Page:Katha sarit sagara, vol2.djvu/633

 dissatisfied, saying to himself, " How shall I be helped to conquer my enemies by a single village that will rather disgrace me? Nevertheless my sovereign's orders must be obeyed." So he slowly went on, and having passed Omkárapíțha, he saw in a distant forest many maidens playing, and then he asked them this question, " Do you know where Khandavațaka is? " When they heard that, they answered, " We do not know; go on further; our father lives only ten yojanas from here; ask him; he may perhaps know of that village."

When the maidens had said this to him, the kárpațika went on, and beheld their father, a Rákshasa of terrific appearance. He said to him, " Whereabouts here is Khandavațaka? Tell me, my good fellow." And the Rákshasa, quite taken aback by his courage, said to him, " What have you got to do there ? The city has been long deserted; but if you must go, listen; this road in front of you divides into two: take the one on the left hand, and go on until you reach the main entrance of Khandavataka, the lofty ramparts on each side of which make it attract the eye."

When the Rákshasa had told him this, he went on, and reached that main street, and entered that city, which, though of heavenly beauty, was deserted and awe-inspiring. And in it he entered the palace, which was surrounded with seven zones, and ascended the upper storey of it, which was made of jewels and gold. There he saw a gem-bestudded throne, and he sat down on it. Thereupon a Rákshasa came with a wand in his hand, and said to him, " Mortal, why have you sat down here on the king's throne? " When the resolute kárpațika Krishnaśakti heard this, he said, " I am lord here; and you are tribute-paying house-holders whom king Vikramáditya has made over to me by his grant."

When the Rákshasa heard that, he looked at the grant, and bowing before him, said, " You are king here, and I am your warder; for the decrees of king Vikramáditya are binding everywhere." When the Rákshasa had said this, he summoned all the subjects, and the ministers and the king's retinue presented themselves there; and that city was filled with an army of four kinds of troops. And every one paid his respects to the kárpațika; and he was delighted, and performed his bathing and his other ceremonies with royal luxury. Then, having become a king, he said to himself with amazement; " Astonishing truly is the power of king Vikramáditya; and strangely unexampled is the depth of his dignified reserve, in that he bestows a kingdom like this and calls it a village ! " Full of amazement at this, he remained there ruling as a king: and Vikramáditya supported his followers in Ujjayiní.

And alter some days this kárpațika become a king went eagerly to pay his respects to king Vikramáditya, shaking the earth with his army.