The Katha Sarit Sagara or Ocean of the Streams of Story Part 75

Then Vidyuddhvaja arrived, and there took place between those two armies a great battle, in which it was difficult to distinguish between friend and foe. Those Daityas, who were headed by Subahu, fought with the wind-G.o.ds, and Pingaksha and his followers with the G.o.ds of wealth, and Mahamaya and his forces with the G.o.ds of fire, and Ayahkaya and his hosts with the sun-G.o.ds, and Akampana and his warriors with the Siddhas; some other Daityas fought with the Vidyadharas, and the rest with the Gandharvas and their allies. So a great battle continued between them for twenty days, and on the twenty-first day the G.o.ds were routed in fight by the Asuras.

And when routed, they fled, and entered heaven: and then Indra himself issued, mounted on Airavana. And the forces of the G.o.ds rallied round him, and marched out again, with the leaders of the Vidyadharas, headed by Chandraketu. Then a desperate fight took place, and Asuras and G.o.ds [671] were being slain in great numbers, when Vidyuddhvaja attacked Indra, to revenge the slaughter of his father. The king of the G.o.ds cleft over and over again the bow of that chief of the Asuras, who kept repelling his shafts with answering shafts. Then Vidyuddhvaja, elated with the boon of Siva, seized his mace, and rushed furiously on Indra. He leapt up, planting his feet on the tusks of Airavana, and climbed up on his forehead, and killed his driver. And he gave the king of the G.o.ds a blow with his mace, and he quickly returned it with a similar weapon. But when Vidyuddhvaja struck him a second time with his mace, Indra fell senseless on to the chariot of the Wind-G.o.d. And the Wind-G.o.d carried him away in his chariot out of the fight with the speed of thought; and Vidyuddhvaja, who sprang after him, [672]

fell on the ground.

At that moment a voice came from the air, "This is an evil day, so carry Indra quickly out of the fight." Then the Wind-G.o.d carried off Indra at the utmost speed of his chariot, and Vidyuddhvaja pursued them, mounted on his; and in the meanwhile Airavanah, infuriated and unrestrained by the driver's hook, ran after Indra, trampling and scattering the forces. And the army of the G.o.ds left the field of battle and followed Indra; and Brihaspati carried off his wife Sachi, who was much alarmed, to the heaven of Brahma. Then Vidyuddhvaja, having gained the victory, and having found Amaravati empty, entered it, accompanied by his shouting troops.

And Indra, having recovered consciousness, and seeing that it was an evil time, entered that heaven of Brahma with all the G.o.ds. And Brahma comforted him, saying, "Do not grieve; at present this boon of Siva is predominant; but you will recover your position." And he gave him, to dwell in, a place of his own, furnished with all delights, named Samadhisthala, situated in a region of the world of Brahma. There the king of the G.o.ds dwelt, accompanied by Sachi and Airavana: and by his orders the Vidyadhara kings went to the heaven of the Wind-G.o.d. And the lords of the Gandharvas went to the inviolable world of the moon; and others went to other worlds, abandoning severally their own dwellings. And Vidyuddhvaja, having taken possession of the territory of the G.o.ds with beat of drum, enjoyed sway over heaven, [673] as an unlimited monarch.

At this point of the story, Chandraketu the Vidyadhara king, having remained long in the world of the Wind-G.o.d, said to himself, "How long am I to remain here, fallen from my high rank? The asceticism of my enemy Vidyuddhvaja has not even now spent its force; but I have heard that my friend Padmasekhara, the king of the Gandharvas, has gone from the world of the Moon to the city of Siva to perform asceticism. I do not know as yet, whether Siva has bestowed a boon on him, or not; when I have discovered that, I shall know what I myself ought to do."

