Page:The Katha Sarit Sagara.djvu/503

 Dánavas came there out of joy. And Indra came with the Lokapálas, preceded by Vrihaspati, and the Vidyádhara Sumeru with Suvásakumára. And all the wives of Kaśyapa came, headed by Danu, and the wives of Súryaprabha in the chariot Bhútásana. When they had all sat down, after shewing one another affection, and going through the prescribed courtesies, a friend of Danu's, named Siddhi, spoke to them as from her: " gods and Asuras, the goddess Danu says this to you— ' Say, if you have ever felt before the joy and satisfaction which we all feel in this friendly meeting ! so you ought not to wage against one another war, which is terrible on account of the sorrow it produces. Hiranyáksha and those other elder Asuras, who waged it to obtain the empire of heaven, have passed away, and Indra is now the eldest, so what cause is there for enmity?

So let your mutual antagonism drop, and be happy, in order that I may be pleased, and the prosperity of the worlds may be ensured.' " "When, they had heard this address of the revered Danu, uttered by the mouth of Siddhi, Vrihaspati, Indra having looked him in the face, said to her— " The gods entertain no design against the Asuras, and are willing to be friends with them, unless they display a treacherous animosity against the gods." When the preceptor of the gods said this, Maya the king of the Dánavas said— " If the Asuras entertained any animosity, how could Namuchi have given to Indra the horse Uchchhaihśravas that resuscitates the dead?' And how could Prabala have given his own body to the gods? And how could Bali have given the three worlds to Vishnu, and himself have gone to prison? Or how could Ayodeha have given his own body to Viśvakarman? What more shall I say? The Asuras are ever generous, and if they are not treacherously injured, they cherish no animosity." When the Asura Maya had said this, Siddhi made a speech, which induced the gods and Asuras to make peace and embrace one another.

In the meanwhile a female warder, named Jayá, sent by Bhavání, came there and was honoured by all, and she said to Sumeru, " I am sent by the goddess Durgá to you, and she gives you this order— ' You have an unmarried daughter named Kámachudámani; give her quickly to Súryaprabha, for she is a votary of mine.' " When Jayá said this to Sumeru, he bowed, and answered her— " I will do as the goddess Durgá commands me, for this is a great favour to me, and this very thing was long ago enjoined on me by the god Śiva." When Sumeru answered Jayá on this wise, she said to Súryaprabha— " You must set Kámachudámani above all your wives, and she must be respected by you more than all the others; this is the order given to you to-day by the goddess Gaurí, being propitious to you." When Jayá had said this, she disappeared, after having been honoured by Súryaprabha. And Sumeru quickly fixed upon an auspicious moment in that same day for the marriage, and he had an altar made there, with pillars and