472
mountain for tho grout ceremony of your coronation," and thereupon
Duvamáya also said to him, " King, you must indeed do so, for the emperors of old time, Rishabhaka and others, were anointed, *[1] on that mountain.' When Hariśikha heard that, he spoke in favour of Naraváhanadatta's being anointed emperor on the splendid mountain of Mandara, which was near; but then a voice came from heaven, "King, all former emperors went through the ceremony of their coronation on the Rishabha mountain; do you also go there, for it is a holy place." †[2] When the heavenly voice said
this, Naraváhanadatta bowed before the hermits and Akampana, and set out thence for that mountain on an auspicious day. And he reached that northern opening of the cave of Triśirsha, with many great chiefs of the Vidyádharas headed by Amitagati. There the emperor worshipped that
Kálarátri, and entered the cave by that opening, and came out by the southern opening. And after he had come out with his forces, he rested, at Devamáya's request, in his palace for that day, together with his attendants.
And while he was there, he reflected that Śiva was near him on that mountain of Kailása, and he went of his own accord, with Gomukha, to visit the god. And when he reached his hermitage, he saw and adored the cow Surabhi and the sacred bull, and approached Nandin the door-keeper. And Nandin was pleased when the king circumambulated him, and opened the door to him, and then he entered and beheld Śiva accompanied by Devi. The god diffused gladness afar by the streams of rays from the moon on bis crest, that seemed to dart hither and thither as if conquered by the splendour of Gaurí's face. He was playing with his beloved with dice, that, like eyes, were allowed at will to pursue their objects independently, that, though under his command, were ever restlessly rolling. And when Naraváhanadatta saw that giver of boons, and that goddess the daughter of the Mountain, he fell at their feet, and circumambulated them three times. The god said to him, " It is well, my son, that thou hast come hither; for otherwise thou mightest have suffered loss. But now all thy magic powers shall ever be unfailing. So go thou to the Rishabha mountain, that holy place, and obtain there at once in fitting time thy great inauguration." When the emperor had received this command from the god, he hastened to obey it, exclaiming " I will do thy will," and bowed before him and his wife and returned to that palace of Devamáya. The queen Madanamanchuká playfully said to him on his return, " Where have you been, my husband? You appear to be pleased. Have you managed to pick up here another set of five maidens?" When she made use of these playful taunts, the prince
