Page:The Katha Sarit Sagara.djvu/41

 sleep, I saw, at the close of night, a celestial woman in white garments; she said to me—"Upakosa was thy wife in a former birth; as she appreciates merit, she desires no one but thee, therefore, my son, thou oughtest not to feel anxious about this matter. I am Sarasvati that dwell continually in thy frame, I cannot hear to behold thy grief." "When she had said this, she disappeared. Then I woke up and somewhat encouraged I went slowly and stood under a young mango tree near the house of my beloved; then her confidante came and told me of the ardent attachment of Upakosa to me, the result of sudden passion: then I with my pain doubled, said to her, "How can I obtain Upakosa unless her natural protectors willingly bestow her upon me? For death is better than dishonour; so if by any means your friend's heart became known to her parents, perhaps the end might be prosperous.

"Therefore bring this about, my good woman, save the life of me and of thy friend." When she heard this, she went and told all to her friend's mother, she immediately told it to her husband Upavarsha, he to Varsha his brother, and Varsha approved of the match. Then, my marriage having been determined upon, Vyadi by the order of my tutor went and brought my mother from Kausambi; so Upakosa was bestowed upon me by her father with all due ceremonies, and I lived happily in Pataliputra with my mother and my wife.

Now in course of time Varsha got a great number of pupils, and among them there was one rather stupid pupil of the name of Panini; he, being wearied out with service, was sent away by the preceptor's wife, and being disgusted at it and longing for learning, he went to the Himalaya to perform austerities : then he obtained from the god, who wears the moon as a crest, propitiated by his severe austerities, a new grammar, the source of all learning. Thereupon he came and challenged me to a disputation, and seven days passed away in the course of our disputation; on the eighth day he had been fairly conquered by me, but immediately afterwards a terrible menacing sound was uttered by Siva in the firmament; owing to that our Aindra grammar was exploded in the world, and all of us, being conquered by Panini, became accounted fools. Accordingly full of despondency I deposited in the hand of the merchant Hiranyadatta my wealth for the maintenance of my house, and after informing Upakosa of it, I went fasting to mount Himalaya to propitiate S'iva with austerities.

Upakosa on her part anxious for my success, remained in her own house, bathing every day in the Ganges, strictly observing her vow. One