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

THE RETURN TO SIDDHISVARA 203
proceedings, being ourselves concealed." When the princess
had said this, she remained there concealed, surrounded by
her ladies-in-waiting.
Then Muktaphaladhvaja descended from the chariot in
that hermitage of Ambika, and, being full of longing, said
"
to his friend : Here I had my first interview with my beloved,
when she had been terrified by the Rakshasis; and
I again saw her in the garden here when she came, having
chosen me for her own ; and here I received the curse, and
she wished to follow me by dying, but was, though with
difficulty, prevented by that great hermit : and now, see,
that very same lady flies out of reach of my eyes !
"
When Padmavati heard him speak thus, she said to her
"
True, my friends, it is really my be-
ladies-in-waiting :
loved, but how can I approach him, before he has entered his
former body ? In this matter Siddhisvara is my only hope.
He sent me the dream, and he will provide for me a way out
of my difficulties." When she had formed this resolution,
she went back to Siddhisvara. And she worshipped that
manifestation of Siva, and offered this prayer to him :
"
Unite me with my beloved in his former body, or bestow
death on me. I see no third way of escape from my woe."
And then she remained with her friends in the court of the
god's temple.
In the meanwhile Muktaphaladhvaja searched for the
princess in the temple of Gauri, and, not finding her, was
"
despondent, and said to that friend : I have not found her
here. Let us go back to that temple of Siva ; if I cannot
find her there I will enter the fire."
When that friend heard it, he said :
" Good luck will
befall you ! The word of the hermit and Siva's promise
in your dream cannot be falsified." With these words did
Muktaphaladhvaja's friend try to comfort him. And then
Muktaphaladhvaja ascended the chariot and went with him
to Siddhisvara.
When Padmavati saw him arrive, she still remained there
invisible, and she said to her ladies-in-waiting :
" Look ! He
has come to this very place." He too entered, and seeing
that offerings had been recently placed in front of the god,