Page:Tales from the Indian Epics.djvu/55

Rh told him the story of Pramadvara's birth. Pramati heard the tale but still pressed for her marriage to his son. So Sthulokesha consented and he and Pramati betrothed Ruru to Pramadvara and appointed a day for their marriage, when the stars favourable to the youth and maiden were high in the heavens. But a few weeks before the day appointed for the ceremony, the beautiful Pramadvara was playing with some fair maidens of her own age near Sthulokesha's hermitage. In a bush near by lay a poisonous snake asleep. As Pramadvara ran, her foot pressed one of the snake's coils. Instantly it awoke and raising its head struck at Pramadvara, fastening its fangs in her bare foot. The poison coursed through her veins, the colour left her cheeks and she sank dying to the ground like a lily struck by the sun.

Sthulokesha was well-nigh mad with grief when he heard of the maiden's death. Pramati, too, sorrowed much. But Ruru grieved more even than Sthulokesha, because his love for Pramadvara was the greatest. Praying to the Immortals he recited his charities and his penances, his virtues and his austerities, that they might feel pity and restore to him the bride whom he so desired. As he prayed he saw a kingly figure come towards him from the forest. As the stranger drew near he said to Ruru, "O noble-minded youth, I am a messenger of the Immortals. They have noted your many good works and your pure life and they pity you deeply. But one whose span of life is ended cannot be saved from death. Pramadvara had lived the full number of her destined years. The gods, therefore, cannot bring her back to life. But if you, O Ruru, give up half your life to Pramadvara the gods will bring her back to you and you will live happily together."