Analytical Account of the Pancha Tantra. IG7 



from farther lamentation, as by the efficacy of some mystic words, he had 

 secured her having a son of eminent beauty, and auspicious destiny. Highly 

 delighted with this prophecy (indications of the fulfilment of which soon 

 began to appear), the Bi-dhman's wife anticipated eagerly the period of her 

 delivery. What therefore was her surprise, and the horror of her attendants, 

 when the offspring, so anxiously sighed for, and impatiently expected 

 proved to be a snake. The assistants exclaimed, let the monster be de- 

 stroyed : but the parent, with maternal aifection, interfered to preserve her 

 progeny, and carefully protected and reared the snake. 



" After a time, tiie nuptial festivals of a neighbour's son awoke the envy ot 

 Dha Sarmd's wife, and she reproached her husband for not having thought 

 of a suitable match for their child. He repHed, I would do so, if I could 

 get admittance to Pcitdld, and present my supplications to Vasuki.* I 

 do not think any other so great a fool, as to wed his daughter to a son like 

 thine. Poinding, however, his wife was sadly distressed, he proposed, in 

 order to divert her tlioughts, that they should travel ; and equipping them- 

 selves plentifully for tiieii- journey, they set out. After some months, they 

 arrived at a city, named Bliattanagar, where they were hospitably received 

 and entertained, on the night of their arrival, by an acquaintance. In the 

 morning the Brdhman's friend asked him why he had come, and whither he 

 was going. The Brdhman told him he was in search of a wife for his son ; 

 on which the other offered him his own daughter, a girl of great beauty, and 

 insisted on his taking her away with him. Accordingly, Diva Sarmd re- 

 turned to his own city, with his destined daughter-in-law. When the 

 people of the city saw her, they opened their eyes in admiration of iier grace 

 and loveliness, and asked her attendants, how they could tliink of sacrificing 

 such a jewel of a girl to a serpent. Their words filled her servants with 

 distress, and they were urgent with the damsel to effect her escape. She 

 refused, saying. It must not be ; there are three things, which are final 

 from the first : The command of a king, the vow of an ascetic, and the gift 

 of a maiden. That too wliich is previously resolved by destiny,' cannot fail 

 to be, as it happened to Piishpaka, and the Gods. > 



" The maiden's attendants now asked her, who Pushpaka was, and she thus 

 proceeded : 



• The serpent monarcli of Pdliitd, the region under the earth, inhabited by the Xii^as, or 

 snakes. 



