Page:The Katha Sarit Sagara.djvu/77

 wife.' That Vasu has been born as thou, Sahasránika, the son of Śatánika, an ornament to the race of the moon. And that Apsaras too has been born in Ayodhyá as the daughter of king Kritavarman, Mrigávatí by name, she shall be thy wife." By these words of Indra the flame of love was fanned in the passionate* heart of the king and burst out into full blaze; as a fire when fanned by the wind. Indra then dismissed the king from heaven with all due honour in his own chariot, and he set out with Mátali † for his capital. But as he was starting, the Apsaras Tilottamá said to him out of affection, "King I have somewhat to say to thee, wait a moment." But he, thinking on Mrigávatí, went off without hearing what she said, then Tilottamá in her rage cursed him; "King, thou shalt be separated for fourteen years from her who has so engrossed thy mind that thou dost not hear my speech." Now Mátali heard that curse, but the king, yearning for his beloved, did not. In the chariot he went to Kauśámbi but in spirit he went to Ayodhyá. Then the king told with longing heart, all that he had heard from Indra with reference to Mrigávatí, to his ministers, Yogandhara and the others: and not being able to endure delay,he sent an ambassador to Ayodhyá to ask her father Kritavarman for the hand of that maiden. And Kritavarman having heard from the ambassador his commission, told in his joy the queen Kalávatí, and then she said to him- "King we ought certainly to give Mrigávatí to Sahasránika, and, I remember, a certain Bráhman told me this very thing in a dream"; then in his delight the king showed to the ambassador Mrigávatí's wonderful skill in dancing, singing, and other accomplishments, and her matchless beauty; so the king Kritavarman gave to Sahasráníka that daughter of his who was unequalled as a mine of graceful arts, and who shone like an incarnation of the moon; that marriage of Sahasráníka and Mrigávatí was one in which the good qualities of either party supplemented those of the other, and might be compared to the union of learning and intelligence.

Not long after sons were born to the king's ministers; Yogandhara had a son born to him named Yaugandharáyana; and Supratíka had a son born to him named Rumanvat. And to the king's master of the revels was born a son named Vasantaka. Then in a few days Mrigávatí became slightly pale and promised to bear a child to king Sahasráníka. And then she asked the king, who was never tired of looking at her, to gratify her longing by filling a tank full of blood for her to bathe in. Accordingly the king, who was a righteous man, in order to gratify her desire, had a tank filled with the juice of lac and other red extracts, so that it seemed to be full of blood. And while she was bathing in that lake, and cover,