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of their former existence, and this made them abandon that body and
become Yakshinís. Know that we are those wives of yours, and you are
that Díptaśikha." When Śrídarśana had been thus addressed by them, he
remembered his former birth, and immediately became the Yaksha Díptaśikha, and was again duly united to those two wives of his.
" Know therefore, Vichitrakatha, that I am that Yaksha, and that these wives of mine are Jyotirlekhá and Dhúmalekhá. So, if creatures of godlike descent, like myself, have to endure such alternations of joy and sorrow, much more then must mortals. But do not be despondent, my son, for in a short time you shall be reunited to your master Mrigánkadatta. And I remained here to entertain you, for this is my earthly dwelling, so stay here, 1 will accomplish your desire. Then I will go to my own home in Kailása." When the Yaksha had in these words told me his story, he entertained me for some time. And the kind being, knowing that you had arrived here at night, brought me and laid me asleep in the midst of you who were asleep. So I was seen by you, and you have been found by me. This, king, is the history of my adventures during my separation from you.
When prince Mrigánkadatta had heard at night this tale from his minister Vichitrakatha, who was rightly named,*[1] he was much delighted, and so were his other ministers.
So, after he had spent that night on the turf of the forest, he went on with those companions of his towards Ujjayiní, having his mind fixed on obtaining Śaśánkavatí, and he kept searching for those other companions of his, who were separated by the curse of the Nága, and whom he had not yet found.
CHAPTER LXXIV.
Then Mrigánkadatta, as he gradually travelled along in the Vindhya forest, accompanied by those ministers, Śrutadhi and the four others, reached a wood, which was refreshing with the shade of its goodly fruit-laden trees, and in which there was a tank of very pure sweet cold water. He bathed in it with his ministers and ate many fruits, and lo ! he suddenly thought that he heard conversation in a place shut in with creepers. So he went and looked into that bovver of creepers, and "he saw inside it a great elephant, which was refreshing a blind way-worn man by throwing over him showers of water from his trunk, by giving him fruits, and
- ↑ * The word may mean "man of romantic anecdote."
