Kathasaritsagara 1.3.23.p1

1.3.23.p1

v -| - - v -| - -| % A pathyā
- -| -| - v| - v - % B correct
- v - v v -| - -| % C pathyā
v - -| v v - v - % D correct

not suppose that Somadeva took the pains to be exact here; but it is satisfactory to be made acquainted with the general impressions of a writer who has not been biassed in any of his views by Pauránik legends and preposterous chronology." duties of virtuous wives). Now in course of time the middle one of the three sisters gave birth to a son, and they all three vied with one another in love towards him. So it happened once upon a time that, as S'iva was roaming through the air, the mother of Skanda who was reposing on S'iva's breast, moved with compassion at seeing their love for their child, said to her husband, "My lord, observe, these three women feel great affection for this boy, and place hope in him, trusting that he may some day support them; therefore bring it about that he may be able to maintain them, even in his infancy." Having been thus entreated by his beloved, S'iva, the giver of boons, thus answered her: I adopt him as my protege, for in a previous birth he and his wife propitiated me, therefore he has been born on the earth to reap the fruit of his former austerities; and his former wife has been born again as Patala, the daughter of the king Mahendravarman, and she shall be his wife in this birth also. Having said this, that mighty god told those three virtuous women in a dream,—"This young son of yours shall be called Putraka; and every day when he awakes from sleep, a hundred thousand gold pieces shall be found under his pillow, and at last he shall become a king." Accordingly, when he woke up from sleep, those virtuous daughters of Yajnadatta found the gold and rejoiced that their vows and prayers had brought forth fruit. Then by means of that gold Putraka having in a short time accumulated great treasure, became a king, for good fortune is the result of austerities. Once upon a time Yajnadatta said in private to Putraka,—"King, your father and uncles have gone away into the wide world on account of a famine, therefore give continually to Brahmans, in order that they may hear of it and return: and now listen, I will tell you the story of Brahmadatta.