Page:Katha sarit sagara, vol2.djvu/27

 After Yamajihvá had said this, she gave that ape to Íśvaravarman, and his father gave him two crores by way of capital. And with the ape and the money he went once more to Kánchanapura, and despatching a messenger on in front, he entered the house of Sundarí. Sundarí welcomed him as if he were an incarnation of perseverance, which includes in itself all means for attaining an end, and his friend with him, embracing him round the neck, and making other demonstrations. Then Íśvaravarman, having gained her confidence, said to Arthadatta in her presence in the house: " Go, and bring Ála." He said, " I will," and went and brought the monkey. And as the monkey had before swallowed a thousand dínárs, he said to him, " Ála, my son, give us to-day three hundred dínárs for our eating and drinking, and a hundred for betel and other expenses, and give one hundred to our mother Makarakatí, and a hundred to the Bráhmans, and give the rest of the thousand to Sundarí." When Íśvaravarman said this, the monkey brought up the dínárs he had before swallowed, to the amounts ordered, and gave them for the various objects required.

So by this artifice Ála was made to supply every day the necessary expenses, for the period of a fortnight, and in the meanwhile Makarakatí* and Sundarí began to think; " Why this is a very wishing-stone which he has get hold of in the form of an ape, which gives every day a hundred dínárs; if he would only give it us, all our desires would be accomplished." Having thus debated in private with her mother, Sundarí said to that Íśvaravarman, when he was sitting at his ease after dinner,— " If you really are well pleased with me, give me Ála." But when Íśvaravarman heard that, he answered laughingly, " He is my father's all in the world, and it is not proper to give him away." When he said this, Sundarí said to him again, " Give him me and I will give you five crores." Thereupon Íśvaravarman said with an air of decision, " If you were to give me all your property, or indeed this city, it would not do to give him you, much less for your crores.'^ When Sundarí heard this, she said, " I will give you all I possess; but give me this ape, otherwise my mother will be angry with me." And thereupon she clung to Íśvaravarman's feet. Then Arthadatta and the others said, " Give it her, happen what will." Then Íśvaravarman promised to give it her, and he spent the day with the delighted Sundarí. And the next day he gave to Sundarí, at her earnest entreaties, that ape, which had in secret been made to swallow two thousand dínárs, and he immediately took by way of payment all the wealth is her house, and went off quickly to-Svarnadvípa to trade.

And to Sundarí's delight, the monkey Ala, when asked, gave her regularly a thousand dínárs for two days. But on the third day he did