Page:The Dravidian Nights Entertainments.djvu/72

person as my father and will ask me the reason of it. I shall then praise all your kindness to me. He will be highly pleased at it and send for you several serpent-servants with palanquin on their heads; you had better come down in it and see my father. He will respect you highly for all your cares over me and give you a grand feast. Then he will request you to speak to me and make me stay in the nether world (Pâtálalóka.) You shall then do so and make me consent. For I will make up my mind to stop with my father only. But Adsêsha thinking that by your recommendation I was made to stay there, will be highly pleased with you and ask you to demand any presents from him. You had better then request him to give you his ring which he will do full willingly. By that ring you will accomplish wonders in the world to you and to others. If you only put it on your finger and, extolling Paramêsvara, think of what you want, that will be instansly before you." Thus advising the prince, the son of the serpent-king, himself anxious to see his father, went to the nether world. Every thing occurred there as was already prophesied by the serpent. The prince who protected him for twelve years was invited to that world, was feasted grandly, was requested to use his influence to make the son serpent to stay there and was presented with the ring on his having successfully accomplished his act. Giving out