Meanwhile I had said to my followers:  “I have no further need of you; I am about to retire to a lonely place to practise meditation; you may now leave me; go, and my blessing be upon you.”  Well satisfied with the gifts they had received, they departed; and when they were gone I slipped unobserved into the lake, and entered the hole which I had prepared.  There I remained till I heard the noise of the crowd who came with the king, and perceived him floating on the surface.  Diving cautiously under him, I pulled him down, strangled him, and dragged the body into the hole; then swimming to the steps, I boldly came forth, to the astonishment of the attendants, who, though they had expected a miracle, were scarcely prepared for such a great change.  No one, however, doubted that I was really their sovereign, and having dressed and mounted an elephant, I entered the city, escorted by the soldiers and followed by a great crowd of people, who had come forth from curiosity, and were loud in their praises of the pious man who had wrought such a miracle.

That night I was unable to sleep.  In the morning I summoned all the ministers and counsellors, and said:  “Behold the power of piety and penance.  That holy man has performed a great miracle, and bestowed on me this new body, which you see, by means of the tank which he has consecrated, and through the favour of the gods, whom he had long propitiated; after such a manifestation, who shall doubt their power?  Let the faces of all unbelievers be bowed down by shame; let a great and solemn festival be made with song and dance in honour of Brahma, Siva, Yama, and the other deities, the rulers of the world, and distribute much money among the poor.”

This speech was received with great approbation, and all, congratulating me and praising the gods, performed the duties imposed upon them.

After this I went to the women’s apartments, and there the first person whom I met was a very devoted servant of the princess, who had been especially attentive to me.  She, not imagining what had occurred, would have let me pass without especial notice; but I called her, and said:  “Have you never seen me before?”

Then indeed she opened her eyes wide with joy and astonishment, saying:  “Can it be possible? is not this a delusion?  Tell me what it all means.”

I gave her a brief account of what had happened, and sent her to prepare my wife.  How glad she was to see me you may well imagine.

So well did we manage, that the secret was kept, no suspicion even arose, and all the people were rejoiced at the favourable change, not only in the person, but in the temper and disposition of their sovereign.

In due time I was publicly married to the princess, and reinstated her father in his kingdom.

I have now come here with an army to assist the King of Anga, and have thus obtained the great happiness of seeing you again.

The prince, having heard this story, said “Your cleverness has indeed been great, and your personation of the Siddha wonderful.  May you long continue to possess such wisdom and prudence, combined with wit and cheerfulness.”  Then, looking at Visruta, he said:  “It is now your turn;” and he forthwith began:—­