His wife was called Sringârasundarî, and in her companionship he spent the hot season.
When the sun scorches: when the long days are unbearable: when the wind is the breath of a furnace: when everything is dried up or perishes through the heat. Sandalwood ointment: light clothing: refreshing drink: these things bringing coolness and delight conquer the heat. The heat is but a slave to those who at midday anoint them- selves with the sandal, who bathe at evening, whose nights are tempered by the wind of the fans.
There was a merchant in the town called Chandana, and he and his wife Prabhâvatî, passed the hot season on the roof of their house.
Even the sun supported in the heaven by his rays, descends into the ocean when his day is done. For it has been said —
" When fate is hostile it is useless to try and reach greatness ! "
Even the thousand rays cannot support the sun when his time for setting is come. Then the sun, sunk low in the heaven, his brilliancy departed, shines like a piece of coral: and presently the wide- eyed moon comes forward and takes up his place, rising over the Eastern mountain, accompanied by the myriads of stars, to kill the darkness. The moon standing with her head above the Eastern
