386
When the minister Vyághrasena had told this story on the bank of the lake to Mŗigankadatta, he went on to say to him, " This wonderful tale, prince, did the hermit Kanva relate to us in the hermitage, and at the end of the tale the compassionate man said to us, to comfort us, So, my sons, those who endure with resolute hearts terrible misfortunes hard to struggle through, attain in this way the objects they most desire; but those others, whose energies are paralysed by loss of courage, fail. Therefore abandon this despondency, and go on your way. Your master also, prince Mrigánkadatta, shall recover all his ministers, and shall long rule the earth, after having been united with Śaśánkavatí.' When that great hermit had said this to us, we plucked up courage, and spent the night there, and then set out from that hermitage, and in course of time reached this wood, travel-worn. And while here, being tortured with excessive thirst and hunger, we climbed up this tree sacred to Ganeśa, to get fruits, and we were ourselves turned into fruits, and we have now, prince, been released
from our fruit- transformation by your austerities. Such have been the
adventures of us four, during our separation from you*[1] brought about by
the curse of the Nága; and now that our curse is expired, advance, united with us all, towards the attainment of your object."
When Mrigánkadatta had heard all this from his minister Vyághrasena, he conceived hopes of obtaining Śasánkavatí, and so passed that night there.
- ↑ * I read śápopanite with the Sanskrit College MS.
