440
That hermit made him dwell for seven days in the serpent-lake, and ordered him to perform austerities for three days in the midst of the tire. And he gave him the bewildering power when he had endured for seven days the bite of the snakes, and the counteracting power when he had resisted for three days the force of the fire.*[1] And when he had obtained these sciences, that hermit ordered him again to enter the fire-cavity, and he consented and did it. And immediately there was bestowed on Súryaprabha a chariot in the form of a white lotus, that moved at the will of the possessor, and travelled through the air, which was furnished with a hundred and eight wings, and the same number of dwellings, and constructed of precious jewels of various kinds. And a voice from heaven addressed that resolute one,— " You have obtained this chariot suitable for an emperor, and you must place your wives in all these dwellings, in order that they may be safe from your enemies." Then he, bending low, addressed this petition to his preceptor Yájnavalkya— " Tell me what fee I am to pay." The hermit answered him— " Remember me at the time when you are anointed emperor, this in itself will be sufficient fee; in the meanwhile go to your army." Then he bowed before that hermit, and ascended that chariot, and went to his army, that was encamped in the place where Sumeru dwelt. There he told his story, and Maya and the others, with Sunítha and Sumeru, congratulated him, now that he had obtained a magic chariot.
Then Sunítha called to mind that Suvásakumára, and he came and said to Maya and the others, with the kings; " Súryaprabha has obtained a chariot and all the magic sciences; so why do you even now remain indifferent about conquering your enemies?" When Maya heard that, he said, " Reverend sir, you have spoken rightly, but first let an ambassador be sent, and let policy be employed." When Maya said this, the hermit's son said— " So be it ! What harm can this do? Let this Prahasta be sent. He is discerning, eloquent, and understands the nature of business and occasions, and he is stem and enduring, he possesses all the qualities of an ambassador." All approved this speech of his, and after giving Prahasta instructions, they sent him off as ambassador to Śrutaśarman.
When he had gone, Súryaprabha said to all his followers,— " Hear the strange wonderful vision that I have had— I remember, I saw toward the end of last night, that we were all carried away by a great stream of water, and while we were swept away, we kept dancing, we did not sink at all. Then that stream was turned back by a contrary breeze. Then a certain man of fiery brightness drew us out, and threw us into the fire, and we were not burned by the fire. Then a cloud rained a stream of blood, and that blood filled the whole sky, then my sleep came to an
- ↑ * In the MS. lent me from the Sanskrit College I find sodháhidanśasya and visodhavahneś.
