Hindoo Tales | Page 8

city in view.
Here they stopped, and Matanga begging the prince to watch and guard
against interruption, collected a quantity of wood and lighted a large
fire, into which he threw himself with many charms and incantations,
and presently came forth with a new body full of youth, beauty, and
vigour, to the great astonishment of his companion.
Hardly was this change effected, when they saw coming towards them
from the city a procession, headed by a beautiful young lady splendidly
dressed, and adorned with very costly jewels. Approaching Matanga,
she made a low obeisance, and, without speaking, put a very precious
gem into his hand. Being questioned by him, she answered, with tears
in her eyes and in a soft musical voice, "O excellent brahman, I am the
daughter of a chief of Asuras, and my name is Kalindí; my father, the
ruler of this subterranean world, was slain by Vishnu whom he had
offended, and as he had no son, I was left his heir and successor, and
suffered great distress and perplexity.
"Some time ago I consulted a very holy Siddha, who had compassion
on me, and told me, 'After a time, a certain mortal, having a heavenly
body, will come down here from the upper world; he will become your
husband, and reign prosperously with you over all Pâtâla'.
"Trusting to this prophecy, I have waited impatiently, longing for your
coming as a Châtaka longs for rain, and am now come, with the
consent of my ministers and people, to offer you my hand and
kingdom."
Matanga, delighted at such a speedy fulfilment of the promise given in
the vision, gladly accepted her offer, and with the approbation of his
companion, was soon afterwards married to her amid great festivity.
Râjavâhana was treated with great respect and kindness by Matanga
and his bride; but after seeing all the wonders of the place, his curiosity

was satisfied, and he was desirous of returning to the upper world.
At his departure, a magic jewel was given him by Kalindí, which had
the power of keeping off from the possessor of it hunger, thirst, fatigue,
and other discomforts; and Matanga accompanied him for a part of the
way. Walking through darkness as before, the prince at last reached the
mouth of the cavern and came forth into the open air.
Having missed all his companions, he was uncertain where to direct his
steps, and wandered on till he came to a large park, outside a city,
where a great concourse of people was assembled, and he there sat
down to rest.
As he sat watching the various groups, he saw a young man enter the
park, accompanied by a lady and followed by a numerous retinue, and
they both got into one of the swings placed there for the amusement of
the festal crowd.
Presently the eye of the new-comer rested on the prince; with signs of
great joy he jumped down, exclaiming, "O what happiness! That is my
lord Râjavâhana," and, running to him, bowed down to his feet, saying
"Great is my good fortune in meeting you again." Râjavâhana, affected
by equal pleasure, warmly embraced him, saying, "O my dear friend
Somadatta, how happy I am to see you once more!"
Then they sat down together under a shady tree, and the prince inquired:
"What have you been doing all this time? Where have you been? Who
is this lady? And how did you get all these attendants?" Somadatta,
thus questioned, began the recital of what he had done and seen.
* * * * *

ADVENTURES OF SOMADATTA.
My lord, having great anxiety on your account, I wandered about in
various countries. One day, when stooping to drink from a cool, clear
stream, near a forest, I saw something bright under the water, and

having taken it up, found it to be a ruby of very great value.
Exhausted by fatigue and the scorching heat of the sun, I went into a
small temple to rest, and saw there a brahman with a number of
children, all looking wretched and half-starved. He seemed to regard
me as a possible benefactor, and when questioned, readily told me his
story; how his wife had died, leaving him with the care of all these
children, and how, having no means of subsistence, he had wandered
about in the hope of obtaining some employment; but had got nothing
better than the charge of this small temple, where the offerings were not
sufficient to support him and his family.
I asked him--"What is that camp which I see at some distance?"
He answered--"The Lord of Lâta, Mattakâla by name, hearing again
and again of the great beauty of Vâmalochana, daughter of Víraketu,
sovereign of this country, asked her in marriage, and was