Page:The Katha Sarit Sagara.djvu/125



Honour to that conqueror of obstacles whose favour, I ween, even the Creator* implored, in order that he might accomplish the creation of the world without let or hindrance.

That five-arrowed god of love conquers the world, at whose command even Siva trembles, when he is being embraced by his beloved.

Thus having obtained Vásavadattá, that king of Vatsa gradually became most exclusively devoted to the pleasure of her society. But his prime minister Yaugandharáyana, and his general Rumanvat, upheld day and night the burden of his empire. And once upon a time the minister Yaugandharáyana, full of anxiety, brought Rumanvat to his house at night and said to him as follows: " This lord of Vatsa is sprung from the Pándava race, and the whole earth is his by hereditary descent, as also the city named of the elephant. † All these this king has abandoned not being desirous of making conquests, and his kingdom has so become confined to this one small corner of the earth. For he certainly remains devoted to women, wine and hunting, and he has delegated to us all the duty of thinking about his kingdom. So we by our own intelligence must take such steps, as that he shall obtain the empire of the whole earth, which is his hereditary right. For, if we do this, we shall have exhibited devotion to his cause, and performed our duty as ministers; for every thing is accomplished by intellect, and in proof of this listen to the following tale:"

Story of the clever physician.:- Once on a time there was a king named Mahásena, and he was attacked by another king far superior to him in power. Then the king's ministers met together, and in order to prevent the ruin of his interests, Mahásena was persuaded by them to pay tribute to that enemy. And after he bad paid tribute, that haughty king was exceedingly afflicted, think-