________________
JIYAKAN.
99
heart of the musical lady. Then he was given certain scented powders of their own manufacture by Gunamālai and Suramanjati and was asked to judge which was of strongerasmell. He decided in favour of the former who accepted him in marriage. After exhibiting his skill at metamorphosis, he tamed a rut elephant of the minister. Then he went on a travelling tour and met Padumai, a princess of the Palava kingdon, in a park in the agony of a venomous snake bite. At once Jīvakan showed his proficiency in the healing art and rescued her from death. As a mark of gratitude, the rescued lady married him. His next feat was doing wonders at Kema-māpuram and weddling a Vaisya girl, Kemasari. From Takkanadu he proceeded to Susanadesam, and there proved his skill in archery and wedded the princess Kanakamālai. Then he started on his travels, and reached . Thandaka-Aranian, where he met his mother and obtained her blessing. Returning to his own city, he fell in love with Vimalai, a merchant's daughter, and took her for wife. He then heard of Suramanjari's dejection and contempt for man and hastened to cure her melancholy. Wearing a mask he played Gita-natakam and so pleased her with his performance that she surrendered herself to him. They became man and wife. The next feat that awaited him was hitting at a target and winning the youngest daughter, Ilakkanai; of the king of Vidēham. Now the fame of Jīvakan spread