The prince, astonished and delighted at such an unexpected meeting, warmly embraced his young friends, and very respectfully saluted, as a son, the elder men introduced by them. Many questions were asked on both sides. After some conversation, Râjavâhana told them his own adventures, and those of Somadatta and Pushpodbhava, and then begged his friends to relate theirs.
Apahâravarma spoke first.
ADVENTURES OF APAHÂRAVARMA.
My Lord, when you had gone away with the brahman, and we were unable to find you, I wandered about searching for you like the rest of your friends.
One day I heard by chance of a very famous muni, living in a forest on the banks of the Ganges, not far from Champa, who was said to have supernatural knowledge of past and future events.
Hoping to obtain some information about you, I determined to seek him out, and accordingly came here for that purpose. Having found the way to his dwelling, I saw there a miserable-looking man, very unlike the holy devotee whom I had pictured to myself. Sitting down, however, beside this person, I said, "I have come a long way to consult the celebrated rishi Mâríchi, having heard that he is possessed of very wonderful knowledge. Can you tell me where to find him?"
Deeply sighing, he answered: "There was, not long ago, such a person in this place; but he is changed—he is no longer what he was."
"How can that be?" I asked.