Page:Katha sarit sagara, vol2.djvu/566

 wishes to give me to him, my haughty father, being a captive, will not consent to it " When Tribhuvanaprabhá heard that, she, in the same way, prayed to the Fire-god that Malayadhvaja might be her husband in a future life.

Then king Merudhvaja, who was delighted at hearing that, and the queen his wife said to one another, " If our two sons could obtain these two maidens for their wives, they would reap fruit from their conquest of the two worlds. So let us go to them and their mother, before they have cast themselves into the fire, as they intend to do in a moment, and dissuade them from doing so." When the king, in consultation with the queen, had made up his mind to this, he went up to them, and said, " Do not act rashly: for I will put a stop to your sorrow." When all the Asura ladies heard this speech of the king's, that seemed like a rain of nectar to their ears, and afterwards saw him, they all bowed before him.

And Svayamprabhá said to him, " Before we were concealed by magic, and you did not see us, though we saw you, but now we have been seen here by you, the sovereign of the two worlds. And now that we have been seen by you, our sorrow will soon come to an end ; much more since you have bestowed on us by your own mouth a boon we never craved; so take a seat and receive the arghya and water for the feet.* For you deserve to be honoured by the three worlds ; and this is our hermitage." When she said this, the king answered laughing, " Give the arghya and water for the feet to these your sons-in-law." Then Svayamprabhá said, " To them the god Śiva will give the arghya and soon, but do you receive it to-day." Then Merudhvaja said, " I have already received it all; but do you, ladies, immediately give up your intention of committing suicide; and go and dwell in one of your cities where every wish can be gratified; then I will take steps to ensure your welfare."

"When the king said this, Svayamprabhá said to him, " In accordance with your Majesty's order we have given up our intention of abandoning the body, but while our lord is in prison, how would it be becoming for us to live in our palace? So we will remain here, king, for the present, until your Highness shall perform the promise which you spontaneously made to us, and shall cause our lord to be set free with his servants and ministers. And he will hold sway as your Majesty's zealous officer, and will make over his realm to you if you desire it ; indeed he will make a strict agreement † with you to this effect. And for this we and all the inhabitants of Pátála