Page:The Tamils Eighteen Hundred Years Ago.djvu/189

Rh rains fail, men will die of famine: and the saying that the life of all human beings is the life of the king will prove to be untrue. Do not therefore seek to ruin a girl who has devoted herself to a religious life.” The goddess then entered Uva-vanam, and awaking Sutamati informed her "Be not afraid; I am the goddess Manimêkalai and I came to this city to witness the festival of Indra. As it is now time for your young companion Manimêkalai, to become a devotee of Buddha, I have removed her to the island of Mani-pallavam where she is quite safe at present. She will there come to know her former birth, and will return to this city on the seventh day. Though she may appear in disguise in this city, she will not forsake you, and many wonderful events will happen here on her return. Inform Mâthavi of my visit, and the holy path into which her daughter has been led. She knows me. Tell her that I am the goddess of the ocean, whose name was given to her daughter as desired by Kovilan. On the day on which the child was named after me, I appeared to Mâthavi in her dream, and told her that her daughter would grow into a most beautiful maiden, and that she would become most sincere and pious devotee.” Having said this, the goddess left her, and flying up in the air disappeared from her view. Grieved at the mysterious disappearance of Manimêkalai, Sutamati arose and quitting the park through the western gate, entered the wide portals of the adjacent monastery. As she went in and sat inside the gate, she heard with trembling and fear, a voice from one of the statues sculptured on the gateway, addressing her, “Thou Veerai, daughter of Ravi-varman and wife of King Duchchayan! Thou, who, killed thyself on hearing of the death of thy sister Thârai! Thou art now born as Sutamati, daughter of Kausikan of Champai, and come into this town with Mâruta-vekan. On the seventh day from this, your younger sister Lakshmi will return to this city at midnight, after knowing her previous birth.” Sutamati, half dead with fright, left the monastery at early down, and hastened to Mâthavi’s residence and related to her the strange occurrences of the previous day and Mathavi, who was ready dreadfully alarmed about the safety of her daughter swooned away, overwhelmed with grief.