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PREVIOUS INCARNATIONS OF ARISTANEMI
came there, following her. The minister's son, questioned, told them what had happened. They both rejoiced, "Her protector was her husband, no one else." Aparajita married Ratnamālā given by them; and relief from fear was given to Surakanta by their words.
Sürakanta gave the pearl and the root to the prince free from desire and gave the minister's son pills that would produce a different appearance. Announcing to Amṛtasena, "Your daughter must be conducted to my house when I have gone (there), Aparajita departed. Amṛtasena with his daughter and the Khecara Surakānta went to their respective homes, recalling Aparajita.
The prince, going ahead in a forest, suffering from thirst, sat down under a mango tree and the minister's son went for water. When the minister's son returned after he had gone far and obtained water, he did not see Aparajita under the mango tree. He thought: "Is this not the place? Have I come to the wrong place by mistake, or did the prince himself go for water because of great thirst?"
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With these reflections he went to every tree, searching for the prince, and, when he did not see him, fell to the ground in a faint. When he had recovered consciousness and got up, he cried pitifully: "Prince, show yourself. Why do you torment me needlessly? No human is able to carry you off or hurt you. There can be no inauspicious reason for not seeing you, friend."
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Thus lamenting many times, wandering in .villages, et cetera to search for him again, he went to the city Nandipura. While the minister's son remained in a garden outside in low spirits, two Vidyadharas approached him and said: A Vidyadhara-lord, Bhuvanabhānu, very magnificent and very powerful, lives in a great forest, having created a palace. He has two daughters, Kamalini and Kaumudini, and your dear friend was described as their husband by an astrologer. We were appointed by the master to bring him and when we came to this forest, we saw you too. You went to get water and
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