382 APPENDIX I and inquired of him as to who the youth was and how he got the wonderful fover. He said Lakshmi herself one day saw Svetalket when he bathed in the Mandakin, longed for his beauty and bore him a son, who was given by her to Svetaketu who named him Pundarika. While going to worship Si goddess of the Nandana wood herself gave Pundarika the power which I persuaded him to put on his earAs we talked, Pundarika placed the fragrant fower on my ear. At the touch of my checks, he became confused and did not know that he let fall the rosary. I took it up and threw it round my neck. At that moment, being called by my mother I went away unwilling ly to bathe. Pundarika, being chid by his friendpressed me to give back his rosary and I gave him my necklace , which he did not perceive as his eye was riveted on my face. Then I went home and mounted the palace terrace. My betel-bearer Tar came and told me that Pundarlka of whom. I was thinking had followed her secretly and after many questions handled over her a love-message written on a piece of his bark garment, I rea the message which cunningly suggested his love. In the evenin Pundarfas friend Kapinjala came to me with an abashed fac and told me of his friend's sad condition. Kapinjala told me that his friend lay concealed in a remote corner of the bank of th lake, that his rebukes made no impression upon Pundarika and when all the cooling appliances did not relieve Pundarika's ferer, he came to me. At that moment, a visit from my mothe was announced and Kapinjala hurriedly departed. My mothe who had heard that I was ill came and went away. My heart was tossed about by contending emotions of regard for parents, maidenly modlesty and intense love for Pundarika. When Taralikवे besought me to abandon a restraint that might cost me my I set out with her to meet my love Pundarika. As I neared the place, I heard the loud lamentations of Kapinjala upbraiding his friend for leaving him. Distracted by fear, I ran to the spot and saw the lifeless body of Pundarilka, Break in Mahas'vetas tale. As she called up the dreadful incidents of the past, Mahe s'veta fainted away. Chandrapf¢a supported her as she fell and fanned her with the corner of her garment. When she came to herself Chandrीpf¢a besought her not to proceed with the story. But she went on.
