"Then in a very short time the beloved queen of the king, named Mediní, bore a son, and a daughter was born at the same time. That damsel, called Kandukavati, will to-day propitiate the goddess having the moon as a diadem. "But her friend, Chandrasena by name, her foster-sister, was beloved of me; and in these days she has been violently besieged by the king's son Bhimadhanwa. Therefore I, distressed, perplexed at heart by the pain of the arrow-darts of Kâma, somewhat consoling myself with the soft tones of the lute, occupy a solitary place." And at that moment there came near a certain sound of anklets, and a certain lady came up. He indeed having seen her, with eyes opened wide, having risen up, having been embraced by her, sat down; and he said "This is the (lady) dear as my life, separation from whom, burning as it were, burns me up; and by that prince the robber of this, my life, I am brought to a state of coldness, as if by death; and I shall not be able, saying he is the king's son, to practise loyalty towards him; therefore, having caused myself to be favourably regarded by her, I will abandon a life which has no remedy." But she, with her face full of tears, said "O beloved, do not, on my account, engage in violence. Thou, who having been born of a worthy merchant, Arthadâsa, wast called Kosadâsa by thy parents, art called by thy enemies Vèsadâsa (slave of a girl), from thy excessive attachment to me. Thou thyself being dead, I should imagine the popular saying would be (he was) Nrisansa-Vesa--the slave of a wicked one. But now take me to any place you will." But he said to me: "Friend, in the regions seen by you, which was (the most) prosperous, abounding in corn, and having the greatest number of good men?" To him, having laughed a little, I said "Wide is this (world bounded by) ocean and sky. There is no end of pleasant regions in one place or another. But, indeed, if I should not be able to produce some plan causing you to live comfortably here, then, indeed, I will show you the way." Meanwhile, the sounds of jewel-anklets arose. Now she, in a hurry, said: "My lord's daughter Kandukavati is come to propitiate Durgâ with playing at ball; and she is of unforbidden sight in this Kanduka (ball) festival. May the eye of you going to see her be successful; I must be keeping near her." So saying, she went away, and we two followed her. I first saw the red-lipped (lady) standing on the floor of a jewelled stage; and she, seen by me a stranger and at a distance, immediately settled in my heart. And I, having my mind occupied by astonishment, thought: "Is this Lakshmi? for the lotus is not placed in her hand; but in her (Lakshmi's) hand there is a lotus, and she (the goddess) has been all enjoyed by Vishnu, and by former kings; but in this (lady) there is unimpaired faultless youth."