Page:Katha sarit sagara, vol2.djvu/423

 daughter Lakshmi, and the Himálaya would no longer pride himself on Gaurí." And then, when the festival came on, the quarters, re-echoing the sound of the auspicious drums of rejoicing, as it were, gave notice to the kings. And the whole city was full of exultation, and the vermilion colours that covered it throughout, seemed like its red glow of affection overflowing in external form.

The next day the astrologers fixed an auspicious date for the prince's marriage, and his father king Amaradatta began to make preparations for it. And the city was filled so full of various jewels, coming from all quarters, that it put to shame the city of Kuvera. And soon a servant of king Máyávațu's came to the sovereign in high spirits, introduced by the warder, and said to him, " King, prince Sushena and king Máyávațu have arrived, and they are both waiting on the frontier of this realm of Ayodhyá." When king Amaradatta heard that, he sent his own general with a body of soldiers to meet Sushena. And Mŗigánkadatta, out of regard for his friend, also went out with the general from Ayodhyá to meet the prince. And both of those princes dismounted, while yet a great distance apart, and met together, embracing one another and asking after one another's health. And out of love they entered the city in the same chariot, giving a great feast to the eyes of the ladies of the city. And there Sushena had an interview with the king, and was received by him with much respect, and then he went to the private apartments of his sister Śaśánkavatí, There she rose up weeping and embraced him, and he sat down, and said to the princess who was overwhelmed with shame, " My father directs me to tell you that you have done nothing unbecoming, for he has just come to learn that prince Mŗigánkadatta was appointed your husband by the goddess Gaurí in a dream, and it is the highest duty of women to follow the steps of their husbands." When he said this to the girl, she dismissed her shame, looking at her heart with downcast face, as if to tell it that its desire was gained.

Then Sushena brought and gave to Śaśánkavatí in the presence of the king her own accumulated wealth; two thousand bháras* of gold, five camels heavily laden with jewelled ornaments, and another treasure of gold. And he said, " This is her own private property, but, as for what her father has sent, I will give it her in due course at the marriage altar." Then they all ate and drank, and spent the day there in the king's presence in great comfort, with Mŗigánkadatta and his suite.

The next day dawned, the day fixed as auspicious?, and Mŗigánkadatta performed his own daily ceremony, of bathing and so on; in which the