Note 8 — Chapter XLIV

While they were all remaining there, enjoying all kinds of pleasures, a messenger came from Kauśámbí and said—“King Janamejaya sends this message to your honours, ‘My daughter, of the name of Parapushṭá, has been carried off by some one lately. And I have found out to-day, that she has come into the power of Súryaprabha, so let him come with her to my house without fear. I will perform the marriage ceremony according to rule, and so dismiss him with his wife, otherwise you will be my enemies, and I shall be yours.’” Having thus delivered his master’s message, the ambassador remained silent: then king Chandraprabha said to them apart—“How can we go to the house of that king who sends such haughty messages?” When the king’s minister named Siddhártha heard that, he said, “Do not entertain wrong notions, king, for he is justified in using such language. For that king is very generous, learned and sprung of a noble race, a hero, one who has offered the Aśvamedha sacrifice, ever unconquered by others. How can he have spoken anything unbecoming in speaking according to facts? And as for the enmity which he threatens, he does that now on account of Indra. So you must go to his house, for he is a king faithful to his engagements. Nevertheless send some one to find out his intentions.” When they heard this speech of Siddhártha’s, they all approved it. Then king Chandraprabha sent Prahasta to sound Janamejaya, and honoured his messenger. And Prahasta went, and after making an agreement with the king of Kauśámbí, brought a letter from him, and satisfied Chandraprabha. The king quickly sent that Prahasta, and had Parapushṭá conducted from Śákala to Janamejaya. Then Chandraprabha and the other kings, preceded by Súryaprabha,8 with Kántisena, went to Kauśámbí in the chariot. There the king Janamejaya courteously honoured his son-in-law, and his connexion and all the others, by advancing to meet them, and other ceremonies. And after he had performed the ceremony of the marriage-rite, he gave five thousand elephants and one hundred thousand excellent horses, and also five thousand camels laden with full burdens of jewels, gold, precious apparel, camphor and aloes-wood. And he made such a feast, that even the realm of Pluto was exclusively engaged in dancing and music, a feast in which excellent Bráhmans were honoured, and all kings gratified.