205
of various kinds, and drank pure cold water. Then Mukharaka was pleased, perceiving that he must be an incarnation of a divinity, as he was so rich in courage and might, and, desiring his own prosperity, be said to him, " You are some incarnation of a divinity, and this sister of mine Padmishthá is the greatest beauty in the world.so I now give her to you as a wife meet for you." When Śrídarśana heard that, be was delighted, and said to his friend, " I accept with joy this offer of yours which I have long desired. But when I reach my goal I will marry her in proper form." This be said to those two, and then passed the night in a joyful state of mind. And the next morning they all set out from that place, and reached in due course the city of that king Śrísena, the sovereign of Málava. And arriving tired, they immediately entered the house of an old Bráhman woman to rest. And in the course of conversation they told her their story and their names
and then they saw that the old woman was much disturbed, and when they
questioned her, she said to them:
" I am the well-born wife of a Bráhman here, named Satyavrata, who was a servant of the king's, and my name is Yaśasvatí. And after my husband died, the compassionate king gave me the fourth part of his salary to live upon, as I had not a son to support me. But now this moon of kings, though his virtues are great, and though he is generous enough to give away the whole world, has been seized by a consumption*[1] which the physicians cannot cure. And the drugs and charms of those skilled in such things do not prevail against it; but a certain enchanter made this promise in his presence, ' If I could only get a hero, equal to the task, to help me, I would certainly put an end to this illness by getting a Vetála into my power.' Then proclamation was made by beat of drum, but no such hero was found. Then the king gave the following order to his ministers; ' You must look out for some daring gambler, who comes to reside in the great and well-known asylum, which I built for such. For gamblers are reckless, abandoning wife and relations, fearless, sleeping at the foot of trees and in other exposed places, like ascetics.' "When the king gave this order to his ministers, they instructed to this effect the superintendent of the asylum, and he is now on the lookout for some brave man who may come there to reside awhile. Now you are gamblers, and if you, Śrídarśana, feel able to accomplish the undertaking, I will take you to-day to that asylum. And you will be well treated by the king, and you will confer a benefit on me, for grief is killing me."
When the old lady said this, Śrídarśana answered her, " Agreed ! I am able to accomplish this, so lead me quickly to that asylum." When she heard this, she took him, and Padmishțhá, and Mukharaka, to that asylum,
- ↑ * The moon suffers from consumption in consequence of the curse of Daksha, who was angry at his exclusive preference for Rohiní.
