Page:A Descriptive Catalogue of the Oriental Manuscripts, Vol. 2.djvu/63

This page needs to be proofread.

t 55 } and marry his daughter. On his way through tho pass called Karibhanta Kamava, &bvd with golden plumage led him to where he met Pundarikakshi, a maiden of the race of ogres, who had been pro- mised a youthful and handsome husband by Parvati when about to destroy herself in despair at being forced by her mother to marry Bomma Rakshasa, her brother. The young couple repaired to Pun* darikdkshi s bower, where the Ogress her mother nnelt a man, and thus discovered Karibhanta — a contest ensued, in which the human hero subdued both the old Ogress and her brother, and was only prevented from killing them by the intercession of his bride. The parties were then seemingly recon- ciled, and the m >ther presented her son in law with a haudso !>e anclet. Pundarikakshi however bus* pecting mischief removed this secretly from her husband's leg, and fastened it in the night on that of her uncle. The Ogress, when she thought all were asleep, proceeded in the dark to stab Karibhan* ta as he slept, ascertaining his identity as she sup* posed by the anclet, in consequence of which she killed her brother instead. Pundarikakshi know* ing that her mother's animosity would be now in* flamed by revenge, prevailed on her husband to con- tinue his journey, which he did and proceeded to Karur. When the Ogress discovered what she had done, she vowed to pursue Karibhanta through earth, heaven, and hell, and disguising herself as a .v