While he was going through these reflections, his friend, the king of the Gandharvas, came towards him, having obtained a boon. That king of the Gandharvas, having been welcomed with an embrace by Chandraketu, and questioned, [674] told him his story, "I went to the city of Siva and propitiated Siva with asceticism; and he said to me, 'Go, thou shalt have a n.o.ble son; and thou shalt recover thy kingdom, and obtain a daughter of transcendent beauty, whose husband shall be the heroic slayer of Vidyuddhvaja.' [675] Having received this promise from Siva, I have come here to tell you."

When Chandraketu had heard this from the king of the Gandharvas he said, "I too must go and propitiate Siva in order to put an end to this sorrow; without propitiating him we cannot obtain the fulfilment of our desires. "When Chandraketu had formed this resolution, he went with his wife Muktavali to the heavenly abode of Siva, to perform asceticism.

And Padmasekbara told the story of his boon to Indra, and having conceived a hope of the destruction of his enemy, went to the world of the moon. Then that king of the G.o.ds in Samadhisthala, having also conceived a hope of the destruction of his enemy, called to mind the counsellor of the immortals. And he appeared as soon as he was thought upon, and the G.o.d, bowing before him, and honouring him, said to him, "Siva, pleased with the asceticism of Padmasekhara, has promised that he shall have a son-in-law who shall slay Vidyuddhvaja. So we shall eventually see an end put to his crimes; in the meanwhile I am despondent, dwelling here in misery on account of my having fallen from my high position. So devise, holy sir, some expedient that will operate quickly." When the adviser of the G.o.ds heard this speech of Indra's, he said to him; "It is true that that enemy of ours has nearly exhausted his asceticism by his crimes; so now we have an opportunity of exerting ourselves against him. Come, then; let us tell Brahma; he will point out to us an expedient."

When Brihaspati had said this to Indra, he went with him to Brahma, and after wors.h.i.+pping him, he told him what was in his mind. Then Brahma said, "Am I not also anxious to bring about the same end? But Siva alone can remove the calamity that he has caused. And that G.o.d requires a long propitiation: [676] so let us go to Vishnu, who is like-minded with him; he will devise an expedient."

When Brahma and Indra and Brihaspati had deliberated together to this effect, they ascended a chariot of swans, and went to Svetadvipa; [677] where all the inhabitants carried the conch, discus, lotus, and club, and had four arms, being a.s.similated to Vishnu in appearance as they were devoted to him in heart. There they saw the G.o.d in a palace composed of splendid jewels, reposing on the serpent Sesha, having his feet adored by Lakshmi. After bowing before him, and having been duly welcomed by him, and venerated by the divine sages, they took the seats befitting them. When the holy one asked the G.o.ds how they prospered, they humbly said to him, "What prosperity can be ours, O G.o.d, as long as Vidyuddhvaja is alive? For you know all that he has done to us, and it is on his account that we have come here now: it now rests with you to determine what further is to be done in this matter."

When the G.o.ds said this to Vishnu, he answered them, "Why, do I not know that my regulations are broken by that Asura? But what the great lord, the slayer of Tripura has done, he alone can undo: I cannot. And from him must proceed the overthrow of that wicked Daitya. You must make haste, provided I tell you an expedient; and I will tell you one; listen! There is a heavenly abode of Siva, named Siddhisvara. There the G.o.d Siva is found ever manifest. And long ago that very G.o.d manifested to me and Praj.a.pati [678] his form as the flame-linga, and told me this secret. So come, let us go there and entreat him with asceticism: he will put an end to this affliction of the worlds." When the G.o.d Vishnu had uttered this behest, they all went to Siddhisvara by means of two conveyances, the bird Garuda and the chariot of swans. That place is untouched by the calamities of old age, death, and sickness, and it is the home of unalloyed happiness, and in it beasts, birds, and trees are all of gold. There they wors.h.i.+pped the linga of Siva, that exhibits in succession all his forms, [679] and is in succession of various jewels; and then Vishnu, Brahma, Indra, and Brihaspati, all four, with their minds devoted to Siva, proceeded to perform a severe course of asceticism in order to propitiate him.

