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24
KUVALAYAMĀLA
captured, and how a gallant prince of five years was arrested and brought there. The king and queen affectionately welcomed that prince, Mahendrakumāra, who entered the hall with remarkable self-confidence; but soon he was overpowered with feelings, making all the dignitaries shed tears at the moment. Not satisfied with the various explanations of the ministers why the prince, though seated on the king's lap, started shedding tears, the king asked Mahendra himself the reason of his deep sorrow. The prince explained his sad plight that he should have been seated on the lap of an enemy. The king at once expressed to him that there was no more enmity and that the prince was his veritable son. He gave the prince his necklace and formal presents; and he also told the ministers to look after the prince in such a way that he would not remember his parents and that he would become a son to himself who had no issue. (Pages 9.18-11.14; * 3.33- *5.3).
THE QUEEN PINING FOR AN ISSUE: On getting a confidential report that the queen Priyanguśyāmā—apparently there being none of the five reasons (11.25-6) on account of which ladies get angry—was out of her mood and was not attending to her daily routine, the king went to her apartment and found her in the Anger-chamber (kopa-grha), quite out of temper. He inquired why she was angry; and he wanted to know from her the specific reason of her anger which even added a little charm to her face. The queen told him that the cause of her remorse was that, unlike the mother of Mahendrakumāra, she had no son; and consequently, she was angry with the king. She was told by the king that she was indiscreet and that the fulfilment of her desire was beyond human power. Then she appealed to him to solicit a boon from some deity. Quite lovingly he pacified her with the assurance that he would secure divine favour at any cost, by offering the oblation of his own flesh to Isvara, by sacrificing his head to Kātyāyanī etc.; and she felt quite happy. In this context, he took into confidence his ministers who greeted his decision, stressed the need of a son in every respect, dissuaded him from taking any risk for his life, and advised him to solicit the favour of the Kula-devatā, Rājyalaksmī, seeking her boon for a son, which idea the king approved (Pages 11.15-14.3; * 5.4- * 6.14).
THE KING PROPITIATES AND GETS A BOON FROM KULA-DEVATĀ: Then on an auspicious day, the king offered oblations to the town-deities, gave gifts to mendicants, fulfilled the desires of the poor, and entered the devagrha, in a proper form. He offered worship to gods and goddesses, spread a layer of flowers on the pavement, took his seat (now all alone), offered (with folded hands) lavish prayers to Rājalaksmī referring to the various aspects of her personality, and urged her either to give audience to him within three days or accept his head. He sat there for two days recounting her merits. On the third day, when he was about to sever his head for an offering, his hand (with the sword) was miraculously held back, and the goddess appeared before him in full womanly bloom and glory. He saluted her. She smiled at his rash impatience. When he appealed to her effectively and with self-respect, she blessed him with a boon that he would have an outstanding son and disappeared (Pages 14.4-15.14; * 6.15-38).
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