Book Title: Tales froM Indian Mythology
Author(s): A S Raman
Publisher: Kutub Popular

Previous | Next

Page 62
________________ 38 Tales from Indian Mythology moned. But they were all barren and there seemed to be a curse on the villages at the foot of the Sahyadri. "Agastya, can we reach the peak ? I really want to float on that grey cloud hovering over it.” He said nothing, because he knew that her strange desires would soon deprive him of her. But lest his 'silence be misconstrued, he smiled his assent. At last, they arrived at the thick shrub a few feet below the summit. They sat there and looked at the sky which was suddenly overcast. "Agastya, how enchanting! Why did you first hesitate to bring me here?” "You insist on an answer ? Listen. Here we are so near to Heaven and the gods may snatch you away from me, you see.” "I do not care for them, Agastya, so long as you love me. I am tired and thirsty. There seems to be a pond behind that rock over there. May I go there ?" "But see that your feet do not touch the water." "Why not ?" "Lest you become a goddess." "Oh, your old joke again," she smiled and ran towards the pool. As she drank water from it, he held her fast, and lo ! she suddenly slipped into the pond, melted away into a furious torrent and surged forth with serpentine sweep and splendour, hugging to her bosom everything that came her way. He sat on the rock feeding her with his pent up tears and meanwhile there was a downpour from the heavens too. "Kaveri! Kaveri !” Agastya called out. But the only res Jain Education International For Personal & Private Use Only www.jainelibrary.org

Loading...

Page Navigation
1 ... 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 150 151 152 153 154 155 156 157 158 159 160 161 162 163 164 165 166