Page:The Tamils Eighteen Hundred Years Ago.djvu/193

Rh yet it will ever be full. You may learn further about it from the venerable Buddhist Abbot of your native city.”

Manimêkalai gladly accompanied Deeva-thilakai, to the tank Gomuki, and as soon as she reverently came round it, and stood near the edge, the alms-bowl sprung out of the water and entered her hands. Overjoyed at this miracle, Manimêkalai praised the Buddha’s sacred feet which were conspicuous by the side of the tank, under the shade of a Bodhi tree. Taking leave of Deeva-thilakai Manimêkalai quitted the island, carrying the alms-bowl in her hand and ascending into the air, flew through the sky and descended at Kavirippaddinam, in the presence of her mother, who was counting the days of her separation and anxiously awaiting her arrival. To her mother, and her friend Sutamati, who received her with joy, she related her adventures. “I worship your feet,” said she at last, “you who were my elder sisters in our former birth, when we were born as the daughters of Amutapti, who was the wife of king Duchchaya and daughter of king Ravivarman. You hall, under the guidance of the reverend Abbot of this city, be able to lead a pure life.” She then went to the residence of the Buddhist Abbot accompanied by Mâthavi and Sutamati.

They approached the grey-headed old monk, and bowing thrice at his feet, Manimêkalai introduced herself, and recounted to him all that had transpired from her meeting with Udayakumara at Uva-vana up to her return from Manipallavam. His aged face brightened, and he seemed hardly able to contain his joy. “I met Duchchayan, king of Kachchayam, again, on my way to the sacred hill of Buddha,” said he with trembling accents, “and enquired after the welfare of his queens. He wept bitterly and said that Veerai having gone in front of a wild elephant, newly caught, was killed by that animal, and Târai who loved her sister dearly, unable to bear her loss, died by throwing herself from a lofty terrace. How wonderful! Like actors who change their dress and appear again on the stage in new characters, you are re-born and appear before me in your present bodies.”

“Listen, thou maiden!” he continued, “to the history of Aputra, whose alms-bowl thou carriest. There was a teacher of