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day on the road with bis ministers at the foot of a certain tree. And he suddenly awoke, and got up, and looked about him, and beheld there
another man asleep. And when he uncovered his face, he recognised him
as his own minister Vichitrakatha, who had arrived there. And Vichitrakatha too woke up, and saw his master Mrigánkadatta, and joyfully embraced his feet. And the prince embraced him, with eyes wide open with delight at seeing him so unexpectedly, and all his ministers woke up and welcomed him. Then all in turn told him their adventures, and asked him to tell his, and Vichitrakatha began to relate his story as follows:
Story of Vichitrakatha'a adventures after his separation from the prince.:— At that time, when you were dispersed in all directions by the curse of Párávatáksha, I too in my bewilderment wandered about alone for a long time. And after I had roamed far, still unconscious, I suddenly reached in the course of the next day, when I was tired out, a great and heavenly town on the outskirts of the forest. There a godlike being, accompanied by two consorts, beheld me, and had me bathed with cool water, and restored my strength. And he made me enter his city, and carefully fed me with heavenly food, then he ate himself, and those two wives of his ate after him. And after the meal,*[1] being refreshed, I said to him, " Who are you, sir, and why have you thus saved the life of me who am resolved on death? For I must certainly abandon the body, as I have lost my master." When I had said this, I told him my whole story. Then that noble and kind being said to me, " I am a Yaksha, these are my wives, and you have come here to-day as my guest, and you know that it is the duty of householders to honour guests to the utmost of their power. I have accordingly welcomed you. But why do you wish to abandon the body ? For this separation of yours is due to the curse of a Nága, and will last only a short time. And you will certainly be all re-united, when the curse pronounced on you has spent its force. And reflect, my good man; who is born free from sorrow in this world? Hear what sorrow I have gone through, though I am a Yaksha."
Story of Śrídarśana.:— There is a city named Trigartá, the garland that adorns the head of this bride the earth, strung with virtues as with flowers.†[2] In it there lived a young Bráhman named Pavitradhara, who was himself poor in worldly wealth, but rich in relations, high birth, and other advantages. That high-spirited Bráhman, living in the midst of rich people, reflected,— " Though I live up to the rules of my caste, I do not cut a good figure in the midst of these rich people, like a word without meaning ‡[3]among the
