‘MĀLATĪ AND MĀDHAVA’
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them. When the two youths returned to the garden soon after, they were sorely disappointed not to find Malati there and they immediately set out in search of her.
The first place in which they looked for her was Kamandaki’s residence. When they did not find her there, they grew suspicious and when further search was equally fruitless, they grew desperate and took her for lost. The grief of Madhava knew no bounds. As he was unable to bear the sight of the things associated with Malati, Makaranda took him away to a wood skirting a hill some miles beyond the city, hoping that his friend might find some relief there. But it proved a change from bad to worse. Any and every sight in that pretty wood would unbalance his mind and it needed all the cleverness which Makaranda could command to see that he did not go mad over the loss of his love. One day when Madhava fainted and lay in a death-like swoon, Makaranda, despairing of his recovery and feeling his own life a burden, made up his mind to drown himself in a river close by. But just at that time, an unfamiliar voice spoke to him asking him to forbear. Makaranda was more than surprised and looking up discovered an ascetic lady before him. She asked whether he was Makaranda and on his answering T # am that hapless being’, SaudamanI — for that was her name — told him that she had news of Malati and showed him the vakula garland in support of what she said. Makaranda was overwhelmed with joy, and he dashed at once with SaudamanI to where Madhava was lying. Madhava had just recovered his consciousness. They saw him first blaming the god of wind for bringing him back to consciousness from the swoon where he had found an escape from sorrow ; and then beg- ging the same god with bowed head and joined hands to waft his life to where Malati was or blow on something of her to him. At that time SaudamanI placed the garland in his hands. Madhava was overjoyed, and the holy woman disclosed how she had come by it. Sri-parvata whereto Kapalakundala had carried Malati away was the place where SaudamanI performed penance. On hearing the screamings of Malati, SaudamanI went to her help and after rescuing her from the clutches of Kapalakundala, had hastened to convey the good news knowing that Malati was so dear to her former preceptor, KamandakI and to them all. Then suddenly SaudamanI with her supernatural power disappear- ed taking away Madhava with her. Makaranda who was left alone.