And in the meanwhile Siva, propitiated by the severe asceticism of Chandraketu, bestowed a boon on that prince of the Vidyadharas, "Rise up, king, a son shall be born to thee, who shall be a great hero, and shall slay in fight thy enemy Vidyuddhvaja; he shall become incarnate among the human race by a curse, and shall render a service to the G.o.ds, and shall recover his position by virtue of the asceticism of Padmavati, the daughter of the king of the Gandharvas: and with her for a wife he shall be emperor over all the Vidyadharas for ten kalpas." [680] When the G.o.d had granted this boon, he disappeared, and Chandraketu went back to the world of the Wind-G.o.d with his wife.

In the meanwhile Siva was pleased with the severe asceticism of Vishnu and his companions in Siddhisvara, and he appeared to them in the linga and delighted them by the following speech, "Rise up, afflict yourselves no longer; I have been fully propitiated with self-torture by your partizan Chandraketu, the prince of the Vidyadharas. And he shall have a heroic son, sprung from a part of me, who shall soon slay in fight that Daitya Vidyuddhvaja. Then, in order that he may perform another service to the G.o.ds, he shall fall [681] by a curse into the world of men, and the daughter of the Gandharva Padmasekhara shall deliver him from that condition. And he shall rule the Vidyadharas with that lady, who shall be an incarnation of a portion of Gauri, and shall be named Padmavati, for his consort, and at last he shall come to me. So bear up for a little: this desire of yours is already as good as accomplished." "When Siva had said this to Vishnu and his companions, he disappeared; then Vishnu, Brahma, Indra and Brihaspati went, in high delight, back to the places from which they came.

Then Muktavali the wife of that king of the Vidyadharas, named Chandraketu, became pregnant, and in time she brought forth a son, illuminating the four quarters with his irresistible splendour, [682] like the infant sun arisen to remove the oppression under which those ascetics were groaning. And as soon as he was born this voice was heard from heaven, "Chandraketu, this son of thine shall slay the Asura Vidyuddhvaja, and know that he is to be by name Muktaphalaketu, the terror of his foes."

When the voice had said so much to the delighted Chandraketu, it ceased; and a rain of flowers fell; and Padmasekhara, and Indra, hearing what had taken place, came there, and the other G.o.ds, who were lurking concealed. Conversing to one another of the story of the boon of Siva, and having rejoiced thereat, they went to their own abodes. And Muktaphalaketu had all the sacraments performed for him, and gradually grew up; and as he grew, the joy of the G.o.ds increased.

Then, some time after the birth of his son, a daughter was born to Padmasekhara, the supreme lord of the Gandharvas. And when she was born, a voice came from the air, "Prince of the Gandharvas, this daughter of thine Padmavati shall be the wife of that king of the Vidyadharas who shall be the foe of Vidyuddhvaja." Then that maiden Padmavati gradually grew up, adorned with an overflowing effulgence of beauty, as if with billowy nectar acquired by her being born in the world of the moon. [683]

And that Muktaphalaketu, even when a child, was high-minded, and being always devoted to Siva, he performed asceticism, in the form of vows, fasts, and other penances. And once on a time, when he had fasted twelve days, and was absorbed in meditation, the adorable Siva appeared to him, and said, "I am pleased with this devotion of thine, so by my special favour the weapons, the sciences, and all the accomplishments shall manifest themselves to thee. And receive from me this sword named Invincible, [684] by means of which thou shalt hold sovereign sway, unconquered by thy enemies." When the G.o.d had said this, he gave him the sword and disappeared, and that prince at once became possessed of powerful weapons and great strength and courage.

