________________
158
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY,
[June, 1907.
The jewel fell into the sca; I endeavoured to get it up, and the sea shut me off by a great wave (tarangahastenakarira) from return to the air and drew me with a great roaring into the depths of the nether world. As I wandered about in astonishment here, I saw a maiden, who carried the jewel in her hand, and was aboat to enter an ascetic grove. As the maiden, in spite of my repeated entreaties, would not give up my wife's diadem, I wrenched from her neck little jewel ornaments27 in the form of foot-prints of the lore-god upon which the Makara was carved." At the maiden's cries a Muni appeared, cursed me, and, as a punishment for my monkey-like trick, changed me into a monkey. Later the Muni was softened and decreed that I should again receive my former shape on the day when the son of Sojaka (i. e., Sindhuraja) should lay the bracelet of Narmad& in my hand before the eyes of the Mini Vanku. - Thas to-day, in thy grove, after I bave spent a thousand years as a monkey in the nether world, the curse has fallen from me by the king's act.
The grateful Vidyadhara prince Sasikaņda caused his troops to appear in order that they might help the king in his progress against the Asura Vajrahkusa.
Fourteenth sarga (Patalagang doaydhanım). The king departs from Vanka's grove with his comrade's army. The king's war chariot is lifted into the air by Sasikanda's magic. In a long speech addressed to the king (vv. 7-76) the minister Ramangada describes the progress of the army. First a wood is reached, then the Trimârgaga (the Ganga). On the shore of the Ganga Sasikanda Causes a halt to be made and camp pitched, and the king enters a pleasure-house, whicb bad been built for him of crystal.
In the fifteenth harga 30 love 'plays - especially the jalakrida -are described as in the eighth sarga of the Sisupalavadha.
Sixteenth sarga (kan aktravindaprarthanam). Påtalâ appears and hands to the king (who enguires after the health of Sasiprabha and her friends) a love letter (anangalolcha) from Sasiprabhá, written by Milyavati. After Romangada has read out this letter, the king sends Patalà into the snake-town with the message that he will soon come himself and hand over the lotus flowers. The king proceeds now with the army of the Vidyadharas. On the way he meets the snake army under the len lership of RatnnchQua, who in the meanwhile after he had delivered the message to Sabiprabba, had taken his own form again. Both armies make a halt in a wood before Ratnavati. The minister Ramangnula is now sent to Asura Vajránkusa in order to effect the delivery of the gollen lotus flower in an amicable manner (samnd). Ramang ada has to return without having effected his object. The allioil armies surround the town Ratnavati.
The seventeenth sarga30 contains the description of the battle between the Asuras, who break ont of Ratnavati, the Nägas and Vidyadhara3. The allied armies win the battle. Visvankusa, son of Vajrajkusa, kills the minister Ramangada; king Sindburája himself kills Vairavkusa. The town Ratnavati is overcome; the snake-youth Ratnachůda is made governor over the kingdom of the Asura princes. The king takes possession of the golden lotus flower and proceeds toward Bhogavati.
Eighteenth sarga (Sasiprabháidbha) Sankhapâla comes to meet the king and hands him A gift of honour. Sindhurâja makes his entry into Bhogavati amid expressions of astonishment and joy on the part of the inhabitants. His glance first falls upon a holy place (tungana manimandiram) of Siva31 under the name of Sri-Hatakekvara. He enters, offers gifts of flowers, and gives
97 makaronkite manmatharatnapaluko. The translation is according to proposal of Bühlur's. * The entertainments in the wood are desoribed, vv. 27-76. Conf. Maghakdoya, Serga VII.
» The title of this sarga is in the manuscript: Patalagangdvagakanam, us also that of the 14th. The true titie might be jalakridauargana.
50 The title - something like yuddhavamanan - is wanting in the manuscript.
1 The devo Hatakevarakbyab is also mentioned in the description of the snake-town Bhogavati, sarga 5, v. 12 ff.