Page:Katha sarit sagara, vol2.djvu/417

 ment; and in the meanwhile the despondent Śaśánkavatí offered this prayer to the goddess, " O adorable Gaurí that deliverest the afflicted from their pain, grant that, though, owing to my sins in a former state of existence, prince Mŗigánkadatta has not become my husband in this birth, he may become such in a future life." When the princess had said this, she bowed before the goddess, and fastened the noose round her neck with eyes moist with tears. At that moment her companions woke up, and distressed at not seeing her, began to look for her, and quickly came where she was. And they said, " Alas, friend, what is this that you have undertaken? Out on your' rashness ! " With these words they removed the noose from her neck. So, while the girl was standing there ashamed and despondent, a voice came from the inner shrine of Gaurí's temple, " Do not despond, my daughter Śaśánkavatí; that word, fair one, that I spake to thee in a dream, cannot prove false. Here is that husband of thine in a former life, Mŗigánkadatta, come to thy side; go and enjoy with him the whole earth." When Śaśánkavatí beard this sudden utterance, she slowly looked aside a little confused, and at that moment Vikramakeśarin, the minister of Mŗigánkadatta, came up to her, and pointing out the prince with his finger, said to her, " Princess, Bhavání has told you the truth, for here is the prince, your future husband, come to you, drawn by the cords of love." When the princess heard that, she cast a sidelong glance, and beheld that noble lover of hers* standing in the midst of his companions, looking like the moon having descended from heaven begirt by the planets, like the standard by which beauty is tested in others, raining nectar into the eyes.

Then she remained motionless as a pillar, and every hair stood erect with joy on all her limbs, so that they appeared to be covered with the feathers at the end of Cupid's arrows raining upon her; and at that moment Mŗigánkadatta came up to her, and in order to dispel her shame, he addressed to her, with a voice raining the honey of love, the following speech appropriate to the occasion, † " Fair one, you have made me leave my own country and kingdom and relations, and brought me from a distance, enslaving me and binding me with the chain of your virtues. So now I have gained this fruit of my dwelling in the forest, and of my sleeping on the ground, and of my living on wild fruits, and enduring the