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CHAPTER ELEVEN
had a very dear friend, Nagila, who was ascetics and observed the five pure lesser vows.
One day, two Vyantara-women who lived on the island Pañcaśaila started out on a pilgrimage to Nandiśvara at Sakra's command." At that time, their husband Vidyunmalin, lord of Pañcaśaila, had fallen, and they thought, Who is to be found now who can be our husband?' As they went along, they saw Kumaranandin playing with his five hundred wives in the city of Campa; and they descended in his vicinity with the intention of seizing him, because of their desire for a husband. Kumaranandin saw them also, and said, 'Who are you?' They replied, We are goddesses, O mortal, named Hāsā and Prahāsā.' Looking at them, he fainted. When he had regained consciousness, the lustful goldsmith made a request, to which they replied, 'You must come to the island Pañcaśailaka,' and with these words they flew away.
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The goldsmith, however, gave money to the king and had a proclamation made by the drum: Whoever will guide me to Pañcaśaila will receive a crore of money.' A certain old man stopped the drum and received the money. The old man had a boat made and filled it with many provisions, but gave the money to his sons. Embarked with Kumaranandin, after he had gone a long way on the ocean-path, the old man said: 'Look here, please. On the shore of the sea at the foot of a mountain one can see a fig tree. Cling to this when the boat passes underneath. The bharuṇḍas, three-legged birds, will come here from Pañcaśaila. While they are asleep,220 bind yourself firmly with a cloth to the middle foot of one of them and hold on with a tight grip. At daylight, you will reach Pañcaśaila by the bharuṇḍas flying up. Later the boat will perish in the whirlpool and, if you do not cling to the fig tree, you also will perish in the same way, alas !
220 347. Elsewhere the bharundas are said not to sleep. KSK p. 112a.
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