Read the previous part here… “They have a speciality – you can find anything that your heart desires in these cities, and old age and death have no place in them. I, along with these cities, now belong to you…” इदानीं च पिता त्वं मे सपुराहं वशे तव ।इत्य् अर्पितात्मसर्वस्वां ताम् उवाच स भूपतिः ॥ …
Read the previous part here… “I came here to have a darshana of the Devi, hearing about her magnificent temple, from this man over here”, said the king, pointing to Sattvaśīla. “We were guided by that magnificent flagpost, and we also saw this splendid city, had a beautiful darshana of the Devi…what other hospitality can …
Read the previous part here… “This brave and loyal friend of mine went to fulfill a task that I had given him, but is now struck by love himself. I now have an opportunity to repay my debt of gratitude to him…” And so the king told him “O Sattvaśīla! Don’t grieve, for I will …
Read the previous part here… In the middle of all this, was a large temple of Mā Durgā, as tall as Mount Meru, with walls of precious stones and a high pataka (flag) that was studded with jewels. Sattvaśīla prostrated himself before the Devi, sang a स्तोत्रम् (stotram) in her praise, and then sat down …
Read the previous part here… The king then called a meeting at his palace the very next day and described in detail Sattvaśīla’s devotion, and then rewarded him with wealth and land. “These rewards do not come close to what you deserve”, he proclaimed. Sattvaśīla now lived the life of a prosperous man, but stayed …
Read the previous part here… Only Sattvaśīla had managed to follow the king – running through the deep woods, disregarding his own life, hungry and thirsty but determined to keep up with the monarch. Caṇḍasiṃha spotted him, and felt relieved. “Do you know the way back?” he asked Sattvaśīla. तदाकर्ण्याञ्जलिं बद्ध्वा स तं कार्पटिको ऽभ्यधात् …
Read the previous part here… Now I have a question for you. Which of the two people, mixed in such a manner, was Madanasundarī’s husband ? Who should she spend her life with ? Tell me, o wise king. Remember, if you know the answer, and don’t tell me the truth, your head will burst …
Read the previous part here… Not knowing what do to, and how to handle such a situation, he blamed himself for spoiling his sister’s life, and in a fit of depression, picked up the same sword and cut off his own head. सो ऽपि यावच् च नायाति तावद् उद्भ्रान्तमानसा ।तद्देवीभवनं सापि ययौ मदनसुन्दरी ॥ १२,१३.३४ …
Read the previous part here… Vimala asked Śuddhapaṭa for his daughter’s hand in marriage for his son, and Śuddhapaṭa readily agreed. They saw a good muhurata the next day, and the marriage was solemnized. Dhavala returned to his father’s house a happy man, his new bride in tow. स कृतप्रश्रयः सर्वैः स्वस्राश्लिष्याभिनन्दितः ।संबन्धिपृष्टकुशलो विश्रान्तश् च …
Read the previous part here… Now I have a question for you. Who deserves to marry Somaprabhā ? Who does she belong to? Tell me, o wise king. Remember, if you know the answer, and don’t tell me the truth, your head will burst into a hundred pieces! इति वेतालतस् तस्माच् छ्रुत्वा मौनं विहाय च …
