May Ganesa, painting the earth with mosaic by means of the particles of reft lead flying from his trunk whirled round in his madness,* and so, as it were, burning up obstacles with the flames of his might, protect you.

Thus the king of Vatsa and his queen remained en gaged in bringing up their only son Naravahanadatta, and once on a time the minister Yaug- andharayana, seeing the king anxious about taking care of him, said to him as he was alone, " King, you must never feel any anxiety now about the prince Naravahanadatta, for he has been created by the adorable god S'iva in your house as the future emperor over the kings of the Vidyadharas ; and by their divine power the kings of the Vidyadharas have found this out, and meaning mischief have become troubled, unable in their hearts to endure it ; and knowing this, the god with the moon-crest has appointed a prince of the Ganas,t Stambhaka by name, to protect him. And he re- mains here invisible, protecting this son of yours, and Narada coming swiftly informed me of this." While the minister was uttering these words, there descended from the midst of the air a divine man wearing a diadem and a bracelet, and armed with a sword. He bowed, and then the king of Vatsa, after welcoming him, immediately asked him with curiosity : " Who are you, and what is your errand here ?" He said, " I was once a mortal, but I have now become a king of the Vidy;idhuras, named S'akti and I have many enemies. I have found out by my power that your son is destined to be our emperor, and I have come to see him, O king." When S'aktivega, over-awed at the sight of his future emperor, had said this, the king of Vatsa was pleased and again asked him in his astonishment, " How can the rank of a Vidy&dhara be attained, and of what nature is it, and how did you obtain it? Tell me this, my friend." When he 1. speech of the king's, that Vidyudhara S'aktivega courteously bowing, an- swered him thus, "0 king, resolute souls having propitiated Siva either

• The elephant-headed god has his trunk minted with rod load like a tun.

pliant, and is also liable to Income >n<m(. f Followers and attendants upon S'iva. 25