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account, but was rather pleased at it. Thereupon the king was delighted, thinking that she was really attached to him, but his minister Anantaguna, who was with him, said to him in secret: " Your majesty, hetœrœ are not to be depended upon, though, I must confess, I cannot guess the reason why Kumudiká shews you love." When the king heard this speech of his, he answered him: " Do not speak thus; Kumudiká would even lay down her life for my sake. If you do not believe it, I will give you a convincing proof." After the king had said this to his minister, he adopted this artifice; he took little to eat and little to drink, and so gradually attenuated his body, and at last he made himself as dead, without movement, prostrate on the ground. Then his attendants put him on a bier, and carried him to the burning-ghat with lamentations, while Anantaguna affected a grief which he did not feel. And Kumudiká, out of grief, came and ascended the funeral pyre with him, though her relations tried to prevent her. But before the fire was lighted, the king, perceiving that Kumudiká had followed him, rose up with a yawn. And all his attendants took him home with Kumudiká to his lodging, exclaiming, "Fortunate is it that our king has been restored to life."
Then a feast was made, and the king recovered his normal condition, and said in private to his minister,— " Did you observe the devotion of Kumudika?" Then the minister said,— "I do not believe even now. You may be sure that there is some reason for her conduct, so we must wait to get to the bottom of the matter. But let us reveal to her who we are, in order that we may obtain a force granted by her, and another force supplied by your ally, and so smite our enemies in battle." While he was saying this, the spy, that had been secretly sent out, returned, and when questioned, answered as follows; " Your enemies have overrun the country, and queen S^a^ilekha, having heard from the people a false report of your majesty's death, has entered the fire." When the king heard this, he was smitten by the thunderbolt of grief, and lamented— " Alas ! my queen ! Alas, chaste lady !"
Then Kumudiká at last came to know the truth, and after consoling the king Vikramasinha, she said to him; " Why did not the king give me the order long ago? Now punish your enemies with my wealth and my forces." When she said this, the king augmented the force by means of her wealth, and repaired to a powerful king who was an ally of his. And he marched with his forces and those forces of his own, and after killing those five enemies in battle, he got possession of their kingdoms into the bargain. Then he was delighted, and said to Kumudiká who accompanied him; " I am pleased with you, so tell me what I can do to gratify you." Then Kumudiká said— " If you are really pleased, my lord, then extract from my heart this one thorn that has long remained there. I have an affection for a Bráhman's son, of the name of Śrídhara, in Ujjayiní, whom the king has
