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quiet during the night, without making an attack. And in the" camp of
Mŗigánkadatta Máyávațu and the other kings passed the night under arms, by the advice of Śrutadhi.
And next morning the sagacious king Karmasena found out the real state of the case, and sent off an ambassador to the kings in the camp of Mŗigánkadatta, and he instructed the ambassador to give this message by word of mouth, " Mŗigánkadatta has carried off my daughter by a stratagem; never mind that; for what other man would be as suitable a match for her? So now let him come to my palace, and do you come too, in order that I may celebrate my daughter's marriage with appropriate ceremonies."*[1] And the kings and Śrutadhi approved of this proposal, †[2] and said to the ambassador, " Then let your master retire to his own city, and we will ourselves go and bring the prince there." When the ambassador heard that proposal, he went and reported it to his master, and Karmasena agreed to it, and left for Ujjayiní with his army. "When the kings saw that, they went, with Máyávațu at their head, and accompanied by Śrutadhi, to Mŗigánkadatta.
And in the meanwhile Mŗigánkadatta, with Śaśánkavatí, had reached the palace of Máyávațu in the city of Kánchanapura. There the queens of Máyávațu welcomed him, and his companions, and his beloved, with becoming hospitality, and he rested there with them, having successfully accomplished his object. And the next day the kings came there with Śrutadhi; the heroic king of the Kirátas Śaktirakshita with his army, and the mighty king Máyávațu leader of the śavaras, and the hero Durgapiśácha lord of the host of the Mátangas; and all of them, when they beheld Mŗigánkadatta united to Śaśánkavatí like the white water-lily to the night, rejoiced and congratulated him. And after they had shewn him the honour he deserved, they told him the message of Karmasena, and how he had gone to his own palace.
Then Mŗigánkadatta, having established there his camp, that was like a moving city, sat down with them all to take counsel. And he said to the kings and to his ministers, " Tell me; shall I go to Ujjayiní to be married, or not?" And they with one accord gave the following answer, " That king is a villain; so how can a visit to his palace turn out well? ‡[3] Moreover, there is no need of it, as his daughter has arrived here." Then Mŗigánkadatta said to the Bráhman Śrutadhi, " Why do you remain silent,
