--"Let

me have no other pleasure than muttering prayers, this is my boon,

I choose nothing else." When they importuned him, that mutterer of

prayers went far off and remained on the north side of the Himálayas,

muttering prayers. When this extraordinary brightness of his gradually

became intolerable even there, Indra sent heavenly nymphs to tempt

him. That self-restrained man did not care a straw about them,

when they endeavoured to seduce him. Then the gods sent him Death as

plenipotentiary. He came to him and said--"Bráhman, mortals do not live

so long, so abandon your life; do not break the law of nature." When

the Bráhman heard this, he said--"If the limit of my life is attained,

why do you not take me? What are you waiting for? But I will not of

myself abandon my life, O thou god with the noose in hand; indeed, if

I were wilfully to abandon my life, I should be a self-murderer." When

he said this, and Death found that he could not take him on account

of his power, he turned away from him and returned as he came. Then

Indra repenting seized that Kála, [642] who had conquered Time the

destroyer, in his arms, and took him up to heaven by force. There

he remained averse to the sensual enjoyments of the place, and he

did not cease from muttering prayers, so the gods made him descend

again, and he returned to the Himálayas. And while all the gods were

trying to induce him there to take a boon, the king Ikshváku came

that way. When he heard how affairs stood, he said to that mutterer

of prayers, "If you will not receive a boon from the gods, receive

one from me." When the mutterer of prayers heard that, he laughed,

and said to the king--"Are you able to grant me a boon, when I will

not receive one even from the gods?" Thus he spoke, and Ikshváku

answered the Bráhman--"If I am not able to grant you a boon, you can

grant me one; so grant me a boon." Then the mutterer said--"Choose

whatever you desire, and I will grant it." When the king heard this,

he reflected in his mind: "The appointed order is that I should give,

and that he should receive; this is an inversion of the due order,

that I should receive what he gives." Whilst the king was delaying, as

he pondered over this difficulty, two Bráhmans came there disputing;

when they saw the king they appealed to him for a decision. The

first said, "This Bráhman gave me a cow with a sacrificial fee:

why will he not receive it from my hand, when I offer to give it

back to him?" Then the other said, "I did not receive it first, and

I did not ask for it, then why does he wish to make me receive it by

force?" When the king heard this, he said--"This complainant is not

in the right; why, after receiving the cow, do you try to compel the

man, who gave it, to take it back from you?" When the king said this,

Indra, having found his opportunity, said to him--"King, if you hold

this view of what is right, then, after you have asked the Bráhman,

who mutters prayers, for a boon, why do you not take it from him when

it is granted?" Then the king, being at a loss for an answer, said

to that muttering Bráhman--"Revered sir, give me the fruit of half

your muttering as a boon." Then the muttering Bráhman said--"Very

well, receive the fruit of half my muttering," and so he gave the

king a boon. By means of that boon the king obtained access to all

the worlds, and that muttering Bráhman obtained the world of the

gods called Sivas. [643] There he remained for many kalpas, and then

returned to earth, and by mystic contemplation obtained independence,

and gained everlasting supernatural power.

"Thus this supernatural power is desired by wise men, who are averse

to heaven and such low enjoyments; and you have obtained it, O king,

so, being independent, enter your own body." When Maya said this to

king Chandraprabha, after communicating to him the doctrine of mystic

contemplation giving supernatural power, [644] he and his wife and

his son and his ministers rejoiced exceedingly.

Then the king, with his son and companions, was led by Maya to a second

under-world, and made to enter a splendid city. And there they saw a

gigantic hero, reclining at full length upon a beautiful couch, as if

asleep, anointed with potent herbs and ghee, awful from the ghastly

transformation of his features, surrounded by the daughters of the

kings of the Daityas, with their lotus-faces full of melancholy. Then

Maya said to Chandraprabha:--"This is your body, surrounded by

your former brides, enter it."--The king had recourse to the magic

contemplation taught by Maya, and entered the body of that hero,

abandoning his own frame. [645] Then the hero yawned slowly, opened

his eyes, and rose up from the bed, as if awaking out of sleep. Then

a shout arose from the delighted Asura brides, "Happy are we, that our

husband, the god Sunítha, is to-day restored to life." But Súryaprabha

and the others were immediately despondent, beholding the body of

Chandraprabha lying lifeless. But Chandraprabha-Sunítha, appearing as

if risen from a refreshing sleep, saw Maya, and falling at his feet

honoured his father. That father too embraced him and asked him in the

presence of all,--"Do you remember both your lives, my son?" He said;

"I do remember them," and related what had happened to him in his life

as Chandraprabha, and also what had happened to him in his life as

Sunítha, and he comforted one by one Súryaprabha and the others, and

also his queens, mentioning each by name, and also the Dánava ladies,

his wives in his first life. And he preserved the body, which he had

as Chandraprabha, carefully laid by, embalmed by means of drugs and

ghee, saying, "It may possibly be useful to me." Then Súryaprabha

and the others, tranquil now that they had gained confidence, bowed

before him, and joyfully congratulated him.

Then Maya, having conducted all of them in high delight out of that

city, led them to another city adorned with gold and jewels. When

they entered it, they beheld a lake of the appearance of beryl, filled

with nectar, and they all sat down on the bank of it. And they drank

that nectarous draught there, more excellent than the water of life,

in curiously ornamented cups formed of jewels, which were brought to

them by the wives of Sunítha. And by that draught they all rose up,

as from a sleep of intoxication, and became possessed of divine bodies,

and of great strength and courage.

Then the Asura Maya said to Chandraprabha-Sunítha, "Come, my son, let

us go, and see your mother after so long a separation." And Sunítha

said "So be it," and prepared to go conducted by Maya, and so proceeded

to the fourth under-world with Súryaprabha and the others. There they

beheld curious cities made of various metals, and at last they all

reached a city built entirely of gold. There, on a pillar composed

of jewels adorned with every luxury, they beheld that mother of

Sunítha, the wife of Maya, by name Lílávatí, surpassing in beauty the

nymphs of heaven, surrounded with Asura maidens, and adorned with all

ornaments. The moment she beheld that Sunítha, she rose up in a state

of excitement, and Sunítha, after saluting her, fell at her feet. Then

she embraced with gushing tears the son, whom she once more held in

her arms after so long an interval, and again praised her husband

Maya, who was the cause of her regaining him. Then Maya said--"Queen,

your other son Sumundíka has been born again as the son of your son,

and here he is, Súryaprabha by name. He has been appointed by the

god Siva the future emperor of the Vidyádharas, and is destined to

rule over them in the body which he now possesses." When Súryaprabha

heard this, and saw her look at him with an eye of longing affection,

he and his ministers fell at her feet. And Lílávatí gave him her

blessing, and said to him--"My darling, you do not require the body

of Sumundíka, in this you are sufficiently glorious." When his sons

were thus triumphant, Maya called to mind his daughter Mandodarí,

and Vibhíshana, and when called to mind, they came. And Vibhíshana,

welcomed with triumphant rejoicings, said to him--"O prince of the

Dánavas, if you will listen to my advice, I will give it you. You

are among the Dánavas singularly virtuous and prosperous, so you

ought not to take up a causeless enmity against the gods. For you

will gain nothing but death from your hostility to them. For Asuras

have been slain in battle by the gods, but not gods by Asuras." When

Maya heard this, he said--"We are not forcing on war, but if Indra

violently makes war on us, tell me, how can we remain passive? And

as for those Asuras who were slain by the gods, they were reckless,

but did the gods slay Bali and others who were not infatuated?" That

king of the Rákshasas having, with his wife Mandodarí, been addressed

with these and similar speeches by Maya, took leave of him, and went

to his own dwelling.

