" The king promised. The sepoys then
told him how they had not killed the queen, because they had eaten
bread and had drunk water at her hands, but had let her go. The king
told them to look and see if she was anywhere about. They searched
and searched until they came to the rishi's cave. Then they ran back
and told the king. The king rose, and going to the cave did homage to
the rishi. The rishi accepted the homage and lectured him at great
length. At last he ordered the king to prostrate himself before the
queen. The king obeyed, and the rishi handed Patmadhavrani back to
his care and blessed both her and her husband. The king put her in
his chariot and took her to Atpat. Outside the town the king stopped
his chariot and sent for Queen Chimadevrani Chimadevrani bathed
and anointed herself, and put on all her silk clothes, her shawls,
her embroideries, and her jewels. In front of her she placed all the
horn-blowers of Atpat. And as she went to meet the king they blew their
very loudest on their horns. The king was amazed when he heard the
noise, and roared out, "Who is coming with such pomp and splendour? Is
it the serpent-maidens of Patala or is it the wood-nymphs who live
in the heart of the forest?" The sepoys said, "O King, it is neither
the serpent-maidens of Patala nor is it the wood-nymphs who live in
the heart of the forest.
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