came to Atpat. First she went to the part of the palace where Queen
Patmadhavrani lived. But no one there was paying the least honour
to the goddess Mahalaxmi, although it was the 8th of Ashwin, and
therefore specially sacred to her. Mahalaxmi was dreadfully put out
at this, and when she saw Queen Patmadhavrani she said, "Lady, lady,
Patmadhavrani, mother of sons, what have you in your house to-day?" The
queen replied, "I have nothing in my house to-day." The old woman
went on, "Lady, lady, Patmadhavrani, mother of sons, if you give
this beggar-woman a little water, you will acquire merit sufficient
for all your kingdom." But the queen replied, "Even if I were to
give you a copper cauldron of water it would not suffice for all my
kingdom." The old woman then said, "Lady, lady, Patmadhavrani, mother
of sons, if you give this old beggar-woman a little rice and curds,
you will gain enough merit for all your kingdom." The queen replied,
"Even if I were to give you a big dinner of nothing but rice and curds,
I should not gain enough merit for all my kingdom." Then the old woman
got very angry and cursed the queen, saying, "You will become half a
frog and half a human being, and you will stand outside your co-wife's
bath-room and croak like a frog." But the queen did not mind her the
least little bit, and she laughed so loud at the old woman that the
noise was like two chains rattling together. Mahalaxmi went off in a
great rage and entered Queen Chimadevrani's part of the palace. There
she saw all the accessories of worship ready, and there was a beautiful
image of Mahalaxmi leaning against the wall; The old woman cried,
"Lady, lady, Chimadevrani, mother of sons, what have you in your house
to-day?" "To-day," said the queen, "we are worshipping Mahalaxmi." Then
the old beggar-woman said, "I am Mahalaxmi." But the queen doubted and
asked her, "By what sign shall I know you?" The goddess replied, "In
the morning I shall take the shape of a little girl. In the afternoon
I shall take that of a young married woman. In the evening I shall