full development, he subdued that father-in-law of his, and became ruler of the sea-engirdled earth. This is that same divine city, produced by magic, together with its citizens; hence it bears the name of Pátaliputra, and is the home of wealth and learning. When we heard from the mouth of Varsha the above strange and extraordinarily marvellous story, our minds, O Kánabhúti, were for a long time delighted with thrilling wonder. CHAPTER IV. Having related this episode to Kánabhúti in the Vindhya forest, Vararuchi again resumed the main thread of his narrative. While thus dwelling there with Vyádi and Indradatta, I gradually attained perfection in all sciences, and emerged from the condition of childhood. Once on a time when we went out to witness the festival of Indra, we saw a maiden looking like some weapon of Cupid, not of the nature of an arrow. Then, Indradatta, on my asking him who that lady might be, replied,--"She is the daughter of Upavarsha, and her name is Upakosá," and she found out by means of her handmaids who I was, and drawing my soul after her with a glance made tender by love, she with difficulty managed to return to her own house. She had a face like a full moon, and eyes like a blue lotus, she had arms graceful like the stalk of a lotus, and a lovely full [48] bosom; she had a neck marked with three lines like a shell, [49] and magnificent coral lips; in short she was a second Lakshmí, so to speak, the store-house of the beauty of king Cupid. Then my heart was cleft by the stroke of love's arrow, and I could not sleep that night through my desire to kiss her bimba [50] lip. Having at last with difficulty gone off to sleep, I saw, at the close of night, a celestial woman in white garments; she said to me--"Upakosá was thy wife in a former birth; as she appreciates merit, she desires no one but thee, therefore, my son, thou oughtest not to feel anxious about this matter. I am Sarasvatí [51] that dwell continually in thy frame, I cannot bear to behold thy grief." When she had said this, she disappeared. Then I woke up and somewhat encouraged I went slowly and stood under a young mango tree near the house of my beloved; then her confidante came and told me of the ardent attachment of Upakosá to me, the result of sudden passion: then I with my pain doubled, said to her, "How can I obtain Upakosá, unless her natural protectors willingly bestow her upon me? For death is better than dishonour; so if by any means your friend's heart became known to her parents, perhaps the end might be prosperous.