Kathakoca or Treasury of Stories

SR No.: 016059
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: C H Tawney
Publisher: Oriental Books Reprint Corporation New Delhi
Publication Year: 1975
Total Pages: 288
Language: English
Classification: Dictionary & Dictionary
File Size: 15 MB

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like a lion, attack these creatures, who are like jackals ? How can you use against these your sword, which is the pleasure-house of the fortune of the conquest of half India ? Are you not ashamed ?' Then Davadąntí uttered shouts, which the greatness of her chastity rendered terrible, and the Bhillas fled in every direction, alarmed by those cries, like deer terrified by the roaring of a lion. Nala and Davadanti followed on the track of the Bhillas, and went a long distance. In the meanwhile another party of Bhillas seized the chariot. When fate is adverse, what can the valour of a hero accomplish ? Nala went along in the forest, holding Davadantí's hand with his, calling to mind the happy day of their marriage. Davadantí's soft, lotus-like feet were wounded by the points of the darbha-grass, and so, with drops of blood falling from them, she marked the forest as if with cochineal. Formerly Nala had bound her head with the silk turban as his queen consort, but now he bound her feet with pieces of his garment. Then, as she was worn out with travelling on foot, Nala made her sit in his lap, and fanned her with the border of his own robe, and brought her water to drink in čup-like lotus-leaves. Then Davadantí said to him : My lord, how far have we to go now?' Nala answered : 'Queen, this forest extends for a hundred yojanas, and as yet we have only got over five yojanas ; so keep up your courage. When they had finished this conversation, the sun set. Then Nala made an excellent bed with soft leaves, and said to Davadanti :
Queen, sleep here. You need not be afraid of any danger; I am keeping guard.' When Nala had said this, he threw half his own garment on the bed. Then Davadanti worshipped the gods, and called to mind the five chiefs of religion,* and went to sleep. When she was asleep, Nala said to himself: Those men, who make their father-in-law their refuge, are not included in the list of men; so in my present condition I will not enter the house of Davadantí's
* Probably these five are Yugádíça, Çánti, Nemi, Párçva, and Víra. (Weber, Uber das Çatrunjaya Máhátmyam,' p. 15.) See also Fleet's Corpus Inscriptionum Indicarum,' vol. ii., p. 66.
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