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 end with the night." When he said this, Suvásakumára said to him, "This dream indicates success preceded by a struggle. The stream of water is battle, it is due to valour that you did not sink but danced, and were carried along by the water; the wind, that turned back the water for you, is some saviour to whom men resort for protection; and the man of fiery brightness, who drew you out of it, is Śiva in bodily form. And that he threw you into the fire, means that you are cast into a great war; and that the clouds arose, that means the returning again of fear; and the rain of a stream of blood, that means the destroying of fear, and the filling of all the quarters with blood, that means great success for you. Now dreams are of many kinds, the rich-sensed, the true-sensed, and the senseless. A dream which quickly reveals its meaning, is called richsensed, a dream in which a propitious god gives a command, is called true-sensed, and one which is brought about by deep meditation and anxiety, they call senseless. For a man under the influence of sleep, with mind bewildered by the quality of passion and withdrawn from outward objects, sees a dream on account of various causes. And it depends upon the time, when it is seen, whether it is fulfilled soon or late, but this kind of dream which is seen at the end of the night is quickly fulfilled. When Súryaprabha and his companions heard this from the hermit's son, they were much pleased, and rising up they performed the duties of the day.

In the meanwhile Prahasta returned from the court of Śrutaśarman, and, when asked by Maya and the others, he described his adventures. "I went rapidly hence to the city named Trikútapatáká, situated on the mountain Trikúta, built of gold. And being introduced by the doorkeeper, I entered, and beheld Śrutaśarman surrounded by various Vidyádhara kings, by his father Trikútasena, and also by Vikramaśakti and Durandhara and other heroes, Dámodara among them. And sitting down, I said to Śrutaśarman, 'I am sent to visit you by the august Súryaprabha: and he commissioned me to give you this command. By the favour of Śiva I have obtained precious sciences, and wives and allies. So come and join my army, together with those chiefs of the sky-goers; I am the slayer of those that oppose, but the saviour of those that bend. And as for your carrying off from her relations the maiden Kámachúdámani, the daughter of Sunítha, who ought not to be approached, set her at liberty, for that is a deed of shame.' When I said this they all exclaimed in wrath, 'Who is he that sends us this haughty command? Let him give commands to mortals, but who is he compared with Vidyádharas?