Part 13: Sumatinātha’s parents

In this city there was a king, named Megha, the tilaka of the Ikṣvāku family, rejoicing all, like a great cloud. His superabundant wealth, though always rising to satisfy beggars, increased like the water in a canal. Kings bowed to him like a divinity, touching the ground with five members, and paid homage to him with clothing, ornaments, jewels, etc. His splendor streaming forth like the sun at midday contracted the splendor of his enemies like the shadow of a body. He shone with great magnificence and strength and much power like a sixty-fifth Indra to the sixty-four.

His wife was named Maṅgalā, the abode of auspicious things, the banner of virtues, like a household Lakṣmī personified. She dwelt in the heart of her husband, and her husband in her heart; living in houses by the pair was unessential. Either when walking somewhere, in a garden, etc., or when in the house, she meditated on her husband more than on a divinity. She surpassed the Apsarases in beauty of form and grace. Beautiful-eyed, she surpassed even the moon in beauty of face. Her distinguished form and beauty, gifted with superexcellence, adorned each other like a ring and a jewel. Eternal delight was to the King experiencing delights with her, like Mahendra with Paulomī.