This page has not been fully proofread.

MADHURAVIJAYAM
 
the hands of the royal baby who would soon grow up to
be a daring hunter.
 
15
 
20. The horses also neighed with joy, tearing the
ground with their large hoofs, perhaps thinking, that
they would soon be mounted upon by the child and a
great glory awaited them in that role.
 
21. Tumultuous rejoicings among the people of
the city arose, with trumpets blowing and çāraṇas
shouting auspicious words.
 
22. The monarch of Kuntala wished to give away
even himself bodily to those that bore the glad tidings
of his son's birth.
 
23. By his royal word of command the prisons
were thrown open and prisoners were unchained and
liberated as if to make room for future incumbents, viz..
the turuskas.
 
24. Duly bathed and clad in white silk, the king.
after doling out immense riches as gifts to Brāmins,
entered the lying-in room with a glad heart to see the
face of his son.
 
25. He saw the child lying on the lap of his slim-
featured queen like a swan youngling on the wavy-bed
of the autumnal river.
 
26 to 30. Rays of light, whitish as camphor dust,
played on the child's form which subdued the lustre of
the lamps burning in the lying-in-chamber. With his
two reddish hands closed, the child looked as if already
practising the art of holding within his grasp the god-
dess of prosperity of his enemies. His two gracefully
shaped feet bore auspicious marks indicative of conch,