PARABHRITIKÁ} and
MADHUKARIKÁ,} maidens in charge of the royal gardens.
SUVRATÁ, a nurse.
ADITI, wife of KA[S']YAPA; granddaughter of BRAHMÁ through her father DAKSHA.
CHARIOTEER, FISHERMAN, OFFICERS, AND HERMITS.
[S']AKOONTALÁ; OR, THE LOST RING.
PROLOGUE.
BENEDICTION.
Í[S']a preserve you [1]! he who is revealed
In these eight forms[2] by man perceptible—
Water, of all creation's works the first;
The Fire that bears on high the sacrifice
Presented with solemnity to heaven;
The Priest, the holy offerer of gifts;
The Sun and Moon, those two majestic orbs,
Eternal marshallers of day and night;
The subtle Ether, vehicle of sound,
Diffused throughout the boundless universe;
The Earth, by sages called 'The place of birth
Of all material essences and things';
And Air, which giveth life to all that breathe.