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Chapter Twenty-Three: O Sulasa! Listen to my words, you who are devoted to your mother. The affection of a mother is expressed through her milk.
A son named Madhupingala, born to the queen Sarvayashadevi, from the elder brother, King Trinavindu, stands above all kings in his splendor. He is the most beautiful and powerful.
I had already decided in my mind to give you to him. Therefore, fulfill my wish in the Swayamvara.
Saying this, Sulasa, with tears in her eyes, spoke to her mother. "Mother, don't cry. I will do what is pleasing to you in the presence of the kings. I will marry Madhupingala as you wish."
Hearing all this, Mandodari went in secret and informed King Sagara, who was eager to obtain the girl.
Then, King Sagara quickly summoned his priest, Vishvabhuthi, and had him prepare a scripture in secret, which described the characteristics of men.
He had it blackened with smoke, placed in an iron casket, and buried in the ground of the Swayamvara. When the day of the Swayamvara arrived, Sagara had the iron casket dug up and the scripture taken out. He showed it to the kings.
The kings who had come for the Swayamvara wanted to hear about the characteristics of men. So, the priest read the scripture aloud to them.
It said that the feet of a king are marked with the signs of a fish, conch, and goad. Their middle part is like the inner part of a lotus. They are adorned with excellent beauty, their toes are close together, their nails are smooth and red, their ankles are hidden, they are free of veins, somewhat warm, raised like a tortoise, and covered in sweat.
The feet of a wicked man are shaped like a broom, spread out, full of veins, crooked, with rough nails, dry, and with sparse toes.
Feet that are full of holes and have a reddish color are considered to be destroyers of lineage. The feet of a violent man are like burnt clay, and the feet of an angry man are yellow.
Those whose calves are thin, covered in very strong hair, and round at the top, whose knees are good, and whose thighs are round, are...