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Tapati
and
Sam varan a
AMVARANA saw no end of his misery yet. On the contrary, he felt convinced that he must prepare himself resignedly to die in sorrow and solitude. Of course his loyal prime minister, who Samvarana thought had no other merit, had been with him throughout his exile. But Samvarana had no use for decrepit, old companions, however faithful they might be. So he always perferred to be left to himself.
There was something of which God did not deprive Samvarana and that was his matchless beauty. In one of his rare, expansive moods he would flatter himself thus : "Perhaps some goddess will fall in love with me, and with her help I may regain my throne. I see no other prospect of my returning to Hastinapura. Is there any goddess who can resist me? I shall not be surprised if some day my looks upset the kingdom of the gods. I am waiting for the day. But at the moment, I need, not a goddess, but some beast, any beast. I am hungry.” Was it a jungle of the dead ? He had seen no symptoms of life
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