Page:The Katha Sarit Sagara.djvu/485

 repaired to your two lotus-like feet." When the Vidyádharas Mahayana and Sumáyaka said this, Súryaprabha, in concert with Maya and the rest, received them into conlidence and honoured them, and they rejoiced. When Śrutaśarman heard that, he was in great consternation, but Indra comforted him by a message, sending to him Viśvávasu, and commissioning him to say—"Be of good cheer! To-morrow I will aid thee with all the gods in the van of battle." This he said to him out of love, to comfort him. And Súryaprabha, having been encouraged by beholding the breaking of his enemies' line, and having seen in the front of battle the slaughter of his rival's partisans, again forwent the society of his charmers, and entered his dwelling at night surrounded by his ministers.

Then Súryaprabha, lying on his couch at night, eager for battle, apart from his wives, said to his minister Vítabhíti " I cannot sleep, so tell me, my friend, some strange story of courage and endurance, to amuse me during the night." When Vítabhíti heard this request of Súryaprabha's, he answered " I will obey your order," and he told this story.

Story of king Mahásena and his virtuous minister Gunaśarman.:-There is a city Ujjayiní, the ornament of this earth, full of numberless jewels of pellucid water. In that city there lived a king named Mahásena, beloved by the virtuous, an unequalled treasury of accomplish- ments, having the beauty both of the sun and moon. He had a wife named Aśokavatí, whom he loved as his life, there was not another woman in the three worlds equal to her in beauty. The king ruled his realm with her for consort, and he had besides a friend, a Bráhman named Gunaśarman, whom he respected and loved. And that Bráhman was brave and very handsome, and, though young, had thoroughly mastered the lore of the Vedas, and knew the accomplishments, the Sástras, and the use of weapons, and was always in attendance on the king.

And one day, as he was within the palace, a conversation arose about dancing, and the king and queen said to Gunaśarman, who was in atten- dance, " You know everything, there is no doubt about that; so we have a curiosity to see you dancing; if you know how to dance, kindly exhibit your skill." When Gunaśarman heard this, he said with a smile on his face; " I know how to dance, but dancing is a thing not becoming in the king's court; foolish dancing is generally ridiculous and is censured in the