________________ ANALYSIS OF WORK XXVII 7. Leaving Laksmimati with her father, Nagak, along with his other three wives and his soldiers, started for the sacred mountain Urjayant. He reached a forest-tract called Jalanti where he halted in a poisonous-mango-grove. He and his men enjoyed the mangoes without any harm. At this, a Bhilla named Durmukha presented himself before the hero and expressed himself about the miracle that had been performed. The report of Nagakumara's arrival spread from mouth to mouth and five hundred warriors came and accepted him as their master. From there he came to Antara yana where he was received as guest by the king of Antarapur. His host received a letter from Arivarma, king of Girinagara, asking for help against Candapradyota, king of Sindhu with capital at Simhapur, who was contemplating an attack upon him for the sake of his daughter whom he had a desire to give in marriage only to his sister's son. The Antarapur king wanted to go there and his guest expressed a desire to accompany him "just to see how warriors fought, though he himself knew nothing of wielding arms in battle." They both then marched in right military array, to Girinagara. During the battle Nagak, and his warriors showed extraordinary valour on account of which the forces of the enemy were completely routed and Candapradyota himself was captured. In great amazement the king of Girinagara asked the king of Antarapur for information about the hero of the day, but the latter could only say that he was his guest. On learning however, from another person that he was the son of Psthvidevi and hence his own sister's son, his joy knew no bounds. They all entered the town with great jubilation and Nagakumara married his daughter Gunavati. On a subsequent day Nagak. visited the holy mountain and worshipped it. One day, a messenger came with a letter which purported to come from Abhicandra, king of Gajapur, imploring Nagakumara's help against Vidyadhara Sukantha who killed his brother Subhacandra, king of Kausambi, and captured his seven daughters. Chivalrously responding to the call, Nagak. besieged Alamghanagara the capital of Sukantha. After an exchange of bitter remarks and hard strokes Sukantha was killed by Nagak, who then released the seven princesses, installed Sukantha's son Vajrakantha on the throne and inarried his daughter Rukmini and came to Gajapur where he married Abhicandra's daughter Canda as well as the seven princesses. 8. The story now turns to the adventures of Mahavyala whom we left at Pataliputra. He enjoyed life with Gapikasundari for a long time till one day he learnt from a tourer that the concubine's daughter of the Pandya king of Southern Mathura had no liking for any man. He went to Madura and was seen by the damsel on the market road. She felt affected and raised an alarm as a result of which the guards attacked the visitor who vanquished them all and killed their commander. For this he was rewarded with the hand of the damsel. He, one day, met a traveller who told him tbat the princess of Ujjain did not like any man. Mahavyala took leave of the Pandya king, came to Ujjain and went into the palace along with other suitors on a Sunday. The princess saw him from the balcony and shook her head and said that she would not elect him, and she called him her brother. Mahavyala took this as a sign of his approaching evil day. He went to Gajapur, saw his elder brother, got a portrait of Nagak. painted and returned with it to Ujjain. When he showed it to the princess, she at once P.P.AC. Gunratnasuri M.S. Jun Gun Aaradhak Trust
