Page:The Katha Sarit Sagara.djvu/431



Victory to the elephant-headed god,* who, reddening the sky with the vermilion dye shaken off by the wind of his flapping ears, seems to create sunset, even when it is not due.

Thus Naraváhanadatta, the son of the king of Vatsa, dwelt happily in his father's house, after he had won those wives. And one day, when he was in his father's assembly-hall, he saw a man of heavenly appearance come there, descending from heaven. And after he and his father had welcomed the man, who bowed before him, he immediately asked him, " Who are you and why have you come ?" Then he answered— " There is a city in this earth on the ridge of Himavat, called Vajrakúta, † and rightly so called, as being all made of diamond. There I dwelt, as a king of the Vidyádharas named Vajraprabha, and my name too was rightly given me, because my body is framed of diamond. And I received this command from Śiva, (who was pleased with my austerities,) " If thou remainest loyal at the appointed time to the emperor created by me, thou shalt become by my favour invincible to thy enemies." Accordingly I have come here without delay to pay my respects to my sovereign: for I have already perceived by means of my science that the son of the king of Vatsa, (who is born of a portion of the god of Love, and appointed by the god who wears a digit of the moon,) though a mortal, shall be sole emperor over both divisions of our territory. ‡ And though, by the favour of Śiva, a prince of the name of Śuryaprabha was ruler over us for a kalpa of the gods, still he was only lord in the southern division, but in the northern division a prince called Śrutaśarman was emperor; but your majesty, being destined for great good fortune, shall -be sole emperor here over the wanderers of the air, and your dominion shall endure for a kalpa"