Page:Katha sarit sagara, vol2.djvu/29

 Story of king Vikramasinha, the hetœra and the young Bráhman.:—- There was in Pratishthána king named Vikramasinha, who was made by Providence a lion in courage, so that his name-ex pressed his nature. He bad a queen of lofty lineage, beautiful and beloved, whose lovely form was her only ornament, and she was called Śaśilekhá. Once on a time, when he was in his city, five or six of his relations combined together, and going to his palace, surrounded him. Their names were Mahábhata, Virabáhu, Subábu, Subhata and Pratápáditya, all powerful kings. The king's minister was proceeding to try the effect of conciliation on them, but the king set him aside, and went out to fight with them. And when the two armies bad begun to exchange showers of arrows, the king himself entered the fray, mounted on an elephant, confiding in his might. And when the five kings, Mahábhata and the others, saw him, seconded only by his bow, dispersing the army of his enemies, they all attacked him together. And as the numerous force of the five kings made an united charge, the force of Vikramasinha, being inferior in number, was broken. Then his minister Anantaguna, who was at his side, said, " Our force is routed for the present, there is no chance of victory to-day, and you would engage in this conflict with an overwhelming force in spite o my advice, so now at the last moment do what I recommend you, in order that the affair may turn out prosperously; come now, descend from your elephant, and mount a horse, and let us go to another country; if you live, you will conquer your enemies on some future occasion." When the minister said this, the king readily got down'from his elephant, and mounted on a horse, and left his army in company with him. And in course of time, the king, in disguise, reached with his minister the city of Ujjayini. There he entered with his minister the house of a hetoeray named Kumudika, renowned for her wealth; and she, seeing him suddenly entering the house, thought, " This is a distinguished hero that has come to my house: and his majesty and the marks on his body shew him to be a great king, so my desire is sure to be attained if I can make him my instrument." Having thus reflected, Kumudika rose up and welcomed him, and entertained him hospitably, and immediately she said to the king, who was wearied, " 1 am fortunate, to-day the good deeds of my former life have borne fruit, in that Your Majesty has hallowed my house by coming to it in person. So by this favour Your Majesty has made me your slave. The hundred elephants, and two myriads of horses, and house full of jewels, which belong to me, are entirely at your majesty's disposal." Having said this, she provided the king and his minister with baths and other luxuries, all in magnificent style. Then the wearied king lived in her palace, at his ease, with her, who put her wealth at his disposal. He consumed her substance and gave it away to petitioners, and she did not show any anger against him on that