Kathakoca or Treasury of Stories

Author(s): C H Tawney
Publisher: Oriental Books Reprint Corporation New Delhi

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related as follows: "Long ago there were two princes; they died and became gods. One of them fell from his position and became King Padmaratha, the other became your son. Accordingly King Padmaratha, when run away with by his horse, gave your son to his wife Pushpamálá on account of his love for him in a former life. King Padmaratha niade a great triumphal entry into Mithilá.' While the great hermit was saying this, there arrived a splendid deity, magnificently adorned, mounted on a heavenly chariot, delighting the heart with a charming exhibition of singing and dancing on the part of heavenly nymphs. He circumambulated Madanarekhá three times,* and bowed before her, and then did his reverence to the hermit and sat in front of him. Then Maņiprabha, considering that his behaviour was out of place, said: 'If gods adopt this line of conduct, to whom can we speak? Why did you pass by a distinguished hermit, who possesses the four kinds of knowledge, t and whose conduct is blameless, and bow first before a mere woman ?' But before the god could give an answer, the hermit said solemnly: 'Do not speak so; this god does not deserve blame. For King Maniratha murdered his brother Yugabáhu, because he was in love with this Madanarekhá; she made Yugabáhu's peace with all when he was at the point of death, and he became a god in the fifth kalpa; for this reason Madanarekhá stands in the relation of a religious instructor to this god; whoever establishes another in the true faith is his spiritual superior.' When the hermit had said this, the Vidyadhara implored the god's forgiveness; then the god said to the princess : Virtuous lady, what can I do to please you?' The princess said: "To me salvation only is pleasing ; nevertheless, take me quickly to Mithilá, there I will behold the face of my son, and afterwards devote
* The prevalence of this practice in many nations may be proved by a reference to the Index to my translation of the Katha Sarit Ságara,' under the word. Desiul.' It is unnecessary to dilate on the importance of the number three in all rites and ceremonies.
f In the Sarva-Darçana Sangraha,' p. 47, five kinds are mentioned But perhaps the knowledge called mati is here disregarded.