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Introduction
25
I am Lalitavegā, a sister of Vāyuratha and Anilayaśā and a niece of Virajā. I fell in love with you when I saw you brought to Lalitapura as a prisoner. When you were taken away by Adilayaśā; I got daily reports about you through the Vidyās. Wben Candrātapa and Jambuka worsted by you brought the news of your bravery, an intense longing for you was created in my heart. Consequently, advised by my companions, I came here. I created various magic scenes you witnessed to make sure of your feelings towards me, and finally I contrived the device to make you hold my hand.
V. asked her about Agilayaśā's whereabouts. She said that along with Virajā and other wives of V., she had been staying at Bbāradvāja's hermitage. As V. wished to wander about for sometimo more, he advised Lalitavegā to go to the same hermitage and stay there. Lalitavegā left with her companions. In the morning, V. Darrated to his friends how he had won Latitavegā (p. 196).
XIII Winning of Citralekha
(pp. 197-205) At noon, V. took Amsumat with him to tho lake. Instructed by V. Anasumat climbed up a tree on the bank and lay there concealed. V. hid himself in water under a lotus leaf. The elephant arrived. The girl stepped out from his mouth, descended in water and started collecting lotuses. As she came near V., he caugbt her hand. She told him her story as follows:
I am a human being. I was abducted by a demon, whom you see dow on the bank in the form of an elophant. He treats me as his daughter. Ho lives in a self-luminous cave under the hill of bones. Assuming his normal form of a horrible demon, he always sleeps clasping me between his arms and legs. If you want to rescue me, you should come in the cave at night when the de non is dead asleep and powerless. Saying this, she returned, performed the usual worship and disappeared along with the elephant. Aṁsumat was wonderstruck by seeing what had transpired. V. informed him about his resolve to rescue the girl.
At the approach of pight, V. instructed Pota and others to get armod and remain vigilant. Taking Amsumat with him, he went to the bill of bones. He instructed him to wait at the mouth of the cave, and to escort
وسم
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