Then Sunítha, with Súryaprabha and the others, was conducted to the

third under-world to visit king Bali. In that world, which surpassed

even heaven, they all beheld Bali, adorned with chain and tiara,

surrounded with Daityas and Dánavas. Sunítha and his companions fell

at his feet in due order, and he honoured them with appropriate

welcome. And Bali was delighted with the tidings related by Maya,

and he quickly had summoned Prahláda and the other Dánavas. Sunítha

and the others honoured them also by falling at their feet, and

they, being full of joy, congratulated them, as they bent before

them. Then Bali said, "Sunítha became Chandraprabha on the earth,

and now is restored to life for us by regaining his body. And we have

also gained Súryaprabha, who is an incarnation of Sumundíka. And he

has been appointed by Siva the future emperor of the Vidyádharas: and

by the power of the sacrifice offered by Chandraprabha my bonds have

been relaxed. So without doubt we have gained prosperity by recovering

these." When Sukra, the spiritual adviser of the Dánavas, heard this

speech of Bali's, he said, "In truth those who act according to right

never fail of prosperity in any matter; so act according to right,

and do on this occasion also what I bid you." When the Dánavas,

the princes of the seven under-worlds, who were assembled there,

heard that, they agreed to it and bound themselves so to act. And

Bali made a feast there, out of joy at the recovery of Sunítha.

In the meanwhile the hermit Nárada arrived there again, and after

taking the argha, he sat down, and said to those Dánavas, "I have been

sent here by Indra, and he in truth says this to you, 'I am exceedingly

delighted at the fact that Sunítha has come back to life; so you must

not take up a causeless enmity against me, and you must not fight

against my ally Srutasarman.'" When the hermit had thus delivered

Indra's message, Prahláda said to him, "Of course Indra is pleased

that Sunítha has come back to life, how could it be otherwise? But we

at any rate are not taking up causeless hostility. This very day we

all took an engagement that we would not do so, in the presence of

our spiritual adviser. But if Indra makes himself a partizan [646]

of Srutasarman, and violently opposes us, how are we to be blamed

for it? For Súryaprabha's ally, Siva, the god of gods, has long ago

appointed him, because he propitiated him first. So what have we to do

with this matter which has been settled by the lord Siva? It is clear

that this, which Indra says, is without cause, and not right." When

Prahláda, the king of the Dánavas said this to Nárada, he blamed Indra

by expressing his agreement with it, and disappeared. When he had gone,

Usanas [647] said to the kings of the Dánavas--"Indra is evidently

determined to oppose us in this matter. But, as Siva has decidedly

girded up his loins to shew us favour, what is his power, or what

will his reliance upon Vishnu do?" The Dánavas heard and approved

this speech of Sukra's, and taking leave of Bali and Prahláda, went

to their own homes. Then Prahláda went to the fourth under-world,

his habitation, and king Bali, rising up from the assembly, retired

within. And Maya and Sunítha and the others, Súryaprabha and all,

bowed before Bali, and went to their own habitations. After they had

eaten and drunk there sufficiently, Lílávatí, the mother of Sunítha,

came to him and said, "My son, you know that these wives of yours

are the daughters of mighty ones, Tejasvatí being the daughter of

the god of wealth, Mangalávatí of Tumburu; and as for Kírtimatí,

that wife that you married in your existence as Chandraprabha, her

you know to be the daughter of the Vasu Prabháva, so you must look

upon these three with an equal eye, my son." After saying this,

she commended to him his three principal wives. Then, that night,

Sunítha entered his sleeping apartment with the eldest, Tejasvatí.

But Súryaprabha, in another chamber, with his ministers, reclined

on a couch without any of his wives that night. And the goddess of

sleep did not come to him, who remained continually alone, saying to

herself, "What is the use of this unloving man, who leaves his wives

outside?" And she would not approach Prahasta out of jealousy, as he

was so exclusively in love with the cares of his official duties, but

the other ministers around Súryaprabha went to sleep comfortably. In

the meanwhile Súryaprabha and Prahasta beheld an incomparable maiden

entering, accompanied by a female friend. She was so beautiful that

Providence seemed, after creating her, to have placed her in the

lower regions in order that the nymphs of heaven, also his creation,

might not be eclipsed by her. And while Súryaprabha was debating

who she might be, she approached each of his friends, one by one,

and looked at them; and as they did not possess the distinguishing

marks of emperors, she left them, and seeing that Súryaprabha possessed

them, she approached him, who was lying in the midst of them; and she

said to her friend--"Here he is, my friend; so touch him on the feet,

wake him up with those hands of yours cool as water." When her friend

heard that, she did so, and Súryaprabha ceased to feign sleep, and

opened his eyes, and beholding those maidens, he said--"Who are you,

and why do you come here?" When the friend of the lady heard that,

she said to him--"Listen, king, in the second under-world there is

a victorious king named Amíla, a chieftain of the Daityas, the son

of Hiranyáksha; this is his daughter Kalávatí whom he loves more

than life. Her father came back to-day from the court of Bali, and

said--'I am fortunate in that I have to-day beheld Sunítha once more

restored to life; and I have also seen the young man Súryaprabha,

an incarnation of Sumundíka, who has been brought into the world by

Siva as the future emperor of the Vidyádharas. So I will now offer a

congratulatory tribute to Sunítha,----I will give my daughter Kalávatí

to Súryaprabha, for she cannot be given to Sunítha because she belongs

to the same family; but Súryaprabha is his son in his birth as a king,

not in his birth as an Asura, and any honour paid to his son will

be paid to him.' When my friend heard this speech of her father's,

her mind being attracted by your virtues, she came here out of a

curiosity to see you." When that friend of the lady's said this,

Súryaprabha pretended to be asleep in order to discover the real

object of her wish. The maiden slowly approached the sleepless

Prahasta, and after telling him all by the mouth of her friend,

went out. And Prahasta advanced towards Súryaprabha and said--"King,

are you awake or not?" And he, opening his eyes, said to him, "My

friend, I am awake, for how could I sleep to-day being alone? But I

will tell you a strange fact; listen, for what can I hide from you? I

saw a moment ago a maiden enter here with her friend; her equal is not

beheld in these three worlds. And she departed in a moment, taking my

heart with her. So look for her at once, for she must be somewhere

hereabout." When Súryaprabha said this to him, Prahasta went out,

and seeing the maiden there with her friend, he said to her--"I, to

please you, have again woke up my master here, so you, to please me,

must once more grant him an interview. Behold once more his form that

gives satisfaction to your eyes, [648] and let him, who was overpowered

by you as soon as he saw you, behold you again. For when he woke up,

he said to me speaking of you, 'Bring her from some place or other,

and shew her to me, otherwise I cannot survive.' Then I came to you,

so come and behold him yourself." When she was thus addressed by

Prahasta, she hesitated to go in boldly, owing to the modesty natural

to a maiden, and reflected, and then Prahasta, seizing her hand,

led her into the presence of Súryaprabha. And Súryaprabha, when he

saw that Kalávatí had come near him, said--"Fair one, was this right

of you to come in to-day and steal away my heart, as you did, when I

was asleep? So, thief, I will not leave you unpunished to-day." When

her sly friend heard this, she said to him; "Since her father knew of

it before, and determined to assign this thief to you for punishment,

who can forbid you to punish her. Why do you not inflict on her to your

heart's content the punishment due for thieving?" When Súryaprabha

heard that, he wanted to embrace her, but Kalávatí being modest,

said, "Do not, my husband, I am a maiden." Then Prahasta said to her;

"Do not hesitate, my queen, for the Gándharva marriage is the best of

all marriages in the world." When Prahasta had said this, he went out

with all the rest, and Súryaprabha that very moment made Kalávatí,

the maiden of the under-world, his wife.

