Kathasaritsagara 4.2.85

looking like a second daughter of the king of the snowy mountains, devoted to the service of Siva while in her girl-hood. And the Śavara, when he saw her, being overpowered with wonder, reflected—— " Who can this be? If she is a mortal woman, why does she ride upon a lion? On the other hand, if she is divine, how can she be seen by such as me? So she must certainly be the incarnate development of the merits of my eyes in a former birth. If I could only marry my friend to her, then I should have bestowed upon him a new and wonderful recompense. So I had better first approach her to question her." Thus reflecting, my friend the Śavara advanced to meet her. In the meanwhile she dismounted from the lion, that lay down in the shade, and advancing began to pick the lotuses of the lake. And seeing the Śavara, who was a stranger, coming towards her and bowing, out of a hospitable feeling she gratified him with a welcome. And she said to him " Who are you, and why have you come to this inaccessible land?" Thereupon the Śavara answered her, " I am a prince of the Śavaras, who regard the feet of Bhavání as my only refuge, and I am come to this wood to get pearls from the heads of elephants. But when I beheld you just now, O goddess, I called to mind my own friend that saved my life, the son of a merchant prince, the auspicious Vasudutta. For he, O fair one, is, like you, matchless for beauty and youth, a very fount of nectar to the eyes of this world.

looking like a second daughter of the king of the snowy mountains, devoted to the service of Siva while in her girl-hood. And the Śavara, when he saw her, being overpowered with wonder, reflected—— " Who can this be? If she is a mortal woman, why does she ride upon a lion? On the other hand, if she is divine, how can she be seen by such as me? So she must certainly be the incarnate development of the merits of my eyes in a former birth. If I could only marry my friend to her, then I should have bestowed upon him a new and wonderful recompense. So I had better first approach her to question her." Thus reflecting, my friend the Śavara advanced to meet her. In the meanwhile she dismounted from the lion, that lay down in the shade, and advancing began to pick the lotuses of the lake. And seeing the Śavara, who was a stranger, coming towards her and bowing, out of a hospitable feeling she gratified him with a welcome. And she said to him " Who are you, and why have you come to this inaccessible land?" Thereupon the Śavara answered her, " I am a prince of the Śavaras, who regard the feet of Bhavání as my only refuge, and I am come to this wood to get pearls from the heads of elephants. But when I beheld you just now, O goddess, I called to mind my own friend that saved my life, the son of a merchant prince, the auspicious Vasudutta. For he, O fair one, is, like you, matchless for beauty and youth, a very fount of nectar to the eyes of this world.