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of the minister Yaugandharáyana, who is expert in politic wiles; he, fearing that the king may become engrossed in pleasure, may throw impediments in your way in this business; or he may even bring a charge against you after your marriage is celebrated: but no, being virtuous, he will not bring a false accusation; nevertheless, my friend, you must at all events be on your guard against your rival wife, I will tell you a story illustrative of this, listen."
Story of Kadaligarbhá.:— There is in this land a city named Ikshumatí, and by the side of it there runs a river called by the same name; both were created by Viśvámitra. And near it there is a great forest, and in it a hermit of the name of Mankanaka had made himself a hermitage and performed penance with his heels upwards. And while he was performing austerities, he saw an Apsaras of the name of Menaká coming through the air, with her clothes floating on the breeze. Then his mind was bewildered by Cupid, who had found his opportunity, and there was born to him a daughter named Kadalígarbhá,*[1] beautiful in every limb. And since she was born in the interior of a plantain, her father, the hermit Mankanaka, gave her the name of Kadalígarbhá. She grew up in his hermitage like Kripí the wife of Drona, who was born to Gautama on his beholding Rambhá. And once on a time Dridhavarman, a king born in Madhyadeśa. †[2] who in the excitement of the chase was carried away by his horse, entered that hermitage. He beheld Kadalígarbhá clothed in garments of bark, having her beauty exceedingly set off by the dress appropriate to the daughter of an ascetic. And she, when seen, captivated the heart of that king so completely, that she left no room in it for the women of his harem. While thinking to himself— " Shall I be able to obtain as a wife this daughter of some hermit or other, as Dushyanta obtained Śakuntalá the daughter of the hermit Kanva?"— the king beheld that hermit Mankanaka coming with fuel and kuśa-gras. And leaving his horse, he approached him and worshipped at his feet, and when questioned, discovered himself to that hermit. Then the hermit gave the following order to Kadalígarbhá— " My dear child, prepare the arghya‡[3] for this king our guest." She said— " I will do so"— and bowing, prepared the hospitable offering, and then the king said to the hermit— " Whence did you obtain this maiden who is so beautiful?"— Then the hermit told the king the story of her birth, and her name
- ↑ * Hero there is a slight omission in my translation.
- ↑ † The country lying between the Himálayas on the north, the Vindhya mountains on the south, Vinaśana on the west and Prayága (Allahabad) on the east.
- ↑ ‡ A respectful offering to gods or venerable men of rice, dúrva-grass, flowers &c. with water.
