Page:The Tamils Eighteen Hundred Years Ago.djvu/200

Rh “I am the daughter of a Vidyadhara,” replied the maiden, “I have lived in this city for some time past. This cup which was given to me by a goddess has wonderful properties. It has cured insatiable hunger; and it will feed any number of people. May Your Majesty prosper for ever.”

“What can I do for the young maiden,” enquired the king pleased with her demeanour.

Emboldened by the king’s courteous enquiry, she said, “Let the City Jail be assigned for a public charity hall, may thou be blessed for ever!”

The monarch graciously acceded to her prayer. The prisoners were set free and Buddhist monks occupied the prison and used it as a charity hall and hospital. These news soon reached the ears of Udaya-kumara who was still infatuated with the love of Manimêkalai. He determined now to seize her wherever she may be found outside the monastery, and to convey her to his palace in his chariot. With this intention, he entered the monastery. Kanchanan, the husband of Kaya-chandikai, who had in the meantime come to Pukar in search of his wife, found Manimêkalai in the disguise of Kaya-chandikai, and believing her to be his own wife, he went up to her and fondly asked whether she had been cured of her disease, and wondered from which God she had obtained the miraculous cup. But Manimêkalai did not care to converse with him: she met prince Udayakumara however, and to him she addressed a few words of wisdom. “Mark this aged matron, thou Prince!” said she pointing to an old woman “her tresses which were once raven black are now turned grey: her shining forehead is now wrinkled: her arched brows are now shrunk like dry shrimps: the eyes bright as the lotus are now dim and dropping rheum: her pearl-like teeth are now decayed and lustreless: her coral lips have lost their colour: such is woman’s beauty” she spoke in this strain and tried to turn the prince’s thoughts from the fleeting objects of worldly desire, to things of eternal moment for his spiritual welfare. Kaya-chandikai’s husband, who followed Manimêkaiai, was fired with jealousy at seeing his wife indifferent to himself, but anxious to engage the attention of the prince. He resolved