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VASUDEVA'S MARRIAGE WITH KANÁKAVATT 133 did you deceive me, hiding yourself, blameless girl? If there is such a misfortune by fate, what shame is there in your mother's own family? Oh! My dear, has Nala been deserted by you or have you been deserted by him ? Surely you have been deserted by him. You, a devoted wife, would not desert him. If your husband fallen into misfortune were deserted by you, then surely the sun would rise in the west. Nala, why did you abandon her? Why did you not leave her at my side? To abandon a virtuous wife, is this suitable for your family? My dear, I shall take over your trouble. Do you put it down. Forgive my sin that I did not recognize you. But where is your tilaka, child, that was on your forehead from birth, a garuda for the snake of darkness, a sun for a black night?
With these words, she rubbed Bhaimi's forehead with moisture from her own lotus-mouth, smelling her head 147 again and again. Then Vaidarbhi's forehead-tilaka shone very brilliantly, like a piece of gold that had come out of a fire, like the sun burst from clouds. Then Queen Candrayaśas bathed Nala's wife with perfumed water, like a god's statue, with her own hands.' Then Bhaimi put on garments sent by Queen Candrayaśas, which were white, fine, as if made of the essence of moonlight. Then Queen Candrayaśas, delighted, took Bhima's daughter by the hand and, a pool of the water of delight, sat down near the king.
Then the sun set and the whole sky was filled with darkness that could not be separated by a needle, like a dish filled with collyrium. At that time pitch darkness did not enter the king's palace. It was halted by the brilliance of Bhaimi's tilaka, like a door-keeper. The king said to the queen, “The sun has set, surely. There is no lamp nor fire here. Why is there a light like daytime?' The queen showed the king Vaidarbhi's tilaka, present from birth, like a large pond with light for water. From curiosity the king covered the tilaka with his hand and his house at once became as dark as a mountain-cave. The king
147 841. A sign of affection
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