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The Seventy-Seventh Chapter
357
Thus, while Kumar Vasudeva was present there, those who could travel through the earth and sky, the Gandharvas and the Datta, arrived, eager for Gandharvadatta's Swayamvara. || 267 ||
Gandharvadatta, who had herself conquered many in the Swayamvara hall, then captivated them all with her singing and playing. || 268 ||
Charudatta and others, who were the main listeners, praised her, saying that her skill in the arts was truly extraordinary. || 269 ||
Then, after asking his teacher, Vasudeva approached the maiden and said, "Bring me a vina that is free from any defect." || 270 ||
They presented him with three or four vinas. Vasudeva, smiling, said, "These vinas have a defect called 'lomamsa' in their strings, and a defect called 'shalka' and 'pashana' in the 'tumbi' fruit and the 'danda'. " He not only said this, but also showed them the defects. Seeing this, the maiden said, "Then what kind of vina do you want?" In response, the Kumar said, "The vina that I desire has a story like this." Saying this, he narrated the following tale. || 271-273 ||
The king of Hastinapur, Megharatha, had two sons, Vishnu and Padmaratha, from his queen Padmavati. || 274 ||
After some time, King Megharatha, along with his son Vishnukumar, went to perform austerities, and Padmaratha became the king. || 275 ||
On another occasion, a king from a neighboring territory caused unrest in the kingdom. The chief minister, Vali, pacified him through diplomacy and other means. || 276 ||
King Padmaratha, pleased with Vali's work, said, "What do you desire? What do you want? Speak!" In response, Vali said, "I want to rule for seven days." The king, considering Vali's request as insignificant, like dry grass, agreed to give him the kingdom for seven days. It is right, for those who know the value of favors done, that is, those who are grateful, do not withhold anything from the one who has done them a favor. || 275-278 ||
At that time, a group of munis, including Akampana Guru, arrived in Hastinapur and took up the 'atapan yoga' on the gentle mountain there. Earlier, when Vali, the minister, was in the city of Ujjayini, he had been defeated by Akampana Guru in an assembly of learned men. Therefore, he was filled with sinful anger and wanted to kill him. || 279-280 ||
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