And when the night came to an end, Kalávatí went to her own dwelling,

and Súryaprabha went to Sunítha and Maya. They all assembled and went

into the presence of Prahláda, and he, seated in the hall of audience,

after honouring them appropriately, said to Maya: "We must do something

to please Sunítha on this day of rejoicing, so let us all feast

together." Maya said--"Let us do so, what harm is there in this?" And

then Prahláda invited by means of messengers the chiefs of the Asuras,

and they came there in order from all the under-worlds. First came

king Bali accompanied by innumerable great Asuras. Close behind him

came Amíla and the brave Durároha and Sumáya, and Tantukachchha, and

Vikatáksha and Prakampana, and Dhúmaketu and Mahámáya, and the other

lords of the Asuras; each of these came accompanied by a thousand

feudal chiefs. The hall of audience was filled with the heroes who

saluted one another, and after they had sat down in order of rank,

Prahláda honoured them all. And when the time of eating arrived,

they all, with Maya and the others, after bathing in the Ganges,

went to a great hall to dine. It was a hundred yojanas wide, and

had a pavement of gold and jewels, and was adorned with jewelled

pillars, and full of curiously wrought jewelled vessels. There the

Asuras, in the company of Prahláda, and with Sunítha and Maya, and

with Súryaprabha accompanied by his ministers, ate heavenly food of

various kinds, containing all the six flavours, solid, liquid, and

sweetmeats, and then drank the best of wine. And after they had eaten

and drunk, they all went to another hall, which was made of jewels,

and beheld the skilful dance of the Daitya and Dánava maidens. On

that occasion Súryaprabha beheld the daughter of Prahláda, named

Mahalliká, who came forward to dance by order of her father. She

illuminated the world with her beauty, rained nectar into his eyes,

and seemed like the moon-goddess [649] come to the under-world out of

curiosity. She had her forehead ornamented with a patch, beautiful

anklets on her feet, and a smiling face, and seemed as if all made

of dancing by the Creator. With her curling hair, her pointed teeth,

and her breasts that filled up the whole of her chest, she seemed

as it were to be creating a new style of dance. And that fair one,

the moment she was beheld by Súryaprabha, forcibly robbed him of his

heart, though it was claimed by others. Then she also beheld him from a

distance, sitting among the Asura princes, like a second god of Love

made by the Creator, when the first god of love had been burnt up by

Siva. And when she saw him, her mind was so absorbed in him, that her

skill in the expression of sentiments by gesture forsook her, as if

in anger at beholding her want of modesty. And the spectators beheld

the emotion of those two, and brought the spectacle to an end, saying,

"The princess is tired." Then Mahalliká was dismissed by her father,

looking askance at Súryaprabha, and after she had bowed before the

princes of the Daityas, she went home. And the princes of the Daityas

went to their respective houses, and Súryaprabha too went to his

dwelling at the close of day.

And when the night came, Kalávatí again came to visit him, and

he slept secretly within with her, with all his followers sleeping

outside. In the meanwhile Mahalliká also came there, eager to see him,

accompanied by two confidantes. Then a minister of Súryaprabha's,

named Prajnádhya, who happened at that moment to have his eyes

forsaken by sleep, saw her attempting to enter. And he, recognising

her, rose up and said--"Princess, remain here a moment until I enter

and come out again." She alarmed, said--"Why are we stopped, and why

are you outside?" Prajnádhya again said to her--"Why do you enter

in this sudden way when a man is sleeping at his ease? Besides, my

lord sleeps alone to-night on account of a vow." Then the daughter

of Prahláda, being ashamed, said, "So be it, enter," and Prajnádhya

went inside. Seeing that Kalávatí was asleep, he woke up Súryaprabha

and himself told him that Mahalliká had arrived. And Súryaprabha,

hearing of it, gently rose up, and went out, and beholding Mahalliká

with two others, he said--"This person has been supremely blessed

by your arrival, let this place be blessed also, take a seat." When

Mahalliká heard this, she sat down with her friends, and Súryaprabha

also sat down, with Prajnádhya by his side. And when he sat down,

he said--"Fair one, although you shewed contempt for me by seeming

to look on others in the assembly with respect, nevertheless, O

rolling-eyed one, my eyes were blessed as soon as they beheld your

dancing as well as your beauty." When Súryaprabha said this, the

daughter of Prahláda answered him--"This is not my fault, noble sir,

[650] he is in fault, who made me ashamed in the hall of assembly

by putting me beside my part in the pantomime." When Súryaprabha

heard this, he laughed and said--"I am conquered." And then that

prince seized her hand with his, and it perspired and trembled, as

if afraid of the rough seizure. And she said--"Let me go, noble sir,

I am a maiden under my father's control,"--then Prajnádhya said to

that daughter of the chief of the Asuras, "Is not there not such

a thing as the Gándharva marriage of maidens? And your father,

who has seen your heart, will not give you to another, moreover

he will certainly do some honour to this prince here; so away with

timidity! Let not such a meeting be thrown away!" While Prajnádhya

was saying this to Mahalliká, Kalávatí woke up within. And not seeing

Súryaprabha on the bed, after waiting a long time, she was terrified

and apprehensive and went out. And seeing her lover in the company

of Mahalliká, she was angry and ashamed and terrified. Mahalliká

too, when she saw her, was terrified and angry and ashamed, and

Súryaprabha stood motionless like a painted picture. Kalávatí came

to his side, thinking--"Now that I have been seen, how can I escape,

shall I display shame or jealousy?" And she said with a spiteful

intonation to Mahalliká--"How are you, my friend, how comes it that

you have come here at night?" Then Mahalliká said--"This is my house;

as you have arrived here from another mansion of the under-world, you

are to-day my guest here." When Kalávatí heard that, she laughed and

said--"Yes, it is clearly the case that you entertain with appropriate

hospitality every guest, as soon as he arrives here." When Kalávatí

said this, Mahalliká answered--"When I spoke to you kindly, why do

you answer in such an unkind and spiteful way, shameless girl? Am I

like you? Did I, without being bestowed in marriage by my parents,

come from a distance, and in a strange place sleep in the bed of a

strange man alone at night? I came to see my father's guest, as he

was going away, in accordance with the duty of hospitality, a moment

ago, accompanied by two female friends. When this minister entered,

after first reproaching me, I guessed the real state of the case; you

have now of yourself revealed it." When thus addressed by Mahalliká,

Kalávatí departed, looking askance at her beloved with an eye red

with anger. Then Mahalliká too said to Súryaprabha in wrath, "Now I

will depart, man of many favourites," and went away. And Súryaprabha

remained in heartless despondency, as was reasonable, for his heart,

devoted to his loved ones, went with them.

