Page:Folk-lore of the Telugus.djvu/101

93 Bhatti his premier. Vikramarka then prayed to the goddess, Kali, who, being greatly pleased with his severe austerities, appeared before him and granted him a boon, that he would rule for one thousand years, that neither gods, spirits, demons nor giants should be able to vanquish him, and that he would meet his death by the hand of a child, born to a girl thirteen months old. Vikramarka then came home and informed Bhatti of what had transpired, when the latter said that he would extend the period of the life of Vikramarka by an additional one thousand years. On his questioning the former how he was able to grant the boon, Bhatti replied:—"The goddess Kali has blessed you that you should rule for one thousand years. Rule over the kingdom for six months and travel over the world for the other six months, so that by the time you have ruled for one thousand years^you will practically live for two thousands years." Vikramarka was greatly pleased with the tactics of Bhatti and did as directed. He became afterwards one of the world's best rulers.