The Story of Gunavara Devi and Srungabhuja - Part Five

Srungabhuja traveled on the horse and first he went to the temple and worshiped Shiva. 

After that Srungabhuja walked out, and then he looked back and called Dhumasikha and loudly announced his marriage with Rupasikha. 

After that Srungabhuja got on the horse and rode away from there. 

As he rode on, he saw a huge monster running after him.

First Srungabhuja threw the earth across the path behind him. 

It grew into a very high mountain.

Srungabhuja was stunned when he saw that.

Dhumasikha stared looking numb. But Dhumasikha crossed it and followed the prince.

Then Srungabhuja poured the water and it became a huge river with a strong current.

However, Dhumasikha was able to cross that with a little difficulty. 

The Prince then threw the thorns, which became into a thorny forest. 

Dhumasikha had even more difficulty than before, but he crossed the forest. 

Finally, Srungabhuja threw the fire and it blazed into a huge forest fire.  

Dhumasikha was unable to cross the fire and he went back. 

It was because of Rupasikha’s magic that Dhumasikha forgot that he could fly and cross the fire too. 

However, after this, no one chased Prince Srungabhuja and he came back to Dhumapura. 

Happily, he told Rupasikha all that had happened. 

After that he told Agnisikha that he had informed Shumasikha who could not come because of the forest fire.

Srungabhuja was able to correctly describe Shiva’s temple so Agnisikha knew that Srungabhuja had been there. 

Finally Agnisikha was out of options. He realized that though the Prince seemed to be human the prince had fulfilled all the conditions that he had set for him.

The next day, Agnisikha married his daughter to Srungabhuja in a royal wedding.

For some months Srungabhuja and Rupasikha were happy in Dhumapura. 

However Srungabhuja started thinking about his father’s kingdom Vardhamanapura. Now Srungabhuja realized that his brothers had wanted to get rid of him and that was the reason they had asked him to pursue the golden arrow.

Srungabhuja told all this to Rupasikha and he was also convinced that he had to see his parents again.

Rupasikha heard of this and she decided to help him. “We'll leave this place and go to Vardhamanapura.” 

However, she was sure that Agnisikha would not approve of their leaving Dhumasikha, and they decided to fool the king and not give him any information about their travels.

Adapted from the Katha Sarith Sagara