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Súryaprabha, for site cannot be given to Sunítha because she belongs to the same family; but Súryaprabha is his son in his birth as a king, not in his birth as an Asura, and any honour paid to his son will be paid to him.' When my friend heard this speech of her father's, her mind being attracted by your virtues, she came here out of a curiosity to see you." When that friend of the lady's said this, Súryaprabha pretended to be asleep in order to discover the real object of her wish. The maiden slowly approached the sleepless Prahasta, and after telling him all by the mouth of her friend, went out. And Prahasta advanced towards Súryaprabha and said— " King, are you awake or not?" And he, opening his eyes, said to him, " My friend, I am awake, for how could I sleep to-day being alone? But I will tell you a strange fact; listen, for what can I hide from you? I saw a moment ago a maiden enter here with her friend; her equal is not beheld in these three worlds. And she departed in a moment, taking my heart with her. So look for her at once, for she must be somewhere hereabout." When Súryaprabha said this to him, Prahasta went out, and seeing the maiden there with her friend, he said to her— " I, to please you, have again woke up my master here, so you, to please me, must once more grant him an interview. Behold once more his form that gives satisfaction to your eyes,*[1] and let him, who was overpowered by you as soon as he saw you, behold you again. For when he woke up, he said to me speaking of you, ' Bring her from some place or other, and shew her to me, otherwise I cannot survive.' Then I came to you, so come and behold him yourself." When she was thus addressed by Prahasta, she hesitated to go in boldly, owing to the modesty natural to a maiden, and reflected, and then Prahasta, seizing her hand, led her into the presence of Súryaprabha. And Súryaprabha, when he saw that Kalávatí had come near him, said— " Fair one, was this right of you to come in to-day and steal away my heart, as you did, when I was asleep ? So, thief, I will not leave you unpunished to-day." When her sly friend heard this, she said to him; " Since her father knew of it before, and determined to assign this thief to you for punishment, who can forbid you to punish her. Why do you not inflict on her to your heart's content the punishment due for thieving?" When Súryaprabha heard that, he wanted to embrace her, but Kalávatí being modest, said, " Do not, my husband, I am a maiden." Then Prahasta said to her; " Do not hesitate, my queen, for the Gándharva marriage is the best of all marriages in the world." When Prahasta had said this, he went out with all the rest, and Súryaprabba that very moment made Kalávatí, the maiden of the under-world, his wife.
- ↑ * I read paśyásya rúpam. This gives a better sense. It is partly supported by a MS. in the Sanskrit College. The same MS. in the next line reads tvám tu paśyati chaiko'pi— I read tvám tu paśśyatu chaisho'pi.
