Page:Folk-lore of the Telugus.djvu/108

100 Durga was shewn. The girl with whom Karpataka had fallen in love, fell in love with the king, and told him that she would supply him with everything, if he should fulfil her cherished object. The king, thereupon, told her that Karpataka was his son, a fair-looking, intelligent young man, a person who would act up to his promise, cost whatever it might, and that she should marry and live comfortably with him, to which she consented. The king took hold of Karpataka's hand, and saying that the union effected between the latter and the Naga girl was equal to one of the amalakas given him, and that he should do some service for the other fruit, went and immersed himself in the waters of the tank, and reached his capital safe. Karpataka then lived happily with the girl." Bethala then asked Vikramarka:—"Which of them did the greatest good?" To which Vikramarka replied that it is but natural for a servant to do good to his master, but the master repaid him the good, thinking very highly of the servant's services—that must be considered the greatest. Bethala