Page:The Katha Sarit Sagara.djvu/489

 gone through these reflections, he said— " I am fortunate in receiving such a, command from the god, I will do what he bids me." When the king said that, Gunaśarman disappeared by the help of his magic collyrium, thus confirming the king's confidence in him, and went away. And he came and told king Mahásena what he had done; he threw his arms round his neck, and hailed him as the preserver of his life and throne. And the next morning Vikramaśakti sent an ambassador to Mahásena, and after making peace with him, returned home with his army. But Mahásena conquered Somaka, and having obtained elephants and horses, returned to Ujjayiní a victor, thanks to Gunaśarman. And while he was there, Gunaśarman saved him from a crocodile while bathing in the river, and from the poison of a snake-bite while in his garden.

Then, after some days had passed, king Mahásena, having got together an army, went to attack his enemy Vikramaśakti. And that king, as soon as he heard of his approach, marched out to meet him in fight, and a great battle took place between the two. And in the course of it, the two kings met in single combat, and disabled one another's chariots. Then, in their fury, they rushed forward sword in hand, and king Mahásena through carelessness stumbled and fell on the earth. Then the king Vikramaśakti tried to strike him on the ground, but Gunaśarman cut off his arm with a discus, sword and all, and striking him again in the heart with an iron mace laid him low. And king Mahásena rose up, and was pleased when he saw his enemy dead, and said repeatedly to Gunaśarman— " What am I to say? This is the fifth time that you have saved my life, heroic Brahman." Then Mahásena conquered the army and kingdom of Vikramaśakti, who had been slain by Gunaśarman, and after overcoming other kings by the aid of Gunaśarman, he returned to Ujjayiní and dwelt there in happiness. But queen Aśokavatí did not cease from importunately soliciting Gunaśarman day and night. But he would never consent to that crime; good men prefer death to immodest conduct. Then Aśokavatí, finding out that he was resolved, one day out of enmity to him affected to be unhappy, and remained with tearful countenance. Then Mahásena, coming in, and seeing her in that condition, said— " What is this, my beloved? Who has offended you? Tell me the name of the man whose life and property I am to take by way of punishment?" Then the unforgiving queen said with affected reluctance to the king, who had thus addressed her, " You have no power to punish the man who has injured me; he is not a man you can chastise, so what is the good of revealing the injury to no purpose?" When she said this, the king pressed her, and she said deceitfully " My husband, if you are very anxious to know, listen, I will tell you. Gunaśarman, who pretends to be a loyal servant,* made an agreement