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18
JAINA STORIES
“Amvada now enteredthe city He had to get the gem necklace from the king's safe He now reached the crowded part of the city ard installed bimself on the pavement as a player of a musical instrument He took no time to attract a crowd around himself Everybody admired his wonderful performance Gradually, the solo music changed into a full way-side open-air opera which was thrown open for participation by the members of tce public The whole city flocked there by and by, and even Princess Chandrayasa and her friend Razaldevi didn't fail to turn up Rajaldevi soon Jonged the artists to the great surprise of the princess and disgust of her own parents A lady of a noble family was not expected to dance in public The princess tried to dissuade her but failed At last, Rajal's father, the minister, reported the matter to the king, 'Sire, This seems to be a rogue. He has enticed our gul Something should be done at once' When the king heard this, he was very much surprised He himself appeared on the scene.
“Music, poetry and dance are enchanting in themselves, and above all their skilled presentation People were deeply absorbed The presence of the king 'added dignity to the whole show Amvada raised his art to the highest pitch, and at the point of climax, he brought its abrupt termination, The king tco was highly pleased and was keen to bestow gifts on the organiser and leader of the opera, but Amvada humbly declined. That day, the only topic of the town was the grand performance at the way-side opera
"In the afternoon, when Rajaldevi met her friend, the princess made enquiries about the principal actor for whom she had danced in the morning She reported about the man asfar as she herself knew, adding in the end that she was intent on marrying with him Now, the princess herself started changing her opinion about the man, and expressed a desire to her friend to receive him in her own