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BRAHMADATTAČAKRICARITA
333 The prince thought, “ The skill in making forms of the Creator, who has practiced making forms since birth, has appeared in her.” Talking with a slave-girl, looking at him with glances resembling jasmines, as if throwing a garland around his neck, she went away. When the prince, observing her alone, started to go away, a slave-girl came, carrying clothes, ornaments, and betel. She delivered the garments, et cetera and said:
“She whom you saw here sent this to you, like a pledge for the accomplishment of desires. I have been instructed, 'Conduct him to the house of my father's minister for true hospitality. For he knows what is proper.'”
He went with her to the house of the minister Nāgadeva. The minister rose to greet him, as if drawn by his merits. Informing him, “He, very fortunate, has been sent to your house by Princess Śrīkāntā,” she went away. Being entertained like a master in many ways by the minister, he passed the night like a moment. At the end of the night the minister conducted the prince to the palace. The king met him like a newly-risen sun with a reception-gift, et cetera. The king gave him his daughter without asking about his family, et cetera. For experts certainly know all that just by appearance. The prince married her, covering hand with hand, as if to unite completely their affection for each other.
One day Brahmadatta, while playing, asked her secretly, “Why did your father give you to me, alone, whose family, et cetera were unknown?” Śrīkāntā, whose petal-lip gleamed with rays from her beautiful teeth, said:
“In Vasantapura Sabarasena was king. His son, my father, after he was installed on the throne, was overthrown by cruel kinsmen and he took refuge in this settlement with his army and transport. Having made the Bhillas bend, like a current of water reeds, my father supports his followers by plundering villages, et cetera. I was born, very dear to my father, a daughter after four sons, like Śrī after the four methods. When I was grown, he said to me, 'All the kings
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