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OCTOBER, 1975
43
Vijaya :
Prince, you know other peoples' suffering; and, therefore, you are brave.
Sumitra :
So, from to-day Prince Vardhaman will be called Vardhaman, the Brave.
Vijaya :
I agree with you, Sumitra ! Our Prince is Vardhaman, the Brave.
Sumitra :
Let's go. King Siddhartha must be waiting for Vardhaman, the Brave. The courtiers must have by now informed him how the Prince tamed the wild elephant unarmed. Truly, he is brave !
Vijaya :
Prince, let us go.
[They are about to leave, but Vijaya suddenly stops, looking at a tree] Look there. Why, what's there?
Vijaya : Sumitra :
Vijaya :
Look, at the root of that tree.
Sumitra :
Oh, what a deadly snake. It's a big cobra. Vijaya ! keep back.
Vardhaman :
Vijaya, why are you stepping back? Wait and watch, whither goes the snake.
Vijaya :
Where will it go ? It is coming straight to bite us.
Sumitra :
How wide he has spread his hood. Prince, you will excuse me this time. I must strike at his hood with my arrow.
Vijaya :
And if you miss your aim, the snake will jump at you so swiftly, that you will find no way to escape.
Sumitra :
Vijaya, you know very well that I never miss my aim. No violence is involved in killing him, who kills others. Prince will excuse me, here I go. (Fixes his arrow to the bow and stretches the string]
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