Now, one day, about this time, that great Asura Vidyuddhvaja, being established in heaven, was disporting himself in the water of the heavenly Ganges. He saw the water of that stream flowing along brown with the pollen of flowers, and remarked that it was pervaded by the smell of the ichor of elephants, and troubled with waves. Then, puffed up with pride of his mighty arm, he said to his attendants, "Go and see who is disporting himself in the water above me." When the Asuras heard that, they went up the stream, and saw the bull of Siva sporting in the water with the elephant of Indra. And they came back and said to that prince of the Daityas, "King, the bull of Siva has gone higher up the stream, and is amusing himself in the water with Airavana: so this water is full of his garlands and of the ichor of Airavana." When that Asura heard this, he was wroth, in his arrogance making light of Rudra, and infatuated by the full ripening of his own evil deeds he said to his followers, "Go and bring that bull and Airavana here bound." Those Asuras went there, and tried to capture them, and thereupon the bull and elephant ran upon them in wrath and slew most of them. And those who escaped from the slaughter went and told Vidyuddhvaja; and he was angry, and sent a very great force of Asuras against those two animals. And those two trampled to death that army, upon which destruction came as the result of matured crime, and then the bull returned to Siva, and the elephant to Indra.

Then Indra heard about that proceeding of the Daitya's from the guards, who followed Airavana to take care of him, and he concluded that the time of his enemy's destruction had arrived, as he had treated with disrespect even the adorable Siva. He told that to Brahma, and then he united himself with the a.s.sembled forces of the G.o.ds, and the Vidyadharas, and his other allies; and then he mounted the chief elephant of the G.o.ds, and set out to slay that enemy of his; and on his departure Sachi performed for him the usual ceremony to ensure good fortune.

CHAPTER CXVI.

Then Indra reached heaven and surrounded it with his forces, that were rendered confident by the favour of Siva, and had gained the suitable opportunity and the requisite strength. When Vidyuddhvaja saw that, he marched out with his army ready for battle; but as he marched out evil omens manifested themselves to him; lightning flashes struck his banners, vultures circled above his head, the state-umbrellas were broken, and jackals uttered boding howls. [685] Disregarding these evil omens, nevertheless that Asura sallied forth; and then there took place a mighty battle between the G.o.ds and the Asuras.

And Indra said to Chandraketu the king of the Vidyadharas, "Why has Muktaphalaketu not yet come?" Then Chandraketu humbly made answer, "When I was marching out I was in such a hurry that I forgot to tell him; but he is sure to hear of it, and will certainly follow me quickly." When the king of the G.o.ds heard this, he quickly sent the dexterous charioteer of the Wind-G.o.d to bring the n.o.ble Muktaphalaketu. And his father Chandraketu sent with Indra's messenger his own warder, with a force and a chariot, to summon him.

But Muktaphalaketu, hearing that his father had gone to battle with the Daityas, was eager to set out for that fight with his followers. Then he mounted his elephant of victory, and his mother performed for him the ceremony to ensure good fortune, and he set out from the world of the Wind, bearing the sword of Siva. And when he had set out, a rain of flowers fell on him from heaven, and the G.o.ds beat their drums, and favouring breezes blew. And then the hosts of the G.o.ds, that had fled and hid themselves out of fear of Vidyuddhvaja, a.s.sembled and surrounded him. As he was marching along with that large army, he saw in his way a great temple of Parvati named Meghavana. His devotion to the G.o.ddess would not allow him to pa.s.s it without wors.h.i.+pping [686]; so he got down from his elephant, and taking in his hand heavenly flowers, he proceeded to adore the G.o.ddess.

Now it happened that, at that very time, Padmavati the daughter of Padmasekhara the king of the Gandharvas, who had now grown up, had taken leave of her mother, who was engaged in austerities to bring good fortune to her husband who had gone to war, and had come, with her attendant ladies, in a chariot, from the world of Indra, to that temple of Gauri, with the intention of performing asceticism in order to ensure success to her father in battle, and to the bridegroom on whom she had set her heart.

