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VASUDEVA'S MARRIAGE WITH KANAKAVATI 83 truthfully: “I am a Khecara, named Candrātapa, beautiful lady, eager for service to your future husband. By the power of a magic art, I shall tell you something else, innocent lady. On the day of the svayamvara he will come to you as a messenger of another."
She, having received a blessing, dismissed the Khecara saying this and reflected, “By good fortune this speech of the god suits me.” The picture, like an eye, was made the place of the opening and shutting of the eyes by her, unsatiated with the sight of her husband in the picture. Now the girl, grieved by the pain of separation, put the picture on her head, now on her throat, now on her heart, like a piece of plantain.90
At that time Candrātapa, eager for their meeting went to the Vidyādhara-city, adorned with Vidyādharas. By the very great power of magic arts, unstumbling like the wind, he entered at night the bed-chamber occupied by Vasudeva. He saw Vasudeva and his wife lying on a couch ornamented with swansdown, with white covers. He approached to serve Sauri, who was lying comfortably on the pillow of a Vidyādhari's arm, by rubbing his feet. Sauri, even though enjoying the comfort of sleep arising from weariness from pleasure, awoke immediately. For the best men arouse easily. When Yādava saw him, unexpected and at night too, he was not terrified nor angered, but he reflected:
“As this man was not hindered from service to me, he is either seeking protection or concerned about my affairs. If I should speak to him as he is tending my feet, even in a low voice, the queen, sleeping comfortably from fatigue from pleasure, would awaken. I can not disregard this person as he is occupied with service. Even if I were indifferent, I could not sleep, while he is here. So, I shall get up carefully without waking the queen and shall deal with this zealous man at a distance from the bed.”
Then Daśārha left the couch without shaking the bed by
90 63. Plantain is considered cooling.
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