Page:Folk-lore of the Telugus.djvu/125

117 Laghupathanaka hearing this was very much pleased and consented to the proposal. They then began their journey with pleasant conversation on the way and reached the tank in a few days. When Manthara saw them at a distance, he went to meet them, fetched them thither, and feasted them as became their rank.

Laghupathanaka then said to Manthara:—"Comrade, treat this rat-king respectfully. He is the foremost among the virtuous, the ocean of good qualities, and is known as Hiranayaka. Even Sesha is unable to describe his qualities. How much then am I?"

So saying he narrated Hiranayaka's story in detail from the beginning. Manthara then treated Hiranayaka with much respect and said:—"Hiranyaka, what is the cause of your living in a desert ?" To which he replied:—

"There was a town named Champakavati which was inhabited by many Sanyasis, among whom was one Chudakarna. He would eat part of the food fetched and would hang the other portion on a wooden peg fixed in the wall and then go to sleep. I would creep