Page:Katha sarit sagara, vol2.djvu/294

 of heaven." When king Viradeva had heard this voice from heaven, he returned to his city with his consort, having gained all he desired. There he first had a son born to him named Śúradeva, and after a time queen Padmarati gave birth to a daughter. And her father gave her the name of Anangarati, on the ground that she was beautiful enough to inspire love in the breast of Cupid. And, when she grew up, in his desire to procure for her a suitable husband, he had brought the portraits of all the kings of the earth, painted on canvass. And as no one of them seemed a match for her, he said to his daughter, in his tenderness for her; " I cannot find a suitable match for you, my daughter, so summon all the kings of the earth, and select your own husband." When the princess heard that, she said to her father, " My father, I am too modest to select my own husband, but I must be given in marriage to a good-looking young man, who is a perfect master of one art; I do not want any other better man."

When the king heard this speech of his daughter Anangarati, he proceeded to search for a young man, such as she had described, and while he was thus engaged, there came to him from the Dekkan four magnificent men, brave and skilful, who bad heard from the people what was going on. Those four suitors for the hand of the princess were received with respect by the king, and one after another they told to him in her presence their respective acquirements.

The first said; " I am a Śúdra, Panchaphuțțika by name; I make every day five splendid pairs of garments: The first of them I give to my god, and the second to a Brahman, the third I retain for my own wearing,* the fourth I should give to my wife, if this maid here were to become my wife, the fifth I sell, and procure myself meat and drink: as I possess this art, let Anangarati be given to me."

When he had said this, the second man said, " I am a Vaiśya, Bháshájna by name, I know the speech of all beasts and birds; † so let the princess be given to me."

When the second had said this, the third said, " I am a Kshatriya king, by name Khadgadhara, renowned for might of arm: my equal in the art of swordsmanship does not exist upon the earth, so bestow this maiden on me, O king."

When the third had said this, the fourth said, " I am a Bráhman, named Jívadatta, and I possess the following art; I can restore to life dead