632 Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal. (September, 1911. 
as beautiful as Amaravati the capital of Indra. It is as brilliant 
as Mahapuri the capital of Agni, the God of Fire. It is full of 
gems. Over this city there once ruled King Ratnasen. There 
h as 
Goddess Laxmi. She gave birth to seven well-behaved sons 
and one beautiful daughter named Gunavati. The sons were 
a he girl was waiting to be married. At this junc- 
ture there came to use a Brahman gu He wa 
ight young mau came to the door and poured out 
e 
paying their ee to him offered him alms. He conferred 
on each the blessing of life-long matrimonial felicity (Saub- 
hagya). Dhisievat then addressed the Brahman and said, ‘ 
Sacred Brahman! pray listen to me. When my daughters-in- 
law bowed unto you, you conferred on them such blessings as 
‘ 
ment, she ripe bowed unto him and begged, 
Brahman! if you know how to counteract the impending 
calamity, pray describe it tome. O Ocean of Mercy! What 
can I here be no remedy?’ The Brahman replied, 
‘If you can induce Soma to come to your house, her presence 
would evade the desviny of widowhood that hangs over your 
daughter’s head.’ 
hanavati said: ‘Who is this Soma, of what caste is 
she? Where does she live? Pray tell me at once, there is no 
time tolose.’ The Brahman said: ‘Soma is a Dhobi woman 
by caste. ee, lives in Ceylon. If she comes to your abode, 
Bayer so the Brahman disappeared. Dhanavati then 
addressed her sons and said that their dear little sister was in 
danger. He who had respect for his father and mother would 
start at once for Ceylon to bring Soma here. Her sons said 
an ocean! It was impossible to go there. They were aaele 
that in spite of the fact that he was the father of seven sons he 
had count himself a man without male issue! He would 
