Page:Katha sarit sagara, vol2.djvu/586

 The adventures of Anangadeva.:— Having set out hence by Your Majesty's orders, I reached in course of time that army of yours assembled under Vikramaśakti, which was like a broad sea resorted to by allied kings, adorned by many princes of the Nágas that had come together with horses and royal magnificence.* And when I arrived there, that Vikramaśakti bowed before me, and treated me with great respect, because I had been sent by his sovereign; and while I was there considering the nature of the triumphs he had gained, a messenger from the king of Sinhala † came there. And that messenger, who had come from Sinhala, told to Vikramaśakti in my presence his master's message as follows, " I have been told by messengers, who have been sent by me to your sovereign and have returned, that your sovereign's very heart Anangadeva is with you, so send him to me quickly, I will reveal to him a certain auspicious affair, that concerns your king." Then Vikramaśakti said to me, " Go quickly to the king of Sinhala; and see what he wishes to say to you when he has you before him."

Then I went through the sea in a ship to the island of Sinhala with that king of Sinhala's ambassador. And in that island I saw a palace all made of gold, with terraces of various jewels, like the city of the gods. And in it I saw that king of Sinhala, Vírasena, surrounded by obedient ministers, as Indra is by the gods. When I approached him, he received me politely, and asked me about Your Majesty's health, and then he refreshed me with most sumptuous hospitality. The next day the king summoned me, when he was in his hall of audience; and showing his devotion to you, said to me in the presence of his ministers, " I have a maiden daughter, the peerless beauty of the world of mortals, Madanalekhá by name, and I offer her to your king. She is a fitting wife for him, and he is a suitable husband for her; for this reason I have invited you; so accept her in the name of your king. ‡ And go on in front with my ambassador to tell your master; I will send my daughter here close after you."

When the king had said this, he summoned into that hall his daughter whose load of ornaments was adorned by her graceful shape, loveliness, and