Page:Katha sarit sagara, vol2.djvu/446

 make oblations to us, and then repair to your husband; otherwise you will not prosper.' So marry me quickly, in order that I may offer the Yakshas the worship they demand; and then fulfil all your desire."

When Naraváhanadatta heard that, he summoned the priest Śántisoma and at once made the necessary preparations, and immediately married the supposed Madanamanchuká, who was no other than the Vidyádharí Vegavatí, having been for a short time quite cast down by his separation from the real one. Then a great feast took place there, full of the clang of cymbals, delighting the king of Vatsa, gladdening the queens, and causing joy to Kalingasená. And the supposed Madanamanchuká, who was really the Vidyádhari Vegavatí, made with her own hand an offering of wine, flesh, and other dainties to the Yakshas. Then Naraváhanadatta, remaining with her in her chamber, drank wine with her in his exultation, though he was sufficiently intoxicated with her voice. And then he retired to rest with her, who had thus changed her shape, as the sun with the shadow. And she said to him in secret, " My beloved, now that we have retired to rest, you must take care not to unveil my face suddenly and look at me while asleep*. " When the prince heard this, he was filled with curiosity, to think what this might be, and the next day he uncovered her face while she was asleep, and looked at it, and lo ! it was not Madanamanchuká, but some one else, who, when asleep, had lost the power of disguising her appearance by magic. † Then she woke up, while he was sitting by her awake. And he said to her, " Tell me, who are you ?" And the discreet Vidyádharí seeing him sitting up awake, and being conscious that she was in her own shape and that her secret was discovered, began to tell her tale saying, " Listen, my beloved, I will now tell you the whole story."

" There is in the city of the Vidyádharas a mountain of the name of Áshádhapura. There dwells a chief of the Vidyádharas, named Mánasavega, a prince puffed up with the might of his arm, the son of king Vegavatí. I am his younger sister, and my name is Vegavatí. And that brother of mine hated me so much that he was not willing to bestow on me the sciences. Then I obtained them, though with difficulty, from my father, who had retired to a wood of ascetics, and, thanks to his favour, I possess them of greater power than any other of our race. I myself saw the wretched Madanamanchuká, in the palace of mount Áshádha, in a garden, surrounded by sentinels, I mean your beloved, whom my brother has carried off by magic, as Rávana carried off the afflicted Sítá, the wife of Rámabhadra. And as the virtuous lady repels his caresses, he cannot subdue her to his will, for a curse has been laid upon him, that will bring about his death, if he uses violence to any woman.