Page:The Tamils Eighteen Hundred Years Ago.djvu/201

Rh therefore to watch her conduct further and concealed himself in a dark corner of the temple. Udaya-kumara was now convinced that Manimêkalai herself was in the disguise of Kaya-chandikai, but could not understand why Kanchanan dogged her steps, and he too made up his mind to observe their behaviour at night. He returned therefore quietly to his palace and at midnight came out alone and entered the temple. The perfumes on his person however spread through the temple and revealed his presence to Kanchanan who was awake. Finding that it was the Prince who stole into the temple at that late hour, his worst fears regarding his wife’s constancy were confirmed. He got up wild with jealousy and drawing his sword beheaded the Prince upon the spot. He then attempted to enter the room where Manimêkalai was asleep; but a voice from one of the images warned him not to enter the apartment. It said, “Your wife Kaya-chandikai, cured of her disease, went in search of you and died on the Vindhya hills. Although Udaya-kumara has now paid his life as a penalty for his former sins, you have committed a great sin in murdering him, and the effect of this sin will not leave you.” Hearing these words, Kanchanan left the temple gloomy and disheartened. Manimêkalai who had awoke and overheard the words of warning uttered by the spirit, rushed out of her room, crying in tones of deep anguish, “Oh my beloved! for whom I mounted the funeral pyre, when you died of a snake-bite in your former birth; for whom my heart yearned when I saw you first in the Uva-vana: for whom I assumed the disguise of Kaya-chandikai to instruct you in wisdom and to lead you in the path of virtue. Alas! have you fallen a victim to the sword of the jealous Vidyadhara?” Crying thus, she was about to approach the corpse of her lover, when she heard the voice of the same spirit cautioning her, "Don’t go, don’t go, young maiden!” said the spirit. “He was your husband and you were his wife in many former births. Do not give way to your passions, you who seek release from the prison house of re-births!”

“I worship thee, wise spirit!” said Manimêkalai, "knowest thou why he was bitten by a snake in his former birth, and