The ocean of story, being C.H. Tawney's translation of Somadeva's ...

142 THE OCEAN OF STORY
and in order to put an end to their curse they fasted, and
appealed to Siva by severe asceticism. And the next morning
the citizens, making high festival, and worshipping Siva,
beheld those dogs absorbed in contemplation, and though
they offered them food the creatures would not touch it.
And the two dogs remained in this state for several days,
beheld by all the world, and then Siva's Ganas preferred
"
this prayer to him : O god, these two Ganas, Pingesvara
and Guhesvara, who were cursed by the goddess, have been
afflicted for a long time, so take pity on them." When the
holy god heard "
that, he said : Let these two Ganas be
"
delivered from their canine condition and become crows !
Then they became crows, and broke their fast upon the rice
of the offering, and lived happily, remembering their former
devoted to Siva.
state, exclusively
After some time, Siva having been satisfied by their devotion
to him, they became by his command first vultures,
and then peacocks then ; those noble Ganas, in course of time,
and in that condition also they strove with
became swans ;
the utmost devotion to propitiate Siva. And at last they
gained the favour of that god by bathing in sacred waters,
by performing vows, by meditations and acts of worship, and
they became all composed of gold and jewels, and attained
supernatural insight.
170. Story of King Brahmadatta and the Swans
" Know, that we are those very two, Pingesvara and
Guhesvara, who, by the curse of Parvati, endured a succession
of woes, and have now become swans. But the Gana
Manipushpesvara, who was in love with the daughter of Jaya,
and was cursed by the goddess, has become a king upon earth,
even yourself, Brahmadatta. And that daughter of Java has
been born as this lady, your wife, Somaprabha ; and that
Dhurjata has been born as this your minister, Sivabhuti. And
therefore we, having attained insight, and remembering the end
of the curse appointed by Parvati, appeared to you at night.
By means of that artifice we have all been reunited here to-
and we will bestow on you the perfection of insight.
day ;