On the way one of her ladies said to her, "You have not as yet any chosen lover, who might have gone to the war, and your mother is engaged in asceticism for the well-being of your father; for whose sake, my friend, do you, a maiden, seek to perform asceticism?" When Padmavati had been thus addressed by her friend on the way, she answered, "My friend, a father is to maidens a divinity procuring all happiness; moreover there has already been chosen for me a bridegroom of unequalled excellence. That Muktaphalaketu, the son who has been born to the Vidyadhara king, in order that he may slay Vidyuddhvaja, has been destined for my husband by Siva. This I heard from the mouth of my father, when questioned by my mother. And that chosen bridegroom of mine has either gone, or certainly is going to battle: so I am about to propitiate with asceticism the holy Gauri, desiring victory for my future husband [687] as well as for my father."

When the princess said this, her attendant lady answered her, "Then this exertion on your part, though directed towards an object still in the future, is right and proper; may your desire be accomplished!" Just as her friend was saying this to her, the princess reached a large and beautiful lake in the neighbourhood of the temple of Gauri. It was covered all over with bright full-blown golden lotuses, and they seemed as if they were suffused with the beauty flowing forth from the lotus of her face. The Gandharva maiden went down into that lake, and gathered lotuses with which to wors.h.i.+p Ambika, and was preparing to bathe, when two Rakshasis came that way, as all the Rakshasas were rus.h.i.+ng to the battle between the G.o.ds and Asuras, eager for flesh. They had up-standing hair, yellow as the flames vomited forth from their mouths terrible with tusks, gigantic bodies black as smoke, and pendulous b.r.e.a.s.t.s and bellies. The moment that those wanderers of the night saw that Gandharva princess, they swooped down upon her, and seized her, and carried her up towards the heaven.

But the deity, that presided over her chariot, impeded the flight of those Rakshasis, and her grieving retinue cried for help; and while this was going on, Muktaphalaketu issued from the temple of the G.o.ddess, having performed his wors.h.i.+p; and hearing the lamentation, he came in that direction. When the great hero beheld Padmavati gleaming bright in the grasp of that pair of Rakshasis, looking like a flash of lightning in the midst of a bank of black clouds, he ran forward and delivered her, hurling the Rakshasis senseless to earth by a blow from the flat of his hand. And he looked on that torrent river of the elixir of beauty, adorned with a waist charming with three wave-like wrinkles, who seemed to have been composed by the Creator of the essence of all beauty, when he was full of the wonderful skill he had acquired by forming the nymphs of heaven. And the moment he looked on her, his senses were benumbed by love's opiate, though he was strong of will; and he remained for a moment motionless, as if painted in a picture.

And Padmavati too, now that the alarm caused by the Rakshasis was at an end, at once recovered her spirits, and looked on the prince, who possessed a form that was a feast to the eyes of the world, and who was one fitted to madden womankind, and seemed to have been created by Fate by a blending together in one body of the moon and the G.o.d of Love. Then, her face being cast down with shame, she said of her own accord to her friend, "May good luck befall him! I will depart hence, from the presence of a strange man."

Even while she was saying this, Muktaphalaketu said to her friend, "What did this young lady say?" And she answered, "This lovely maiden bestowed a blessing on you, the saver of her life, and said to me, "Come, let us depart from the presence of a strange man." When Muktaphalaketu heard this, he said to her with eager excitement, "Who is she? Whose daughter is she? To what man of great merit in a former life is she to be given in marriage? [688]"

When he addressed this question to the princess's companion, she answered him, "Fair sir, this my friend is the maiden named Padmavati, the daughter of Padmasekhara the king of the Gandharvas, and Siva has ordained that her husband is to be Muktaphalaketu, the son of Chandraketu, the darling of the world, the ally of Indra, the destined slayer of Vidyuddhvaja. Because she desires the victory for that future husband of hers and for her father in the battle now at hand, she has come to this temple of Gauri to perform asceticism."

