Page:The Katha Sarit Sagara.djvu/151

 go there." When his minister had said this to him, the king made those herdsmen show him the way, and went to that place in the forest with his soldiers and his attendants.

And while, after the ground had been examined, peasants were digging there, a Yaksha in stature like a mountain rose up from beneath it, and said, " O king, this treasure, which I have so long guarded, belongs to thee, as having been buried by thy forefathers, therefore take possession of it." After he had said this to the king and accepted his worship, the Yaksha disappeared, and a great treasure was displayed in the excavation. And from it was extracted a valuable throne studded with jewels,* for in the time of prosperity a long series of happy and fortunate events takes place. The Lord of Vatsa took away the whole treasure from the spot in high glee, and after chastising those herdsmen returned to his own city. There the people saw that golden throne brought by the king, which seemed with the streams of rays issuing from its blood-red jewels to foretell † the king's forceful conquest of all the regions, and which with its pearls fixed on the end of projecting silver spikes seemed to show its teeth as if laughing again and again when it considered the astonishing intellect of the king's ministers;‡ and they expressed their joy in a charming manner, by striking drums of rejoicing so that they sent forth their glad sounds.The ministers too rejoiced exceedingly, making certain of the king's triumph; for prosperous events happening at the very commencement of an enterprise portend its final success. Then the sky was filled with Hags resembling flashes of lightning, and the king like a cloud rained gold on his dependants. And this day having been spent in feasting, on the morrow Yaugandharáyana, wishing to know the mind of the king of Vatsa, said to him; " king, ascend and adorn that great throne, which thou hast obtained by inheritance from thy ancestors." But the king said, " Surely it is only after conquering all the regions that I can gain glory by ascending that throne, which those famous ancestors of mine mounted after conquering the earth. Not till I have subdued this widely-gemmed earth bounded by the main, will I ascend the great jewelled throne of my ancestors." Saying this, the king did not mount the throne as yet. For men of high birth possess genuine loftiness of spirit. Thereupon Yaugandharáyana being delighted said to him in private; " Bravo my king  So make first an attempt to conquer the eastern region." When he heard that, the king eagerly asked his minister; " When there are other cardinal points, why do kings first march towards the East ?" When Yaugandharáyana heard this, he said to him