Now that queen Gunavara was locked up, half of what Ayasolekha wanted, was done.
She then sent for her son Niryasabhuja.
Ayasolekha asked Niryasabhuja to make sure that Srungabhuja was sent away from the kingdom for some reason or the other.
The next day a huge ugly crane came flying and settled on the top of one of the palaces. The princes of the palace were staring at the crane and at that time a monk came that way.
The monk pointed at the bird. “That is a rakshasa by the name of Agnisikha. Though Agnisikha is very foolish, he very often assumes the form of a crane and he has destroyed other cities in this form. All of you must try to chase the bird away before any harm is done.”
The princess fired their arrows one by one on the crane. But none of them could hit it. Finally, Srungabhuja was about to pick up his own bow and arrow when the monk remarked that Srungabhuja had the highest chance of hitting the crane.
The other princes ran inside the palace and got the king's golden bow and arrow with which Srungabhuja could hit the crane successfully.
Srungabhuja’s aim was unerring and the arrow struck the body of the bird. However, the bird was huge and it flew away with the arrow stuck in its body.
Then the other princes pretended to look frightened. “Father would be angry with us for losing the golden arrow. What do we do?”
Srungabhuja consoled his brothers and told them that he could go and get the arrow back.
Srungabhuja went deep into the forest, crossed it and then reached a strange city. The city had a beautiful garden near a huge palace.
Srungabhuja rested in the garden for some time.
At that time, a beautiful woman came to the garden. Looking at her, Srungabhuja was smitten, but he tried not to show anything. “Who are you?” He asked her. “What is the name of the city and what brings you here?”
The girl also looked very shyly at Srungabhuja and nodded at him. “This is the city of Dhumapura. King Agnisikha, a rakshasa is the king here. I am his daughter, Rupasikha.” Abandoning all modesty, Rupasikha nodded at Srungabhuja. “I came here to know who you are because I was attracted to your handsome face.”
Srungabhuja smiled and told Rupasikha all about himself and how the golden arrow had brought him here.
Rupasica looked at wonder with the prince. “You must be a great archer for you have hit my father who had been in the form of a crane, with a single arrow.” Before Srungabhuja could ask what happened to the arrow, Rupasikha continued. “I have kept the arrow for my sport. One of the ministers has healed my father's wound. I will take you to meet my father now. I'm sure he will not hurt you.” She told him with a smile and asked Srungabhuja to wait in the garden.
After that Rupasikha went to her father and told her father that the man who had fired the golden arrow was here and that she loved the man and she wished to marry him.
Adapted from the Katha Sarith Sagara
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