Page:The Katha Sarit Sagara.djvu/294

 " Sahasránika, for his part, who had been informed of the real state of the case by Mátali, and had fixed his hope on the termination of his curse, with difficulty got through the time without that Mrigávatí. But when the curse had expired, the king obtained his token from a Śavara who, as fate would have it, had come from the mountain of the sunrise. And then he was informed of the truth by a voice that came from heaven, and making that Śavara his guide, he went to the mountain of the sunrise. There he found his wife Mrigávatí like the success of his wishes, and her son Udayana like the realm of fancy. With them he returned to Kauśámbí, and appointed his son crown-prince, pleased with the excellence of his qualities; and he gave him the sons of his ministers, Yaugandharáyana and others. When his son took the burden of the kingdom off his shoulders, he enjoyed pleasures for a long time in the society of Mrigávatí. And in time the king established his son, that very Udayana, on the throne, and being old, went with his wife and ministers on the long journey. So, Udayana has obtained that kingdom that belonged to his father, and having conquered all his enemies, rules the earth with the help of Yaugandharáyana." Having in these words quickly told her in confidence the story of Udayana, she again said to her friend Kalingasená—" Thus that king is called the king of Vatsa, fair one, because he rules in Vatsa, and since he comes of the Pándava lineage, he is also descended from the race of the sun. And the gods gave him the name of Udayana, because he was born on the mountain of the sunrise, and in this world even the god of love is not a match for him in beauty. He alone is a husband fit for you, most beautiful lady of the three worlds, and he, being a lover of beauty, no doubt longs for you, who are famous for it. But, my friend, his head-wife is Vásavadattá, the daughter of Chandamahásena. And she selected him herself, deserting her relations in the ardour of her passion, and so sparing the blushes of Ushá, Śakuntalá and other maidens. And a son has been born to him by her, called Naraváhanadatta, who is appointed by the gods as the future emperor of the Vidyádharas. So it is through fear of her that the king of Vatsa does not send here to ask for your hand, but she has been seen by me, and she does not vie with you in the gift of beauty." When her friend Somaprabhá said this, Kalingasená, being in love with the king of Vatsa, answer. ed her— " I know all this, but what can I do, as I am under the power of my parents? But in this, you, who know all things and possess magic power, are my refuge." Somaprabhá then said to her— " The whole matter depends on destiny; in proof of it hear the following tale."

Story of Tejasvatí.:— Once on a time there lived in Ujjayiní a king named Vikramasena, and he had a daughter named Tejasvati, matchless in beauty. And she disapproved of every king who sued for her hand. But one day, while she