Then he woke up his minister Prabhása, and sent him to discover

what Kalávatí had done, after she had separated from him in anger;

and in the meanwhile he sent Prahasta to find out about Mahalliká,

and he remained with Prajnádhya awaiting their report. Then Prabhása

returned from investigating the proceedings of Kalávatí, and being

questioned, he said as follows: "From this place I went to the private

apartment of Kalávatí in the second under-world, concealing myself by

my science. And outside it I heard the conversation of two maids. The

one said, 'My friend, why is Kalávatí distressed to-day?' Then the

second said--'My friend, hear the reason. There is at present in the

fourth under-world an incarnation of Sumundíka, named Súryaprabha,

who in beauty surpasses the god of Love; she went secretly and gave

herself to him. And when she had repaired to him to-day of her own

accord at night-fall, Mahalliká, the daughter of Prahláda, chose to

come there too. Our mistress had a jealous quarrel with her, and was in

consequence preparing to slay herself, when, she was seen by her sister

Sukhávatí and saved. And then she went inside, and flinging herself

down on a bed, she remained with that sister, who was despondent

when she had learnt by enquiry what had taken place.' When I had

heard this conversation of the two maids, I entered the apartment,

and beheld Kalávatí and Sukhávatí, who resembled one another exactly."

While Prabhása was saying this to Súryaprabha in private, Prahasta

also came there, and being questioned, he said as follows--"When I

arrived from this place at the private apartment of Mahalliká, she

entered despondent with her two intimate friends. And I entered also

invisible by the employment of magic science, and I saw there twelve

friends like her; and they sat round Mahalliká, who reclined on a sofa

ornamented with splendid jewels; and then one said to her, 'My friend,

why do you seem to be suddenly cast down to-day? What is the meaning

of this despondency when your marriage is about to come off?' When the

daughter of Prahláda heard that, she answered her friend pensively,

'What marriage for me? To whom am I betrothed? Who told you?' When she

said that, they all exclaimed, 'Surely your marriage will take place

to-morrow, and you are betrothed, my friend, to Súryaprabha. And

your mother, the queen, told us to-day when you were not present,

and ordered us to decorate you for the marriage ceremony. So you are

fortunate, in that you will have Súryaprabha for a husband, through

admiration for whose beauty the ladies of this place cannot sleep at

night. But this is a source of despondency to us--What a gulf there

will now be between you and us! When you have obtained him for a

husband, you will forget us.' When Mahalliká heard this from their

mouth, she said, 'Has he been seen by you, and is your heart attached

to him?' When they heard that, they said to her--'We saw him from the

top of the palace, and what woman is there that a sight of him would

not captivate?' Then she said, 'Then I will persuade my father to

cause all of you to be given to him. [651] So we shall live together,

and not be separated.' When she said this, the maidens were shocked,

and said to her, 'Kind friend, do not do so. It would not be proper,

and would make us ashamed.' When they said this, the daughter of the

king of the Asuras answered them, 'Why is it not proper? I am not to

be his only wife: all the Daityas and Dánavas will give him their

daughters, and there are other princesses on the earth whom he has

married, and he will also marry many Vidyádhara maidens. What harm can

it do to me that you should be married among these? So far from it,

we shall live happily in mutual friendship; but what intercourse can

I hold with those others who will be my enemies? And why should you

have any shame about the matter? I will arrange it all.' While these

ladies were thus conversing, with hearts devoted to you, I came out at

my leisure and repaired to your presence." When Súryaprabha had heard

this from the mouth of Prahasta, he passed that night in happiness,

though he remained sleepless in his bed.

In the morning he went to the court of Prahláda, the king of the

Asuras, with Sunítha and Maya and his ministers, to visit him. Then

Prahláda said to Sunítha after showing him respect--"I will give to

this Súryaprabha my daughter Mahalliká, for I must shew him some

hospitable entertainment which will be agreeable to you." Sunítha

received with joy this speech of Prahláda's. Then Prahláda made

Súryaprabha ascend an altar-platform, in the middle of which a fire was

burning, and which was adorned with lofty jewelled pillars illuminated

by the brightness of the flame, and there gave him his daughter,

with splendour worthy of the imperial throne of the Asuras. And he

gave to his daughter and her bridegroom heaps of valuable jewels,

obtained by his triumph over the gods, resembling the summit of mount

Meru. And then Mahalliká boldly said to Prahláda--"Father, give me also

those twelve companions whom I love." But he answered her--"Daughter,

they belong to my brother, for they were taken captive by him, and I

have no right to give them away." And Súryaprabha, after the marriage

feast was ended, entered at night the bridal chamber with Mahalliká.

And the next morning, when Prahláda had gone to the hall of assembly

with his followers, Amíla, the king of the Dánavas, said to Prahláda

and the others--"To-day you must all come to my house, for I intend

to entertain there this Súryaprabha, and I will give him my daughter

Kalávatí, if you approve." This speech of his they all approved,

saying, "So be it." Then they all went in a moment to the second

under-world, where he dwelt, with Súryaprabha, Maya and others. There

Amíla gave by the usual ceremony to Súryaprabha his daughter, who

had previously given herself. Súryaprabha went through the marriage

ceremony in the house of Prahláda, and surrounded by the Asuras who had

feasted, spent the day in tasting the enjoyments which they provided

for him.

On the next day, Durároha, a prince of the Asuras, invited and

conducted them all to his own under-world, the fifth. There, by way

of hospitality, he gave to Súryaprabha his own daughter Kumudávatí, as

the others had done, in the prescribed manner. There Súryaprabha spent

the day in enjoyment with all these united. And at night he entered

the apartment of Kumudávatí. There he spent that night in the society

of that lovely and loving woman, the beauty of the three worlds.

And the next morning, Tantukachchha invited and conducted him,

surrounded with his companions, headed by Prahláda, to his palace in

the seventh under-world. There that king of the Asuras gave him his

daughter Manovatí, adorned with splendid jewels, bright as molten

gold. There Súryaprabha spent a highly agreeable day, and passed the

night in the society of Manovatí.

And the next day, Sumáya, a prince of the Asuras, after presenting

an invitation, conducted him with all his friends to his under-world,

the sixth; there he too gave him his daughter by name Subhadrá, with

body black as a stalk of durbá grass, like a female incarnation of the

god of Love; and Súryaprabha spent that day with that black maiden,

whose face was like a full moon.

And the next day, king Bali, followed by the Asuras, in the same

way led that Súryaprabha to his own under-world, the third. There he

gave him his own daughter named Sundarí, with complexion lovely as a

young shoot, and resembling a cluster of mádhaví flowers. Súryaprabha

then spent that day with that pearl of women in heavenly enjoyment

and splendour.

The next day, Maya also in the same way re-conducted the prince,

who was in the fourth under-world, to his own palace, which possessed

curiously adorned jewelled terraces, was constructed by his own magic

power, and on account of its refulgent splendour seemed to be new every

moment. There he gave him his own daughter, named Sumáyá, whose beauty

was the wonder of the world, who seemed to be his own power incarnate,

and he did not think that she ought to be withheld from him on account

of his being a mere mortal. The fortunate Súryaprabha remained there

with her. Then the prince divided his body by his magic science,

and lived at the same time with all those Asura ladies, but with

his real body he lived principally with his best beloved Mahalliká,

the daughter of the Asura Prahláda.

