452
other instruments. One is distinguished for good temper, another is re-
markable for artfulness ; another enjoys good fortune from being able to understand her husband's mind. But, to sum up, others possess other particular merits ; so every lovely woman has some peculiar good point, but of all the women in the three worlds none possesses all possible virtues. So kings, having made up their minds to experience all kinds of fascinations, though they have captured many wives for themselves, are for ever seizing new ones.* But the truly noble never, under any circumstances, desire the wives of others. So this is not our husband's fault, and we cannot be jealous." When the head-wives of Suryaprabha, beginning with Madanasena, had been addressed in this style by Manovati, they made one after another remarks to the same effect. Then, in their merriment, they laid aside all the ties of reserve, and began to tell one another all kinds of secrets. For unfortunately there is nothing which women will not let out, when they are met together in social intercourse, and their minds are interested in the course of the conversation. At last that long conversation of theirs was somehow or other brought to an end, and in course of time the night pass- ed away, during which Suryaprabha was longing to conquer the host of his enemies, for he was alone, intently waiting for the time when the darkness should depart. f
CHAPTER XLVIII.
The next morning, Suryaprabha and his party, and SVutasarman and his supporters, again went to the field of battle armed, with their forces. And again the gods and Asuras, with Indra, Brahma, Vishnu, and Rudra, and with the Yakshas, snakes, and Gandharvas, came to see the fight. Damodara drew up the troops of S'rutasarman in the form of a discus, and Prabhasa drew up the troops of Suryaprabha in the form of a thunderbolt. Then the battle of those two armies went on, deafening the horizon with drums and the shouts of champions, and the sun hid himself in flights of arrows, as if out of fear that the warriors smitten with weapons would certainly pierce his disk. Then Prabhasa, by command of Suryaprabha, broke the discus-arrangement of the enemy's host, hard for another to
- Labdhakakshydh is probably a misprint for baddhakakshydh.
t I read alltikdtiksha for abltikunlxlm which is found in Brockhaus's text. This is supported by a MS. iii the Sanskrit College.