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BIRTH, MARRIAGE, AND EXILE OF RĀMA AND LAKṢMAŅA 195
Ikṣvākus. Dasaratha ruled the earth, shining with great brilliance at the passing of evil fate like the sun at the passing of clouds.
Birth of Bharata and Satrughna (204–207)
There one day Kaikeyi bore a son indicated by an auspicious dream, the ornament of Bharata, named Bharata. Suprabha also bore a son, a joy to the family, named Satrughna, possessing power of arm to kill enemies. Bharata and Satrughna, inseparable day and night from affection, looked like another Baladeva and Vasudeva. King Dasaratha looked with his four sons like Mt. Meru with its mountains in the shape of elephants' tusks.140
Previous births of Sītā and Bhāmaṇḍala (208-237)
Now in Jambudvipa in this same Bhāratakṣetra in the village Dāru there was a Brahman, Vasubhūti. He had a son, Atibhūti, by his wife, Anukośā; and his son had a wife, Sarasā. One day she was kidnaped quickly by a trick by a Brahman, Kayana, who had become infatuated with her. What will not someone afflicted by love do! Atibhuti wandered over the earth, just like a ghoul, to search for her; and Anukośā and Vasubhuti went to look for their son and daughter-in-law. One day as they wandered about without seeing the son and daughter-inlaw, they saw a sadhu and paid homage to him with devotion. After listening to dharma, they took the vow at his side and Anukośā went to the nun Kamalaśrī at her guru's instructions. They died and became gods in Saudharma. For if the vow is taken for one day only, one goes to heaven, nowhere else.
Then Vasubhuti fell and became King Candragati, lord of Rathanupura on Mt. Vaitāḍhya. Then Anukośā fell and became the Vidyadhara-lord's wife, Puspavati, a
146 207. The 4 ranges named Vakṣāra, have the shape of elephanttusks. K. p. 233.
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