And one night, when he was happy in her presence, he asked the noble

Mahalliká in the course of conversation--"My dear, those two female

friends, who came with you, where are they? I never see them. Who are

they, and where have they gone?" Then Mahalliká said--"You have done

well to remind me. My female friends are not two only, but twelve

in number, and my father's brother carried them off from Indra's

heaven. The first is named Amritaprabhá, the second Kesiní, these

are the auspiciously marked daughters of the hermit Parvata. And the

third is Kálindí, and the fourth Bhadraká, and the fifth is the noble

Kamalá with beautiful eyes. These three are the daughters of the great

hermit Devala. The sixth is named Saudáminí and the seventh Ujjvalá,

these are both of them daughters of the Gandharva Háhá. The eighth is

by name Pívará, the daughter of the Gandharva Húhú. And the ninth is

by name Anjaniká, the daughter of the mighty Kála. And the tenth is

Kesarávalí, sprung from the Gana Pingala. And the eleventh is Máliní

by name, the daughter of Kambala, and the twelfth is Mandáramálá the

daughter of a Vasu. They are all heavenly nymphs, born from Apsarases,

and, when I was married, they were taken to the first under-world, and

I must bestow them on you, in order that I may be always with them. And

this I promised them, for I love them. I spoke too to my father, but he

refused to give them, out of regard for his brother." When Súryaprabha

heard this, he said to her with a downcast expression--"My beloved,

you are very magnanimous, but how can I do this?" When Súryaprabha said

this to her, Mahalliká said in anger--"In my presence you marry others,

but my friends you do not desire, separated from whom I shall not be

happy even for one moment." When she said this to him, Súryaprabha

was pleased and consented to do it. Then that daughter of Prahláda

immediately took him to the first under-world and gave him those twelve

maidens. Then Súryaprabha married those heavenly nymphs in order,

commencing with Amritaprabhá. And after asking Mahalliká's leave, he

had them taken by Prabhása to the fourth under-world and concealed

there. And Súryaprabha himself went there secretly with Mahalliká,

but he went to the hall of Prahláda, as before, to take his meals.

There the king of the Asuras said to Sunítha and Maya--"Go all of

you to visit the two goddesses Diti and Danu." They said "So be it,"

and immediately Maya, Sunítha and Súryaprabha left the lower world,

accompanied by the Asuras in order of precedence, and ascended

the chariot Bhútásana, which came to them on being thought of, and

repaired to the hermitage of Kasyapa situated on a ridge of mount

Sumeru. There they were announced by hermits who shewed them all

courtesy, and after entering they beheld in due order Diti and Danu

together, and bowed their heads at their feet. And those two mothers

of the Asuras cast a favourable look upon them and their followers,

and after shedding tears and kissing them joyfully upon their heads,

[652] and bestowing their blessing upon them, said to Maya: "Our eyes

are to-day blessed, having seen this thy son Sunítha restored to

life, and we consider thee one whose merits have procured him good

fortune. And beholding with heart-felt satisfaction this prosperous

Sumundíka, born again in the character of Súryaprabha, possessed of

heavenly beauty and of extraordinary virtue, destined to be successful

and glorious, abounding in unmistakeable marks of future greatness,

we openly adore him here with our bodies. Therefore rise up quickly,

darlings, and visit Prajápati here, our husband; from beholding him you

shall obtain success in your objects, and his advice will be helpful

to you in your affairs." When Maya and the others received this order

from the goddesses, they went as they were commanded, and beheld the

hermit Kasyapa in a heavenly hermitage. He was like pure molten gold

in appearance, full of brightness, the refuge of the gods, wearing

matted locks yellow as flame, irresistible as fire. And approaching,

they fell at his feet with their followers, in order; then the hermit

gave them the customary blessing, and after making them sit down,

out of delight at their arrival said to them--"I am exceedingly glad

that I have beheld all you my sons; thou art to be praised, Maya,

who, without diverging from the good path, art a treasure-house of

all sciences; and thou art fortunate, Sunítha, who hast recovered thy

life though lost, and thou, O Súryaprabha, art fortunate, who art

destined to be the king of the sky-goers. So you must all continue

now in the path of righteousness, and hearken to my word, by means

of which you will obtain the highest fortune, and taste perpetual

joys, and by which you will not again be conquered by your enemies;

for it was those Asuras, that transgressed law, that became a prey

for the discus of the vanquisher of Mura. And those Asuras, Sunítha,

that were slain by the gods, are incarnate again as human heroes. He

who was thy younger brother Sumundíka, has been born indeed now as

Súryaprabha. And the other Asuras, who were your companions, have been

born as his friends; for instance, the great Asura, named Sambara,

has been born as his minister Prahasta. And the Asura, named Trisiras,

has been born as his minister named Siddhártha. And the Dánava, named

Vátápi, is now his minister Prajnádhya. And the Dánava, named Ulúka,

is now his companion named Subhankara, and his present friend Vítabhíti

was in a former birth a foe of the gods, named Kála. And this Bhása,

his minister, is an incarnation of a Daitya by name Vishaparvan, and

his minister Prabhása is an incarnation of a Daitya named Prabala. He

was a great-hearted Daitya with a frame composed of jewels, who, when

asked by the gods, though they were his enemies, hewed his body to

pieces, and so passed into another state of existence, and from that

body of his all the jewels in the world have originated. The goddess

Durgá was so pleased at that, that she granted him a boon accompanied

by another body, by virtue of which he has now been born as Prabhása,

mighty, and hard to be overcome by his enemies. And those Dánavas,

who formerly existed under the names of Sunda and Upasunda, have been

born as his ministers Sarvadamana and Bhayankara. And the two Asuras,

who used to be called Vikatáksha and Hayagríva, have been born as

his two ministers here, Sthirabuddhi and Mahábuddhi. And the others

connected with him, these fathers-in-law, ministers and friends of his,

are also incarnations of Asuras, who have often vanquished Indra and

his crew. So your party has again gradually acquired strength. Be of

good courage; if you do not depart from the right, you shall obtain

the highest prosperity." While the rishi Kasyapa was saying this,

all his wives, the daughters of Daksha, headed by Aditi, arrived at

the time of the mid-day sacrifice. When they had given their blessing

to Maya and the others, who bowed before them, and had performed their

husband's orders for the day, Indra also came there with the Lokapálas

[653] to visit the sage. And Indra, after saluting the feet of Kasyapa

and his wives and after having been saluted by Maya and the others,

looking angrily at Súryaprabha, said to Maya,--"This is the boy,

I suppose, that is desirous of becoming emperor of the Vidyádharas;

how is he satisfied with so very little, and why does he not desire the

throne of heaven?" When Maya heard this, he said, "The throne of heaven

was decreed to you by Siva, and to him was appointed the sovereignty

of the sky-goers." [654] When Indra heard this, he said with an angry

laugh--"This would be but a small matter for this comely shape of a

youth who is furnished with such auspicious marks." Then Maya answered

him--"If Srutasarman deserves the sovereignty of the Vidyádharas, then

surely this shape of his deserves the throne of heaven." When Maya said

this, Indra was angry, and rose and uplifted his thunderbolt, and then

the hermit Kasyapa made a threatening noise of anger. And Diti and

the other wives became enraged, and their faces were red with anger,

and they loudly cried, "Shame!" Then Indra, afraid of being cursed,

withdrew his weapon, and sat down with bowed head. Then Indra fell

at the feet of that hermit Kasyapa, the sire of gods and Asuras,

who was surrounded by his wives, and after striving to appease him,

made the following representation with hands folded in supplication:

