King of Vatsa

“ Then the king of Vatsa and Vásavadattá, in their despair, heard this voice coming from the air—“I, O king, am a female Vidyádhara named Máyávatí, and for this long time I have been a female elephant in consequence of a curse; and to-day, O lord of Vatsa, I have done you a good turn, and I will do another to your son that is to be: and this queen of yours Vásavadattá is not a mere mortal; she is a goddess for a certain cause incarnate on the earth.” Then the king regained his spirits, and sent on Vasantaka to the plateau of the Vindhya hills to announce his arrival to his ally Pulindaka ”

“ Having thus reflected, Yaugandharáyaṇa said to the king of Vatsa, “O king, you are fortunate in that this Kalingasená has of her own accord come to your house, and the king, her father, has become your servant. So you must consult the astrologers, and marry her in accordance with good custom at an auspicious time, for she is the daughter of a great king. To-day give her a suitable palace to dwell in by herself, and send her male and female slaves, and robes and ornaments.” ”

“ Honour to that conqueror of obstacles whose favour, I ween, even the Creator1 implored, in order that he might accomplish the creation of the world without let or hindrance.
That five-arrowed god of love conquers the world, at whose command even Śiva trembles, when he is being embraced by his beloved.
Thus having obtained Vásavadattá, that king of Vatsa gradually became most exclusively devoted to the pleasure of her society. But his prime minister Yaugandharáyaṇa, and his general Rumaṇvat, upheld day and night the burden of his empire. ”

“ But that unbecoming speech, which I uttered, was due to excessive affection; how can people whose minds are blinded with love bring themselves to deliberate calmly?6” With such conversation that king of Vatsa brought the day and the queen’s eclipse of shame to an end. On the next day a messenger sent by the king of Magadha, who had discovered the real state of the case, came to the sovereign of Vatsa, and said to him as from his master; “We have been deceived by thy ministers, therefore take such steps as that the world may not henceforth be to us a place of misery.” ”

“ Therefore abandon kingly [69] vices, for kings that fall into them are easily captured by their enemies, even as elephants are taken in pits.” When his minister had said this to him, the resolute king of Vatsa sent in return an ambassador to Chaṇḍamahásena with the following reply, “If thy daughter desires to become my pupil, then send her here.” When he had sent this reply, that king of Vatsa said to his ministers—“I will march and bring Chaṇḍamahásena here in chains.” ”

“ Then Naraváhanadatta, son of the king of Vatsa, possessing as his wives those various ladies, the most beautiful in the three worlds, and Madanamanchuká as his head-queen, dwelt with Gomukha and his other ministers in Kauśámbí, having his every want supplied by his father’s magnificent resources. His days passed pleasantly in dancing, singing, and conversation, and were enlivened by the exquisite enjoyment of the society of the ladies whom he loved. ”

“ Then the king of Vatsa, while encamped in Lávánaka to rest his army, said in secret to Yaugandharáyaṇa, “Through your sagacity I have conquered all the kings upon the earth, and they being won over by politic devices will not conspire against me. But this king of Benares, Brahmadatta, is an ill-conditioned fellow, and he alone, I think, will plot against me; what confidence can be reposed in the wicked-minded?” ”

“ When the king of Vatsa beheld his son endowed with all talents, he taught Madanamanchuká, the daughter of Kalingasená, dancing. As fast as she became perfect in accomplishments,13 the heart of the prince Naraváhanadatta was disturbed. So the sea is disturbed, as fast as the orb of the moon rounds off its digits. ”

“ That king of Vatsa drank wine adorned by the reflection of the moon-faces of fair women, and at the same time robbed his minister’s faces of their cheerful hue.2 Only one anxiety had he to bear, he kept thinking, “Nowhere is a wife found equal to me in birth and personal appearance, the maiden named Vásavadattá alone has a liking for me, but how is she to be obtained?” Chaṇḍamahásena also in Ujjayiní thought; “There is no suitable husband to be found for my daughter in the world, except one Udayana by name, and he has ever been my enemy. ”