Page:The Katha Sarit Sagara.djvu/179

 listen to the way in which I learnt these rites, and the secret of my magic skill."

Story of Kuvalayávalí and the witch Kálarátri.:— Long ago, when I was living in father's house, I was thus addressed, while enjoying myself in the garden during the spring festival, by my friends who met me there; " There is in this pleasure-garden an image of Ganeśa, the god of gods, in the middle of an arbour made of trees, and that image grants boons, and its power has been tested. Approach with devout faith that granter of petitions, and worship him, in order that you may soon obtain without difficulty a suitable husband." When I heard that I asked my friends in my ignorance; " What ! do maidens obtain husbands by worshipping Ganésa?" Then they answered me; " Why do you ask such a question ? Without worshipping him no one obtains any success in this world ; and in proof of it we will' give you an instance of his power, listen." Saying this, my friends told me the following tale:

Story of the birth of Kártikeya.:— Long ago, when Indra oppressed by Táraka was desirous or obtaining a son from Śiva to act as general of the gods, and the god of love had been consumed,* Gaurí by performing austerities sought and gained as a husband the three-eyed god, who was engaged in a very long and terrible course of mortification. Then she desired the obtaining of a son, and the return to life of the god of love, but she did not remember to worship Ganeśa in order to gain her end. So, when his beloved asked that her desire should be granted, Śiva said to her, " My dear goddess, the god of love was born long ago from the mind of Brahma, and no sooner was he born than he said in his insolence, 'Whom shall I make mad? (kan darpayámi) .' So Brahmá called him Kandarpa, and said to him, 'Since thou art very confident, my son, avoid attacking Śiva only, lest thou receive death from him.' Though the Creator gave him this warning, the ill-disposed god came to trouble my austerities, therefore he was burnt up by me, and he cannot be created attain with his body.† But I will create by my power a son from you, for I do not require the might of love in order to have offspring as mortals do." While the god, whose ensign is a bull, ‡ was saying this to Párvatí, Brahmá accompanied by Indra appeared before him; and when he had been praised by them, and entreated to bring about the destruction of the Asura Táraka, Śiva consented to beget on the goddess a son of his body. And. at their entreaty, he consented that the god of love should be born without body in