Page:A Descriptive Catalogue of the Oriental Manuscripts, Vol. 2.djvu/60

 v, I 52 ] leaving a written paper stating they would not cease from their depredations, until the king consented to give his daughter in marriage to one of them, and threatening if he withheld his consent to carry off the Princess. The king was compelled to yield, hut coupled his consent with the condition that the pre- tender to his daughter's hand should kill a fierce Lion that guarded one of the gates of the Palace. The Princes attack- ed and slew the lion, who turned out to be a Prince metamor- phosed. They carried off part of the tail as a trophy. The washerman of the Palace finding the head, produced it as evi- dence that he had killed the lion, and claimed the Princess. — Preparations were made for the wedding,when the Princes dis- covered themselves, and the washerman was put to death. The princess was married to the younger brother, Chitrasekhara. After a time, a bird catcher brouglt a curious Parrot from Cashmir which was purchased by the Princes, and told them, that it alone had escaped the destruction of all living things at Hemavati, which were devoured Oy a giant in resentment of the king Virasena's refusing to give him the hand of the Prin- cess Suvernadevi. The Princess was kept captive by the giant. Somasekhara undertook to set her at liberty, and departed alone, giving his brother a flower, the withering of which would in- dicate his falling into some calamity, when his brother Chitra- sekhara might come to aid or revenge him. On arriving at Hemavati he made himself known to the Princess, married her, slew the giant, and induced people to return to the country o- ver which he ruled as king. On one occasion Suvernadevi having dropped her slipper in a reservoir, it was found by a fisherman of Kusumakesari, who sold it to a shopkeeper, by whom it was presented to the king Ugrabdhu. The Prince on seeing the beauty of the slipper, fell in love with the wearer, and offered large rewards to any per- son who should find and bring her to bim. An old woman un*