"To-day is the great festival of Madan; Malati will surely come to join
the festival, I have interested Madhava to go to the garden of Love's
god with a view that the youthful pair may meet there."

The priestess replies, "I tender my best thanks for your kindly zeal to
aid the object of my wishes. Can you give me any tidings of Soudamini,
my former pupil?"

Avalokita answers, "she now resides upon mount _Sriparvata_. She has now
arrived at supernatural power by religious austerities. I have learnt
the news about her from Kapala Kundala, the female pupil of a tremendous
magician Aghorghanta, a seer and a wandering mendicant, but now residing
amidst the neighbouring forest, who frequents the temple of the
dreadful goddess _Chamunda_ near the city cemetry." Avalokita remarks,
"Madhava would be highly pleased if his early friend Makaranda is united
in wedlock with Madayantika, the sister of Nandana."

The priestess observes, "I have already engaged my disciple
Buddharakshita for the purpose. Let us go forth and having learnt how
Madhava has fared, repair to Malati. May our devices prosper!"

Madhava thus describes to his friend Makaranda his first interview with
Malati, and acknowledges himself deeply smitten:--

"One day, advised by Avalokita, I went to the temple of the god of love.
I saw there a beauteous maid. I have become a victim to her glances. Her
gait was stately. Her train bespoke a princely rank. Her garb was graced
with youth's appropriate ornaments. Her form was beauty's shrine, or of
that shrine she moved as the guardian deity. Whatever Nature offers