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· Introduction
[9
declared,"Whosoever succeeds in bending my ancestral bow, Vajrasāra, shall win my daughter," Then Padmāvati, decorated with lovely ornaments and clothes, entered the svayamvara-compound and doubted if that tender prince could bend that strong bow. The princes of Lāța, Karņāța, Kāśmira and Anga came forward one after the other to try their luck but failed miserably. Padmăvatī was feeling dejected not to find her cherished lover come forward. At last, however, Citrasena appeared there with his friend, and strung the bow. Padmāvati joyfully garlanded him. (175-219)
The other princes could not tolerate this success of an unknown youth and took up arms against him, who, though alone, overpowered them all. Meanwhile a bard announced that the unknown prince was Citrasena, the son of Virasena of Vasantapura. This satisfied the vanity of the princes. Then the marriage was celebrated with great eclat ( 220-234)
