Page:Folk-lore of the Telugus.djvu/107

99 that he had conceived a passion for the daughter of the King of Simhaladvipa (Ceylon), and wanted him to arrange for a marriage between them. Karpataka set sail in a merchant vessel, which unfortunately was wrecked and all the people perished. Karpataka alone, while swimming with the greatest difficulty, caught hold of a twig which carried him to Nagaloka, where he saw a temple to Durga, at which he rested. He there saw a number of Naga girls visiting the temple, worshipping the goddess, and dancing and singing. He conceived a passion for one among the number, and communicated it to her maid-servants, who in turn informed the lady. The lady seemed to agree to the proposal and wanted Karpataka to bathe in a tank near by. No sooner was that done than he found himself, to his utter amazement, floating in the tank of Mallikapura. He then informed the king of what had transpired. The king, thereupon, wanted Karpataka to show him the woman. The whole route was retraversed and the woman in the temple to