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makings of the citizens, who danced without restraint in honour of the spring-festival. And he enjoyed with the Apsarases delights fitted for gods; wherever the virtuous go, their good fortunes precede them.
After remaining there for four days thus occupied, Naraváhanadatta said to those sons of gods his friends; " I now wish to go to my own city, being anxious to behold my father;*[1] so come you also to that city and bless it with a visit." When they heard that, they said: " We have seen you, the choicest jewel in that town; what more do we require? But when you have obtained the sciences of the Vidyádharas, you must not forget us." With these words they dismissed him, and Naraváhanadatta said to Mátali, who brought him the splendid chariot of Indra; " Take me to the city of Kauśámbí by a course leading past that lovely lake, on the bank of which I left Gomukha and the others." Mátali consented, and the prince ascended the chariot with the Apsarases, and reached that lake, and saw Gomukha and the others, and said to them, " Come quickly by your own way, I will tell you all when I get home." Having said this, he went to Kauśámbí in the chariot of Indra. There he descended from heaven, and dismissed Mátali after honouring him, and entered his own palace accompanied by those Apsarases. And leaving them there, he went and prostrated himself before the feet of his father, who was delighted at his arrival, and also of Vásavadattá and Padmávatí, and they welcomed him, and their eyes were never satisfied with gazing on him. And in the meanwhile Gomukha came, riding on the chariot, with the charioteer, and that Bráhman Pralambabáhu. Then, being questioned by his father, Naraváhanadatta related in the presence of all his ministers his very wonderful adventures. And all said " God grants to that virtuous man, whom he wishes to favour, association with good friends." When all said this, the king was pleased, and ordered a festival for his son on account of the favour which Vishnu had shewed towards him. And he and his wives saw those Apsarases his daughters-in-law, obtained by the favour of Vishnu, whom Gomukha brought to fall at his feet, Devarupá, and Devarati, and Devamálá, and the fourth Devapriyá, whose names he enquired by the mouth of their maids. And the city of Kauśámbi, making festival, appeared as if scattering red paint with its waving scarlet banners, as much as to say: "What am I that Apsarases should dwell in me? Blessed am I that the prince Naraváhanadatta has made me a heavenly city upon earth." And Naraváhanadatta, after he had rejoiced the eyes of his father, visited his other wives, who were anxiously awaiting him, and they, who had been emaciated by those four days, as if they were four years, exulted, relating the various woes of their separation. And Gomukha described the valour of Pralambabáhu, while he
- ↑ * Darśana utsukah should probably be read here for the sake of the metre.
