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[ Shali-Bhadra's Renunciation and Consecration
Some days after this, the news of the blankets made of precious stones spread throughout the city. Empress Chelana wife of Emperor Shrenika, also heard the news. She at once asked her husband to buy one blanket for her. First, the Emperor tried to evade her request, but when she persisted on, he called for the merchants and asked them to sell one blanket to him. The merchants said that the blankets had already beon bought by Bhadra, the mother of Setha Shali Bhadra of Raja-Griha, and that then they had none with them to give him. When Emperor Shrenika heard that Bhadra had bought all the costly jewelled blankets, his surprise knew no bounds. He asked the merehants to go, and sent one of his high officials to Bhadra in order to buy a blanket from her.
The official came to the house of Bhadra and talked to her about selling one of the jewelled blankets to him. Bhadra was a little dejected at this and said, Please do not talk of selling the blankets. What price can I charge for such an ordinary thing as a blanket, the moro so when the buyer of it is the Emperor himself. But I am sorry, you are a bit late. Had you informed me of your intention two or three days before, I would have reserved one or two blankets for you I am sorry to say now that my son's wives tore them into pieces, and, after wiping their feet with them, they have thrown them away. When the official heard this, he began to praise the fortune, glory, generosity and good nature of Bhadra and then returned to Emperor Shrenika. He related the whole story to the Emperor who was greatly astonished to hear it. The emperor was not only astonished but also felt proud and happy. He was astonished to hear about the
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