When the followers of Chandraketu's son heard this, they delighted the princess by exclaiming, "Bravo! here is that future husband of yours." Then the princess and her lover had their hearts filled with joy at discovering one another, and they both thought, "It is well that we came here to-day," and they continued casting loving sidelong timid glances at one another; and while they were thus engaged, the sound of drums was heard, and then a host appeared, and a chariot with the wind-G.o.d, [689] and the warder of Chandraketu coming quickly.

Then the wind-G.o.d and the warder respectfully left the chariot, and went up to that Muktaphalaketu, and said to him, "The king of the G.o.ds and your father Chandraketu, who are in the field of battle, desire your presence: so ascend this chariot, and come quickly." Then the son of the Vidyadhara king, though fettered by love of Padmavati, ascended the chariot with them, out of regard for the interests of his superiors. And putting on a heavenly suit of armour [690] sent by Indra, he set out quickly, often turning back his head to look at Padmavati.

And Padmavati followed with her eyes, as long as he was in sight, that hero, who with one blow from the flat of his hand had slain the two Rakshasis, and with him ever in her thoughts, she bathed and wors.h.i.+pped Siva and Parvati, and from that time forth kept performing asceticism in that very place, to ensure his success.

And Muktaphalaketu, still thinking on his sight of her, which was auspicious and portended victory, reached the place where the battle was going on between the G.o.ds and Asuras. And when they saw that hero arrive well-armed and accompanied by a force, all the great Asuras rushed to attack him. But the hero cut their heads to pieces with a rain of arrows, and made with them an offering to the G.o.ds of the cardinal points, by way of inaugurating the feast of battle.

But Vidyuddhvaja, seeing his army being slain by that Muktaphalaketu, himself rushed in wrath to attack him. And when he smote with arrows that Daitya, as he came on, the whole army of the Asuras rushed upon him from every quarter. When Indra saw that, he at once attacked the army of the Daityas, with the Siddhas, Gandharvas, Vidyadharas, and G.o.ds at his back.

Then a confused battle arose, with dint of arrow, javelin, lance, mace and axe, costing the lives of countless soldiers; rivers of blood flowed along, with the bodies of elephants and horses for alligators, with the pearls from the heads of elephants [691] for sands, and with the heads of heroes for stones. That feast of battle delighted the flesh-loving demons, who, drunk with blood instead of wine, were dancing with the palpitating trunks. The fortune of victory of the G.o.ds and Asuras in that sea of battle, swayed hither and thither from time to time, fluctuating like a tide-wave. And in this way the fight went on for twenty-four days, watched by Siva, Vishnu, and Brahma, who were present in their chariots.

And at the end of the twenty-fifth day a series of single combats was taking place between the princ.i.p.al warriors of both armies along the greater part of the line of fight. And then a duel began between the n.o.ble Muktaphalaketu, and Vidyuddhvaja, the former in a chariot, the latter on an elephant. Muktaphalaketu repelled the weapon of darkness with the weapon of the sun, the weapon of cold with the weapon of heat, the rock-weapon with the thunderbolt-weapon, the serpent-weapon with the weapon of Garuda, and then he slew the elephant-driver of that Asura with one arrow, and his elephant with another. Then Vidyuddhvaja mounted a chariot, and Muktaphalaketu killed the charioteer and the horses. Then Vidyuddhvaja took refuge in magic. He ascended into the sky invisible with his whole army, and rained stones and weapons on all sides of the army of the G.o.ds. And as for the impenetrable net of arrows which Muktaphalaketu threw around it, that Daitya consumed it with showers of fire.

