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And then king Kanakavarsha ruled this circle of the earth, four-limited by the sea, without opponents, in perpetual happiness, with his wife and son, without experiencing again the grief of separation.
When the prince Naravahanadatta heard this magnificent tale from his head minister Gomukha, in the company of the fair Alankaravati, he was exceedingly delighted.
CHAPTER LVI.
Then the prince Naravahanadatta, with his beloved by his Bide, being much pleased at the tale of Gomukha, but seeing that Marubhuti was quite put out, in order to pay him a compliment, said to him, attempting to con- ciliate him ; " Marubhuti, why do you not tell a tale also ?" Then he said, " Well, I will tell one," and with pleased soul began to relate the following story.
There once lived in a town called Devakamalapura, belonging to the king Kamalavarman, an excellent Brahman, named Chandrasvamin. And that wise man had a wife like himself, distinguished for modesty, and she was a worthy match for Sarasvati and Lakshmi. Ami to that Brahman was born a son with auspicious marks, and when he was born, this voice was heard from heaven :
"Chandrasvamin, you must call your son Mahipala,* because he shall be a king and long protect the earth." When Chandrasvamin heard this, he made a feast and called that son Mahipala. And in course of time Mahipala grew up, and was taught the science of missile and hand to hand weapons, and was at the same time instructed in all knowledge. And in the meanwhile his wife Devamati brought forth to Chandrasvamin another child, a daughter, beautiful in all her limbs. And the brother and sister, Mahipala and Chandravati, grew up together in their father's house.
Then a famine, caused by want of rain, sprang up in that country, the corn having been scorched up by the rays of the sun. And owing to that, the king began to play the bandit, leaving the right path, and taking wealth from his subjects unlawfully. Then, as that land was going rapidly to ruin, Chandrasvamin's wife said to her husband : " Come to my father's house, let us leave this city, for our children will perish here some day or other." When Chandrasvamin heard this, he said to his wife " By no means, for flight from one's own country in time of famine is a great sin.
- /. #. earth-protector, king.