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made up his mind to conquer his enemy, again confirmed him with his speech, and said to him— " If you really have made up your mind, then I will tell you this; it was I that on that occasion carried off your wives by magic, and I placed them in the under-world, thinking that thus you would set about your victorious expedition in an impetuous manner, for a fire does not of itself burn so fiercely, as it does when fanned by a breeze. So come, let us go to the under-world; I will shew you those wives of yours." When they heard that speech of Maya's, they all rejoiced, and they entered again by the same opening as before, and went to the fourth under-world, Maj r a leading the way. There Maya brought those wives of Súryaprabha's out of a dwelling-house, and delivered them over to him. Then Súryaprabha, after receiving those wives, and the others, the daughters of the Asuras, went by the advice of Maya to visit Prahláda. He, having heard from Maya that Súryaprabha had obtained boons, and being desirous of proving him, took up his weapon, and said with feigned anger as he bowed before him,— " I have heard, wicked one, that you have carried off the twelve maidens captured by my brother, so, I will slay you now; behold me." When. Súryaprabha heard that, he said to him, without changing countenance,—" My body is at your disposal; punish me, for I have acted improperly." When he said this, Prahláda laughed and said to him— " As far as I have tested you, you have not a drop of pride in you. Choose a boon, I am pleased with you." When Súryaprabha heard this, he consented, and chose as his boon devotion to his superiors and to Śiva. Then, all being satisfied, Prahláda gave to Súryaprabha a second daughter of his, named Yáminí, and that prince of the Asuras gave him two of his sons as allies. Then Súryaprabha went with all the rest into the presence of Amíla. He too was pleased on hearing that he had obtained the boons, and gave him Sukhávatí his second daughter, and two of his sons to help him. Then Súryaprabha remained there during those days, accompanied by his wives, inducing other kings of the Asuras to make common cause with him. And he heard, in the company of Maya and the others, that the three wives of Sunítha and his own wives, the daughters of the kings, had all become pregnant, and when asked what they longed for, they all said, to see that great battle, and the Asura Maya rejoiced at it, perceiving that the Asuras, who were slain in old time, had been conceived again in them— " This," said he, " is the cause of their desire."
So six days passed, but on the seventh Súryaprabha and the others, with their wives and all, set out from the under-world. Delusive portents, which their rivals displayed to impede them, were dissipated by Suvásakumára, who came when thought of. Then they anointed Ratnaprabha, the son of Chandraprabha, king of the earth, and ascended the chariot Bhútasana,*[1] and went all of them, by the advice of Maya, to a wood of asce-
- ↑ * I read samárúdha-Bhútásana-vimánakáh
