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JAINA STORIES against the Vidyadhara and his soldiers from horse-back. One by one, the soldiers filed, and soon there was nope barring the chief There was now a straight fight in which the Vidyadhara invoked his magical powers and hurled them at bis human adversary Ratnasar met them all, At last, he threw an arrow which pierced the Vidzadhara in the chest and he fell down in a swood. Regaining sense, he entered the arena again, this one more dreadful than on the previous occasion. Finding Ralpasar in danger, the divine peacock assumed his original form of a god, picked up a heavy mace and struck the Vidyadhara on the head. This ended all his magical powers and he stood helpless aeknowledging defeat.
Ratnasar now came inside the temple in the company of the god (former peacock) Tilakamanjari who had witnessed the fight from the temple had no doubt that the man must be a rare hero He was beautıful too and she felt, she would be happy to be his bride Besides, this would help her in the search for her sister, which was only possible by courage and intellect, which Ratoasar possessed.
Ratnasar now picked up the goose and placed her on his palm to help her to tender her account, which she did as follows:
"Madan is the Vidyadhara chief at Ratbanpur on the Vaitadhya hills and bis wife is Kamala. One day, the chief was flying over a garden at Kanakpur when princess Asokamadjari was enjoying a ride on the swing. The chief was charmed at her beauty and picked her up from there. When Asokamanjarı started bewailiog, he said to her,
"Oh lady ! Don't be afraid. I am not a rogue, nor a thief, but the master of a kingdom You will have no trouble with me. Rather, you will always find me obligiog and ready to serve you in all manners. Among all my consorts, you will be the foremost."
"Asokamanjarı was very much annoyed at his misbehaviour in picking her up, but she preferred to keep silent. Madan took it to be the outcome of the sudden separation from her near and dear ones and felt that she would be all
