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257
ABĦINANDANACARITRA afar, he fettered them, though fickle, like slaves by his virtues. He did not become haughty because of the scepters taken from kings. Does the ocean become proud in the least because of the waters of rivers ? Always calm in mind, not greedy, free from heedlessness, he was impartial to rich man and poor man, like a muni. He ruled his subjects for dharma, but not with the desire for wealth ; he punished his enemies to protect his subjects, but not with the idea of hatred. Things that were beneficial to all on the one hand; what was beneficial to dharma on the other hand, he supported at the same time in himself like a scale.
Description of Queen Siddhārthā (40-49) He had a wife, an ornament of the harem, named Siddhārthå, born in a pure family, virtuous. With a gait slow from coquetry and a very sweet voice, she looked like a rājahansi with a beautiful form. Her beautiful eyes and mouth, hands and feet gleamed like a lotus-bed in a river of merit and beauty. She looked as if the inside of her lotus-eyes were made of sapphire, as if her teeth were made of pearls, as if her lips wure made of coral, as if her nails were made of rubies, as if her limbs were made of gold, and her body of jewels. She was the chief of good wives, like Vinītā of cities, like Rohiņī of the vidyās, *1 like Mandākini of the rivers. She did not become angry with her husband, even affectionately, since well-born women are fearful of transgression against marriage-vows as if they were religious vows. The King's affection for her, suitable for himself, very dear, was free from deceit, resembling indigo-dye. Husband and wife, unfettered by all the sources of pride, 402 enjoyed various pleasures of the senses without injury to dharma.
401 35. See Abhi. 2. 153. 402 48. See I, n. 391.
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