474
garlands flung; by the hands of the nymphs of heaven, falling on him, appeared like the Ganges spontaneously descending on his body with a full stream. Adorned with red unguent and valour, he appeared like the sun in the glory of rising, washed in the water of the sea.*[1]
And crowned with a garland of mandára flowers, resplendent with glorious raiment and ornaments, having donned a heavenly diadem, he wore the majesty of Indra. And queen Madanamanchuká, having been also anointed, glittered with heavenly ornaments at his side, like Śachí at the side of Indra.
And that day, though drums sounded like clouds, and flowers fell from the sky like rain, and though it was full †[2] of heavenly nymphs like lightning gleams, was, strange to say, a fair one. On that occasion, in the city of the chief of mountains, not only did beautiful Vidyádhara ladies dance, but creepers shaken by the wind danced also; and when cymbals were struck by minstrels at that great festival, the mountain seemed to send forth responsive strains from its echoing caves ; and covered all over with Vidyádharas moving about intoxicated with the liquor of heavenly cordials, it seemed to be itself reeling with wine; and Indra, in his chariot, having beheld the splendour of the coronation which has now been described, felt his pride in his own altogether dashed.
Naraváhanadatta, having thus obtained his long-desired inauguration as emperor, thought with yearning of his father. And having at one taken counsel with Gomukha and his other ministers, the monarch summoned Váyupatha and said to him, " Go and say to my father, ' Naraváhanadatta thinks of you with exceeding longing,' and tell him all that has happened, and bring him here, and bring his queens and his ministers too, addressing the same invitation to them." When Váyupatha heard this, he said " I will do so," and made for Kauśámbí through the air.
And he reached that city in a moment, beheld with fear and astonishment by the citizens, as he was encircled by seventy million Vidyádharas. And he had an interview with Udayana king of Vatsa, with his ministers
- ↑ * Cp. Holinshed's account of Richard II's coronation. " The Archbishop, having stripped him, first anointed his hands, after his head, breast, shoulders, and the joints of his arms, with the sacred oil, saying certain prayers, and in the meanwhile did the choir sing the anthem, beginning ' Unxerunt regem Salomonem.' The above quotation comes from the Clarendon Press Edition of King Richard II, p. 137, sub calcem.
- ↑ † I read vŗitam which appears to be the reading of the three India Office MSS. and of the Sanskrit College MS. It is clear enough in No. 2166. In śloka 85 I think that the reading of MS. No. 3003 nánŗityatkevalam yávad vátoddhútalatá api must be something near the truth, as yával in Brockhaus's text gives no meaning. (The Sanskrit College MS, gives Anŗityannaiva vátena dhutá yával latá api.) Of course the plural must be substituted for the singular. I have translated accordingly. Two MSS. have valgad for vallad in śl. 87.