"O reverend one, this Súryaprabha is attempting to take away from

Srutasarman the sovereignty of the Vidyádharas, which I bestowed

on him. And Maya is exerting himself in every way to procure it for

Súryaprabha." When Prajápati heard that, he said, seated with Diti and

Danu,--"Thou lovest Srutasarman, O Indra, but Siva loves Súryaprabha,

and his love cannot be fruitless, and he long ago ordered Maya to do

what he has done. So, what is all this outcry that thou art making

against Maya, what offence has he committed herein? For he is one

who abides in the path of right, wise, discreet, submissive to his

spiritual superior. The fire of my wrath would have reduced thee

to ashes, if thou hadst committed that sin, and thou hast no power

against him; dost thou not recognise his might?" When that hermit

with his wives said that, Indra was abashed with shame and fear,

and Aditi said--"What is that Srutasarman like? Let him be brought

here and shown to us." When Indra heard this, he sent Mátali, [655]

and had brought there immediately that Srutasarman, the prince of the

sky-goers. The wives of Kasyapa, when they had seen that Srutasarman,

who prostrated himself, looked at Súryaprabha and said to the hermit

Kasyapa--"Which of these two is the richer in beauty and in auspicious

marks?" Then that chief of hermits said, "Srutasarman is not even equal

to his minister Prabhása, much less is he equal to that incomparable

one. For this Súryaprabha is furnished with various heavenly marks

of such excellence, that, if he were to make the attempt, he would

find even the throne of Indra easy to obtain." When they heard that

speech of Kasyapa's, all there approved it, and said--"So it is." Then

the hermit gave Maya a boon in the hearing of great Indra--"Because,

my son, thou didst remain undaunted, even when Indra lifted up his

weapon to strike, therefore thou shalt remain unharmed by the plagues

of sickness and old age, which are strong as the thunderbolt. Moreover

these two magnanimous sons of thine, who resemble thee, shall always

be invincible by all their enemies. And this son of mine Suvásakumára,

resembling in splendour the autumn moon, shall come when thou thinkest

of him, and assist thee in the night of calamity. When the hermit had

thus spoken, his wives and the rishis and the Lokapálas in the same way

gave boons to them, to Maya and the rest, in the assembly. Then Aditi

said to Indra--"Desist, Indra, from thy improper conduct, conciliate

Maya, for thou hast seen to-day the fruit of discreet conduct, in

that he has obtained boons from me." When Indra heard that, he seized

Maya by the hand and propitiated him, and Srutasarman, eclipsed by

Súryaprabha, was like the moon in the day. Then the king of the gods

immediately prostrated himself before Kasyapa his spiritual guide,

and returned as he came, accompanied by all the Lokapálas; and Maya

and the others, by the order of that excellent hermit, departed from

his hermitage to meet success in their proposed undertaking.

CHAPTER XLVI.

Then Maya and Sunítha and Súryaprabha, all of them, left that hermitage

of Kasyapa, and reached the junction of the Chandrabhágá and Airávatí,

where the kings, the friends and connexions of Súryaprabha, were

awaiting him. And the kings who were there, when they saw Súryaprabha

arrived, rose up weeping in despair, eager to die. Súryaprabha,

thinking that their grief arose from not seeing Chandraprabha, told

them the whole occurrence as it happened. Then, as they still remained

despondent, he questioned them, and they reluctantly related how his

wives had been carried off by Srutasarman. And they also told him how

they were preparing to commit suicide through grief at that outrage,

when they were forbidden by a heavenly voice. Then Súryaprabha in

wrath made this vow--"Even if Brahmá and all the other gods protect

Srutasarman, I will certainly overthrow him, a villain who carries off

the wives of others, addicted to treacherous insolence." And having

made this vow, he appointed a moment fixed by the astrologers on the

seventh day, for marching to his overthrow. Then Maya, perceiving

that he was determined, and had made up his mind to conquer his enemy,

again confirmed him with his speech, and said to him--"If you really

have made up your mind, then I will tell you this; it was I that on

that occasion carried off your wives by magic, and I placed them

in the under-world, thinking that thus you would set about your

victorious expedition in an impetuous manner, for a fire does not

of itself burn so fiercely, as it does when fanned by a breeze. So

come, let us go to the under-world; I will shew you those wives of

yours." When they heard that speech of Maya's, they all rejoiced,

and they entered again by the same opening as before, and went to

the fourth under-world, Maya leading the way. There Maya brought

those wives of Súryaprabha's out of a dwelling-house, and delivered

them over to him. Then Súryaprabha, after receiving those wives, and

the others, the daughters of the Asuras, went by the advice of Maya

to visit Prahláda. He, having heard from Maya that Súryaprabha had

obtained boons, and being desirous of proving him, took up his weapon,

and said with feigned anger as he bowed before him,--"I have heard,

wicked one, that you have carried off the twelve maidens captured

by my brother, so, I will slay you now; behold me." When Súryaprabha

heard that, he said to him, without changing countenance,--"My body

is at your disposal; punish me, for I have acted improperly." When

he said this, Prahláda laughed and said to him--"As far as I have

tested you, you have not a drop of pride in you. Choose a boon,

I am pleased with you." When Súryaprabha heard this, he consented,

and chose as his boon devotion to his superiors and to Siva. Then,

all being satisfied, Prahláda gave to Súryaprabha a second daughter

of his, named Yáminí, and that prince of the Asuras gave him two of

his sons as allies. Then Súryaprabha went with all the rest into the

presence of Amíla. He too was pleased on hearing that he had obtained

the boons, and gave him Sukhávatí his second daughter, and two of

his sons to help him. Then Súryaprabha remained there during those

days, accompanied by his wives, inducing other kings of the Asuras

to make common cause with him. And he heard, in the company of Maya

and the others, that the three wives of Sunítha and his own wives,

the daughters of the kings, had all become pregnant, and when asked

what they longed for, they all said, to see that great battle, and

the Asura Maya rejoiced at it, perceiving that the Asuras, who were

slain in old time, had been conceived again in them--"This," said he,

"is the cause of their desire."

So six days passed, but on the seventh Súryaprabha and the others,

with their wives and all, set out from the under-world. Delusive

portents, which their rivals displayed to impede them, were

dissipated by Suvásakumára, who came when thought of. Then they

anointed Ratnaprabha, the son of Chandraprabha, king of the earth,

and ascended the chariot Bhútásana, [656] and went all of them, by

the advice of Maya, to a wood of ascetics on the bank of the eastern

Ganges, the dwelling of Sumeru the king of the Vidyádharas. There

Sumeru received them with all honour, as they had come on a friendly

visit, having been told the whole story by Maya, and remembering the

previous command of Siva. And while Chandraprabha and the others were

in that place, they summoned each of them all their own forces, and

also their relations and friends. First came those princes, the sons

of the fathers-in-law of Súryaprabha, who had acquired from Maya the

required sciences, eager for the fray. They were sixteen in number,

headed by Haribhata, and each was followed by a force consisting of

a myriad of chariots, and two myriads of footmen. After them came

the Daityas and Dánavas true to their agreement, brothers-in-law,

fathers-in-law, friends and other connexions of Súryaprabha.

Hrishtaroman, and Mahámáya, and Sinhadanshtra and Prakampana,

and Tantukachehha and Durároha, and Sumáya, and Vajrapanjara,

and Dhúmaketu, and Pramathana, and the Dánava Vikatáksha, and many

others came from as low down as the seventh under-world. One came

with seven myriads of chariots, another with eight, another with

six, and another with three, and the least powerful of all with one

myriad. One brought three hundred thousand footmen, another two hundred

thousand, another one hundred thousand, and the pettiest potentate

of all fifty thousand. And each brought a corresponding number of

horses and elephants. And another innumerable host came belonging to

Maya and Sunítha. And Súryaprabha's own countless army also arrived,

and those of Vasudatta and the other kings, and that of Sumeru.

