Devi Mallika bore this unfolding of destiny with equanimity. A successor in the sphere of art, she thought, need not be a child of your own womb; she must be the child of your soul. She took comfort in the knowledge that Gopa in Taxila, Sulekha in Magadh, and Ratnaprabha in Mathurapuri were keeping up her tradition. But what had Sagal, once a place of pilgrimage and a seat of art, to offer now, to travellers who came there, attracted by her fame? The very thought of it made her suffer acutely. She had based her hopes on Madulika, but Madulika had proved unworthy.

Devi Mallika, renewing her faith in the beneficence of Goddess Saraswati, once again decided to seek her replacement. She made up her mind that in search for a successor, she would travel far and wide, to other kingdoms and states of Jambu Dweep. She made enquiries from travellers, pilgrims and traders of the various centres of art in different parts of the country. She learned all that there was to know about Taxila, Malva, Magadh, Mathurapuri and Dakshinapath. The one person who had been most highly praised in her hearing was a certain Anshumala, the pupil of Ratnaprabha of Mathurapuri.

Ratnaprabha had shown both talent and devotion, Devi Mallika remembered, but during the last four years her fame had begun to shine all the brighter. And that was because she had a pupil like Anshumala. Who could be more fortunate than a teacher who had such a pupil, a pupil who could turn the spark of knowledge into a burning flame? Thinking that Acharya Rudradhir must have visited Mathurapuri at the time of his return from Magadh, Mallika asked him about Anshumala. But the Acharya did not show much interest in the subject.

The Acharya’s silence in this regard convinced Mallika that a dry-as-dust man such as the Acharya could not be expected to know much about the finer points of art. ‘Come what may,’ she said to herself, ‘I shall seek out a successor for myself even at my advanced age.’

On the pretext of making a pilgrimage, Devi Mallika set out on a journey and visited numerous holy places, towns and cities, visiting the centres of art and culture, and at last turned up in Shursen. As she approached Mathurapuri, reports of Anshumala’s fame reached her. Devi Mallika was convinced that her heart’s desire would certainly be fulfilled in the abode of Nataraj, Lord of Dance and Music.

The news of the arrival of the Court Dancer of Sagal, the Laureate of Art, Devi Mallika, sent a thrill of joy and enthusiasm throughout Mathurapuri. As if vying with the eastbound current of the Yamuna river, the stream of people flowed towards the western gate of the city. The highway from the palace of Ratnaprabha to the western gate was decked with arches of plantain stalks, columns of painted earthenware pots, festoons of mango and jamun leaves and garlands of flowers. The façades of the houses and shops lining the path were covered by banners and pennants of various colours. The surface of the highway was decorated with patterns and pictures made from rice and parched barley. The air was thick with the fragrance of myrrh, frankincense and sandalwood. The terraces and balconies of houses groaned under the weight of the crowds of spectators. The air resounded with the notes of the veena, cymbals, tambourines and kettledrums.