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father's ministers, who loved his good qualities. And then he honoured all his subjects, who made high festival ; and on a lucky day he gave to Śankhadatta the kingdom of Láța. And he sent him to the territory of Láța, escorted by a force composed of natives of that country; and he gave villages and wealth to Akshakshapanaka and his fellows, and he remained surrounded by them, ruling his ancestral realm, with that queen Hansávalí, the daughter of the king of Láța. And, in course of time, he conquered the earth, and carried off the daughters of kings, and became exclusively addicted to the enjoyment of their society. And he devolved his duties on his ministers, and amused himself with the women of his harem, and never left its precincts, being engrossed with drinking and other vices.
Then, one day, the hermit Uttanka came of his own accord to visit him, as if he were the time of accomplishment of the previous decree of Śiva. And when the hermit came to the door, the king, being blinded with passion, intoxication, and the pride of sovereignty, would not listen, though the warders announced his arrival. Then the hermit was angry, and denounced this curse on the king, " O man blinded with intoxication, you shall fall from your throne, and become a wild elephant." When the king heard that, fear dispelled his intoxication, and he went out, and prostrating himself at the foot of the hermit, began to appease him with humble words. Then the anger of the great sage was calmed, and he said to him, " King, you must become an elephant, that decree cannot be altered; but when you shall have relieved a minister of Mrigánkadatta's, named Prachandaśakti, afflicted with the curse of a Nága and blinded, who shall become your guest, and shall tell him your story, you shall be delivered from this curse; and you shall return to the state of a Gandharva, as Śiva foretold to you, and then that guest of yours shall recover the use of his eyes." When the hermit Uttanka had said this, he returned as he came, and Bhímabhața was hurled from his throne, and became an elephant.
" So know, my friend, that I am that very Bhímabhața, become an elephant, and you are Prachandaśakti; I know that my curse is now at an end." When Bhímabhața had said this, he abandoned the form of an elephant, and at once became a Gandharva of heavenly might. And immediately Prachandaśakti recovered, to his intense delight, the use of his eyes, and looked upon that Gandharva there. And in the meanwhile the discreet Mrigánkadatta, who had heard their conversation from the bower of creepers, with his other ministers, having discovered that it was indeed his friend, rushed quickly and impetuously forth, and threw his arms round the neck of his minister Prachandaśakti. And Prachandaśakti looked at him, and feeling as if his body had been irrigated with a sudden flood of nectar, immediately embraced the feet of his lord.
Then the Gandharva Bhímabhața comforted those two, who were
