[10] Or virtuous and generous.
[11] It is still the custom to give presents of vessels filled with rice and coins. Empty vessels are inauspicious, and even now if a Bengali on going out of his house meets a person carrying an empty pitcher, he turns back, and waits a minute or two.
[12] A: Peace, war, march, halt, stratagem and recourse to the protection of a mightier king.
Book V.
Chapter XXIV.
May Gaṇeśa, painting the earth with mosaic by means of the particles of red lead flying from his trunk whirled round in his madness,[1] and so, as it were, burning up obstacles with the flames of his might, protect you.
Thus the king of Vatsa and his queen remained engaged in bringing up their only son Naraváhanadatta, and once on a time the minister Yaugandharáyaṇa, seeing the king anxious about taking care of him, said to him as he was alone,—“King, you must never feel any anxiety now about the prince Naraváhanadatta, for he has been created by the adorable god Śiva in your house as the future emperor over the kings of the Vidyádharas; and by their divine power the kings of the Vidyádharas have found this out, and meaning mischief have become troubled, unable in their hearts to endure it; and knowing this, the god with the moon-crest has appointed a prince of the Gaṇas,[2] Stambhaka by name, to protect him. And he remains here invisible, protecting this son of yours, and Nárada coming swiftly informed me of this.” While the minister was uttering these words, there descended from the midst of the air a divine man wearing a diadem and a bracelet, and armed with a sword. He bowed, and then the king of Vatsa, after welcoming him, immediately asked him with curiosity: “Who are you, and what is your errand here?” He said, “I was once a mortal, but I have now become a king of the Vidyádharas, named Śaktivega and I have many enemies. I have found out by my power that your son is destined to be our emperor, and I have come to see him, O king.” When Śaktivega, over-awed at the sight of his future emperor, had said this, the king of Vatsa was pleased and again asked him in his astonishment, “How can the rank of a Vidyádhara be attained, and of what nature is it, and how did you obtain it? Tell me this, my friend.” When he heard this speech of the king’s, that Vidyádhara Śaktivega courteously bowing, answered him thus, “O king, resolute souls having propitiated Śiva either in this or in a former birth, obtain by his favour the rank of Vidyádhara. And that rank, denoted by the insignia of supernatural knowledge, of sword, garland and so on, is of various kinds, but listen! I will tell you how I obtained it. Having said this, Śaktivega told the following story, relating to himself, in the presence of the queen Vásavadattá.