Then the Asura Maya addressed this question to the hermit Suvásakumára,

who came to him when thought of, in the presence of Súryaprabha and

the others--"Reverend sir, we cannot review this army here because

it is scattered; so tell me where we could get a view of the whole

army at once extended in long array." The hermit answered--"Not

more than a yojana from here there is a place called Kalápagráma;

go there and behold it drawn up in line." When the hermit said that,

all the princes went with him and Sumeru to Kalápagráma. There they

made the armies of the Asuras and the kings take up their positions,

and going to an elevated spot they reviewed them separately. Then

Sumeru said--"Srutasarman has the larger force, for he has under him

a hundred and one chiefs of the Vidyádharas. And every single one

of those chiefs is lord of two and thirty kings. Never mind! I will

draw away some and make them join you. So let us go in the morning

to the place named Valmíka. For to-morrow is the eighth lunar day of

the black fortnight of Phálguna, which is a high day. And on that day

there is produced there a sign to show the future emperor, and for that

reason the Vidyádharas are going there in a great hurry on that day.

When Sumeru gave that opinion with regard to the army, they spent that

day in accordance with the law, and went on the morrow to Valmíka in

chariots with their army. There they encamped with shouting forces

on the southern plateau of the Himálayas, and beheld many Vidyádhara

kings that had arrived. And those Vidyádharas had lighted fires

there in fire-cavities, and were engaged in sacrificing, and some

were occupied with muttering prayers. Then, where Súryaprabha made

a fire-cavity, the fire burst forth of itself, owing to the power

of his magic science. When Sumeru saw it, he was pleased, but envy

arose in the breasts of the Vidyádharas at the sight; then one said to

him--"For shame, Sumeru! why do you abandon your rank as a Vidyádhara,

and follow this inhabitant of earth named Súryaprabha?" When Sumeru

heard this, he angrily rebuked him. And when Súryaprabha asked his

name, he said--"There is a Vidyádhara of the name of Bhíma, and Brahmá

loved his wife at will; from this connexion he sprang. Since be sprang

from Brahmá in a secret way, he is called Brahmagupta. Hence he speaks

in a style characteristic of his birth."

After saying this, Sumeru also made a fire-cavity. And in it

Súryaprabha sacrificed with him to the god of Fire. And in a moment

there suddenly rose from the hole in the ground an enormous and

terrible serpent. In his arrogance, that chief of the Vidyádharas,

named Brahmagupta, by whom Sumeru was blamed, ran to seize it. That

serpent thereupon sent forth a hissing wind from its mouth, which

carried Brahmagupta a hundred feet, and flung him down with such

violence that he fell like a withered leaf. Then a chief of the

Vidyádharas, named Tejahprabha, ran to seize it; he was flung away

by it in the same manner. Then a lord of the Vidyádharas, named

Dushtadamana, approached it; he was hurled back like the others by

that blast from its mouth. Then a prince of the sky-goers, named

Virúpasakti, approached it; he too was flung away as easily as a

blade of grass by that breath. Then two kings, named Angáraka and

Vijrimbhaka, ran towards it together; and it flung them to a distance

with its breath. Thus all the princes of the Vidyádharas were flung

away one after another, and rose up with difficulty, with their limbs

bruised with stones. Then Srutasarman, in his pride, went forward

to seize the serpent; but it hurled him back with the blast of its

breath like the others. He fell at a short distance, and rose up again,

and ran again towards it; when it carried him a greater distance with

its breath, and flung him to earth. Then Srutasarman rose up abashed,

with bruised limbs, and Sumeru sent Súryaprabha to lay hold of the

serpent. And then the Vidyádharas ridiculed him, saying, "Look! he too

is trying to catch the snake! O! these men, thoughtless as monkeys,

imitate whatever they see another doing." Even while they were mocking

him, Súryaprabha went and seized the serpent, whose mouth was quiet,

and dragged it out of the hole. But at that moment the serpent became

a priceless quiver, and a rain of flowers fell from the sky on his

head. And a heavenly voice sounded aloud--"Súryaprabha, thine is

this imperishable quiver equal to a magic power, so take it." Then

the Vidyádharas were cast down, Súryaprabha seized the quiver, and

Maya and Sunítha and Sumeru were delighted.

Then Srutasarman departed, accompanied by the host of the Vidyádharas,

and his ambassador came to Súryaprabha and said; "The august lord

Srutasarman thus commands--'Give me that quiver, if you value

your life.'" Then Súryaprabha said; "Ambassador, go and tell him

this--'Your own body shall become a quiver, bristling all over with

my arrows.'" When the ambassador heard this speech, he turned and

went away, and all laughed at that furious message of Srutasarman's

[657], and Sumeru, joyfully embracing Súryaprabha, said to him--"I

am delighted that that speech of Siva's has without doubt been

fulfilled, for now that you have acquired this excellent quiver,

you have practically acquired sovereign empire; so come and obtain

now a splendid bow with calm intrepidity."

When they heard Sumeru say this, and he himself led the way, they all,

Súryaprabha and the others, went to the mountain Hemakúta. And on the

north side of it they reached a beautiful lake named Mánasa, which

seemed to have been the first assay of the Creator's skill when making

the sea, which eclipsed with its full-blown golden lotuses shaken by

the wind, the faces of the heavenly nymphs sporting in the water. And

while they were contemplating the beauty of the lake, Srutasarman and

all the others came there. And then Súryaprabha made a sacrifice with

lotuses and ghee, and immediately a terrible cloud rose up from that

lake. That cloud filled the heaven, and poured down a great rain,

and among the rain-drops fell from the cloud a black serpent. By the

order of Sumeru, Súryaprabha rose up, and seized that serpent with a

firm grasp, though it resisted, thereupon it became a bow. When it

became a bow, a second snake fell from the cloud, through fear of

the fiery poison of which all the sky-goers fled. That serpent too,

when seized by Súryaprabha, like the first, became a bowstring,

and the cloud quickly disappeared. And after a rain of flowers,

a voice was heard from heaven,--"Súryaprabha, you have won this

bow Amitabala and this string which cannot be cut, so take these

priceless treasures." And Súryaprabha took that excellent bow with

the string. Srutasarman, for his part, went despondent to his wood

of ascetics, and Súryaprabha, and Maya and the others were delighted.

Then they asked Sumeru about the origin of the bow, and he said--"Here

there is a great and marvellous wood of bamboo canes; whatever

bamboos are cut from it and thrown into this lake, become great and

wonderful bows; and these bows have been acquired by several of the

gods before yourself, and by Asuras and Gandharvas, and distinguished

Vidyádharas. They have various names, but the bows appropriated to

emperors are all called Amitabala, and were in old time deposited

in the lake by the gods. And they are obtained, through the favour

of Siva, with these exertions, by certain men of virtuous conduct

destined to be emperors. Hence it comes that Súryaprabha has to-day

procured this great bow, and these companions of his shall procure

bows suited to them. For they, being heroes who have acquired the

sciences, are appropriate recipients for them, for they are still

procured by worthy men, as is right."

