INTRODUCTION the part of the latter. This led to the natural fear that the state aud its subjects too would be neglected by the King after such a marriage; and so it was prevented by the too clever Purohita, the family priest and the equally clever “ Streelakshanagna, the technical adviser. Whatever the motive, the untruth is there and to it can be traced all the tragic development of the story; this would fully illustrate that it is not safe to resort to falsehood under any circumstances; and if this single principle is brought home to the reader, the author should consider his trouble in writing this book amply rewardel. 8. Devasena the good, was an ideal King. Ile was still young and had to be married. A priest and an adviser go to test the proposed maiden's suitability to be their king's wife. They incl her a perfect ideal of a woman in every way; but with motives indicated above, they prevent his marriage with this excellent maiden. She in her turn had heard much of King Devasena and had set her heart on him and him alone. The maiden refuses to marry any one else but the King; the king on the other hand has been put off from this marriage by being told by the priest and the adviser that although she was sufficiently fair was unfit to be his wife, as she bears on her person some inauspicious marks, the foretoken of ruin of the King and his Sub.
