to puberty, a hundred virgins decked in ornaments and a hundred maids waited in obedience upon her blessed self.  And surrounded by those hundred maids and virgins, she shone in their midst, endued as she was with bright effulgence, like Rohini in the firmament amid an inferior multitude of stars.  And possessed as she was of good behaviour and excellent manners, none dared ask for her hand even when she attained to puberty, through fear of her father, the king of the Vidharbhas.  And Lopamudra, devoted to truth, surpassing the Apsaras even in beauty, gratified her father and relatives by means of her conduct.  And her father, beholding his daughter-the princess of Vidharbha-attain to puberty, began to reflect in his mind, saying, ‘To whom should I give this daughter of mine?’”

SECTION XCVII

“Lomasa continued, ’When Agastya thought that girl to be competent for the duties of domesticity, he approached that lord of earth-the ruler of Vidharbhas-and addressing him, said, ’I solicit thee, O king, to bestow thy daughter Lopamudra on me.’  Thus addressed by the Muni, the king of the Vidharbhas swooned away.  And though unwilling to give the Muni his daughter, he dared not refuse.  And that lord of earth then, approaching his queen, said, ’This Rishi is endued with great energy.  If angry, he may consume me with the fire of his curse.  O thou of sweet face, tell me what is thy wish.”  Hearing these words of the king, she uttered not a word.  And beholding the king along with the queen afflicted with sorrow, Lopamudra approached them in due time and said, O monarch, it behoveth thee not to grieve on my account.  Bestow me on Agastya, and, O father, save thyself, by giving me away.’  And at these words of his daughter, O monarch, the king gave away Lopamudra unto the illustrious Agastya with due rites.  And obtaining her as wife, Agastya addressed Lopamudra, saying, ‘Cast thou away these costly robes and ornaments.’  And at these words of her lord, that large-eyed damsel of thighs tapering as the stem of the plantain tree cast away her handsome and costly robes of fine texture.  And casting them away she dressed herself in rags and barks and deerskins, and became her husband’s equal in vows and acts.  And proceeding then to Gangadwara that illustrious and best of Rishis began to practise the severest penances along with his helpful wife.  And Lopamudra herself, well pleased, began to serve her lord from the deep respect that she bore him.  And the exalted Agastya also began to manifest great love for his wife.

“After a considerable time, O king, the illustrious Rishi one day beheld Lopamudra, blazing in ascetic splendour come up after the bath in her season.  And pleased with the girl, for her services, her purity, and self control, as also with her grace and beauty, he summoned her for marital intercourse.  The girl, however, joining her hands, bashfully but lovingly addressed the Rishi, saying, ’The husband, without