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SRNGĀRAMAÑJARIKATHA
spent that day in false hope looking towards her with a raised neck,
Next day, wandering the same way, talking to one of her ser. vants he went to SANGAMIKA'S house. There, when she did not speak to him, he said to her "SANGAMIKĀ, I have done as you bid me do. Two-three days have passed. Now why this delay?" After he said this, being disregarded by SANGAMIKA he followed her repeating the same thing. Then SANGAMIKA spoke to him as if he was not known to her:-"Who are you sir? What is this talk about two-three days? and what delay? Why do you thus speak like a madman?” Thus rebuked by her he passed two-three days moving about here and there, sticking on to her.
On seeing VINAYAVATI from a distance he used to smile and make amorous actions like one insane. He did not know anything even when her men derided him. (26) Being thus disregarded by VINAYAVATI and laughed at by her servants, giving up shame of his elders he spent the remaining days of his life considering himself to be fortunate that he could see her at times.
Thus oh Daughter! knowing his unflinching rāga, harlotry was brought to a successful end (by VINAYAVATI). As a cloth dyed in indigo though washed by soda and the like by different methods does not leave its colour, similarly a man possessing Nili rāga, even when ruined in a hundred ways, does not give up his deep attachment.
THUS ENDS THE FIRST TALE OF RAVIDATTA IN THE ŚRNGARAMAÑJARIKATHA COMPOSED BY MAHARAJADHIRAJA-PARAMEŚVARA ŚRĪBHOJADEVA.
(THE SECOND TALE OF VIKRAMASIMHA) Having said this, when VIŞAMAŠILĀ stopped in her speech, ŚRNGĀRAMANJARI, whose curiosity had been roused, said again “Mother you have described the Nili rāga. My curiosity increases, therefore now tell me about the Manjişthā Räga". Hearing this she began: In the city of Támalipti ruled a king PRATAPAMUKUTA and dwelt a prince named VIKRAMASIMHA. He was rich, charitable, noble, pleasure loving and valorous.
One day loitering in the locality of the courtesans he saw MALASK, the daughter of the bawd IKADASTRA. She was the life of youth, the breath of loveliness, the life of good fortune and the soul of beauty. Of her, possessing a face like the fullmoon, the
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