28
SANSKRIT STUDIES
matter, he thought it best to give an inoffensive but equivocal reply. There was then at Padmavatl a Buddhistic nun, Kaman- daki, who was a great friend of both Devarata and Bhurivasu. In fact it was in her presence that they in their student days had plighted their word to see their children married. She had also known and fondled Malati from her infancy, and was there- fore as much interested as the girl’s parents themselves in seeing her united to so worthy a besides very clever ; and her position as a nun gave her an advant- age which a secular official like Bhurivasu could not w r ell command. Bhurivasu, who knew the friendship which Kamandaki bore him, entrusted the whole affair to her and remained unconcerned to all outward appearance. Kamandaki on her part was not unwilling, though a nun, to undertake a good office of that sort — especially as she felt whenever she thought of the equal ex- cellence of Malati and Madhava that they w ere almost predestined to wed each other.
Now it so happened that Malati was one day standing at an upper casement of her father’s mansion as Madhava passed along the road below. She saw him, and seeing in her case was loving. This love at first sight deepened as she watched him passing not unoften the same way. It' soon became known to her attendants that she was in love and that Madhava was her sweetheart. Kamandaki wanted first to see that the two young people fell in love with each other before she actively exerted herself to bring about their union. Half of her wish had now been fulfilled; and the other half also was soon accomplished by the cleverness of one of her pupils, Avalokita. It was the spring season and the custom for youthful maidens then was to go to the Garden of Love outside the city to pay their adoration to Cupid there in the shrine dedicated to that deity. Avalokita, who knew that Malati would also follow the custom, arranged that Madhava should be present in the garden at the time. He went there alone. But seeing a vakula tree in full blossom ap- proached it; and discovering a wealth of flowers adorning the ground beneath, he in a holiday mood picked up the new-fallen flowers and began to string them into a garland of exquisite design. He had not yet reached to the end of his task when Malati who had been worshipping inside the shrine came out. As Madhava saw her graceful form, he fell in love with her as youth as Madhava. Kamandaki was
