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26
KUVALAYAMĀLĀ
which he had special proficiency. The prince had developed well, both in body and expression. Then he went to the apartment of his mother who heartily embraced him and kissed on the head; he called on other queens as well who all greeted him with good wishes (Pages 21.7-23.3; * 8.29- *9.6).
PRINCE ON THE HORSEBACK CHARMING TO ALL: As directed by the king, the prince, then, accompanied him to the horse-ground or race-course where horses were to be tested for different purposes; and there, the horse-keeper gave for riding different horses to different persons: Pavanāvarta to the king, Garudavāhana to Mahendrakumāra, Udadhikallola (described in details 23.12-19) to Kuvalayacandra, and so on. Inquired of by the king, the prince explained to him that there were eighteen breeds (23.22-4) of horses of which he would describe the colour, marks etc. of a few only (23.25 to 24.9). Saying that he would hear further details at leisure, the king rode his Pavanāvarta, the prince his Udadhikallola, and their feudatories started on their respective conveyances all of which crowded the palace-ground by their march (described 24.19 f.) and then gradually proceeded along the royal road. When the prince reached the heart of the town, ladies, in a disturbed state (described 24.30 f.) took their positions here and there (25.8-10), making various remarks (25.12-15) to have a glimpse of the prince whom they gazed at with eyes full of passionate affection (25.21-32) and about whom they discussed with complimentary references that he was superior even to Nārāyaṇa, the full moon, Puramdara, Isvara, the sun and Kumāra (26.1-14). They were captivated by the personality of the prince, and all their activities and demeanour (described 26.15-27) showed that their minds were out of gear. The prince passed through the bazaar and reached the race-course where stood the entire troop. The king drove his Pavanāvarta and the prince his Samudrakallola; well, the latter overtook the former to the jubilation of the entire gathering (Pages 23.4-27.1; * 9.7-31).
PRINCE (WHO ATTRACTED THE EYES OF MANY), FLOWN BY THE HORSE, MEETS A SIGNIFICANT TRIO, THE SAINT FROM WHICH PROMISES TO EXPLAIN THE MYSTERY OF THE HORSE AS WELL AS THEIR CAREER: As the prince was being greeted with victory, the horse flashed towards the south and flew up in the sky (description of the ground below etc. 27.7-9). Struck with wonder by its behaviour, he decided to test whether it was some god by striking it with a knife, before it reached the ocean. When he gave a heavy stroke on its belly, it fell dead; the prince too came down, and, while he stood still puzzled over the riddle whether it was a horse or a god, he heard an anonymous voice greeting him with his name and directing him to go towards the south to find something unprecedented. As he proceeded, he reached the great Vindhya forest presenting manifold scenes and situations (described 27.28 to 28.19), one of which, which most surprised him, was that birds and beasts, well-known for their natural antipathy, played together (28.22-27). With a little thinking, he realized that in the vicinity there must be some great saint of benign influence. A little ahead, under a Vața tree he saw a monk, emaciated with penances but ablaze with lustre, an embodiment of dharma and an incarnation of upasama (described 29.7-9). To the left of the monk, he saw a great person of divine appearance (divyākāram mahāpuruşam), an embodiment of all that could be handsome
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