fire.  Immediately her husband came rushing back declaring that he was suffering the agonies of burning; but the skin was burnt and the former cowherd retained his glorious and shining appearance; and on the application of oil the pain of the burning ceased.  The princess then began to live with pleasure in the company of so glorious a husband, who however only went out of the house at night as his body was too bright for ordinary eyes to look upon.

It began however to be whispered about among the neighbours that a shining being was to be seen at the princess’s house and the rumour eventually reached the ears of the Raja.  The Raja sent a messenger to see who the being was, but when the messenger saw the shining man he was blinded and driven out of his senses and returned to the Raja in a state of madness.  Two or three other messengers successively met the same fate.  At length the Raja resolved to go himself; when he saw the shining form of his son-in-law he fell down in a faint; the princess’s husband ran and lifted up the Raja in his arms and revived him.  After this the former cowherd became only bearably bright, and being recognized as the heir to the kingdom went to live with his wife in the Raja palace.

(18)—­The Strong Prince.

There was once a king who, though he had two wives, had no son.  He was very anxious to have a son and heir and went away into the midst of the hills and jungles and there began a course of worship and sacrifices.  His prayers were heard and while he was away it was found that both his wives were pregnant.  In due time the senior Rani gave birth to a son and sent a Brahman to the king with the welcome news.  The Brahman was a very holy man and he had to pray and bathe so often that he made very slow progress on his journey.  A day or two later the younger Rani also gave birth to a son and she sent a low caste Ghasi to give the news to the Raja.  The Ghasi travelled straight ahead and reached the Raja some time before the holy Brahman.  On hearing the news that the younger Rani had given birth to a son the Raja had at once declared that this boy should be his heir.  He was therefore much put out when the Brahman arrived with the news that the senior Rani had given birth to a son first.

The Raja returned home and entering the palace saw the senior Rani sleeping with her babe beside her.  The boy had sore eyes and the Raja, declaring that the child bore no resemblance to himself said that it was not his son and that the Rani had been unfaithful to him.

The Rani indignantly denied the accusation and said that if the two brothers fought her son would prove his parentage.  Accordingly the two boys were set to wrestle with each other.  The struggle was an even one.  As they swayed to and fro it happened that the elder boy caught hold of the Raja and pulled him to the ground.  This incensed the Raja more than ever and he ordered the senior Rani to leave the kingdom with her child.  On the road by which they