Then Muktaphalaketu sent against that enemy and his followers the weapon of Brahma, which was capable of destroying the whole world, after he had p.r.o.nounced over it the appropriate spells. That weapon killed the great Asura Vidyuddhvaja and his army, and they fell down dead from the sky. And the rest, namely, Vidyuddhvaja's son and his followers, and Vajradanshtra and his crew fled in fear to the bottom of Rasatala. [692]

And then the G.o.ds from heaven exclaimed, "Bravo! Bravo!" and they honoured the n.o.ble Muktaphalaketu with a rain of flowers. Then Indra, having recovered his sway, as his enemy was slain, entered heaven, and there was great rejoicing in the three worlds. And Praj.a.pati [693] himself came there, making Sachi precede him, and fastened a splendid crest-jewel on the head of Muktaphalaketu. And Indra took the chain from his own neck, and placed it on the neck of that victorious prince, who had restored his kingdom to him. And he made him sit on a throne equal in all respects to his own; and the G.o.ds, full [694]

of joy, bestowed upon him various blessings. And Indra sent on his warder to the city of the Asura Vidyuddhvaja, and took possession of it in addition to his own city, with the intention of bestowing it on Muktaphalaketu, when a fitting time presented itself.

Then the Gandharva Padmasekhara, wis.h.i.+ng to bestow Padmavati on that prince, looked meaningly at the face of the Disposer. And the Disposer, knowing what was in his heart, said to that prince of the Gandharvas, "There is still a service remaining to be done, so wait a little." Then there took place the triumphal feast of Indra, with the songs of Haha and Huhu, and the dances of Rambha and others, which they accompanied with their own voices. And when the Disposer had witnessed the festive rejoicing, he departed, and Indra honoured the Lokapalas and dismissed them to their several stations. [695]

And after honouring that Gandharva monarch Padmasekhara and his train, he dismissed them to their own Gandharva city. And Indra, after treating with the utmost respect the n.o.ble Muktaphalaketu and Chandraketu, sent them to their own Vidyadhara city to enjoy themselves. And then Muktaphalaketu, having destroyed the plague of the universe, returned to his palace, accompanied by his father, and followed by many Vidyadhara kings. And on account of the prince having returned victorious with his father, after a long absence, that city displayed its joy, being adorned with splendid jewels, and garlanded with flags. And his father Chandraketu at once bestowed gifts on all his servants and relations, and kept high festival in the city for the triumph of his son, showering wealth on it, as a cloud showers water. But Muktaphalaketu, though he had gained glory by conquering Vidyuddhvaja, derived no satisfaction from his enjoyments without Padmavati. However, being comforted in soul by a friend named Samyata, who reminded him of the decree of Siva, and consoling topics of that kind, he managed, though with difficulty, to get through those days.

CHAPTER CXVII.

In the meanwhile, that king of the Gandharvas, Padmasekhara, re-entered his city, celebrating a splendid triumph; and hearing from his wife that his daughter Padmavati had performed asceticism in the temple of Gauri, to procure for him victory, he summoned her. And when his daughter came, emaciated with asceticism and separation from her lover, and fell at his feet, he gave her his blessing, and said to her, "Dear girl, for my sake you have endured great hards.h.i.+p in the form of penance, so obtain quickly for a husband the n.o.ble Muktaphalaketu, the son of the king of the Vidyadharas, the slayer of Vidyuddhvaja, the victorious protector of the world, who has been appointed to marry you by Siva himself."

When her father said this to her, she remained with face fixed on the ground, and then her mother Kuvalayavali said to him, "How, my husband, was so terrible an Asura, that filled the three worlds with consternation, slain by that prince in fight?" When the king heard that, he described to her the valour of that prince, and the battle between the G.o.ds and Asuras. Then Padmavati's companion, whose name was Manoharika, described the easy manner in which he slew the two Rakshasis. Then the king and queen, finding out that he and their daughter had met and fallen in love, were pleased, and said, "What could those Rakshasis do against one, who swallowed the whole army of the Asuras, as Agastya swallowed the sea?" Then the fire of Padmavati's love blazed up more violently, being fanned by this description of her lover's surpa.s.sing courage, as by a breeze.