When the companions of Súryaprabha, Prabhása and the others, heard this

speech of Sumeru's, they went to the bamboo-grove, and after defeating

the king Chandradatta, who guarded it, they brought the bamboos, and

threw them into the lake. And these heroic men, by fasting on the

bank of the lake, and muttering prayers, and sacrificing, obtained

bows in seven days. When they returned and told their adventure,

Súryaprabha returned with them and Maya and the others to that

wood of ascetics, in which Sumeru dwelt. Then Sumeru said to him:

"It is strange that your friends have conquered Chandradatta, the

king of the bamboo-wood, though he is invincible. He possesses a

science called the bewildering science, for that reason he is hard to

conquer. Surely he must have been keeping it to use against a more

important enemy. For this reason he did not employ it against these

companions of yours on the present occasion, for it only can succeed

once in his hands, not repeatedly. For he employed it once against

his spiritual preceptor to try its force, thereupon he laid upon him

this curse. So this matter should be thought upon, for the might of

sciences is hard to overcome, and for that reason you should consult

the revered Maya. What can I say in his presence? Of what avail

is a candle in the face of the sun?" When Sumeru had said this to

Súryaprabha, Maya said; "Sumeru has told you the truth in few words,

listen to this which I now say--From undeveloped matter there spring

in this world various powers, and subordinate powers. Among them

the sound expressed by Anusvára arises from the power of breathing,

and becomes a spell of force in magic sciences, when accompanied

with the doctrine of the highest truth. And of those sciences which

deal with spells, and which are acquired by supernatural knowledge,

or austerity, or the holy command of holy men, the power is hard to

resist. So, my son, you have obtained all the sciences, except two,

in which you are deficient, namely, the science of bewildering,

and that of counteracting. But Yájnavalkya knows them, therefore

go and ask him to bestow them on you." When thus advised by Maya,

Súryaprabha went into the presence of that rishi.

That hermit made him dwell for seven days in the serpent-lake, and

ordered him to perform austerities for three days in the midst of

the fire. And he gave him the bewildering power when he had endured

for seven days the bite of the snakes, and the counteracting power

when he had resisted for three days the force of the fire. [658]

And when he had obtained these sciences, that hermit ordered him

again to enter the fire-cavity, and he consented and did it. And

immediately there was bestowed on Súryaprabha a chariot in the

form of a white lotus, that moved at the will of the possessor, and

travelled through the air, which was furnished with a hundred and

eight wings, and the same number of dwellings, and constructed of

precious jewels of various kinds. And a voice from heaven addressed

that resolute one,--"You have obtained this chariot suitable for an

emperor, and you must place your wives in all these dwellings, in

order that they may be safe from your enemies." Then he, bending low,

addressed this petition to his preceptor Yájnavalkya--"Tell me what

fee I am to pay." The hermit answered him--"Remember me at the time

when you are anointed emperor, this in itself will be sufficient fee;

in the meanwhile go to your army." Then he bowed before that hermit,

and ascended that chariot, and went to his army, that was encamped

in the place where Sumeru dwelt. There he told his story, and Maya

and the others, with Sunítha and Sumeru, congratulated him, now that

he had obtained a magic chariot.

Then Sunítha called to mind that Suvásakumára, and he came and said

to Maya and the others, with the kings; "Súryaprabha has obtained a

chariot and all the magic sciences; so why do you even now remain

indifferent about conquering your enemies?" When Maya heard that,

he said, "Reverend sir, you have spoken rightly, but first let an

ambassador be sent, and let policy be employed." When Maya said

this, the hermit's son said--"So be it! What harm can this do? Let

this Prahasta be sent. He is discerning, eloquent, and understands

the nature of business and occasions, and he is stern and enduring,

he possesses all the qualities of an ambassador." All approved this

speech of his, and after giving Prahasta instructions, they sent him

off as ambassador to Srutasarman.

When he had gone, Súryaprabha said to all his followers,--"Hear the

strange wonderful vision that I have had--I remember, I saw toward the

end of last night, that we were all carried away by a great stream of

water, and while we were swept away, we kept dancing, we did not sink

at all. Then that stream was turned back by a contrary breeze. Then

a certain man of fiery brightness drew us out, and threw us into the

fire, and we were not burned by the fire. Then a cloud rained a stream

of blood, and that blood filled the whole sky, then my sleep came to

an end with the night." When he said this, Suvásakumára said to him,

"This dream indicates success preceded by a struggle. The stream of

water is battle, it is due to valour that you did not sink but danced,

and were carried along by the water; the wind, that turned back the

water for you, is some saviour to whom men resort for protection;

and the man of fiery brightness, who drew you out of it, is Siva

in bodily form. And that he threw you into the fire, means that you

are cast into a great war; and that the clouds arose, that means the

returning again of fear; and the rain of a stream of blood, that means

the destroying of fear, and the filling of all the quarters with blood,

that means great success for you. Now dreams are of many kinds, [659]

the rich-sensed, the true-sensed, and the senseless. A dream which

quickly reveals its meaning, is called rich-sensed, a dream in which a

propitious god gives a command, is called true-sensed, and one which is

brought about by deep meditation and anxiety, they call senseless. For

a man under the influence of sleep, with mind bewildered by the quality

of passion and withdrawn from outward objects, sees a dream on account

of various causes. And it depends upon the time, when it is seen,

whether it is fulfilled soon or late, but this kind of dream which

is seen at the end of the night is quickly fulfilled. [660]" When

Súryaprabha and his companions heard this from the hermit's son, they

were much pleased, and rising up they performed the duties of the day.

In the meanwhile Prahasta returned from the court of Srutasarman, and,

when asked by Maya and the others, he described his adventures. "I

went rapidly hence to the city named Trikútapatáká, situated on

the mountain Trikúta, built of gold. And being introduced by the

door-keeper, I entered, and beheld Srutasarman surrounded by various

Vidyádhara kings, by his father Trikútasena, and also by Vikramasakti

and Dhurandhara and other heroes, Dámodara among them. And sitting

down, I said to Srutasarman, 'I am sent to visit you by the august

Súryaprabha: and he commissioned me to give you this command. By

the favour of Siva I have obtained precious sciences, and wives and

allies. So come and join my army, together with those chiefs of the

sky-goers; I am the slayer of those that oppose, but the saviour of

those that bend. And as for your carrying off from her relations the

maiden Kámachúdámani, the daughter of Sunítha, who ought not to be

approached, set her at liberty, for that is a deed of shame.' When

I said this they all exclaimed in wrath,--'Who is he that sends us

this haughty command? Let him give commands to mortals, but who is

he compared with Vidyádharas? Since he assumes such airs, though he

is a miserable mortal, he should be destroyed.'

"When I heard that, I said, 'What, what? Who is he? Listen, he has

been created by Siva as your future emperor. If he is a mortal,

then mortals have attained divinity, and the Vidyádharas have seen

the valour of that mortal; moreover, if he comes here, we shall

soon see which party will be destroyed.' When I said this in wrath,

that assembly was disturbed. And Srutasarman and Dhurandhara rushed

forward to slay me. And I said to them--'Come now, let me see your

valour!' Then Dámodara rose up, and restrained them, exclaiming

'Peace! an ambassador and a Bráhman must not be slain.' Then

Vikramasakti said to me--'Depart, ambassador, for we, like your

master, are all created by Siva. So let him come, and we will see

whether we are able to entertain him or not.' When he said this in a

haughty manner, I laughed and said, 'The swans utter their cries in

the lotus-bower and enjoy themselves much, until they see the cloud

that comes darkening the heaven.' After saying this I rose up in a

contemptuous manner, left the court, and came here." When Maya and

others heard this from Prahasta, they were pleased. And they all,

Súryaprabha and the rest, determined on preparing for battle, and

made Prabhása, the impetuous in war, their general. And receiving

the command from Suvásakumára, they all prepared that day with strict

vows to consecrate themselves for the combat. [661]